You've almost made it! By the end of this week, your baby's estimated due date will be here, and you'll have completed a full 40 weeks of pregnancy. Read one last time what to expect this week, how your baby is doing, and 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 may now feel like a watermelon, too. No wonder—your uterus is now five times larger than it was at the beginning of pregnancy. Your belly is stretched to the maximum and may feel tight and firm. As a result, your skin can feel uncomfortable and itchy. You can still find relief with the LILLYDOO pregnancy care oil , which 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, Contractions can now cause nausea or diarrhea. Has your child not yet reached the due date?
Once your due date has passed, the examinations will take place every two days and will include an ultrasound each time. But don't worry if the date 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
Your baby's development is now complete. Its liver now stores glycogen, which is converted into glucose after birth, providing energy during the first days after birth until breastfeeding begins. 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 why many babies still look a bit squished immediately after birth. Additionally, your baby's genitals may still be swollen after birth—the cause 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, once you and your partner have welcomed your baby and the umbilical cord has been clamped (unless you have chosen a lotus birth, where the umbilical cord
falls off on its own), the U1 takes place as your baby's very first examination by the midwife or 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 experienced oxygen deprivation during birth, for example, if 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
and was handled well. After consulting with you and your partner, your baby 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
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If your nervousness about the upcoming birth increases, take another look at the concept of Hypnobirthing in more detail: It’s about consciously preparing and using targeted breathing and relaxation techniques to approach birth without fear. This includes, for example, viewing contractions as waves that bring your baby a little closer each time.
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Are you constantly receiving 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 share the news when the time comes, or delegate the task to your partner, who can keep alle of them updated.
Tip from LILLYDOO
The contractions are taking their time? Don't worry—very few children actually arrive on their estimated due date . Give your baby the time it needs, and allow your body to relax. If you still want to give birth a little boost, opt for gentle movement and pelvic circles to
allow your baby's head to move further down and increase pressure on the cervix.
With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, also in exchange with our
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What happens in the 40th week of pregnancy?
What happens in the 40th week of pregnancy?
In the 40th week of pregnancy, colostrum may already be leaking from the pregnant woman's breasts, the nutritious pre-milk for the baby's first feeding. Additionally, early contractions can now trigger nausea or diarrhea. The baby's development is now fully complete. Its liver now stores starch, which is converted into glucose after birth to provide energy in the first days. Your baby is now firmly positioned with its head in the mother's pelvic cavity.
What happens if my child does not come into the world on the estimated due date?
What happens if my child does not come into the world on the estimated due date?
This is not unusual: most children are born approximately two weeks before or after the estimated due date. After the due date, prenatal check-ups are initially scheduled every two days and include the examination with the CTG. Unless there is an urgent reason, induction is not performed before 41 weeks of pregnancy, when the baby is considered overdue.
In which month does the 40th week of pregnancy fall?
In which month does the 40th week of pregnancy fall?
The 40th week of pregnancy is in the 10th month of pregnancy.
