{"id":10231,"date":"2021-04-15T07:17:35","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T11:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10231\/week-40-pregnancy\/"},"modified":"2024-04-23T17:17:22","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T21:17:22","slug":"week-40-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10231\/week-40-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"40 weeks pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n

For more information about week 40 in a twin or multiple pregnancy, tap here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The day of days is here! Some folks will have given birth by the time their due date arrives, but if your little one wants to wait, that\u2019s usually just fine unless there are complications. Rest assured, Baby<\/span> can\u2019t wait to finally meet you!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How\u2019s Baby<\/span>?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Baby<\/span> is at full birth size by now, which on average is about 7-8 lbs and 20.2 inches tall \u2014 about the size of a fresh watermelon \u2014 although these measurements can vary significantly even among healthy babies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Baby<\/span>\u2019s skull is not yet fused together so that the plates, or small sections of bone, can overlap when they\u2019re squeezing their way out of the birth canal during labor. This means that your little one\u2019s head might come out looking a bit cone-shaped after birth, but it will become round in the hours and days after they\u2019re born.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s true that Baby<\/span> won\u2019t immediately recognize your face when they first leave the womb and enter the world \u2014 after all, at that point, your baby hasn\u2019t seen anything that isn\u2019t the inside of your uterus and their vision isn\u2019t great. But Baby<\/span> will prefer the sound of your voice to all other sounds, and they\u2019ll be able to recognize it because they\u2019ve been listening to you for months now and learning what you sound like from inside the womb! So as you greet your little one in the outside world, talk to Baby<\/span> softly or even sing a familiar song. Your sweet baby will be just as excited to finally meet you as you are to meet them!<\/span><\/p>\n

What’s new with you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If you haven\u2019t given birth to your baby yet, it\u2019s entirely normal to be feeling a bit desperate for Baby<\/span> to <\/span>just move out already<\/span><\/em> at this point. You might be dealing with back pain, or feel otherwise uncomfortable this week. If you are pregnant at the end of this week, your healthcare provider might talk to you about additional appointments and monitoring next week or inducing labor before 42 weeks, when the risk of complications for you and Baby get more significant. You may also choose to induce sooner than 42 weeks for non-medical reasons. The important part is having an open discussion about the risks and benefits of any induction for you and your baby<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides a medically induced labor, there are a couple of things you can try that may speed up the process. Staying active with long walks, stimulating your nipples, and engaging in sexual intercourse are some popular ways to try to induce labor from the comfort of your own home. While many of these have not been scientifically proven to have an effect, talk to your provider if you are considering trying to move things along on your own. Keep in mind that your due date is just a rough estimate of when Baby<\/span> should arrive, and it\u2019s okay if your little one prefers to operate on their own timeline.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019re finding it hard to wait for your little one, reaching your due date <\/span>is<\/span><\/em> worth celebrating. Think of just how far you and Baby<\/span> have come together. Congratulations, you made it!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team<\/h5>\n
Read more<\/h5>\n