40 Weeks Pregnant - What If There Are No Harbingers?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

40 weeks pregnant

40 weeks of pregnancy is the period at which labor should begin. However, this is only a conditional date, since no more than 4% of women give birth at 40 weeks. Some people overshoot this period, and some underperform. The reason lies on the surface: the date of conception was determined incorrectly. Therefore, even if a woman does not give birth at the 40th week of pregnancy, then she should not have a reason for panic.

Content:

• Stirring fetus
• How does the expectant mother feel?
• Harbingers of childbirth at 40 weeks of gestation
• Stomach ache
• Allocations
• Ultrasound
• Important recommendations
• The principles of good nutrition
• Sex
• Answers to questions about 40 weeks of pregnancy

Stirring fetus

The child is in a state of readiness. All parts of the face and body are finally formed, all internal organs are ready to work outside the mother's belly. The average fetal growth at 40 weeks is 51.2 cm, and the body weight reaches 3.5 kg. The kid already has subcutaneous fat, has got chubby cheeks and smooth skin. He strives for the first meeting with his mother and the wide world.

Although the child does not have enough room for active movements, the woman will constantly feel his movements. At the same time, even the slightest attempt by the child to change the position of the body is clearly felt, because the uterus is very stretched.

The child is in a position that contributes to the easiest possible passage through the birth canal. His head is pressed to the pelvis, his legs are bent, his arms are folded over his chest. This is the well-known "posture of the embryo".

There is enough surfactant in the lungs to ensure normal respiration of the baby immediately after birth. From this point on, the alveoli will begin to enrich the blood with oxygen. The heart and blood vessels are also fully formed, as soon as the child takes the first breath of air, they are included in the general blood flow system.

The baby's intestines are sterile, it contains only meconium, which is released in the first days after birth.

At 40 weeks, a woman must pay attention to the nature of the baby's movements and their frequency. By these signs, one can judge the well-being of the unborn child. It is worth contacting a doctor if movements are absent for a long time, or, on the contrary, the fetus becomes overly active.

The normal number of movements per day is about 10. If the baby begins to move more actively, this may indicate oxygen starvation. But the absence of movements is no less dangerous sign. Therefore, you should not delay going to the doctor.

How does the expectant mother feel?

As a rule, every woman at such a late stage of pregnancy is in constant expectation that contractions will begin soon. Do not worry about the pregnancy being too long. Most likely, there was a mistake in the obstetric calculations. Therefore, there is no reason for panic.

You should not constantly sit in the apartment, holding a bag with things for the hospital at hand. You need to continue to lead the usual way of life, but do not forget that childbirth is getting closer every day and even every hour, and contractions can begin at any time.

Harbingers of childbirth at 40 weeks of gestation

There are some signs that indicate that labor will begin soon. Every pregnant woman should know them and be able to recognize them.

First, before the upcoming birth, the belly sinks, and with it the uterus and the baby. The baby presses his head against the pelvic floor, and the pressure on the diaphragm decreases. Thanks to this, the woman feels relief in breathing. Also annoying heartburn and belching disappear. However, the sagging uterus begins to press harder on the bladder, which leads to more frequent urination.

Secondly, impending labor may be indicated by disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system, which appear about 1-2 days before the onset of labor. Diarrhea occurs, nausea and vomiting may join.

Thirdly, many women indicate that they are experiencing an unprecedented surge of energy. The pregnant woman directs almost all these forces to the arrangement of housing, trying to prepare as much as possible a new small family member for his arrival.

Fourth, a decrease in appetite may indicate an imminent birth. Sometimes the desire to eat is completely absent. In parallel, the weight goes away, or is fixed at one mark. The maximum loss can be 2 kg.

It is imperative to pay attention to 3 main points by which you can understand for sure that childbirth will begin very soon:

• Discharge of the mucous plug. It looks like a dense lump of mucus; inclusions of bloody veins may be present in it. This plug covered the cervix throughout the entire time, protecting the child from viruses and other infections. After her discharge, the birth canal becomes free.
• Outpouring of amniotic fluid. It is impossible not to notice this, since streams of transparent, slightly yellowish liquid will flow down the legs. Sometimes, by 40 weeks, the baby's intestines are free of meconium (from the original feces). In this case, the amniotic fluid becomes greenish.
• Frequent and painful contractions indicate labor is about to begin. However, it is worth remembering that contractions can often be false. To distinguish them from real ones, you just need to get up and walk around the room. If the contractions stopped, then they were false. If the contractions continue and their frequency increases, then they are real. This means it's time to go to the hospital.

