40th week of pregnancy

You've almost made it! At the end of this week, the estimated due date for your baby is here, and you've completed a full 40 weeks of pregnancy. Read here one last time what to expect this week and how your baby is doing, whom you will soon finally get to meet.

How big is your baby in the 40th week of pregnancy?

Your baby is about 35 centimeters long this week and is comparable to a watermelon. The crown-to-heel length can now vary between 47 and 56 centimeters — minor deviations are usually no cause for concern.

40th week of pregnancy: What's changing for you

Your belly now also feels like a watermelon. No wonder, after all, your uterus is now five times larger than at the beginning of pregnancy. Your belly is now stretched and hard to the maximum. The skin can therefore feel uncomfortable and itchy. You can find relief by
even now still with the LILLYDOO for mom pregnancy care oil , that gently cares for your skin and provides moisture.

Maybe you notice a yellow fluid leaking from your nipples. That is , the nourishing pre-milk for your baby's first feeding – your body is ready!

Furthermore, starting Contractions Now causing nausea or diarrhea. Has your child not yet reached the due date?
Light of the World is born, the examinations will take place every two days and will include an ultrasound each time. But don't worry if the appointment passes without anything happening. Unless there is another reason, induction will not take place before the 41st week of pregnancy, when your baby is considered "post-term."

40th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby

The development of your baby is now complete. Its liver now stores glycogen, which is converted into glucose after birth, providing energy during the first days after birth until the onset of breastfeeding. Its fat reserves now account for approximately 15 percent of its body weight.

Your baby is lying firmly with its head in your pelvic cavity. From here, it will soon begin its journey through the birth canal. Since its skull bones are still soft and separated by membranes, they can compress during the passage through the narrow birth canal without any harm. This is also the reason why many babies still look a bit squished immediately after birth. Additionally, your baby's genitals may still be swollen after birth – the cause of this is hormones that your body releases just before birth, some of which also reach your baby.

Immediately after birth: The first examination

After the birth, when you and your partner have welcomed your baby and it has been navel-placed (unless you have chosen a lotus birth, where the umbilical cord
falls off on its own), finds the U1 instead of the very first examination of your baby by the midwife or the doctor. During this, any birth injuries or developmental issues are identified, and umbilical cord blood is taken. Based on the pH value of the blood, it can be determined whether your baby suffered from oxygen deprivation during birth, for example, because the umbilical cord was clamped. After five to ten minutes, the Apgar score is determined, which assesses your newborn's breathing, heartbeat, skin color, muscle tone, and reflexes through palpation and targeted observation. Using a scale from one to ten, these values help determine whether your child's birth went well
that has been endured. After consulting with you and your partner, he will also be given vitamin K drops to prevent internal bleeding. For more information on what you and your baby can expect during the upcoming check-ups, pediatrician Ariane from LILLYDOO explains in the video.

This is now important

• If your nervousness about the upcoming birth increases, take another look at the concept of Hypnobirthing in more detail: It is about consciously preparing and using targeted breathing and relaxation techniques to approach the birth without fear. This includes, for example, viewing contractions as waves that bring your baby a little closer each time.

• You constantly receive questions from friends and family about whether your baby is here yet? That can get pretty annoying and increase your own tension. It's best to appoint someone to deliver the news when the time comes, or delegate the task to everyone (who alle to keep her/him) updated, your partner.

• Do you also want regular information and expert tips even after the birth? Then subscribe to our #momlife newsletter and receive tips about everyday baby life directly in your inbox every two weeks.

With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which also in exchange with our