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Showing posts with label PREGNANCY WEEKS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PREGNANCY WEEKS. Show all posts

PREGNANCY WEEKS

By TIPS at December 03, 2019  ,  No comments

PREGNANCY WEEK 42

By TIPS at December 03, 2019  ,  No comments



Welcome to a “post-term” pregnancy. If you’re reading this, you’re one of the rare moms-to-be who makes it to 42 weeks pregnant. Don’t let all those people asking you where your baby is and why you haven’t been induced make you feel like something’s wrong. Every mom-to-be and baby is different and your due date is just an estimate—sometimes due dates are miscalculated too! So, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with making it to week 42 of pregnancy. And while you might feel like you’re going a little crazy with anxiety, remember: 98 percent of babies emerge by the end of week 
42. So you’ll get to meet baby really soon, we promise!



How Big Is Baby at 42 Weeks?
At 42 weeks pregnant, baby is the size of a watermelon—a bigger watermelon than last week. The average 42-week fetus measures 20.3 inches and weighs 8.1 pounds. Yup, baby’s still growing! But don’t worry, he or she is unlikely to be too big to deliver vaginally.
42 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?
42 weeks pregnant is nine months and two weeks. Yes, it happens!




 42 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS
Your 42 weeks pregnant symptoms are probably the same ones you’ve been feeling the past few weeks—leg cramps, trouble sleeping, backaches, pelvic pressure, hemorrhoids, frequent urination, contractions—just maybe more intense.
You might be stressed at 42 weeks pregnant. No one said pregnancy after 40 weeks was easy! Try to be patient as you let baby decide when to make his or her debut.
Know that at 42 weeks pregnant, risks are higher for complications such as placental problems, low amniotic fluid, and a pinched umbilical cord. And baby’s at a slightly higher risk of having to go to the NICU. Keep doing kick counts and letting your OB know if you notice any changes in kick frequency. Also tell your doctor right away if you have any troubling 42 weeks pregnant symptoms, such as strange discharge, bleeding, or abdominal pain.



42 WEEKS PREGNANT SIGNS OF LABOR
At 42 weeks pregnant signs of labor—the ones you’ve been waiting for!—may begin. Look out for:
  • Mucus plug and/or bloody show. The thick mucus discharge—sometimes tinged with blood—is a sign the cervix is getting itself ready for delivery. It’s often a sign labor will start soon. Though just how soon, we can’t predict!
  • Water breaking. If you’re leaking amniotic fluid or if your water breaks in one huge gush, call your doctor. Labor will probably begin within hours.
  • Regular contractions. Hallelujah! This sign you’re in labor is the one you’ve probably been anticipating most. These guys are more intense than any Braxton Hicks contractions you may have been having, and most importantly, they don’t go away. True labor contractions happen over and over, at shorter intervals, and at higher intensity (ouch!), and don’t let up until baby is born. (Yay!)
Wondering how to induce labor at 42 weeks pregnant? You probably have been trying natural methods such as walking, sex, and acupuncture. But don’t resort to drinking castor oil (you’ll probably just make yourself sick), taking herbal supplements (they could be dangerous to you and baby), or stimulating your nipples (the resulting contractions could be too strong and dangerous for baby).
Because at 42 weeks pregnant risks increase, your doctor may recommend a medical labor induction if tests show it isn’t safe for baby to stay in utero much longer. Ways your doctor can induce labor are:
  • Stripping the membranes. At 42 weeks pregnant, this technique might be the thing that sets your body over the edge. Your doctor uses a finger to swipe around the amniotic sac. The hormones released often cause contractions within 48 hours.
  • Breaking your water. Using an instrument that looks like plastic hook, your doctor breaks the amniotic sac. This can cause contractions in just hours.
  • Ripening your cervix. A medication called prostaglandin is inserted vaginally overnight in order to dilate the cervix.
  • Stimulating contractions. You’ll be hooked up to an IV with a synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin. This medication can get contractions started.

