Pregnancy Calendar Week 40
From LoveToKnow Pregnancy
Your Baby during Pregnancy Calendar Week 40
By pregnancy calendar week 40, your baby should be making his/her entrance any day now! After 40 weeks of pregnancy, your baby has transformed from a tiny, tadpole-like embryo to an active newborn with a distinctive personality. It has been a remarkable journey!
By pregnancy calendar 40, your baby measures between 19 and 22 inches long. He/she probably weighs somewhere between 6 and 10 pounds. Your baby’s size is dependent upon a number of factors, including your own weight and his/her gender. On average, baby boys will be slightly heavier at birth than baby girls.
Your Changing Body
If you are a first-time mom, you may wonder how you’ll know when you are in labor. Fortunately, there are a few indicators that will let you know when the big day has arrived!
During pregnancy calendar week 40, many women experience diarrhea. Loose bowel movements are often a sign that labor has begun.
During pregnancy calendar week 40, you may notice clear or blood-tinged mucus in your panties. This indicates that you have passed the mucus plug that protected your cervix throughout your pregnancy. While not every woman experiences this labor symptom, passing your mucous plug means dilation and effacement has begun.
In about 15% of women, the membranes rupture when labor begins. Also known as “breaking your water,” this results in a gush or trickle of clear amniotic fluid. If the fluid is green, brown, or yellow, contact your healthcare provider immediately. This may be a sign of infection or that your baby has passed mecconium also known as baby's first bowel movement.
At this point in your pregnancy, you may notice contractions that feel like heavy menstrual cramps or gastrointestinal upset. The pain may be centered in your lower abdomen or also felt in your back and legs. If the contractions appear at regular intervals and become increasing painful, real labor has probably begun.
If you are experiencing a variety of symptoms during pregnancy calendar week 40, it’s best to err on the side of caution and contact your healthcare provider. Don’t let your own fear or embarrassment keep you from making it to the hospital in time!
The Stages of Childbirth
Childbirth can be divided into three general stages: labor, pushing and delivery, and delivery of the placenta. However, there is a great deal of variation among women. Even among those who have had more than one child, no two birth experiences are alike!
Labor is comprised of three phases: early labor, active labor, and transitional labor. Early labor can take place over a period of several days or weeks without your notice. During active labor, which typically lasts between two and twelve hours, contractions begin to intensify. During transitional labor, the most demanding and shortest phase of labor, the cervix dilates to a full 10 centimeters.
During pushing and delivery, you are an active participant in the birth experience. Typically, this stage lasts between five minutes to three hours or more if you have an epidural. Many women experience a renewed burst of energy and an overwhelming urge to push during this stage. Resting between contractions, following your body's insticts or your doctor’s pushing instructions if you have an epidural, and making a conscious effort to relax your body will make this part of the birth experience easier.
The final stage of childbirth is the quickest part of the process. Now that you’ve already seen your baby for the first time, you’ll need to deliver the placenta. This typically takes between five and 30 minutes. Afterwards, your doctor will complete any necessary stitching from natural tearing or an episiotomy.
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