40 weeks pregnant and no contractions - should you worry? What are the symptoms of childbirth in the 40th week of pregnancy and when is it absolutely necessary to go to the hospital? What color should the mucus coming out of the vagina be in the 40th week of pregnancy and is a hard belly a symptom of childbirth? We answer questions related to the course of the last week of pregnancy.
40 weeks of pregnancy and nothing, i.e. when will the childbirth finally occur?
The end of pregnancy is a huge challenge for the mother-to-be. A large belly effectively hinders everyday activities and night rest. Some pregnancy ailments worsen and fears of the upcoming childbirth increase.
The last, 40 weeks of pregnancy (39.1-40 tc) is the end of the 9th month and therefore the third trimester of pregnancy. Although most women at this time want to give birth and take their babies in their arms very much, remember that only 5% of babies are born on time.
Therefore, if you fail to see any signs of labor at 40 weeks gestation, then this is nothing to worry about. Most babies are born several to several days before or after the date determined on the basis of the date of the last menstruation. In the 40th week of pregnancy, the lack of contractions and other birth symptoms, with a good general condition of the mother and baby, is not a cause for concern.
It is worth making sure once again that the due date was calculated correctly (especially if the pregnant woman had irregular menstrual cycles). Standards of perinatal care in Poland recommend that delivery should take place before the end of 42 weeks So, if your pregnancy has come to week 40 and you have not seen any signs of labor, you should visit your health care professional who will do the recommended tests. If everything is fine with both mom and baby, don't worry about the lack of labor - it will probably be any day soon.
Can frequent hardening of the abdomen and abundant vaginal discharge in the 40th week of pregnancy indicate the onset of labor?
At this time, it usually occurs intensification of predictive contractions (Braxton-Hicks), which prove that the uterus intensively trains contractile activity before the actual delivery. Predictive contractions can cause a hard abdomen in the 40th week of pregnancy, especially during a sharp change in body position or during more intense exercise.
Braxton-Hicks contractions are irregular, do not increase over time, and usually stop altogether when resting or after changing positions. Such irregular, frequent hardening of the abdomen usually does not indicate the beginning of the first stage of labor and may accompany women from the second trimester.
If you have a hard belly all the time in the 40th week of pregnancy and this feeling does not pass even after resting and taking a warm bath, contact your doctor who will perform a CTG test to assess whether these symptoms are indicative of the onset of labor.
You may be feeling as well stinging in the vagina and pressure / pain of the pubic symphysis. This is due to the pressure on the baby's head as it slowly lowers in the birth canal in preparation for delivery. The mucus plug may break off in the toilet when you urinate or stool and the pregnant woman will not be able to notice this. At 40 weeks, the mucus comes out profusely from the vagina, so it can be normal vaginal discharge or amniotic fluid (they have a sweetish smell and a slightly different, more watery consistency).
How to tell if mucus is vaginal fluid or amniotic fluid?
The easiest method is the use of litmus papers (available at the pharmacy): physiologically, in the 40th week of pregnancy the vaginal mucus is acidic, while the amniotic fluid has an alkaline pH.
When to go to the hospital, i.e. symptoms of childbirth in the 40th week of pregnancy
Every pregnant woman impatiently looks for any symptoms of the commencing labor in her body. Regular contractions of the uterus in the 40th week of pregnancy, which are more frequent and do not subside during rest, are a signal that the first stage of labor has just begun. These contractions are impossible to miss. They are quite painful, strong, and often radiate to the loins / groin. In the early stage of the 2st stage of labor, when contractions occur with a low frequency (approx. XNUMX contractions per hour), it is worth taking a warm shower and trying to take a nap.
The first stage of labor (especially in the case of the infant) lasts from a few to even several hours.
So if the initial contractions are not accompanied by the loss of amniotic fluid, unusual fetal activity or other disturbing symptoms, it is worth staying at home for some time. We go to the hospital when regular contractions appear every 5 minutes (in a woman giving birth once again, it is worth going to the maternity ward earlier).
Other symptoms of labor commencing at 40 weeks gestation also include:
- detachment of the mucous plug;
- departure of amniotic fluid;
- some women also experience gastric ailments such as nausea and vomiting (the body cleans itself before birth).
If you do not observe elevated blood pressure (above 140/90 mmHg) or disturbance in the movement of the fetus, there is nothing to worry about, and the delivery itself will happen at any moment!
Disturbing symptoms of 40 weeks gestation: very mobile baby and abnormal vaginal discharge
Mucus with blood, at 40 weeks of pregnancy, may be a sign of cervical distension. If vaginal blood leakage is profuse or oozes greenish fluid, go to the hospital immediately. At 40 weeks of pregnancy, traces of brown vaginal discharge may indicate a mucus plug detachment. However, if its quantity is abundant, it requires gynecological control.
Severe headache and high blood pressure with nausea and spots in front of the eyes may be symptoms of pre-eclampsia and require immediate medical attention.
The pregnant woman should also be worried impaired activity of the fetus: in the 40th week of pregnancy, a very mobile child or for many hours remaining completely motionless is a signal for an urgent CTG examination. After identifying any irregularities, the specialist will decide to undertake adequate medical procedures. When at home, it is best to observe your baby's movements after one of the main meals, lying on the left side. Within an hour, the pregnant woman should record a minimum of 10 fetal movements.
What is the child's weight, body length and insight at 40 weeks of pregnancy?
The fetus in the 40th week of pregnancy weighs about 3300-4000 gramsand in some cases more. It depends on both genetic and environmental factors. Fetal macrosomia is considered to weigh more than 4500 grams and may indicate a cesarean section. Baby at 40 weeks of pregnancy measures approx. 50 cm and is fully ready to meet her mother and start functioning outside of her warm, safe belly.
After birth, the baby's head and face may be slightly frightened as it squeezes through the narrow birth canal. The bones of the skull are movably connected to each other in order to facilitate the birth process. The shape of the baby's head and face will normalize up to a few weeks after giving birth.
A newborn baby in the 40th week of pregnancy also has chubby cheeks and upturned nosek. All this in order to suck milk from the mother's breast even more effectively. Immediately after giving birth to the forces of nature, the baby (without clothes) should be placed on its naked belly or next to its mother's breast. There for min. It takes 2 hours to recover from a tiring childbirth, starts sucking on food for the first time and bonding with her mother. When a pregnant woman has had a Caesarean section, such skin-to-skin kangarooing can be performed by the newborn's dad.
Examination at 40 weeks of pregnancy
The doctor will certainly recommend execution blood count and general urine tests. During the visit, he will also perform blood pressure measurement in a pregnant woman and ultrasound examination in line with the recommendations of PTGiP.
If the test results are correct and the pregnant woman is in a good general condition, the doctor will recommend another appointment in 7 days (or earlier). In the event of any abnormalities, in the 40th week of pregnancy, the medical procedure is selected individually according to the health condition of the mother and the child.
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Senior specialist in the Department of Assessment and Cooperation Development, Institute of Mother and Child
Konsultation:
Ph.D. n. med. prof. IMID Tadeusz Issat - Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the Institute of Mother and Child;
Maria Krowicka-Wasyl - resident physician in the course of specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Mother and Child.