42 WEEKS PREGNANT ULTRASOUND


 Because your 42-week baby has probably shed the vernix caseosa (that filmy stuff that covered his or her skin), the skin is probably getting a little dry at this point.
Because of the 42 weeks pregnant risks, your OB will want to monitor baby extra closely. A 42 weeks pregnant ultrasound, a non-stress test, and a contraction stress test will be given to make sure baby’s still moving well, has plenty of amniotic fluid, is breathing well, and has a healthy heart rate.
Rest assured that as long as baby’s being watched with an eagle eye, he or she is doing just fine in there. And he or she may be comfy inside your uterus, but can’t stay there forever!



PREGNANCY CHECKLIST AT 42 WEEKS PREGNANT
Reminders for the week:
  • Take more long walks
  • Discuss 42 weeks pregnant risks with your OB
  • Have sex (if you can swing it!)
  • Try to relax!



⏪41  WEEK   ALL WEEKS⏩

PREGNANCY WEEK 41

By TIPS at December 03, 2019  ,  No comments



41 WEEKS PREGNANT
Bet you never envisioned being 41 weeks pregnant. But here you are! Because of your baby's extra time in the womb, he or she'll likely be heavier and more alert at birth than a baby born earlier would be. At week 41 of pregnancy, the anticipation might feel like it’s killing you, but rest assured that plenty of moms-to-be go past their due date and everything turns out just fine. You might actually be thankful to have had this extra time before dirty diapers and newborn feedings rule your world.




How Big Is Baby at 41 Weeks?
At 41 weeks, baby is as big as a watermelon. The average 41-week fetus measures 20.4 inches long and weighs 7.9 pounds.
41 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?
41 weeks pregnant is nine months and one week pregnant. Consider yourself an overachiever!




 41 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS
Common 41 weeks pregnant symptoms are a continuation of your other third trimester symptoms. Most notably:
Pelvic discomfort. Baby may be descending lower and lower, putting pressure on your bladder and cervix and giving you more aches and pains down below.
Hemorrhoids. That pelvic pressure causes swollen varicose veins in your rectum, causing hemorrhoids. They aren’t pretty, and they may get worse when you push baby out. But eventually the swelling will die down.
Difficulty sleeping. It's the hormones—and your nerves!—that are keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep. You’re not going to be sleeping much after baby arrives, so this is good practice. But it’s also a good idea to rest up as much as possible for the birth.
Frequent urination. Baby's pretty much sitting right on your bladder at this point. Cue another trip to the bathroom!
Contractions. Abdominal tightening is happening more and more noticeably and frequently as baby ramps up for delivery.




 41 WEEKS PREGNANT SIGNS OF LABOR
By the time you hit 41 weeks pregnant, signs of labor might as well be written inside your eyelids. You probably know this stuff by heart! But just in case, here goes. Call the doctor if you have:
  • A constant leak which may indicate your water has broken.
  • Frequent or painful contractions that don’t stop.
You will also want to call the doctor if you have any out-of-the ordinary 41 weeks pregnant symptoms, such as bleeding or abdominal pain.
If you’re 41 weeks with no signs of labor, try to be patient! Just because you’re 41 weeks and not dilated doesn’t mean you can’t go into labor tomorrow. It’s really unpredictable like that!



