1. 40th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 40
2. How your baby develops in the 40th week of pregnancy
3. This is how you feel
4. 40th week of pregnancy - symptoms and complaints
5. What you should look out for in week 40 of pregnancy

40th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 40

You've almost made it! The 40th week of pregnancy marks the end of the 10th month of your pregnancy. It can now only be days or hours before you will be holding your little darling in your arms. The nursery is probably ready, the Clinic bag and you are now waiting impatiently for it to start. Try not to drive yourself crazy. It won't be long now. In this part of our pregnancy calendar, you will find out which signs indicate that labour is about to begin and how you can stimulate labour naturally.

How your baby develops in the 40th week of pregnancy

Over the past 10 months, a wonderful, strong baby has developed in your belly from a tiny cluster of cells. Your body has performed this miracle and you will once again realise what extraordinary strength you can muster during the upcoming birth. In this week of pregnancy, your little belly dweller is around 51 centimetres tall and weighs 3500 grams. Deviations upwards or downwards are no cause for concern. A height of between 48 and 56 centimetres and a weight of between 2800 and 4200 grams is considered normal at birth.

The average head circumference at birth is 35 centimetres. The bones of the skull are not yet firmly fused together. They can push together as they pass through the birth canal.

Over 90 % of babies are in the cephalic position at the start of labour, with the head pressing on the cervix. This is the optimal birth position. Around three to five per cent of babies lie with their bottom facing downwards in the so-called pelvic presentation. Even in this case, a natural birth is generally possible, although the risk of complications is slightly higher. For a normal birth of a baby in the breech position, you need a delivery room team that specialises in this type of birth.

Practical help for you:
Emergency service midwife Katharina explains the most important things about the maternity pass online.

How you feel in the 40th week of pregnancy

Tick, tick, tick, tick - the clock is ticking. You are probably constantly listening to yourself and waiting for a sign from your body that heralds the start of labour. Many women now feel a certain impatience towards the end. The wait can really feel endless. What did your doctor or midwife tell you at your last check-up? Was the cervix perhaps already dilated? That means it won't be long now.

We always want to have everything under control. The uncertainty about when the baby will be on its way is a real test of patience. Then there's the physical exertion and tiredness. Perhaps you are already receiving daily calls from family and friends, who are also eagerly waiting to find out whether you are already in labour.

What can you do to reduce impatience and tension? Many women find it helps to distract themselves a little in these last few days of pregnancy. Try to structure your days and set yourself small tasks, but don't overwhelm yourself. So that you don't start brooding when your partner is at work all day, you can invite friends or family members over, eat cake together and go for a walk.

Relaxation is particularly important in this phase of pregnancy. Because only when your body feels "safe" will it be ready for the birth. From an evolutionary point of view, this makes perfect sense. After all, a woman giving birth was easy prey for predators, which is why she had to find a quiet and safe place to give birth. Today, we don't need to be afraid of hungry tigers or lions, but these primeval instincts are still in us. It is therefore very important that you feel comfortable before and during the birth and that you have confidence in yourself and those accompanying you.

Prepare yourself mentally for the birth

While many women can hardly wait for their baby to arrive, others are still struggling with the fear of giving birth. Try to stay calm, because the more relaxed you are, the smoother the labour will go. Of course, this is often easier said than done.

It can help to review what you learnt in the antenatal class. Repeat the breathing exercises shown by the midwife. These can also help you to calm down before the big day. Ideal for this is our Online birth preparation course. You can watch the video lessons as often as you like. Would you like to see the information again in a compact format? Then our Crash course just the right thing for you.

40th week of pregnancy - symptoms and complaints

As in the last few weeks, the large baby bump can lead to all kinds of complaints. These include back pain, diarrhoea, increased urge to urinate and heartburn. Some symptoms can already be a Be a sign that the birth is about to begin:

– The removal of the mucous plugYou may notice some mucus on the toilet paper in the toilet this week. This is the mucus plug that has closed the cervix for the past few months and thus protected your baby from germs coming up. The birth does not have to start immediately when the mucous plug is removed. It can still take a few days before the time comes. Is the mucus a little bloody? Don't worry, this bleeding is completely normal. You should only contact your doctor or midwife quickly if you experience heavy vaginal bleeding.

