Here comes the fortieth week of pregnancy.

This milestone conventionally represents the end of the waiting journey.

Don't worry if contractions haven't started yet.

As I emphasize in this article, to talk about post-term pregnancy it is necessary to wait another two weeks.

In the next lines, I will explain what to expect during this exciting period, during which your little one is about the size of a watermelon.

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With the fortieth week of pregnancy, you have reached the end of the ninth month.

You reach the estimated due date, calculated at the beginning of the waiting journey by your midwife (here you can discover the methods).

Remember that only 5% of babies are born on this date.

In common conversations, it is said that pregnancy lasts 9 months by convention and to facilitate counting, since solar months have a duration that, as is well known, is variable.

I remind you that we always talk about averages, since labor can occur before the fortieth week of pregnancy, during it, or after.

Exceeding 40 weeks of pregnancy by two weeks is not considered, if the pregnancy is physiological, absolutely problematic.

No signs of imminent labor at the fortieth week of pregnancy should therefore not alarm you or lead you to start medical intervention.

Beyond the threshold of 42 weeks, it may make sense to start considering induction, to avoid serious consequences such as the reduction of the amount of oxygen that passes from the placenta to the fetus.

The fortieth week of pregnancy is characterized by symptoms that can vary from woman to woman.

Few moments like this period allow you to understand that every wait is unique.

You might, for example, experience the loss of the mucus plug (some lose it at the end of pregnancy and some a little earlier, even around the thirty-seventh week).

Continuing with the list of symptoms of the fortieth week of pregnancy, it is important to remember the increase in vaginal secretions, as well as the particularly pronounced pelvic pressure.

Your companion during the fortieth week of pregnancy is obviously back pain.

Continue to use, every time you lie down, the specific pregnancy pillow (note: for breastfeeding you will need to buy another ad hoc one).

With the help of the fitball, do pelvic mobilization exercises, valuable in view of the overwhelming journey of labor.

Also very useful are those on all fours aimed at relieving the weight of the belly and ideal, always during labor, in moments of pause.

At the fortieth week of pregnancy, the baby's movements are felt with particular intensity, precisely because of the limited space available.

If you notice a change in their frequency, here is what you should do:

• Have something sweet.

• Find a quiet place.

• Listen to your baby.

If you feel ten movements in 30 minutes, it means everything is going well.

With the birth bag ready for some time now - here I explain what is good to put inside - during the fortieth week of pregnancy it is essential to have a clear idea of what actual early labor contractions are like. 

Among the main characteristics to mention is regularity.

True labor contractions, which can occur at the fortieth week of pregnancy as well as later, come at increasingly closer intervals.

They last from 30 to 70 seconds and increase as time passes.

From the symptom perspective, they can be localized not only in the abdomen but also in the lumbar area.

The pain of labor contractions at the fortieth week can radiate down to the legs.

Do not go to the hospital immediately if you have decided to give birth in that setting.

Wait at least two or three hours, during which you can engage in body exercises with the fitball or apply local heat using the classic hot water bottle.

The reason why it is important not to leave for the hospital immediately is very simple.

Moving towards the healthcare facility, rational processes activate that completely switch off the reptilian and instinctive part of the brain, essential to connect with the baby during labor. 

At the fortieth week of pregnancy, the fetus is on average 50-51 cm long.

How much does a baby weigh at 40 weeks of pregnancy? 

Even in this case, it is a general estimate, about 3.4 kg.

Never as in this case do I remind you that it is important to go beyond individual numbers and consider the overall health signals of the newborn.

Your baby's body at the fortieth week of pregnancy has accumulated important fat reserves which, on average, constitute about 15% of their weight at this time.

During the fortieth week of pregnancy, the amounts of starch absorbed by the maternal bloodstream increase.

This process is of utmost importance.

Starch, in fact, is converted into glucose which, in turn, will be the primary energy source in the first 3-4 days of life, until the production of mature milk begins.

Now that your baby has reached the fortieth week of pregnancy, they have all organs fully developed and capable of performing their functions once the baby is out of the womb.

The 40-week fetus has lungs that have reached full maturity and are ready, reflexively, to assist your little one in their first independent breath.

During the fortieth week of pregnancy, it is possible to refer to various tests useful to understand if mother and baby are well.

Here they are:

• If indicated by the midwife, obstetric ultrasound with Doppler flowmetry, essential to monitor the adequacy of blood exchanges between mother and fetus.

• Cardiotocographic tracing to monitor uterine contractile activity close to the expected delivery date.

Know already that continuous cardiotocographic monitoring is not recommended in the case of physiological labor.

The fetal heartbeat, in such moments, should be listened to intermittently to avoid focusing too much on the numbers. 

The fortieth week of pregnancy, if labor hasn't started yet, is the perfect time to review what you have at home so you are practically ready for the day the little one arrives.

Remember to get, if you haven't already, a specific nursing pillow.

Here are the characteristics it must have:

• Ergonomics

• C shape, different from the pregnancy pillow, when the ideal is the drop shape, which allows the thighs, ankles, and knees to be best spaced

• Filling with quality material (fantastic is Fiber Balls Polyester)

• Washability

• Antibacterial and hypoallergenic materials

Attention! Do not use it to make the little one sleep on it.

He risks rolling over and hurting himself.

Also, due to the limitation of cervical rotation of the head, there is a risk that the latter may undergo posterior flattening.

Regarding clothing , 3 or 4 cotton bodysuits and as many footed onesies are perfect, a fundamental detail due to the newborn's circulatory immaturity.

Even if you have decided to use cloth diapers, keep a pack of disposable ones handy.

It might actually take some time to get properly familiar with cloth diapers.

Another topic to prepare for during the fortieth week of pregnancy concerns what is best to eat during labor.

As I often remind, it is a very deep bodily work that requires great energy.

Make sure that your birth bag contains:

• Packets of mineral salts, with no added sugars, to dissolve in water for an energy boost

• 100% fruit bars and dried fruit.

• Dried fruit (do not overconsume it as, especially when it comes to prunes, it can be laxative)

• Oil seeds

• Dry foods like crackers, breadsticks, carasau bread, allies against episodes of nausea that may occur during labor

Don't forget to bring something for the dad, whose contribution during labor will be fundamental!

Remember to bring something also for hospital nutrition, if you have decided to give birth in that setting, after the arrival of your little one.

Here are some tips:

• Clarified butter to consume at breakfast, a valid substitute for the jam that they practically always give in the hospital and which is excessively sugary

• Vacuum-packed olives and dried fruit, perfect as snacks even outside labor hours

Remember to choose carefully among the options offered to you even during meals throughout the day, preferring rice over pasta and minimizing the intake of cold cuts and mashed potatoes. 

At the fortieth week of pregnancy, if labor contractions have not yet started, physical activity is entirely aimed at managing this extraordinary journey in the best way.

Devote yourself to exercises on the fitball to mobilize the pelvis.

An example?

Position yourself on the ball and move to draw a figure 8 with your pelvis.

You can also try yoga, with poses like the garland pose, or Malasana.

Slightly spread your feet, squat down, and make sure your knees do not go beyond your ankles.

It is an excellent position to train the pelvic floor.

Also for this purpose, you can try preparatory Pilates exercises such as those based on diaphragmatic breathing, useful to master in life regardless of labor.

Thanks to it, it is possible to stimulate the deep transverse muscle and, reflexively, work on the pelvic floor.