INDUCING LABOR AT 41 WEEKS PREGNANT
41 weeks pregnant and fed up? We don’t blame you. Pregnancy after 40 weeks isn’t exactly fun. You’re big, you’re mentally ready for baby, and everyone you see says, “You’re still pregnant?!” Go ahead and try every natural labor induction method in the books, as long as it’s safe (so check with your OB first). Eat spicy food (if it doesn’t give you heartburn), walk like crazy, have sex (if you can will yourself to), and maybe try acupuncture (even if you’re a skeptic)!
Your OB may start to discuss the option of having a medical induction at 41 weeks, since babies that go too far past their due date may be at higher risk for problems. Ask the doc lots of questions about what’s involved and what your specific 41 weeks pregnant risks are. Getting induced does have some positives (like not having to waddle-run into the hospital while in labor!). But there’s something to be said for not rushing baby. Some women say contractions are stronger and more painful during an induction. Others say it’s more comfortable to wait for labor to start at home than it is in a delivery room.
If you choose to have labor induced at 41 weeks, there are several ways it can be done:
Stripping membranes. This is actually a natural induction method, but your doctor will need to perform it. Luckily, it can be done in the doctor’s office and doesn’t require a trip to the hospital. If you’re willing to try this potentially painful procedure, your doctor will sweep her fingers around the amniotic sac, separating the membranes there and releasing hormones that could stimulate labor. This doesn’t always work, but if it does, you could be in labor within hours.
Artificial rupture of membranes (AROM). Your doctor can break your water for you using a thin plastic hook. This may be done if you’ve been having contractions but labor hasn’t progressed.
Medications. Two types of medication can be used for inducing labor at 41 weeks. A prostaglandin suppository may be inserted like a tampon overnight to start cervical dilation. Oxytocin may be given through an IV to jumpstart contractions.

41 WEEKS PREGNANT ULTRASOUND
As you await baby's arrival, he or she's plumping up a bit more. Your 41-week fetus is growing even longer hair and nails. No wonder some newborns come out with a full head of hair and ready for a mani-pedi!
Your doctor may also order a non-stress test and a 41 weeks pregnant ultrasound, to be sure baby’s still doing okay in there. This will probably help both of you make a decision whether or not to induce.



PREGNANCY WEEK 40

By TIPS at December 03, 2019  ,  No comments



40 WEEKS PREGNANT
Happy due date! Since 40 weeks pregnant is baby’s official deadline, you’ve already made up the bassinet, installed baby’s car seat, packed your hospital bag, and set it by the door. Now, take care of some easy last-minute things, like making sure your cell phone is fully charged before you go to bed and filling the car with gas. At week 40 of pregnancy, some moms-to-be put a waterproof mattress cover on their bed, in case their water breaks in the middle of the night. It’s not a must, but it’s not a bad idea either, especially because once baby comes, there might be other messes to catch (breast milk, spit up, pee…). Week 40 of pregnancy can be mentally rough, since you’ll be constantly wondering when baby will decide to make his or her entrance and question every twinge you have. Try not to stress, and rest assured that baby will arrive when he or she's ready—and your body will give you the right signals that it’s time.




How Big Is Baby at 40 Weeks Pregnant?
At 40 weeks pregnant, baby is the size of a watermelon. The average full-term 40- week baby measures about 20.2 inches from crown to heel and weighs 7.6 pounds.
40 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?
40 weeks pregnant is nine months. Say it again because it feels good: Nine. Months. Pregnant. You made it!




 40 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS
During these last weeks of pregnancy, the same symptoms you’ve been having will likely continue. Your main job is to hang in there as you keep experiencing these:
  • Leg cramps. Stick with the calf and hamstring stretches to keep leg cramps from messing with your sleep. Pelvic pressure. Baby may drop even lower in your pelvis, making your pelvic discomfort worse.
  • Trouble sleeping. If you can’t sleep, it’s okay to get up and do something else, but keep to a calming activity such as reading or writing in a journal. Don’t start cleaning out your freezer or doing a Zumba video. Rest.
  • Fatigue. The fact that you can’t sleep isn’t really helping here. But since you may not have any plans, you may be able to sneak in an extra nap here or there—or at least take some quiet time to relax.
  • Contractions. Those Braxton Hicks contractions may eventually turn into the real deal, so if it seems like you’re having a lot of them, start timing them to see how far apart they are. If they get closer together, you’re in an early stage of labor.
  • Anxiety! Baby will get here when he or she gets here. Do your best not to stress.

40 WEEKS PREGNANT SIGNS OF LABOR
You might be 40 weeks pregnant with no signs of labor. But at 40 weeks pregnant, signs of labor will be here very soon. Call your doctor right away if you have contractions that are more than a little uncomfortable or keep coming at regular intervals. The other 40 weeks pregnant sign of labor to look out for? A leak or flow of amniotic fluid—this means your water has ruptured or broken. You’ll likely know because it will be truly watery, not like typical discharge, and it doesn’t stop. At first you might think it’s pee, but then you will realize—nope! You’re in labor! Call your OB.