Stomach ache

Nagging abdominal pain is normal at such late stages of pregnancy. She can also give to the lower back, which is explained by the position of the child in the abdomen: the baby sank lower and presses on the pelvic bones. The woman is experiencing severe stress, which mainly falls on the stomach and lower back.

The pain usually worsens after lowering the abdomen. Although he may remain in the same position and not go down until the very birth. This is the norm, and it is definitely not worth worrying about.

In addition to the fact that a woman's stomach and lower back are pulling, her legs, back muscles and the spine in general may also hurt. This is quite natural, because the body is preparing for the birth of a child: bones and joints soften, muscles and ligaments are stretched.

The pelvic bones slowly, but systematically diverge, as the body produces the hormone relaxin at an accelerated rate. It helps to soften bones and move them apart. Naturally, this process can cause some painful sensations in the groin and pubic area. They are always accompanied by a feeling of heaviness.

Sometimes pregnant women complain of hip pain. Its cause is the clamping of the femoral nerve by the enlarged uterus. In some cases, the pain can be very intense and reach the kneecap.

At this stage of pregnancy, a woman should carefully listen to her own feelings. If she has even a slight suspicion that the pains are not associated with natural processes in the body, then it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Allocations

As well as throughout pregnancy, at 40 weeks a woman needs to carefully monitor the nature of the discharge. The absence of pathology is indicated by light or milky discharge, which may contain a certain amount of mucus. The discharge may become more viscous and thick, which is explained by the release of part of the mucous plug.

Bloody streaks may be present in the discharge. They appear there due to the fact that the cervix before childbirth becomes softer, the smallest capillaries burst, and a small part of the blood gets into the discharge.

However, really bloody discharge is a reason for an immediate visit to a doctor. Blood leaving the genital tract of a pregnant woman at such a late stage is a sign of placental abruption. This condition requires prompt medical assistance, so a woman should immediately call a medical team. You can't hesitate, as there is a direct threat to the life and health of the fetus and the expectant mother.

Foamy discharge of green or yellow color, leucorrhoea with impurities of pus require an urgent visit to the doctor. They unambiguously indicate the addition of an infection that needs to be treated. If this is not done, there is a high risk that the infant will be infected. Moreover, there is still time to get rid of the disease.

A thin, watery, and copious discharge indicates a drainage of water. This process indicates the imminent onset of labor, so you need to go to the hospital, taking everything you need with you.

A woman should know one peculiarity: the waters do not always drain massively. Sometimes they leak a little, and the contractions do not start. If you find leaking amniotic fluid, you should immediately consult a doctor. This happens when the membranes surrounding the baby become thinner and fluid begins to leak out. This condition requires medical supervision, since the risk of infection of the fetus is significantly increased.

Ultrasound

If a woman feels well and does not have any pregnancy pathologies, then an ultrasound examination is not required at this time. Although some experts recommend an ultrasound scan to assess the condition of the placenta. After all, every day it wears out and grows old. Naturally, this affects its functioning, and hence the well-being of the child. For example, he may begin to suffer from oxygen starvation, which leads to depression of brain activity, to disturbances in the work of the heart, and sometimes even to fetal death.

If an ultrasound scan is performed to assess the state of the placenta, then the doctor will certainly examine the baby himself, clarify its parameters, and exclude the slightest likelihood of the umbilical cord entwining the baby's neck. It is equally important to control the quality and volume of amniotic fluid, the readiness of the cervix for the upcoming birth.

During an ultrasound scan, a woman will be able to see her child well, if the equipment allows it. At this time, his facial features and all parts of the body are perfectly formed.