– The onset of labourAround 70 to 80 % of births begin with the onset of labour. True labour pains are characterised by the fact that they gradually become more regular and intense. You will feel them as your abdomen becomes hard for about 30 to 60 seconds as the uterus contracts. In contrast to training labour, the pain does not decrease even if you change position or take a warm bath.

– Rupture of the amniotic sac: In around 10 to 15 % of all cases, a premature rupture of the membranes occurs, i.e. the waters break before the onset of labour. How do you notice this? The amniotic fluid can either come out in gushes or droplets. Unlike urine, the fluid is usually clear and smells like your baby. You will recognise this smell immediately with your pregnancy nose. If you are leaking amniotic fluid, please contact your doctor or midwife. However, there is usually no need to rush. If your baby's head is already on the cervix, you can wait for the onset of labour in peace. If this does not happen in the next 12 to 18 hours, the birth will be induced with oxytocics.

What you should look out for in week 40 of pregnancy

Natural methods to induce labour

In our article on the 39th week of pregnancy, we have already dealt with the methods of artificial Induction of labour is concerned. However, there are also a few things you can do at home to stimulate the onset of labour in a natural way.

Sexual intercourse
Not every woman feels like having sex with a big pot belly. But if you feel like it, you don't need to hold back. On the contrary: the prostaglandins contained in the seminal fluid have a labour-stimulating effect. At the same time, your body releases oxytocin when you are aroused, which also stimulates labour.

Nipple stimulation
An alternative is nipple stimulation. This also releases oxytocin. If the cervix is mature, this can stimulate the onset of labour. However, you should not do anything that could damage or hurt the sensitive skin of your nipple.

Nipple stimulation works well with the help of an electric breast pump. If you produce milk, do not discard it. Frozen, it is a valuable reserve for your baby. In any case, you are not pumping milk that your baby will later miss. As soon as it is born, it will be able to feed on your breast. However, it is important that you prepare well for breastfeeding. In the Breastfeeding online course you'll find out everything you need to know about the best way to feed your baby. It will help you overcome the first hurdles.

Castor oil cocktail
The so-called castor oil cocktail is often recommended. Castor oil can induce labour. However, bear in mind that side effects such as a labour storm or severe diarrhoea can occur. You should therefore only take the drink after consulting your midwife. As the oil has an unpleasant flavour, it is usually mixed with apricot juice or almond paste. Alcohol also enhances its effect. However, you should never take it with champagne or schnapps, i.e. alcohol, as is sometimes recommended. This is because even in this last phase of pregnancy, the alcohol is transferred to your child and damages its little brain.

Labour-promoting herbs
Certain herbs and spices have a labour-stimulating effect. For example, you can make a tea from ginger, cinnamon, cloves and verbena tea and drink it lukewarm. The effect does not start immediately, but can take one to two days.

The same herbs can also be used in the form of essential oils. Treat yourself to an abdominal massage with cinnamon, ginger, clove and verbena oil once a day. You can also add a few drops of the oil to the bath and take a warm bath. This not only stimulates labour, it also promotes relaxation, which is also helpful for the start of labour.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture to prepare for labour is also becoming increasingly popular. Although it has not been scientifically proven that it actually induces labour, many women and midwives find it very helpful. Acupuncture is said to have a calming effect and reduce anxiety before labour. Many midwives offer it as an additional service, but it is not covered by health insurance.

Movement
A very simple and free measure is to take long walks in the fresh air. The movement helps the baby to assume the optimum birth position and the pressure of the baby's head on the cervix stimulates labour. This effect is particularly noticeable when climbing stairs, when the pelvis is rocked back and forth. You can also actively rotate your pelvis. This works whether you are standing, squatting or sitting on an exercise ball. In addition to the mechanical effect, the movement lowers the blood sugar level, which in turn has a positive effect on the hormone balance.