INDUCING LABOR AT 40 WEEKS PREGNANT
At 40 weeks pregnant, you may be getting antsy—after all, this is supposed to be your last week of pregnancy! You may be curious how to induce labor using natural methods. We recommend taking long walks and having sex. (Both are fun pastimes and could cause your body to start the process.) If you want to try acupuncture, that’s considered safe too. However, don’t take herbal supplements or drink castor oil—doctors say those methods are unsafe and probably won’t work anyhow. You might have heard that stimulating your nipples can induce labor—it can, but doctors recommend you don’t even try it. In fact, nipple stimulation can cause contractions that are too strong and may put baby’s well-being in jeopardy. Not worth it.
Now that you’ve reached your due date, your doctor might talk to you about inducing labor medically. Whether or not this is necessary will have to do with how baby’s doing in there. (The doctor might schedule this now if you have complications or are 40 weeks pregnant with twins.) If baby’s perfectly healthy and you have no complications, you might not need an induction at all and can keep sticking it out, even if it takes a couple more weeks. (Yes, weeks. Though chances are high that you’ll go into labor naturally by the end of next week.) It might be worth it to know that you waited it out until your baby was truly ready.

40 WEEKS PREGNANT ULTRASOUND
Your 40-week fetus is continuing to grow hair and nails. And baby at 40 weeks is keeping up that lung development too.
Once you’ve completed a full-term pregnancy and reached 40 weeks, your doctor will likely want to do a biophysical profile. ICYMI, this is a two-fold test. You’ll have a non-stress test, where baby’s movement and your contractions are monitored to see how baby’s heart rate reacts. You’ll also have a 40 weeks pregnant ultrasound to see what the amniotic fluid levels look like.
If the results of the non-stress test and/or the 40 weeks pregnant ultrasound suggest that baby would be better off “on the outside” than in utero, then an induction may be ordered. If everything looks good, you’re back to the waiting game. Hey, baby can’t stay in there forever!


PREGNANCY WEEK 39

By TIPS at December 03, 2019  ,  No comments



39 WEEKS PREGNANT
Yay! Baby has finally reached full term! You’re probably feeling like you want to get this baby… The. Heck. Out. We’re not sure, but the impatience and discomfort moms-to-be feel around 39 weeks pregnant (and beyond!) might be nature’s way of getting you mentally prepared for delivery. Remember how freaked out you used to be about childbirth? Now, at week 39 of pregnancy, you don’t care what it takes, you just don’t want to be pregnant anymore!




How Big Is Baby at 39 Weeks?
At 39 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a pumpkin. Your 39-week fetus measures about 20 inches long and weighs about 7.3 pounds. And baby just keeps growing, despite being so crowded inside your 39 weeks pregnant belly.
39 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?
39 weeks pregnant is eight months and three weeks pregnant. Next week, you’ll have completed nine months of pregnancy, and will reach your due date (that is, if you don’t go into labor this week). This is exciting!




 39 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS
Typical 39 weeks pregnant symptoms—the ones that aren’t signs labor is happening now—are similar to what you’ve been experiencing the past few weeks. Most are signs that labor will happen soon though. This includes:
  • Braxton Hicks contractions. At 39 weeks pregnant, cramping or tightening of your uterus may seem pretty constant, no matter what you do. Usually these false labor pains start in the front of your body and ease up when you switch positions. You'll know it's real labor when they start at the top of your uterus and become more frequent and regular.
  • Pelvic pressure. While getting into position for birth, baby may be sitting so low that that your lower torso feels heavy and uncomfortable.
  • Lightning crotch. Because baby’s so low, his or her movements can hit some sensitive nerves, giving you sharp sensations in your pelvis—yep, like a lightning bolt! Yowch!
  • Urge to nest. Some moms-to-be say they get a surge of energy and strong desire to clean their home right before baby’s debut. Don’t go too crazy though. You don’t want to wear yourself out before the birth.
  • Mucus plug and/or bloody show. At 39 weeks pregnant, discharge that’s as thick as mucus and sometimes has a tinge of blood in it is your mucus plug. (The blood is, you guessed it, the bloody show.) And while many people consider this to be a sign you’ll go into labor soon, there’s no exact science to it, so it’s hard to say when.
If you’re the rare mom-to-be who’s 39 weeks pregnant with twins, kudos to you! You’ve kept those babies baking despite the odds of an early delivery—and despite your all-around discomfort. You’re probably feeling many 39 weeks pregnant symptoms, including the urge to get your twosome out of your 39 weeks pregnant belly and into the world. Don’t worry—the end is so near!



