Pregnancy Week 42

I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough. --Marissa Mayer

What happens to you?

Continue doing all that you need to do to stay comfortable. Continue exercising, sleeping, and drinking lots of water. Eventually, you will deliver this baby.

If you haven't had a vaginal examination so far, your healthcare provider may do one to see if your cervix has softened and/or started to open up. Although this has no bearing on when you will go into labor or how long your labor will take, it's comforting information to see that your body is progressing toward delivery.

Sometimes the baby isn't growing well and would be better off outside the uterus. Sometimes the mother has an illness, like diabetes, that means a birth sooner would be better than waiting until you go into labor naturally. If this is the case, your doctor may decide to induce labor (start it early with medication). This is done in the hospital.

So, try to relax until your contractions start. Call your friends for a good chat, go for a walk, see a movie, and run those last-minute errands.

What happens to the baby?

Babies don't get that much bigger after 37-38 weeks. A baby who is truly post-mature (after 42 weeks) usually has a loss of weight and body fat.

By now you are aware that the baby has normal sleeping periods during the day or not. However, if you notice that the baby has stopped its normal moving-around schedule, call your doctor or midwife immediately. There is a possibility that something may be wrong with the baby.

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