40 Weeks Pregnant

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• Your Baby
• You
• 10th Month of Pregnancy Video
• Diary of a Daughter

Your Baby

Depending on your own genetics and body composition, your baby can range in size as a full term infant from 7 pounds and above. Some babies are born smaller while others can tip the scales at 9 or even 10 pounds! Gauging an unborn baby's size can be tricky. While some doctors can use methods such as ultrasound measurements and estimation, more often than not a baby's size will surprise everyone once they actually arrive.

40 weeks pregnant, there is practically no room left in your uterus for your new little one, and you may feel more pressure as your baby stretches and continues to move within. Some will say that your baby's movements will slow down during this time due to lack of space, but you should still be able to feel regular movements each day.

Your medical practitioner may have you keep a record of counted movements to ensure regular activity during this time in your pregnancy.

The exact time that your new family member arrives is not always as expected. Many babies will either show up before or even after the predicted due date, with very few actually being born exactly on time.

Do not get anxious if you have reached the magical 40-Week mark and are still waiting for your new baby. Remember that when your baby is ready, she or he will enter the world and not a moment before!

If you want to learn about what a newborn baby might look like, you'll find information here.

You

For those women who have reached the full-term pregnancy mark, you may feel a variety of emotions that continue to build as you prepare for the new arrival.

Many women find themselves extremely uncomfortable and unable to do many daily tasks easily such as tying their shoes, carrying groceries or even climbing a small amount of stairs.

Remember that the end is near, and soon you will miss that baby bulge that you have grown accustomed to over the past few months. Wondering about what your body will be like after pregnancy? Read about the post-pregnancy body here.

Some women will be impatient and want to try to bring labor on themselves through natural methods.

Although there may be some things you can try nothing is guaranteed, but it may be fun to see if one activity will work over another if you have been waiting for some time.

Nipple stimulation, walking, intercourse and even acupuncture or homeopathic methods are just a few options that women have tried in the past, some with positive results.

If you want to learn more about naturally induced labor, here is a thorough guide.

Do not try any self induction methods on your own without the guidance of a medical practitioner. While some options may seem harmless enough, you should always check with your doctor or midwife before consuming cod liver oil or any herbal remedies in order to start your body for the birthing process.

Each baby is an individual, and soon you will find yourself overwhelmed with an entirely new person to hold and love as part of your new family. Enjoy the last week or so of pregnancy. This is the final time that you are preparing your little one for life on the outside.

Visit our section about giving birth here.

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