At 40 weeks, each newborn baby is different so at this point, it’s hard to say how big your baby is in weight and in length. On average, most newborns weigh about 7 1/2 pounds (and boys tend to be bigger than girls). The skull bones are not yet fused together which allows them to overlap since it’s a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called “molding” is the reason your baby’s head may look a little cone head after birth. Rest assured, it’s normal and only temporary.

Body Changes in the 40th Week of Pregnancy

After months of anticipation and waiting, your due date is rolling around. If you find that your due date comes and goes with no sign of baby, it’s common. But, you may not be as late as you think, especially if you’re relying solely on a due date calculated from the day of your last period because sometimes women ovulate later than expected. Even with reliable dating, some women have prolonged pregnancies for no apparent reason.

At your doctors, you may have a biophysical profile (BPP), which consists of an ultrasound to look at your baby’s overall movements, breathing movements, and muscle tone, and measure the amount of amniotic flud that surrounds baby. You may also have a fetal hear rate monitor also known as a non stress test (“NST”) performed as well or you may have what is known as a modified biophysical profile (“BPP”), which consists of an NST and an ultrasound to assess the amount of amniotic fluid.

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At 39 weeks pregnant, it’s almost the end and your baby is weighing in between 7 to 8 pounds; and your baby is measuring between 19 to 21 inches in length. And it’s likely that those measurements won’t change from here on out but, the baby’s brain is still growing and at an astonishing rate, a pace that will continue for the first three years of life. The pink skin has now turned more white (even babies who’ll have darker skin later appear whitish now as they haven’t yet developed pigment).

By now, babies head has probably also dropped into your pelvis, which makes your breathing easier but walking harder. Try to take it easy as the end of your pregnancy is within reach.

Body Changes in the 39th Week of Pregnancy

At your now weekly visits to your doctor, you will have an abdominal exam to check your baby’s growth and position. You may also have an internal exam to see whether your cervix has started softening, effacing, and dilating. But, even this information about your cervix won’t help your doctor predict exactly when baby is going to come! Even if your cervix is already soft, partially effaced and dilated, you can still carry your baby for another few weeks – and just before you’re 42 weeks pregnant your doctor will speak to you about options for induction if you haven’t gone into labor yet. And if you’re cervix is still completely closed, that doesn’t mean you still have weeks to go. Softening, effacing and dilating can happen quickly (within several hours) or very slowly (over many weeks). But if your cervix still isn’t showing signs of opening, you can ask your doctor about certain natural methods to help the process progress – such as taking evening primrose oil supplements.

Since you can go into labor and your baby can come anytime now, make sure you know the signs of labor, and have your hospital bag packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice.

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At 38 weeks pregnant your baby is already reaching 7 pounds, getting more and more plump these days. Your baby now has a firm grasp, which you’ll soon be able to test when you hold their hand for the first time. The organs have matured and are ready for life outside. For example, baby is producing more surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs in the lungs from sticking to one another once baby begins to breath.

Are you daydreaming about the color of your baby’s eyes? Don’t be discouraged when you can’t tell right away. If your baby is born with brown eyes, they’ll likely stay brown. But babies born with steel gray or dark blue eyes may stay gray, blue, or turn green, hazel or brown by the time baby is 9 months old. This happens because the child’s irises may gain more pigment in the months after birth, but they usually won’t get “lighter” or more blue.

Body Changes in the 38th Week of Pregnancy

Your body is tending to some final touches as well, one of which is getting the milk up and running for baby. Part of the process is producing colostrum, a thin yellowish liquid that’s the precursor to breast milk. Colostrum is full of antibodies that protect your newborn, and has more protein and less fat and milk sugar than the breast milk that arrives later. Chances are you’re leaking colostrum you might want to break out those nursing pads right about now. If you’re not leaking but you are curious about colostrum, you can gently squeeze your areola to express a few drops.

If you’re feeling as though you’re playing the waiting game, try to use this time to make some final touches for your home and family. Finish up the baby’s nursery, take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for awhile, take naps, catch up on reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can. In just a few weeks, everything will change.

In these last few weeks you may notice swelling in your feet and ankles, it’s normal. However, call your doctor right away if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have sudden weight gain. Additionally, if you have severe or persistent headaches, visual changes, intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting call your doctor as these symptoms are common of a serious condition known as preeclampsia.

