Mummy, you’ve probably been eagerly counting down the days to this final week! Congratulations! It’s almost time for you to meet your little one. Don’t forget, only five per cent of babies come out on the day they’re due so worry not if your little one wants to stay in there a little longer.
How Big is Your Baby?
You’re carrying a full-sized pumpkin in your womb! Since the baby is at full term this week, he or she is measuring around 51.2cm and weighs about 3.4kg!
Image courtesy: Pixabay
Your Baby’s Development
In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, you’ll learn that:
- They are yet to make their way through the birth canal
- Their skull bones are not yet fused. This allows the bones to overlap a bit if the journey through the birth canal proves to be a bit tight. This is called molding and explains why your baby’s head is more oval than round.
- The waxy covering on your baby’s skin has already been shed, so expect a few dry spots in the baby’s skin when you see them for the first time.
- Your little pumpkin is so eager to meet you since they already recognise your voice when you talk or sing to them.
Pregnancy Symptoms
- At week 40 of pregnancy, you will continue to feel uncomfortable as your baby makes his way down your pelvis.
- You will feel sharp pains in the abdomen, your vaginal area, and along your legs.
- Emotionally, you may be feeling frustrated and impatient that your baby hasn’t come out yet. But there are different reasons why babies choose to come out past the due date.
- You may also experience an uncomfortable feeling in your pelvis due to a certain someone’s little head bumping up against your hips.
- At week 40 of pregnancy, loose bowel movements may be a sign that your labour is coming soon.
- Be on the lookout for clear, odourless vaginal discharge that you cannot keep from leaking out. It can be a sign that your amniotic sac has ruptured.
ALSO READ:
Braxton Hicks Contractions: All You Need To Know About False Labour
How Does Sex Help Induce Labour? 5 Safe Positions to Try If You Want to Get It Moving
Pros And Cons of Different Vaginal Birth Positions During Labour
Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist For Week 40 of Pregnancy
- Don’t lose sleep over when and where your water will break. Sleep is rare enough as it is.
- Learn to recognise when your amniotic sac has ruptured. Amniotic fluid is usually colourless and odourless. If you notice fluid that looks yellowish and smells of ammonia, you are probably leaking urine.
- Another method to test if your amniotic sac has ruptured is by attempting to stem the fluid’s flow by squeezing your pelvic muscles (Kegel exercises). If the flow stops, it’s urine. And, if it doesn’t, it’s amniotic fluid. If your water breaks and the fluid is green or brown, call your doctor immediately. It could mean that your baby has had a bowel movement (meconium) in your uterus.
- With your baby due any minute, the best thing to do is to kick back and relax. Catch up on some well-deserved beauty sleep.
- Aiming for a natural birth? Read up on different ways to induce labour without the use of medications. There are different positions that can help you achieve a normal delivery too. Moreover, you can also read about gentle c-section as a last resort.
- Finally, make sure your birth partner is informed and ready when it’s time to go to the hospital.
Your next week: 41 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 39 weeks pregnant
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
