It's not just you who has been preparing for the upcoming birth for days: your baby also knows that it will soon be born. To prepare, it has built up fat reserves over the past few weeks, which now account for around 15% of its body weight.
Shortly before birth, your baby's liver takes in starch from your bloodstream and stores it. After birth, your baby's liver converts this starch into glucose and supplies it during the first days of life. This bridges the time during which your body produces the important breast milk.
Before birth, your body produces various hormones that also reach your baby. These can cause its genitals to be swollen after birth. However, it usually only takes a few days for the hormones to break down and the swelling of the genitals to subside.
In week 40, your baby lies deep in your pelvic cavity and has hardly any room left in your uterus. It is now waiting until labor finally begins. Therefore, you feel significantly fewer fetal movements shortly before birth than in previous months.
This is how big & heavy your baby is in the 40th week of pregnancy
In week 40, your baby has reached its birth size. Most babies have a size of 50 to 52 centimeters at birth. Some babies are a bit larger, others a bit smaller. These deviations are normal, as your baby's development is individual and is also influenced by genetic factors.
This also applies to weight. Babies born in the 40th week of pregnancy usually have a weight of 3,400 to 4,000 grams. If you have a particularly heavy or light baby, this has likely already been apparent throughout the pregnancy.
Your baby is now the size of a pumpkin. Do you remember how small it was at the beginning? It initially had the size of a strawberry and has now grown into a real little person.
You have been waiting for the arrival of your baby for 40 weeks of pregnancy. Surely you can hardly wait for the time with your newborn. The automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep supports parents and babies during this exciting time. It functions as an intelligent sleep aid that helps your baby not only fall asleep but also stay asleep. This can promote relaxation for both babies and parents.
How your body is doing in the 40th week of pregnancy
In week 40, contractions could start at any time. Many women have mixed feelings in the last days before the calculated due date. Perhaps you feel the same way.
You have been carrying your baby inside you for 40 weeks and have followed its development with excitement. In a few days, it will be born, and you can hold it in your arms for the first time. You might feel wistful and even a little sad that your pregnancy will soon end. For most expectant mothers, however, the anticipation naturally prevails.
In week 40, you are likely constantly on high alert. Every tiny signal from your body could indicate that contractions will soon begin and labor will start. Many pregnant women long for the onset of contractions in the 40th week of pregnancy because the pregnancy has become very exhausting and arduous. These feelings are completely legitimate and may even take away some of the fear of birth.
Shortly before birth, the first pre-milk may also leak from your breast. This is also called colostrum and prepares your body to be able to breastfeed your baby soon. After the pre-milk, your body produces mature breast milk, which provides your baby with important antibodies.
Possible symptoms in the 40th week of your pregnancy
The calculated due date of your baby is in week 40. Your body is now in an exceptional state and performing heavy labor. This can manifest itself in expectant mothers through a wide variety of symptoms:
Diarrhea:
Shortly before birth, many pregnant women suffer from diarrhea. This can be triggered by the first contractions of your uterus. However, it can also be the other way around: diarrhea and the contractions of the intestines can stimulate labor activity.
Nausea:
Many women report that the body wants to cleanse itself before birth not only through diarrhea but also through severe nausea and vomiting. The trigger for this is likely the hormones that are currently going crazy in your body.
Abdominal pain:
Before delivery, you likely suffer from stomach aches. A pulling sensation in the lower abdomen is also typical. This could be the first contractions, which become more intense over time.
Discharge:
Shortly before birth, the mucus plug detaches. This is noticeable through discharge and possibly also through light bleeding. Your cervix can now open. The detachment of the mucus plug is therefore a clear sign of labor.
Rupture of membranes:
Approximately 20 percent of all women have a rupture of membranes before birth, in which amniotic fluid escapes. Only a few drops may escape, while the amniotic sac bursts completely for some women. Contact your midwife or doctor if you suspect a rupture of membranes.
Only a few babies are born on the calculated due date. Surely you are very tense by now and feverishly observing whether you can discover the first signs of an upcoming birth. Pass the last few days with the anticipation of the time together with your baby.
Unfortunately, many newborns find it difficult to fall asleep. This is a great burden not only for the babies themselves but also for their parents. The automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep is a proven sleep aid that rocks babies to sleep with gentle movements. It is even recommended by midwives and osteopaths and has already delighted more than 170,000 families.
Overview of birth positions
In week 40, you have already prepared yourself for the fact that birth is imminent. If you attended a birth preparation course, various birth positions were certainly introduced to you there. You will certainly not like all of them: many women switch between different positions during birth that offer you specific advantages.
If women stand during birth, they benefit from gravity, which additionally pushes your baby further down. However, many women find this position very exhausting and only stay in it for a short time. Alternatively, you can also sit on a birthing stool. The sitting position is much more pleasant for many women in labor.
Have you thought in advance about whether a water birth is an option for you? Many women describe that the warmth relieves the pain as it relaxes the muscles. The warm water also ensures more elasticity of your skin, so that birth injuries are less likely.
No matter which birth position you choose: the most important thing is that you feel comfortable and survive the rigors of birth as well as possible. Therefore, talk to your midwife or the nurses if you do not feel comfortable.
Automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep: Adapts to your baby's activity
Our smarla automatic baby hammock reacts to your baby's activity: if it moves in the hammock and is about to wake up, the hammock gently adapts and rocks your baby back to sleep. This is ensured by the highly developed sensor technology of the silent automatic baby hammock motor.
It makes it easier for your baby to fall asleep and stay asleep. This reduces stressful moments for parents, and you can enjoy the exciting time with your baby even more. Our proven sleep aid calms, reduces stress, and promotes your baby's development.
It lies snugly enclosed in the hammock, which consists of 100% organic cotton and is particularly skin-friendly. The hammock can be controlled via smartphone and also sends you push notifications when your baby moves.
Take a look at our smarla automatic baby hammock now and offer your baby a secure place to sleep!