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This week your baby is officially full term though your due date is still three weeks away. If your baby arrives after this point, the lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside. In preparation for the big debt, baby is inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid to get the lungs ready for the first breath, sucking the thumb to prepare for the first suckle of milk, blinking, and turning from side to side. Meanwhile, it’s still a busy time to pack on the pounds as the average baby is now weighing in at 6 1/2 pounds.

A large majority of babies come into the world with 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches of hair. And don’t be surprised if your baby’s hair isn’t the same color as yours. Fair-haired couples have been surprised by dark-haired babies and dark-haired couples are somethings thrown when their child comes out as blonds or redheads. While other babies, of course, come out with nothing more than peach fuzz.

Body Changes in the 37th Week of Pregnancy

Congratulations! You’ve reached full-term. A pregnancy is considered to be a “full term” pregnancy at 37 weeks pregnant.

Braxtion Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently and may be growing more uncomfortable. There’s also a chance you have noticed an increase in vaginal discharge. If by chance you see what is commonly referred to as the “bloody show,” (mucus with a tiny amount of blood) in the toilet or your panties, labor is probably only a few days away or less. However, if you have spotting or bleeding, call your doctor immediately.)

Typically by this point in pregnancy it’s become harder to get comfortable enough to get a good night’s sleep. If you find that you can’t sleep well try to take it easy through the day, it may be your last chance to do so for awhile. During periods of relation, continue to monitor your baby’s movements and let your doctor know immediately if you notice a decrease.

Your doctor will begin looking for signs of labor this week. The doctor’s checklist will include: baby’s position in relation to your pelvis (engagement) and whether effacement (thinning of the cervix) and dilation (opening of the cervix) have begun. You’ll also want to be sure to ask your doctor about the results of your Group B strep culture.

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Baby is busy packing on the pounds at almost 6 pounds now and putting it on at the rate of an ounce per day.

This week, your baby will begin to shed the downy covering of hair that covered the body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected the skin during baby’s growth in the womb. Your baby will swallow both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in the previously mentioned black sticky mixture, called meconium, which will form the contents of the first bowel movement.

Between 37 to 42 weeks, your baby is full term. Babies born before this week are considered preterm and babies born after the 42nd week are considered post-term. Your baby should be in the head down position ready for delivery but if by chance your baby is in another position, your doctor may schedule an appointment to coax your baby to turn into a head-down position by manipulating the baby from outside your belly.

Body Changes in the 36th Week of Pregnancy

Chances are good that you’re doing that pregnancy waddle as a result of the hormone-triggered loosening and softening of your connective tissue. This is your body’s way of getting ready to give birth to that big baby out of a very small space. The loosening of joints can lead to some pretty painful hip and pelvic pain but, hang in there… you’re nearly done!

With an almost full-term baby inside, you may find that you’re having a difficult time as your uterus is still taking up a lot of space in your body. Pushing against a lot of your organs, you may find that you’re visiting the bathroom more than ever and eating meals has become difficult.

Braxtion Hicks contractions may begin to be more frequent now. Make sure you that you know the signs of labor, especially if this is your first baby, so that you can easily tell the difference. As a general rule, if you’re full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn’t broken, your doctor will have you wait to come in until you’ve been having contractions that last for about an minute each and come every five minutes for an hour.

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In the head down position and packing on the pounds, your baby is now about 5 1/2 pounds and could be as much as 20 inches. All this growth hasn’t made for much room left in your uterus so while you’re probably not feeling the tiny circus you used to feel, being kicked and elbowed by your baby should still be fairly prominent.

At this point, most of the basic physical development is now complete. The kidneys are fully developed, the liver can process some waste products, and your baby’s head is still soft which allows for an easier exit through the birth canal.

Body Changes in the 35th Week of Pregnancy

When you first conceived your uterus was tucked inside your pelvis but it now reaches up under your rib cage. Inside your womb there is now more baby than amniotic fluid.

Starting this week, you will probably begin to see your doctor every week. Your doctor will be doing a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). Typically harmless, GBS could pass from Mother to child during birth and cause complications such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Between 10 to 30% of pregnant women have the bacteria and don’t know, it’s vital to be screened. If by chance you are a GBS carrier, you’ll receive an IV of antibiotic during labor, which will reduce your baby’s risk of infection significantly.

If you haven’t already done so, now is a great time to start putting together your birth plan. A birth plan will help with the simple decisions that are made during labor like who will be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay once you have delivered. A birth plan is a great starting point for discussion with your doctor and the entire medical team present at delivery.

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Growth is the name of the game for your baby in week 33. Now a little over 4 pounds and the potential to pick up another inch in length this week, baby is looking a little less alien as the skeleton is hardening and fat is making for a more plump baby.

