40 Weeks of Pregnancy: Your baby is ready for life outside its mother's womb

During this week your baby is about 19-21 inches long and 6-10 pounds weighs. 40th week of pregnancy your baby’s bones are hard. This week your baby is ready for life outside its mother's womb. At birth the placenta will separate from the side of the uterus and the umbilical cord will finish working as the child takes the first breaths of air.

The child's breathing will initiate changes in the structure of the heart and bypass arteries which will force all blood to now travel through the lungs. 40th week of pregnancy your baby boy will be much larger as compared to a baby girl. Now your baby is very healthy and lying with its head downwards. All the bones of the baby will strengthen by this time leaving behind the baby’s skull. The skull brains need to continue soft so that they can pass through birth canal easily. The skull of new born baby looks like a cone for the first few days following birth. The baby starts developing immunities that are needed for existence. 

In 40th week of pregnancy, you will familiarity various changes in your bady. One of the main changes that you will feel is an increase in the movements of the fetus once again. The fetus grows completely at this stage and tries to gain reliefs. This increases the movement of fetus. This week your baby head will begin to make an arrival through your vaginal opening with each contraction. When your baby’s head leftovers visible and does not slip back in, it is known as crowning.

This week you will notice a white discharge from your nipples. This week Braxton Hicks contractions this week which will promote a surge of oxygenated blood to your uterus and the baby.

About Your Labor Process 

The labor process consists of three stages.

The first stage is the dilation of cervix, which begins with the contractions.

The second stage begins after the cervix has dilated correctly. During this stage, the mother is asked to push the baby. This process makes the baby come down in the birth way, for being born.

The last stage is the delivery of the placenta.

At 40 weeks pregnant it is important you try to reduce your activities as the baby could come at any moment. This shouldn’t be hard to do as walking, sitting; standing and lying down all appear like a challenge. You will feel an increase in movements in the baby as development is complete and now he / she is trying to find some form of comfort in the fitted accommodations. There is much more pressure being placed on your bladder, groin, and lower abdomen. These pains that are caused are called false pains. A white substance might begin to secrete from your nipples, this is normal and your body’s way of preparing for childbirth.
Read more about Pregnancy Symptoms

Total weight gain in 40th week 

Fetus 38%

Uterus, breasts, buttocks 20%

Placenta 9%

Amniotic fluid 11%

Blood, surplus fluid 22%

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