41 Weeks Pregnant - What If Labor Does Not Start? No Signs

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

41 weeks pregnant

41 weeks of pregnancy - this is the period to which most women do not reach. Although, it also happens that the estimated date of birth is left behind, and the child still does not want to be born. You should not panic, since in the overwhelming majority of cases childbirth does not begin due to the fact that their date was calculated incorrectly. In general, childbirth that occurs at 37-42 weeks of gestation is considered physiological, that is, normal.

It should also be borne in mind that the following factors can influence the duration of pregnancy:

• Average duration of the menstrual cycle.
• The exact date of the release of the egg from the ovary.
• The factor of heredity.
• The age of the pregnant woman.
• The presence of diseases of the endocrine system.

Content:

• What's going on with the baby?
• How should a woman behave at 41 weeks of pregnancy?
• Harbingers of imminent birth at 41 weeks of gestation
• Stomach ache
• What can be the discharge?
• Why didn’t give birth at 41 weeks of gestation and what to do?
• Analyzes and examinations
• Important tips for a woman

What's going on with the baby?

The child at this time is completely ready for birth. All his organs and systems will function in full volume outside the mother's belly. And there is very little space left in it. However, the child continues to move, although his activity has noticeably decreased. The growth of the fetus does not stop. By this time, it reaches 51-52 cm. The child's body weight also increases, which can reach 3.5-3.7 kg.

Kidneys, liver, pancreas, heart and other organs are working properly. The baby's lungs contain a surfactant. There was enough of it so that the baby could take its first breath and start breathing on its own.

The baby's intestines contain the original feces (meconium). Most often, it leaves the intestines on the first day after birth. Although it is possible that meconium can get into the amniotic fluid. The baby's intestines are cleansed in the womb most often when the fetus suffers from oxygen starvation. The child begins to move more actively, the muscle spasms intensify and the original feces come out. After it enters the amniotic fluid, the baby can swallow it. Therefore, after birth, it is often required to connect the baby to a ventilator.

The child's vocal cords are strengthened; soon, with their help, he will give signals to his parents. The bones of the skull also continue to strengthen. Therefore, the longer the baby is in the womb, the higher the risk that she will get a tear during labor. The cartilage in the ear is also hardened.

The baby's immunity is improving, it is enhanced by the antibodies that it receives from the mother.

The body of the fetus is cleared of original lubricant, it remains only in the armpits and in the area of the inguinal folds. The fluff has completely disappeared from the body. The child's hair and nails continue to grow. Very often, a baby is born with an impressive head of hair, and the nails on the fingers of the arms and legs are very long and sometimes even cut into the skin.

The child begins to gradually "round": he already has chubby cheeks, fat has appeared under the skin. Every day the baby accumulates another 25-30 g of fat. The skin itself became pink and smooth.

The baby has assumed that position in the uterus, in which he will remain until the very birth. He lies head down, pressed against the pelvic floor. Sometimes the fetus takes a transverse or breech presentation. In this case, the woman should be placed in the hospital a few days before the onset of labor, this is done so that doctors can quickly decide on the method of delivery, since it is possible that a cesarean section may be required. Although if the fetus does not reach a large size, then natural childbirth is possible with a breech presentation.

How should a woman behave at 41 weeks of pregnancy?

The woman, as before, continues to feel fetal movements, although they have become less intense. If suddenly there are no movements for a long time, then you must definitely go to an appointment with a doctor. The average number of movements per day is 10.

A woman needs to learn to occupy herself in order to stop constantly thinking about the upcoming birth. Peace and quiet should be enjoyed. There is no need to give up intimate relationships with your beloved man. At this time, such natural stimulation of labor will no longer harm. You can also pamper yourself with some sweets, as many foods will have to be discarded during breastfeeding. Compliance with the dietary diet during lactation is a prerequisite.

Getting enough sleep is equally important. This will help you gain strength and improve your mood.

If contractions begin, you should calm down and walk around the room. It is possible that these contractions are false. Real contractions happen at intervals of 7-10 minutes. Moreover, their intensity gradually increases, and the rest interval decreases. Moreover, you should not hesitate with a trip to the hospital when the water is running out.

