How Big is Your Baby?
Your baby will take birth very soon. In week 40 of pregnancy, an average fetus weighs around 6.2 to 9.2 pounds and measures 18.9 to 20.19 inches. But you won't know how big the baby is until its born.
Baby's growth and development
In the 40th week the baby continues to grow its hair and nails. It even keeps up that lung development and prepares for its birth.
Mother's Development
Changes You Experience
Your weight gain and size will remain the same now. It might be very difficult for you to move around during these days, but remember the baby is set to arrive extremely soon now. The labor process consists of three stages. The first stage is the dilation of cervix, which begins with the contractions. When you recognize that the contractions are real ones and not false alarm, you must reach the hospital.
The second stage begins after the cervix has dilated properly. During this stage, the mother is asked to push the baby. This process makes the baby come down in the birth passage, for being born.
When the baby’s head appears through vaginal opening after repeated contractions and pushing, and does not slip inside again, it is known as crowning. During this, the mother will experience a burning and tingling sensation in the area, as the baby stretches the opening of vagina. At this point, the mother must stop pushing or she might need an episiotomy.
The last stage is the delivery of the placenta. In most cases, the nerves in the area become blocked due to stretching and the mother does not feel this stage due to this reason.
Complications
One must get the non-stress test conducted by now. This helps in monitoring the baby’s vital statistics and the mother can feel the baby’s heartbeat during this process.
Consult the doctor in advance to know about the early stages of labor. It is important that you decide upon a technique to help labor get started before the situation actually arises. A common concern at this stage is caesarean birth. If the baby is not upside down in the womb, the doctor will conduct the delivery by operating on the mother. This is not a cause of concern as the doctors are well-equipped in handling such situations.
Diet
There are no specific requirements of diet during this stage. Just ensure that you have a number of light meals throughout the day to ensure that you remain full without feeling giddy or bulky.
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