Overview

You have started your 41st week of pregnancy and its time to pack your bags. You would be impatient to welcome your baby so is the baby waiting impatiently to come out of the womb. You have waited for a long, 40 weeks, and now its time for the arrival of the baby. The baby is completely grown and tries hard to come out. You may get your labor pain any time so you need to be prepared. You must decide whether your partner would come along during your deliver or no. you also decide whom to take along to the hospital. You can keep a track of your pregnancy week by week to enjoy it. Remember not to remove tags of the clothes that you have already purchased for your baby as the size of the baby might vary. You can plan for a great welcome for your baby. You would need to pack a lot of things for the baby including gifts. You might get labor pains anytime and so you need be prepared. You need to continue with your exercises and healthy food. You need to include fresh fruits, vegetables, fat free and healthy food in your meals. Moderate exercising would help you to be fit and ultimately would help during delivery. Kegel exercises on a regular basis would help strengthening uterine muscles. You also need to rest in order to collect energy for delivery and stay in a healthy condition. You would have a healthy baby only if you remain in a healthy condition.

Baby’s Development

By 41st week of pregnancy, the baby grows completely. Your baby is trying hard to get comfortable by making continuous movements. Your baby is sitting in a cramped position by 41st week and is ready to come out of the womb. The baby is stuck for a long and is waiting impatiently to come out just like you eagerly waiting. By now the baby weights near about 8 ¼ ibs and almost 20 inches long. The baby sleeps a lot as there is no space for it to move. The baby continues to sleep even during the contractions. As the pushing contraction occurs, the baby’s head is pushed downwards and so soon it is over the baby is pushed back. This continues until the baby moves down through the birth canal and remains visible. As the baby continues to grow it does not find space to move and makes the mother feel heavier. Although the baby adds some weight it manages to move swiftly. All the organs of the baby are matured and the bones become strong. Only the brain and lungs does not get matured completely until the birth of the baby. There is very little lanugo left on the baby’s skin. Some of the lanugo would remain behind the ears. You can continue counting the kicks of the baby. There should be about 10 kicks in 4 hours of time. If you have any concerns related to your baby then you should rush and visit your doctor. On an average the babies are born four days after the due date.

Changes in your body

Your inner part of vagina may sting and burn due to the upside down position of the baby. During the 41st week of pregnancy you would still experience various changes in your body. You would feel the kicks and moments of the baby. If you do not get labor pain by this time then you must visit doctor and have a regular checkup. You can count the kicks in order to assure if your baby is fine. You can monitor the movements of your baby. If in case your labor is induced there are many things that could be done. Breaking your waters could help stimulating contractions. You could take a pessary of hormone gel in your vagina which would help labor inducing hormones. You could be also given drip of oxytocin which would help putting hormones directly in your bloodstream in order to arouse labor. You need to prepare yourself to welcome the baby. The baby too is impatiently waiting to get out of the womb. Mostly the babies in a healthy environment weight more also have more amount of hair. Your baby would come out when it is ready. So, you need not worry and only prepare for the arrival of the baby. You would become more anxious than ever. Its time for you to rejoice as your baby is to arrive soon. You need to save all your energy and save it for your delivery. You may suffer from indigestion, heartburn, or nausea during the 41st week of pregnancy. You should eat fiber rich meals also avoid fatty foodstuffs. Consumption of adequate amount of water is necessary in order to keep hydrated. You may feel frustrated as the due date is approaching and you are waiting for the baby.

What to expect

If you happen to develop a vaginal discharge that smells foul inspite of a normal delivery of the baby, then you must visit your doctor as there might be some serious problem. Only about 5% of the babies are born on their actual due dates. The other pregnancies that go post pregnancy date are so because their dates are not calculated correctly. You do not have to worry about the delivery as it would its way. You can keep a track of every week of your pregnancy and treasure these days. You need not worry as many women pass their due dates. If the due date passes, then artificial induction methods could be used for labor. You can also go for some non-medical techniques. However consult your doctor before going through any techniques at home for getting labor started. A non-stress test would be helpful as you would be assured of baby’s good health. You might get your labor pains anytime and you would end your waiting. You need not worry and just relax and wait for the baby to arrive.