Welcome to Week 40+ of Your Pregnancy!
Your Baby in Week 40+ of Pregnancy
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There really isn't a lot to report on baby at week 40 of pregnancy onward, so lets do a quick recount of where we're at: all internal organ systems are pretty much ready for the outside world, they've got their meconium stockpile building up (their first black baby poo), lots of healthy baby fat, a rapidly developing brain (that'll keep growing with them for years to come), and they've more or less reached official baby status-- all they need to do is "head out" and say hello to the rest of the world and especially their ready-to-pop momma.
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If you haven’t already gone into delivery by week 40 of pregnancy, we’ve officially arrived at that time where all you’re doing is trying to patiently play the oh-so-maddening waiting game. Your long-awaited miracle is undoubtedly just as impatient as you to get things moving along.
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Small breast buds are on both sexes of babies by week 40 of pregnancy. There is a slight chance that your baby’s breast buds may leak fluid in the couple of hours after delivery, because they are full of extra hormones from your system. If they do, no worries since it is natural. It will cease shortly. Girl babies have a higher chance of excreting fluid over boys. After that, the breast buds won’t do anything – ever for boys – and until puberty for girls.
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Your pregnancy – even though you won’t want to hear this – can go for another two weeks. Women have gone a whole 42 weeks – safely – before their babies were born. Just remember that during those extra two weeks, your baby is developing and getting stronger for their journey outside the uterus.
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There really won’t be any new changes with your body from week 40 of pregnancy onward until you do go in to labor. You may or may not have swelling and heartburn. You might not be able to see your feet. Your back might hurt. Pregnancy require a lot of physical work, especially towards the end, but it is all worth it in the end!
Your Body in Week 40+ of Pregnancy
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At week 40 of pregnancy, you are probably literally counting down the minutes left until this baby is born. You are tired of hearing suggestions on how to bring on labor – mostly because you’ve seriously tried all of the ones that seemed plausible. But realistically, that baby isn’t coming out until he or she is good any ready. Or until the doctor is good and ready to induce or operate. So, you really have the third say in this matter, so just ride it out.
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Keep mindful of the baby’s movements, drink plenty of fluids and get rest if you reach 40 weeks of pregnancy. With the extra bulk you are carrying, you will get tired very easily. Don’t fret about stopping to put your feet up for a few minutes – you’re pregnant! And although you may have made it 42 weeks being pregnant, those pregnancy days will eventually end!
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Dad may even be getting antsy, as all this anticipation is killing everybody! Plus, he might have a week of vacation coming up with the baby’s birth – who doesn’t like vacation time? If friends and relatives are calling and bothering you about the delivery, don’t feel bad about answering the phone. When the baby is born, you’ll let them all know.
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When you really do go in to labor, you’ll know. And that sounds like such a vague statement, but it is true. The contractions will be much more intense than any Braxton-Hicks you may have had. You will also have one or more of the following signs of labor:
- Bloody show
- Loss of mucous plug
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Increase in appetite
- Water breaks
When you start labor, remember to relax! This is what you have been waiting for for nine whole months. Even though it sounds impossible, enjoy it and cherish the memories. You’re kids will love to hear their birth stories when they are older.
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If there are no labor signs by midweek, your doctor will probably schedule you for inducement. Don’t worry that something is wrong or that you did something wrong as only 4% of women deliver on their due date. You have way more chances of delivering after your due date than you do of being right on it. A pregnancy can still run one more week if the doctor feels it is ok.
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Rest! Have a cool drink of water while you keep your feet propped up. It may be a while before you get to relax and do it again anytime soon! Your baby will come any day now, so finish decorating their room, go on the last shopping spree for baby supplies or spend some time with your other children before you are devoted to an infant. This is a fun time in your life, so enjoy it!
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If you're feeling weird electrical tingles in your legs and inside your vagina, this would be none other than your not-so-little baby hitting various nerves as they settle into the pelvic area. If you're feeling sharp shooting pains instead of tingles, this would be your extra-evil-but-adorable baby pressing on your oh-so-very sensitive sciatic nerve. All we can recommend is some wincing, sitting down, and putting your feet up.
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We wish you the absolute best in your pregnancy and hope you return to Womb to Bloom after the birth so that you can share your experience, the joy, and even photos of your newborn. After all, our site is all about pregnancy and newborns. From Womb...to Bloom!
Back to Pregnancy Week 39 :: Back to 40-Week Peek