The bones in your baby’s skull aren’t yet fused together. In fact, this won’t happen until early adulthood as the skull needs give room for coming out of the birth canal and later brain and tissue development.

Around your baby, the amniotic fluid has reached its max with the big baby that is now inside. Because of this, you may feel those pokes and jabbs a little more sharply.

Body Changes in the 33rd Week of Pregnancy

Now that you’re well into the third trimester, you might be experiencing some old pregnancy symptoms from the first trimester creeping back – or a possible of onslaught of new symptoms.

Having a hard time sleeping? If you’re sleeping well, consider yourself lucky. Many pregnant women at around week 33 begin getting leg cramps, having multiple bathroom runs, and that ever growing basketball sized belly probably doesn’t make it easy to get some restful zzz’s. You can consider it practice for sleepless nights you might have once your baby arrives. And for this reason, you have to try to get as much rest as possible now – take naps during the days if needed. And even though it may feel like there’s so much to be done in the final countdown before baby arrives, don’t fight fatigue if you get it – listen to your body and rest!

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This week your baby is weighing in at about 5 pounds and is possibly as long as 20 inches now. Fat layers are continuing to develop which will be essential to your baby regulating their own temperature once out of the womb. These layers are also making baby more round and the skin more smooth than before.

The central nervous system is maturing and the lungs are continuing to mature as well.

If your baby is a boy, the testicles are making their way to the final destination in the scrotum. About 3 to 4% of boys are born with undescended testicles, it’s nothing to worry about. They’ll usually head down before he turns a year old.

Those tiny fingernails are reaching the end of baby’s finger now. Ready for their first clipping at the hospital. Be sure to include baby nail cutters in your hospital overnight bag.

Body Changes in the 34th Week of Pregnancy

If you’re not seeing as sharp as you used to, chalk it up to those great pregnancy hormones that you’re almost done with. Not only can your vision seem less sharp but, a decreased in tear production can leave your eyes dry and irritated, especially if you wear contact lenses. Plus an increase in fluid behind your eye’s lenses can temporarily change their shape, making women more nearsighted or farsighted than usually. Luckily, these vision changes during pregnancy are all temporary.

It’s possible that with this week, fatigue has set in again though probably not with the same intensity you saw in the first trimester. Being tired is perfectly understandable given the physical strain you’re under and the restless nights of sleep coupled with having to get up frequent potty breaks.

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Your baby is gearing up to make the grand debut into the world. Weighing in at almost 4 pounds and just about 19 inches, these last few weeks are all about practice and weight gain for your baby.

It’s time for your baby to fine tune those skills to thrive in the world: breaking, sucking, swallowing, and kicking. For weight gain, your baby is packing on the pounds as fat accumulates under your baby’s skin. Suddenly that skin is becoming less transparent, more opaque, soft, and smooth.

Body Changes in the 32nd Week of Pregnancy

As your baby’s growing needs increase, your body goes into overtime. Your blood volume has increased 40 to 50% since you got pregnant and your uterus is pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding in on your stomach’s space. The consequences of all this crowding may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help with the discomfort, eat smaller meals and try sleeping propped up with multiple pillows.

If you have an aching back and it’s not preterm labor, you can blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes once again. As your uterus expands it shifts, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles. This changes your posture and puts a strain on your back.

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Weighing in at 3 plus pounds and 18 inches long, your baby is quickly approaching the birth length through there’s still some pounds to pack on before the big delivery day. But while the weight gain continues, your baby is getting smarter as the brain is developing connections, trillions of them.

Your baby is now processing information, tracking light, turning the head from side to side, moving arms and legs, and perceiving signals from all 5 senses. All this in addition to putting in longer stretches of sleep which is why you’re probably noticing more defined patters of awake and moving and sleeping and still periods.

Body Changes in the 31st Week of Pregnancy

What is commonly called “premilk” or colostrum may be leaking from your breasts lately. If you’re experiencing this it’s time to pick up nursing pads to protect your bra and clothes. If your current bra is too tight, you may want to also consider picking up a nursing bra in at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in, you’ll be grateful to have the extra room in your bra.

If you feel your uterus tightening now and then you may be feeling the common random contractions known as Braxton Hicks contractions. These contractions typically last only 30 seconds, they’re irregulat, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless.

However, frequent contractions, even those that don’t hurt, may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your doctor immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or there are other signs of preterm labor such as an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge, abdominal pain, or menstrual-like cramping.

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