39 WEEKS PREGNANT SIGNS OF LABOR
Other symptoms are your body’s way of telling you baby’s making his or her arrival ASAP. At 39 weeks pregnant, signs of labor are the biggest things on your mind. It’s important to know what they are, but don’t worry too much about going into labor without realizing it. In most cases, labor symptoms will be so strong and so different from what you’ve been experiencing that you won’t be able to ignore them.
Call your OB if you experience either of these:
Water breaking. It might not be like it is in the movies—you might have a slow trickle instead of a huge gush of water. But if at 39 weeks pregnant the discharge is watery instead of its usual consistency, that probably means your amniotic sac has ruptured and you will likely go into labor within hours.
Regular contractions. If your belly’s tightening—and has been repeatedly for some time—start timing the contractions. If they keep coming and the time between them keeps getting shorter, you’re in the beginning stage of labor. Just how long this stage lasts will vary from mom to mom (yes, you’ll be a mom very soon!), so keep your OB updated, and follow his or her directions for getting to the hospital by the time you progress into active labor.
When you’re 39 weeks pregnant, no signs of labor may have appeared yet, and that’s fine too! The average first-time mom-to-be goes into labor naturally at 41 weeks, and a second-time mom tends to go at 40 weeks. And while some women start to show signs of labor—a dilated and/or effaced cervix, regular contractions, etc.—weeks or days before they give birth, others go from zero to 10 centimeters dilated within hours.



INDUCING LABOR AT 39 WEEKS
Now that you’re 39 weeks pregnant (full term!) and itching to give birth, you might wonder how to induce labor naturally at home. Gulping down castor oil and taking herbal remedies aren’t considered safe—and eating spicy food just isn’t going to do it. But there are a few things that are typically safe and may work:
  • Walking. Tie on those sneakers and go for a long, long walk. It’s not a medically proven method of inducing labor at 39 weeks, but some experts believe gravity will push baby down onto your cervix and the pressure will start dilation of the cervix.
  • Acupuncture. Again, it’s not proven, but there’s some evidence to suggest that this ancient practice regulates blood flow, which stimulates your cervix to dilate. Having sex. Some believe that having an orgasm can help bring on contractions. Couldn’t hurt to try, right?
For some women who are 39 weeks pregnant, the doctor might recommend a medical induction. Reasons for inducing labor include complications (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, a heart condition), placental problems, and infection of the uterus. Induction also may be recommended if you’re 39 weeks pregnant with twins or if your water broke but labor hasn’t started on its own.

39 WEEKS PREGNANT ULTRASOUND
Inside your 39 weeks pregnant belly, baby's probably able to flex his or her limbs now. Baby's brain is still rapidly developing—he or she’s getting smarter by the week! Baby's nails may extend past the fingertips now.
A 39 weeks pregnant ultrasound and non-stress test might be in order to check on your baby’s wellbeing—especially if you’re 39 weeks pregnant with twins. After seeing the results of these two tests, your doctor might say everything looks A-OK, or she might recommend an early delivery.
At 39 weeks pregnant, there’s nothing left to do except see the doctor each week, wait for baby, and keep your mind busy with little tasks. If they get done, great. If not, no biggie. We know it’s tough to relax, but try!



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