At this time, you should remove all thoughts from your head and focus as much as possible on the birth process. You need to think only about the child and try with all your might to help him be born. It is important to follow all the doctor's instructions, breathe correctly, be able to relax on time, etc.

Immediately after the baby comes out of the birth canal, mucus will be removed from his mouth, which will facilitate the first breath. The child will take a breath of air and make his first cry. After cutting the umbilical cord, he is completely separated from the mother at the physiological level, but emotional dependence, of course, persists.

It is good if it is possible to attach the baby to the breast immediately after childbirth. Colostrum is a very valuable product for a baby. Thanks to him, the intestines are colonized with the first beneficial bacteria, and immunity is enhanced.

Harbingers of imminent birth at 41 weeks of gestation

A woman who is expecting a baby is probably interested in what signs may indicate an impending birth.

The harbingers of imminent birth are:

• Exit of the mucous plug. As a rule, after her discharge, labor begins in 7-14 days.
• Training bouts. They usually start a few weeks before the upcoming birth, and sometimes they happen a couple of days before they start. Pain during training contractions resembles pain during menstruation. If the contractions are strong and happen with the same time period, which is gradually becoming shorter, then these are real contractions and it's time to go to the hospital.
• Abdominal prolapse. This happens a few weeks before the baby is born. At the same time, such unpleasant symptoms as belching and heartburn go away, and it becomes easier to breathe.
• Losing weight. Before giving birth, the body gets rid of excess fluid, so a woman can lose 1-2 kg.
• Increased urination. As the birth approaches, the child begins to press more and more on the lower abdomen, which makes the woman go to the toilet more often.
• The appearance of colostrum. It can be found on the bra as spots that smell like milk.
• Outpouring of amniotic fluid. Water, along with labor pains, is the clearest sign that labor is about to begin. Therefore, when they leave, it is necessary to go to the hospital.

Sometimes a woman does not notice any precursors of childbirth at all and they begin with contractions, which is also quite normal.

How to understand that labor has begun:

How to distinguish false contractions from real ones? How do contractions start and how long do they last? Feelings of women who have already given birth:

Stomach ache

Abdominal pain can bother a woman during the last few weeks of pregnancy. If the pain is pulling and unobtrusive, then most likely it is a sign that labor is about to begin. At this time, the child is increasingly pressed against the pelvic floor, which provokes painful sensations in the abdomen. They can spread to the lumbar region, to the groin and thigh, as well as to the lower extremities. After childbirth, these pains disappear without a trace.

Sometimes the stomach hurts due to an eating disorder. Some pregnant women suffer from gas and constipation, and some from diarrhea.

The most dangerous cause of abdominal pain is placental abruption. Most often, this pathology of pregnancy is accompanied by the development of bleeding, although sometimes it is internal. Therefore, if a woman feels anxiety, then it is best to dispel it in the doctor's office.

Other reasons that can lead to abdominal pain at 41 weeks of gestation:

• Training bouts. In addition to pain, they can cause an increase in the tone of the uterus to such an extent that the abdomen seems "stone".
• Sometimes, during the movements, the baby kicks the mother in the liver or in the stomach. Since the baby is already quite large, these blows can be very noticeable.
• During pregnancy, chronic illnesses may worsen, leading to corresponding pain.

At this time, the woman feels very awkward and clumsy. It is difficult for her to find a comfortable sleeping position. In addition to pain at 41 weeks of gestation, edema may appear. If they are not strong and pass quickly, then you should not worry about this.

What can be the discharge?

Discharge can tell a lot about a woman's health. If they have a yellow or green tint, a curdled or foamy consistency, then this clearly indicates an infection. Such discharge almost always has an unpleasant odor. The disease developing at 41 weeks of gestation requires surgical treatment. If you immediately consult a doctor, you can have time to get rid of it before the onset of labor. Otherwise, there is a high risk that the child will become infected.

Transparent or milky discharge, which contains mucous inclusions, is considered normal. They can be slightly pinkish or cream in color. Mucus appears in the discharge due to the discharge of the mucous plug, which closed the cervix and protected the child from various infections. The cork sometimes comes out completely, and sometimes in parts. Her departure is a harbinger of imminent birth. After the mucous plug comes out, a woman needs to refuse bathing and sex in order to minimize all possible risks of infection of the fetus.

