Week 40 of Pregnancy (Trimester 3 of Preganancy)

I can’t believe there are the last seven days before my Estimated Due Date (23 May)!!! Rosie was born at 40 weeks + 8 days, but I very much hope this baby won’t take that long – it was awful to have to wait, very uncomfortable and distressing fielding all the “has anything happened yet?” phone calls.

At my antenatal this week the midwife explained what my options are regarding inducing labour. These are particular to the set-up locally, and may vary to those offered in other districts. Once I am 40 weeks +1 day, I will be offered a cervical sweep at the Birth Centre, to encourage the membranes to separate and the onset of labour. If there are still no signs of labour by 41 weeks +1 day, I will be sent to the General Infirmary for assessment and to have a date set for a medical induction which will have to take place at the hospital and not the Birth Centre. I will not be allowed to go beyond 42 weeks, as there is concern that the placenta begins to deteriorate after this time, placing the baby at risk.

The fully developed baby is soon to leave the womb. Only 3% of babies arrive on their due date, with 80% born within 14 days either side. When baby does arrive, he will probably be covered in vernix and might be a little blue until he warms up and gets his own blood supply running around his body. As well as being wet and pulling an angry face, a baby born vaginally will more than likely have a strange shaped head after the passage down the birth canal.

	Web PregnancyAndBirth.org