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This is it! Your due date is finally here. But, where’s the baby?
This Week’s Highlights
Your baby is at his/her birth weight
You baby’s organs are fully developed
You may go into labour anytime from now on
Your Baby at 40 Weeks
Only about 4-5% of baby’s are born on their due date. Your little one is now fully developed and ready to meet you anytime.
Your healthcare provider will continue to monitor you, making sure the baby is still in position with their head down. If your baby is in a breeched position (legs down), your healthcare provider may try to turn him or her. They may also discuss the possibility of a caesarean delivery as a precaution.
Your cervix will be checked for dilation (opening) and thinning (effacement) during a pelvic exam. While dilation and effacement are signs of labour, it is impossible to predict when your labour will begin based on these measurements.
Once you hit 40 weeks of pregnancy, your healthcare provider may perform a membrane sweep while internally examining your cervix. They will simply “sweep” a finger around your cervix, separating the membranes around your baby from your cervix. This may induce the release of prostaglandins to kick-start your labour.
Pregancy Tip
What will your partner be doing during labour? If they are not your designated labour partner, figure out how your partner can be useful during labour.
How Your Body is Changing at 40 Weeks
You’ve made it! From now on, it is a waiting game. You can go into labour anytime now, so keep an eye out for the following signs of early labour.
Contractions – You may have already started feeling Braxton Hicks contractions or you may have not. These practice contractions usually do not increase in intensity and go away when you change positions. But, if you have painful contractions that are less than 5 minutes apart and have had them for more than 2 hours, it is time to head out to the hospital.
Bloody show – Sometimes the mucous plug (which was covering your cervix during the pregnancy) is lost right before labour begins. You will notice thick mucous like discharge, which may be tinged with blood. This is a sign that your cervix is becoming dilated.
Water breaking – If water is trickling down your legs, this means your water has broken. This is a sign of labour and you should contact your healthcare provider to find out when you should be heading to the hospital.
How do you know if it’s amniotic fluid? Amniotic fluid is odour-less and colour-less. You will not be able to stop the flow of amniotic fluid with a Kagel exercise.
Back pain – Dreaded back labour, intensifying pain in the back, is another sign of labour. Contact your healthcare provider if you back pain suddenly intensifies and is constant.
This is a good time to discuss with your healthcare provider your options for induction.
How Far Along are You?
40 weeks in, o weeks to go! Congratulation! You are at the end of your pregnancy.
Prepped, Packed & Ready to Go
On the big day, bring your Kit with you to the hospital and give it to your delivery team. Collection kit has everything your delivery team needs to collect cord blood and cord tissue samples.
After the baby is born, cord blood will be collected into the cord blood collection bag. Your physician will then collect the umbilical cord and place it in the collection vessel for cord tissue. These steps are the same regardless of whether you have normal delivery or have a C-section.
Natural Ways to Induce Labour
If you have received the go ahead from your healthcare provider, here are some natural methods that may coax your body into labour.
Walking– Walking and your upright posture can help your baby move down in your pelvis into a better position. It is also thought that the pressure of your baby’s head on your cervix when you walk stimulates the release of oxytocin, the hormone that triggers contractions.
Sex– Orgasms can release oxytocin, the hormone that triggers contractions, jump starting labour. In addition, sperm contains prostaglandins, hormones that dilate and thin out the cervix.
Spicy food– It is believed that spicy food may irritate the lining of the stomach, resulting in contractions.
Nipple stimulation– Again as with sex, nipple stimulation may lead to oxytocin release, jump starting labour.
Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 40
Braxton Hicks contractions – Braxton Hicks contractions are named after Dr. John Braxton Hicks, who first described them. They are the result of muscles in your uterus flexing, preparing your body for labour. However, unlike true labour contractions, they are not strong enough to push your baby out. Braxton Hicks contractions often go away when you shift your position. They are also irregular and do not last for more than 1 minute.
Pelvic pain – Around 80% of moms-to-be experience pelvic pain, mainly in the third trimester. It will become more noticeable following lightening, when the baby drops down to the pelvic area. Pelvic pain can range from being a minor discomfort to extreme pain when walking. You will want to distinguish between pelvic pain and pelvic pressure, since pelvic pressure is a sign of labour. Pelvic pressure is felt in the pelvis and the rectum, and is similar to the menstrual cramps and groin pain. Pelvic pressure is also associated with back pain.
Insomnia – Several other pregnancy symptoms that keep you from getting a good night of sleep like heart burn, leg grams, and frequent need to urinate can be behind insomnia. Some moms believe it is nature’s way of preparing you for the sleepless nights to come once the baby is born. Exercise, getting fresh air, reducing your caffeine intake, and limiting screen time right before bed can help you get some shut eye.
Changes in vaginal discharge – It is normal to notice changes in vagina discharge at this stage of pregnancy. But, if this discharge looks watery it may be amniotic fluid. In this case, you will need to contact your healthcare provider. You may also notice pinkish (blood-tinged) vaginal discharge when you lose your mucous plug. Loosing your mucous plug may be a sign of impending labour.
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