Contents
40 weeks pregnant: advice for expectant mothers, the stomach turns to stone, pulls the bottom
Expectations will soon end and the long-awaited meeting with the baby will take place – the estimated date of birth falls on the 40th week of pregnancy. But often the predictions of doctors do not come true, and the child appears earlier or later than this period.
Tips for expectant mothers – how to determine the approach of labor
It all starts when the child is ready. If there are no harbingers of an impending birth, do not worry – most likely, this is due to an erroneous calculation of the estimated date.
Childbirth did not begin at the 40th week of pregnancy – the reason is in erroneous calculations of doctors
When that very moment comes, they will make you understand the signs that precede the onset of labor:
- The stomach drops. This becomes noticeable a few days before childbirth. This phenomenon is due to the fact that the baby settles down closer to the cervix, preparing for his exit into a new life. This feature manifests itself not only externally. It becomes easier for a woman to breathe, the problem with heartburn goes away, as the uterus stops pressing on the stomach and lungs. But now the load on the bladder is increased, which leads to a frequent need to urinate.
- About 2 days before childbirth, indigestion may occur – vomiting, diarrhea, nausea. Even if these symptoms are not present, a decrease in appetite is possible. It so happens that the expectant mother does not feel like eating at all, which leads to a slight weight loss by a couple of kilograms by the time of childbirth.
- A few days before the appearance of the baby, the mother wakes up a kind of instinct – the desire to equip her home, create even greater coziness and harmony, prepare a room for the baby.
- It is impossible not to notice such a “bell” as the prolapse of the mucous plug. It looks like a dense lump of mucus streaked with blood. For nine months, she served as a protection for the baby, closing the cervix. Now the road is cleared for him, so the traffic jam comes out – it is no longer needed.
The most obvious signs are the discharge of amniotic fluid and contractions. Water flows out spontaneously, in abundant flow. This is usually a clear liquid, but it can also have a yellow-green tint if meconium has got into it.
The abdomen becomes stony, the contractions are repeated regularly after a period of time, which is gradually reduced, and the painful sensations at the same time increase. What you need to do in order not to confuse real contractions with false ones: change your body position – sit down, walk around. If the pain persists, then labor will begin soon.
What happens to the child?
He is already fully formed and is also looking forward to a difficult journey and a meeting with his mother. His average height is 51 cm, weight is 3500 g, but these indicators depend on individual characteristics and heredity.
His movements are felt, but he can no longer frolic as before – he felt cramped in this warm and cozy house. It’s time to get out of there. At this time, watch the movements of the crumbs. If they become rare or, conversely, overly active, this may indicate some problems or his discomfort.
An indicator of 10 movements in 12 hours is considered normal for such a period. If the baby shows great mobility, this may be due to insufficient supply of oxygen to him. A small number of tremors or their absence is an alarming sign. In each of these cases, tell your gynecologist.
Painful sensations at 40 weeks
Now a woman may experience pain in the spine, most often in the lower back. Sore legs are common at this time. This is due to the enormous load experienced by the musculoskeletal system.
Advice to expectant mothers: watch the shape of the abdomen, shortly before childbirth, it goes down
At the same time, in a pregnant woman, the lower abdomen pulls and pains are felt in the groin area – as if the pelvic bone hurts. This means that the muscles and ligaments are preparing for childbirth, they are stretched. The pelvic bones become softer so that it is easier for the child to squeeze through the narrow passage. This is facilitated by the hormone relaxin, which is produced in late pregnancy.
A stabbing pain can be observed in the hip or extend to the knee. This happens if the uterus has compressed the femoral nerve.
Listen to your condition, pay attention to any changes. If you are worried about something and there are worries or suspicions about the normal course of the last days of pregnancy, then be sure to consult a doctor. It is better to make sure once again that everything is going well and the baby is in order than to be nervous and worried. Moreover, at a later date, pathologies may occur, leading to undesirable consequences.
Why do an ultrasound scan at 40 weeks?
At this time, it may be needed for certain reasons, if the gynecologist considers this examination necessary. This is often done to check the placenta. Over the entire period of pregnancy, it wears out and becomes old by the end of gestation. This can affect the baby’s normal oxygen supply.
In addition, an ultrasound scan may be necessary in case of an incorrect presentation of the fetus. If, before giving birth, the baby does not lower his head to the cervix, the doctor may prescribe a cesarean instead of natural childbirth – in some cases this is necessary for a successful outcome
Also, a study is prescribed if an umbilical cord entanglement was previously detected in a child – this knowledge will allow specialists to decide whether the baby can walk the path on his own or is it dangerous to his life.
Pay attention to the discharge. Transparent, not abundant and not thick droplets of mucus are considered normal. If they have a curdled or foamy consistency, flakes, yellow or green color – this is a sign of infection. This should be reported to the gynecologist. The same should be done when blood or dark spotting appears.
In these last days of pregnancy, watch your feelings and any manifestations of the body, in any case, it is always better to call an ambulance and be safe. Keep calm, listen to the doctor, the happiest moment, the sea of love and a lot of worries await you.