If there is blood from the genital tract, you need to immediately call an ambulance. Most often, this indicates a placental abruption. This condition poses a direct threat to the health and life of the mother and child.

The appearance of abundant liquid discharge indicates an outpouring of amniotic fluid. If they go in a stream, then you need to go to the hospital, since labor will begin soon. But even if the water just leaks, then you should not hesitate to visit the doctor. Leakage of water is a sign of thinning of the placenta, which is also dangerous for the baby.

Normally, the waters may contain white flakes, which are particles of the original lubricant. When the waters are colored green, this indicates that meconium has entered them. This must be reported to the doctor.

Why didn’t give birth at 41 weeks of gestation and what to do?

Most often, childbirth at 41 weeks of gestation does not occur, because the date of conception was incorrectly set. You should not worry about this, you just need to go for a consultation with a doctor so that he assesses the condition of the pregnant woman and the fetus.

Sometimes pregnancy can last as long as 42 weeks, which is quite normal. This often happens to women who give birth for the first time after the age of 30. Or maybe the baby is just comfortable in the mother's stomach, and he does not want to leave him. Therefore, there is no reason for concern, but the doctor must necessarily examine the woman and exclude any threat.

If the doctor identifies any risks for the child, and the woman's uterus is ready for childbirth, then drug stimulation is possible. It is also carried out with the discharge of amniotic fluid, but if there are no contractions. Other reasons for the artificial stimulation of labor can be kidney disease, preeclampsia, multiple pregnancies, polyhydramnios and the presence of chronic diseases.

If there is no risk to the health and life of the mother and child, then you can continue to carry on with the pregnancy. Intimacy and nipple massage are often used as gentle and natural stimulation of labor.

Movement helps to bring labor closer. For example, you can go down and up stairs, walk more, but in no case should a woman lift weights.

It is believed that eating pineapple, spicy foods, or drinking tea based on raspberry leaves can provoke childbirth. You can also put a few drops of castor oil on a piece of brown bread and eat it. This will increase intestinal motility and cause uterine contractions. However, when a large amount of oil is ingested, diarrhea and nausea can develop, which is quite dangerous.

Other ways to stimulate labor are:

• Setting an enema, which will help increase the production of prostaglandins.
• Acupuncture massage of the inner side of the ankle joint.

In any case, you should not resort to any methods of natural stimulation of labor without prior medical advice. Moreover, if the doctor does not see threats to the fetus and the woman herself, then it is best to reach the due date until the end and wait until the child decides to be born. Moreover, several days do not affect anything.

Stimulation of labor, how is the procedure going and what you need to know:

Analyzes and examinations

If childbirth has not occurred, then the woman must undergo the following set of examinations:

• Donate blood for general analysis.
• Pass urine for a general analysis.
• Find out your weight.
• Measure your blood pressure.
• Get examined on a gynecological chair.
• Undergo cardiotocography (registration of fetal heart rate).
• According to the testimony, the doctor can send a woman for an ultrasound scan.

During the examination, the doctor must listen to the fetal heartbeat, feel and measure the abdomen.

Important tips for a woman

• The travel bag to the hospital must be collected. It is important that all documents are complete.
• At 41 weeks of gestation, be sure to visit a doctor. It is also possible to undergo an ultrasound scan.
• A woman's nutrition should be correct. It is necessary to somewhat limit the calorie content of dishes and reduce the amount of fluid consumed.
• It is important to follow the daily routine and get enough rest.
• Don't forget about moderate physical activity.
• The skin of the abdomen, thighs and breasts should be additionally moisturized. To do this, you should use special creams.
• Be sure to be in the fresh air every day.
• At home, you need to try to put things in perfect order. All family members must be involved in these works.
• While there is time, you should continue to improve the technique of correct breathing, which will be very useful during childbirth.
• It is necessary to take care in advance about who will do household chores while the woman is in the hospital.
• It is necessary to continue to communicate with your child, and also try to maintain a positive emotional attitude.

Fees to the hospital, what you need to take with you:

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.