Many women do not finish the baby before this period and safely give birth to a full-fledged child for a period of 36-39 weeks. But sometimes, at the 40th week of pregnancy, the time of birth does not come. Every female organism is individual. We will deal with the main symptoms of the approaching birth, study the reviews of experienced women in labor and medical specialists to help the expectant mother prepare for this important event.
The reasons for the lack of precursors of childbirth
The normal time to start childbirth is 39-40 weeks of gestation. But in nature there is no clear schedule, so there is no need to worry about the delay in starting this process. Even experienced gynecologists cannot give a clear answer about the absence of precursors of labor at this time.
One of the reasons for delaying the onset of labor can be the unavailability of the cervix or the need to “ripen the fetus,” which has been firmly established in the womb, where it is comfortable and safe. There is little time to finish the baby, a much larger stretch of the difficult path is behind. Soon the baby will be born. How to determine that it is time to give birth, if this is the first time?
Description of precursors of labor in women giving birth for the first time
40 weeks of pregnancy for a primiparous woman is marked by sensations that are symptoms of the imminent onset of changes in her life:
- Drawing pains in the lower abdomen.
- Uncharacteristic calm of the baby after the previous increased activity.
- Amniotic fluid is leaking.
- The intensity of training fights is increasing.
- A tingling sensation in the lower abdomen is felt, or it becomes hard.
Often at the 40th week of pregnancy it pulls in the lower abdomen because the mucous plug has already come out, preparing the cervix for the upcoming birth. This process sometimes happens unnoticed. Do not panic. It will take a little more patience and a long-awaited meeting will occur.
Description of precursors of labor in women giving birth again
What to do at 40 weeks of pregnancy, if there are no prerequisites for starting labor. If a woman already had experience reproducing offspring, she can soon survive a quick, even rapid, birth. It is especially necessary to be careful if such sensations are observed:
- Petrified belly.
- The mucous plug came off, after which a lot of mucus was released.
- The intensity of training contractions increased, they were replaced by regular contractions of the uterus.
Before giving birth, it is important to cleanse the intestines so that it does not interfere with the process. For this, a woman can eat dates, drink a serving of castor oil. Such measures will help to avoid the introduction of an enema, which is usually done in the hospital and is not very pleasant to the senses.
When taking castor oil, it will be possible not only to cause an intestinal reaction, but also to provide stimulation of labor. Therefore, before the use of such substances is advisable to consult your gynecologist.
The abdomen at the 40th week of pregnancy can be sick regularly due to the opening of the cervix, when hormones act on it, and the baby aspiring to exert pressure.
When the attempts begin
Gynecologists determine the onset of the labor period when they diagnose the opening of the cervix by 4 fingers. For women who have already given birth to a baby, such a moment can come quickly. A woman in labor sometimes does not have time to get to a medical facility. For this reason, gynecologists advise women to come to the hospital as soon as they are convinced that the nature of contractions has become regular. It is better to wait under the supervision of specialists than to give birth in an ambulance.
Timing Calculations
The 40th week of pregnancy began. Obstetric calculations define this period as 10 months. According to calendar terms, the term is 9.5 months. During this time, a number of important changes have occurred:
- The body has prepared for fertilization.
- The uterine cavity infiltrated the fertilized egg.
- The embryo developed and became a fetus.
The 10th calendar month is the end of the development of the fetus. If the 40th week of pregnancy has begun - for the child this is the time when it is time to appear in front of the parents and delight them. Women who did not become mothers before this time are quite naturally concerned about the delay in the process. They are interested in the possibility of deviations from the norm. Sometimes the cause of this delay may be the constitution of the uterus due to its long neck. Then the promotion of the fetus takes longer, which will take several days.
If contractions at the 40th week of pregnancy have not started, this is not always considered a pathology. A woman should remember if she was not taking magnesia. This drug is sometimes prescribed to the expectant mother, whose term is less than 36 weeks, in order to maintain pregnancy. High uterine tone can be dangerous. With the use of magnesia, smooth muscles are relaxed. The drug provides a reduction in edematous syndrome. Such opportunities are important for successful labor.
When doctors decide to wait
If 40 weeks of pregnancy have passed , and the birth does not begin, you should consult your gynecologist. Specialists will decide on further actions. Often a woman gets the opportunity to wait for labor in a natural way. This is possible if:
- the nature of the discharge has not changed;
- no pronounced edema, nausea, vomiting;
- undiagnosed high blood pressure, protein in the urine, headaches, and other symptoms of preeclampsia.
In some cases, a woman will be recommended to have sex. This will help hormones stand out and produce mechanical stimulation so that childbirth starts safely. Do not ignore the recommendations of doctors if they advise you to lie down for preservation for medical stimulation of childbirth. Under the supervision of specialists have a better chance of safe delivery.
Discharge analysis
A pregnant woman should carefully monitor the nature of vaginal discharge. They signal changes in the body:
- When pregnant at 40 weeks, brown discharge may indicate a deviation from the norm. They should alert the woman at any time. After all, they can mean that there was a detachment of the placenta. Even in the absence of pain or its weak manifestations, it is important to get specialist advice. Such discharge sometimes appears after a visit to the gynecologist, if there was a medical examination on the armchair.
- Signs of thrush are a white discharge with a cheesy lumps. The presence of light discharges can also be a precursor to starting in the near future births. Such mucus is not considered a pathology.
The feeling of "stone abdomen"
Allocations at the 40th week of pregnancy are not the only signs of changes in the condition of a pregnant woman. Often, future mothers before giving birth feel a heaviness in their stomach. This phenomenon may be accompanied by:
- pain
- lumbar aching pain;
- copious discharge.
