Baby development

The development of the baby at 40 weeks of gestation, which is 9 months pregnant, is complete and he is ready to be born. All organs are fully formed, the heart beats approximately 110 to 160 times per minute and delivery can begin at any time.

Pay attention to how many times the baby moves a day and if your tummy gets stiff or feels cramped, as these are signs of labor, especially if they respect a regular frequency. Check out other signs of labor

Development of the fetus

The development of the fetus at 40 weeks of gestation shows that:

The skin is smooth, with fat folds on the legs and arms and there may still be some vernix. The baby may have a lot of hair or a few strands, but some are likely to fall out in the baby's first months. The muscles and joints are strong and the baby reacts to sound and movement. It recognizes familiar sounds, especially the mother's and father's voice, if it has communicated frequently with it. The nervous system is completely ready and mature enough for the baby to survive outside the womb, but brain cells will continue to multiply in the child's first years of life. The respiratory system is mature and as soon as the umbilical cord is cut, the baby will be able to start breathing on his own. space there, and so after birth, the ideal distance to talk to the baby is a maximum of 30 cm, which is approximately the distance from the breast to the mother's face.

Fetus size

The size of the fetus at 40 weeks of gestation is approximately 50 cm, measured from head to toe and the weight is about 3.5 kg.

Changes in women at 40 weeks pregnant

The changes in women at 40 weeks of pregnancy are marked by tiredness and swelling which, despite being more apparent in the legs and feet, can affect the entire body. At this stage, what is recommended is to rest as much as possible, having a light diet.

If contractions are still very sporadic, walking at a faster pace can help. The pregnant woman can walk for about 1 hour a day, every day, early in the morning or late afternoon, to avoid the hottest times of the day.

Most babies are born until 40 weeks of gestation, but it is possible that it will continue until 42 weeks, however, if labor does not start spontaneously until 41 weeks, it is possible that the obstetrician will choose to induce childbirth, which consists of administering oxytocin into the mother's bloodstream, in the hospital, to stimulate uterine contractions.

Your pregnancy by trimester

To make your life easier and you don't waste time looking, we have separated all the information you need for each trimester of pregnancy. What quarter are you in?