Immediately after birth, the mother may be confused by the baby's appearance. For example, his body is sometimes covered with fluff, the skin has a spotted or bluish color, the genitals are often swollen, and fluid is released from the nipples. The head of the baby may be irregular, slightly elongated. Do not worry about this, in the near future all these "frightening flaws" will pass by themselves.

After giving birth, you need to insist that the baby is immediately attached to the breast. This is very important not only for the baby, but also for the woman herself. The first drops of colostrum will colonize the intestines with beneficial bacteria, and it is also a very emotional and touching moment.

Immediately after the birth of the child, they wash, clear the respiratory tract, dress, and instill drops in the eyes that prevent the development of infection. The condition of the newborn is assessed by doctors on the Apgar scale. Then a tag is put on the crumbs, where the mother's surname, medical card number, height and weight of the child, as well as his gender are indicated. From this moment you can begin to enjoy the great happiness in the life of every woman - motherhood.

Other analyzes. A woman at this time will need to pass a general urine test and a general blood test, which will make sure that the body is working properly. She also needs to visit a gynecologist who will take measurements of the abdomen and pelvis. As necessary, the cervix is examined and its readiness for childbirth is assessed.

Important recommendations

• When contractions last for 1 minute, and the interval between them is about 4 minutes, and this condition persists for an hour, you need to go to the hospital.
• Although the waiting time for a baby is excruciatingly long, you need to stay in a good mood. Everything is going as it should, and excessive nervousness can affect the child's condition. In the future, the woman will suffer from sleepless nights due to the increased anxiety of the baby. Therefore, it is important to control yourself even at the stage of pregnancy.

The principles of good nutrition

It is imperative to adjust the menu of a pregnant woman. It should be focused on facilitating childbirth and achieving normal lactation after it.

All substances from the food that the mother eats will be received by her child. This happens first through the placenta and then through breastfeeding.

It is extremely important to completely exclude highly allergenic foods, trans fats, spicy and fried foods from your menu. You should lean on vegetables and fruits, dairy products are no less useful.

Nearly all women in late pregnancy often use the toilet at night to empty their bladder. This does not allow you to fully sleep, so you can reduce the amount of fluid you drink in a couple of hours from going to bed.

Sex

If pregnancy is normal, then even at 40 weeks, doctors do not prohibit intimate relationships between partners. The substances contained in sperm help the uterus better prepare for childbirth, and the woman herself enjoys intimacy, which helps to improve her mood. If, nevertheless, there are any doubts, then you should consult a doctor. He, like no one else, knows all the nuances of the course of a particular pregnancy, so he can give good advice.

Answers to questions about 40 weeks of pregnancy

• Training contractions at week 40 are painful, but not more frequent. Is this normal? This is the norm. If the training contractions become more palpable, this indicates the approach of labor. You need to continue to control the time intervals between contractions. If contractions occur at least once every 10 minutes, then this indicates the beginning of the labor process.
• The loin hurts, but the water has not gone away, there are no contractions. So labor can start? Many women note that their contractions began precisely with the appearance of pulling pains in the lumbar region. This is due to the location of the nerves in the uterus, as well as the position of the baby in the abdomen. In this case, lower back pain, which is characteristic of the onset of labor, will differ in a certain frequency. To do this, you just need to time the time and everything will become clear. If the pain intensifies, then you need to go to the hospital.
• At the 40th week of pregnancy, a pulling feeling appeared in the abdomen, but there is no pain and the water does not leave. A mucous plug came out, the stomach sank, and labor has not yet begun. Is it dangerous? There is no danger. Labor is considered normal even if it starts at 42 weeks of gestation. Everything is individual. However, if there are any doubts, it is best to dispel them with a doctor. The main danger of post-term pregnancy is the aging of the placenta, which becomes unable to provide the child with all the necessary substances. However, 40 weeks is a normal gestation period.
• Spotting appeared at 40 weeks. What could it be? Discharge with blood indicates placental abruption, which occurs at the wrong time. It is necessary to call an ambulance as soon as possible.
• The discharge at 40 weeks became thinner. What does it mean? Most likely, the woman began to leak water. To refute or confirm this fact, you need to go to the hospital. A prolonged anhydrous period should not be allowed, as this can be dangerous for the fetus.

The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.