Week 40
Body Size
The last few changes will be last the shortest time of all the changes you've gone through thus far. Changes to watch for would be swelling of feet, legs and hands. If this occurs, make sure you tell your doctor. The other changes you can expect are inevitable. They are the onset of labor.
Hopefully by now, you have read up, studied or taken Lamaze classes to know what to expect for labor. Labor brings huge changes in a very short amount of time. You've probably been experiencing contractions already. Some contractions may be Braxton-Hicks, while others are productive. The Braxton-Hicks are more like practice contractions. They feel like the real ones, however they do not do anything for dilating. Should contractions start, intensify and become regular it's time to notify your doctor. If your water breaks, it's time to be on your way to the hospital.
During your last few days of pregnancy, you will find yourself more restless and nesting more than ever. Take this time to make sure you have an overnight bag packed for your trip to the hospital. You will want to make sure you have everything in order for post-delivery and the baby.
Week 40 is probably the most anticipated week of your pregnancy. If you have made it this far without already going into labor, you've experienced more changes than you probably anticipated. The good news is you're almost through. The big day is right around the corner. You only have a few days remaining!
Baby Size
The baby is getting ready for its journey to delivery. As he drops into place, space is limited. This means his movements may be restricted due to space and may decrease to conserve energy. If you feel like the baby's movements have drastically reduced notify your doctor right away.
Compare Size
The average baby is about 7-8 pounds and 19 to 20 inches long. In comparison, the weight of a baby is about the same weight as a gallon of milk. The baby's length is about the size of a 2-liter bottle of soda. Ask any mom and she'll tell you she just gave birth to a watermelon. However, you can bet she'll be feeling the greatest joy, even if she did just give birth to something the size of a watermelon.
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