Specialists can prescribe Ginipral to relax the uterine muscles, provide gentle cleansing of the intestines to prepare for labor. When the precursors of childbirth appear, they sometimes prescribe Mifepristone. This is necessary to block the process of producing progesterone and cause contractions.
Cause birth
40th week of pregnancy is the time when you can already prescribe medications. This requires hospital conditions and specialist control. For a period of 40 weeks, it is important to continue to take care of physical activity. Then the birth will come faster and will be easier. Remember to eat right.
Also, to speed up delivery, a combination of long vigorous walks, leading to mild fatigue, with homework is perfect. Doctors recommend:
- do stretching exercises;
- bending to wash the floor;
- ascend / descend the stairs.
After all, pregnancy is a natural state for a woman, not a disease. But even at this time it is important not to engage in amateur performances, but to consult a doctor. This is especially true for taking medications, since all of them, in addition to benefit, have side effects.
What does a woman feel in this period
At 40 weeks of gestation, the mucus plug should already come out, opening the cervix. If a pregnant woman has new sensations, they can signal an approaching meeting between mother and baby. She was preparing for this important point throughout the entire term.
The appearance of such body reactions is permissible:
- diarrhea
- heartburn;
- weakening of movements;
- small edema;
- insomnia.
With frequent training fights can take the help of such a drug, as a no-spa. But if the pills do not help, and even after taking a warm shower, the situation does not improve, the contractions became real. Watch their regularity and get ready for the trip to the maternity ward. The time has come!
How's the baby doing?
The abdomen at 40 weeks of gestation has already grown so much that a pregnant woman moves with difficulty. After all, the baby takes up all the space. Women who already have experience in childbirth worry why childbirth at the 40th week of pregnancy still does not begin. It should be borne in mind that each pregnancy differs from the previous time in several ways:
- the state of health of the woman;
- the effect of drugs that a woman took throughout the term;
- intensity of physical activity;
- features of the development of the fetus.
You can never predict exactly what week the birth will begin. It is important to monitor the condition, get expert advice. There are moments that require immediate medical attention:
- Ultrasound - diagnostics revealed low water or polyhydramnios.
- The uterus has long been in good shape, but there is an unreadiness of the neck, which is in no hurry to open.
- KGT shows a deviation from existing norms.
- Diagnostics has determined that the umbilical cord wrapped the body of the baby.
- The child gained too much weight.
These conditions require observation in a hospital. They can jeopardize the birth of the baby.
It is very important to tell the gynecologist if the woman feels nauseous. These symptoms may indicate manifestations of problems such as gestosis and preeclampsia.
What is gestosis? This is a peculiar form of toxicosis, but it manifests itself in the last stages of pregnancy. It is diagnosed by passing a urine test when an excess amount of protein is detected in it. The second confirmation of the disease will be an increase in blood pressure, which is also measured when visiting a doctor. The disease is dangerous for a pregnant woman, affects the functionality of her excretory and vascular system, harms the brain.
Preeclampsia is dangerous consequences, up to irreparable. It is also a type of toxicosis. It is diagnosed by determining the level of protein in the urine, measuring blood pressure, if edema is additionally present. The accompanying symptoms are the presence of headache, dizziness, the pregnant woman is rapidly gaining weight.
For whom are such complications dangerous:
- for women during their first pregnancy;
- with early or late pregnancy under the age of 16 years and after 40;
- if arterial hypertension has bothered a woman before;
- in the presence of a severe stage of obesity, diabetes, lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease;
- if multiple pregnancy is diagnosed;
- if preeclampsia was in a previous pregnancy;
- due to heredity.
Preeclampsia and gestosis are dangerous for the baby. Doctors should deal with such deviations from the norm, since diseases are dangerous for the child due to a violation of the processes of blood flow to the placenta. Then the baby may be born underdeveloped. However, in such diseases often occur premature birth, and not delayed.
Norms of weight and height of the newborn
When the baby is born, they are immediately measured and weighed. Regardless of the number of pregnancies, fetal weight should be between 3300-3500 grams. But often there are cases of the birth of "heroes", whose weight reaches 4-5 kg. In most cases, the reason for this is the complexion of the mother. But mother with such a mass, mother will not be able to give birth on her own. Therefore, she undergoes a cesarean section.
The body length of the baby is normally 47-52 cm. For girls, smaller sizes are acceptable, for boys - large. It all depends on the genetic predisposition. In the first months of life, the child will intensively gain mass and grow, delighting parents with their changes.
To summarize
Very soon, the baby will see this world. His mother had plenty of time to prepare for a meeting with such a dear, but still unfamiliar little man. Many women do not mature until 40 weeks. But if the birth has not yet arrived, there are reasons for this. Wise nature itself knows when to let the baby into the environment as much as possible prepared. Some children have enough 8.5 months in the womb, while others are in no hurry to leave the cozy bosom.
The woman should be given special attention in order to best prepare for the big event:
- constantly monitor your well-being;
- continue to lead an active lifestyle within their capabilities;
- eat right, preferring fresh vegetables and fruits, sour-milk products;
- observe the nature of vaginal discharge.
Reviews of 40 weeks gestation show that women often attends concern about the delay of delivery. If there are deviations from the normal state, you can not hesitate. Urgently seek medical help, do not make independent decisions so as not to put your baby at risk.
If everything is normal, the expectant mother should be tuned for the best. According to psychologists, a person should think positively, then everything will be as he wants. If you follow the recommendations of doctors and support your close circle, the outcome will certainly be favorable. A newborn baby will firmly enter family life, and it will be impossible to imagine that you once did not have it. All thoughts and plans will be associated precisely with this crumb, so defenseless and demanding.
May the great mystery of the birth of a new life bring only happiness to the life of mother and her relatives.