Fetal development week 40

The article is professionally consulted by Doctor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

40 weeks pregnant, or 38 weeks after conception are all in the 9th month of pregnancy. Fetal development at 40 weeks is complete and not much has changed from a week ago, except for the hair and nails that continue to grow.

How much does a 40-week fetus weigh? It is not possible to say for certain the weight and height of a newborn baby because every baby will be different in size. In general, a newborn baby will weigh about 3,338kg and be about 51cm long, about the same as a pumpkin. However, there are still many perfectly healthy infants with body mass greater or less than the above average number.
Newborn's Skin Normally, all babies are born with a reddish-purple skin, which turns pinkish-red in about a few days. The pinkish-red tone that originates from the blood vessels can be seen through the delicate skin of a newborn. In addition, the baby's hands and feet may be slightly blue because the blood circulation is still in the adult stage, there is not enough oxygen and red blood cells. In the next 6 months, your baby's skin will return to its true color and stay fixed until adulthood. On the other hand, the waxy layer of sebum that covered the whole body of the fetus, acting as a moisturizer, has now disappeared. Because of this, a newborn's skin can become dry at random places.
Strengthen children's resistance The development of the fetus in 40 weeks depends on the special activity of the placenta. Towards the end of pregnancy, the placenta continues to provide antibodies to help the baby fight off infections for the first 6 months of life. If you plan to breastfeed, breast milk will continue to provide your baby with more antibodies to strengthen the immune system. In particular, colostrum - the first milk line and has a yellow color, is especially rich in antibodies, so it is necessary to feed the baby with mother's colostrum in the days after birth.
Infant's vision The first thing parents want to see after the baby is born is probably the part that determines the exact sex of the baby. In addition, the baby's body still has some blood, sebum wax, some fluff and amniotic fluid left on the baby's body. Meanwhile, from the baby's perspective, the mother's image can be seen quite faintly, because the newborn's vision can only focus with a distance equivalent to 2.5cm. However, your baby's vision will soon improve in the near future.
Talk to the newborn baby Parents don't forget to talk to your baby right from the moment he's born. The 40-week-old fetus's development can help babies recognize sounds coming from familiar voices of loved ones.
Baby's lying position after birth The first days after birth, it's likely that your baby is still curled up in the fetal position like the past nine months. It takes a while for a baby to lie flat and become more comfortable. This is also the reason why many babies like to be wrapped in towels or diapers, this action makes the baby feel familiar and warm like being in the mother's womb.
40 weeks pregnant mother should pay attention to the baby's movements and let the obstetrician know immediately if you do not notice a lot of labor at 40 weeks. The baby will now continue to be active until the day of birth, so there is a high risk of problems when the intensity of the 40-week pregnancy is reduced.

Theoretically, the development of a 40-week-old fetus is complete and 9 months of pregnancy should end with the birth of the fetus. However, the case of babies born not on schedule is still quite common, accounting for about 30%. You should not be too worried and panic if after 40 weeks you still have not noticed any signs of labor.
In fact, the calculation of the due date is based on the time of the last menstrual period. Therefore, if the mother's ovulation date was late, the due date may no longer be completely accurate. This means that the baby is not born as late as the mother thinks.
But even when the due date calculations are correct, some women stay pregnant longer than usual for unknown reasons. In this case, the obstetrician will conduct some specific tests, such as ultrasound to assess the health and check the fetal heart rate, to make sure that the mother can continue the pregnancy. safely.
If after 41 - 42 weeks, the mother is still pregnant, the doctor can discuss and suggest some measures to induce labor and induce labor. In a nutshell, due date is simply an estimate of how long the baby will be at full term, not the date the baby will be born. Giving birth before or after your due date is quite normal and not cause for concern.

In addition to preparing enough personal items for the date of birth and deciding on the baby's name, the mother should also note the following points:
Signs of labor: The doctor will check the mother's uterine dilation often often to diagnose the time of labor as well as decide whether the mother will have a vaginal birth or a cesarean section. In addition, the mother should go to the hospital as soon as her water breaks, regardless of the amount of amniotic fluid coming out more or less; Light exercise: Maintaining a walking routine close to home can promote contractions and labor. Besides, mothers can also refer to some gentle and appropriate exercises at this time, such as twisting, turning hips or stretching; Relax: Constantly thinking about the date of birth at this stage is inevitable. You can relax your mind by watching a movie, eating, or getting a massage. Soaking in the bath or pool also makes mom more comfortable because the body reduces gravity and becomes light. Fetal development at 40 weeks is a complete preparation for your baby to be ready to adapt and continue to grow in the outside world. What mothers need to do now is to keep mentally comfortable as well as physically healthy for the upcoming birth. In the event that the due date has passed but still no labor, the doctor will monitor the fetal status through ultrasound and laboratory steps. Induction measures will be discussed about 1-2 weeks later while the baby is still in the womb.
With the desire to ensure that the labor and delivery process takes place in the safest way for the pregnant mother and baby, Vinmec International General Hospital has launched the Maternity Care Program 2019 - Labor, which is 1 of the service packages included in the Maternity Care Program. Vinmec brings together a team of leading doctors and nurses in the country on maternity, modern equipment system, professional service quality, all to ensure the labor stage - the period marking the birth of Vinmec. Baby goes smoothly and best.

Get professional information from: Webmd.com, Mayoclinic.org