Why Cant You Carry a Baby More Than 42 Weeks
Whew, week 42 is here — and it's the official end of your pregnancy.
Your babe will probably get some extra monitoring in accelerate of your belatedly-comer'south debut.
Meanwhile, your doctor may recommend inducing labor to get the process moving along — and your piffling 1 (finally!) in your arms.
Your Baby at Week 42
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So calendar week 40's come and gone. That's frustrating (to put it mildly) but it'south certainly non unusual. Lots of pregnancies last into week 41 or fifty-fifty 42. Truth is, fewer than v pct of babies are born on their due appointment and about half of all babies don't brand their debut until well into the tenth month.
But babies can overstay their womb welcome — later on 42 weeks they are considered postmature. What does that mean? Information technology means a baby'southward skin may exist temporarily dry, cracked, peeling, loose, or wrinkled because the protective cheesy vernix was shed weeks ago. He may have longer finger and toe nails and longer hair. He'll have none of the fuzzy lanugo coating and he may exist born more warning (he is older and wiser after all!).
Because being postmature could also mean that the placenta is functioning less well and levels of amniotic fluid are dropping, you'll exist closely monitored to make sure Hotel Uterus is yet a welcoming identify for your guest. Any indication that it'south non hospitable anymore, and your practitioner volition likely recommend labor consecration. One thing's for sure — that sweet picayune bundle of infant is coming any day now.
At a Glance
Helping labor along
To induce labor, your doctor may use a drug called Pitocin, which is safe for you and baby and helps start contractions.
Time to exist induced?
Since there'due south a run a risk your placenta may not provide as much oxygen and nutrients to your baby, your physician might recommend inducing labor to be safe.
Checking up on baby
Though most babies keep to thrive well past week 40, your md will go along to monitor baby with a biophysical contour: an ultrasound to assess the baby, plus a nonstress test.
42 weeks pregnant is how many months?
If you lot're 42 weeks pregnant, you're in month 9 of your pregnancy. It's almost time! Notwithstanding accept questions? Here'south some more than data on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken downwards in pregnancy.
How big is my baby at 42 weeks?
At the 42-calendar week mark, your watermelon-sized baby is measuring around 19 to 22 inches and 7 and ix pounds.
Baby will be monitored
Although it's perfectly normal for a babe to arrive past the due date, you and your baby volition get some extra attention this calendar week. To be sure all is well, your practitioner will likely monitor your overdue baby with tests like nonstress tests or ultrasounds.
When this late-comer finally makes a debut, chances are baby's skin will be dry, cracked, peeling or wrinkled — all completely temporary. That's considering the protective vernix was shed weeks ago in anticipation of a delivery date that came and went.
A tardy baby will besides have longer nails, possibly longer hair and lilliputian or none of that baby fuzz (lanugo). She'll likewise be more than alarm: "Hi, Mommy!"
Tardily commitment
Well, the due date's come and gone … two weeks ago. You're still as pregnant every bit ever — make that, more pregnant than ever — and your baby is nevertheless happily ensconced in that uterine home.
At 42 weeks pregnant, you're not alone in your frustration and neither is your baby when it comes to tardiness.
Almost babies accept their own timetables for delivery; fewer than 5 percent are actually built-in on their due date. Many babies continue to thrive well past week forty, though you may have lost that "thriving" feeling long ago — but but to be sure, your practitioner is likely to monitor your infant through nonstress tests and biophysical profiles.
There'due south one thing for sure: Whenever your baby chooses to arrive, you'll exist meeting that petty packet of joy with open up arms. Happy cuddling!
Your Torso at Calendar week 42
Accept center
While you may experience every bit if this pregnancy has been going on forever, studies show that an estimated 70 percent of post-term pregnancies aren't post-term at all.
The frustrating mix-up is typically due to a miscalculation of the date of formulation, normally thanks to irregular ovulation or a mom'southward doubtfulness nigh the verbal date of the final menstrual period.
Even if you practice end up among the approximately 2 percent of women who are truly overdue, know that earlier this week is over, labor will brainstorm naturally — or when your practitioner induces it.
Of course, you're probably sick of everyone calling to see if you've had the baby withal. Only here's something to focus on equally you wait: By this time next week, you'll be snuggling with your newborn.
Past your due appointment?
Okay, afterward all those weeks of preparation, do you sort of have that bustle-up-and-wait feeling? At 42 weeks pregnant, you know why they phone call you an expectant mother — and why at present, in your 42nd long, long week, you may exist calling yourself an overexpectant mother.
Don't be discouraged — and don't call the folks at Guinness to put yourself down as the longest pregnancy on record. Information technology may be helpful to keep in mind that your estimated due appointment was just that — estimated.
So even though your baby seems to exist overdue, there's a chance your dates, and not your babe, are just a little off the marker, especially if you didn't have an early on ultrasound (before week 14) to engagement your pregnancy.
And then hang in at that place and continue to lookout for signs of impending labor — or become ready for an impending induction if your practitioner goes that route.
One prelabor sign to wait for may exist loose bowel movements. Some women experience mild diarrhea just prior to the onset of labor. Think of it every bit nature's enema — a way to empty your intestines to make room for the baby'southward passage through the birth canal.
Here's a happier thought: Past this fourth dimension next week, you'll have a brand new beautiful baby to cuddle in your arms and keep you up at nighttime. Expert luck!
Postpartum doula
Once the baby comes home, a new mom can expect to be exhausted and overwhelmed. (So tin can a new dad, by the way.) Who do you telephone call? A certified postpartum doula!
A doula will provide treat you and your baby, including breastfeeding advice, cooking, child intendance, errands and low-cal cleaning. This miracle worker volition teach and support you and your partner without judgment — and a doula won't laugh at your pathetic attempts at swaddling.
Such a pregnancy and postpartum helper knows all about emotional and physical recovery, baby soothing and coping skills, feeding, diapering — anything and everything that eases the catchy transition into parenthood.
The best way to find a postpartum doula is through word of oral cavity, so ask your pediatrician and your friends or cheque with DONA International.
Continue in mind that most doulas accuse an hourly rate, then you can be flexible about when and how ofttimes your pregnancy companion comes to aid. A few hours a day for the first couple of weeks might mean the difference between a mommy and a zombie.
Acquire more about what to ask a doula before you hire one.
Pregnancy Symptoms Week 42
More frequent Braxton Hicks contractions
Bloody prove
Water breaking
Cervical dilation or effacement
Diarrhea
Edema (swelling in feet and ankles)
Insomnia
Leaky breasts
Tips for You This Calendar week
Ask most inducing labor
Baby is at present officially late. Since your uterus is likely becoming less hospitable, if you don't go into labor on your own, your practitioner will likely schedule yous to be induced sometime this week. Whether you have an induction, or baby makes an arrival without help, you'll have to be tested for COVID-19 before delivering.
During an induction, your doc can use a topical hormone to ripen your cervix, which allows infant to enter the birth canal, or bound-start your contractions past breaking your h2o or administering Pitocin.
Monitor whatsoever contractions
If your contractions are strong, last at least 45 seconds and are coming more than often than every five minutes, call the doctor! Baby could well be on the way within a few hours.
Talk virtually the placenta
Planning on saving your placenta? Talk to your health care provider before you go into labor and then that there's no confusion when the time comes.
Note any bowel changes
Believe it or not, diarrhea might be a skillful sign that your baby is on the way — it'southward your body's way of clearing out the area.
Massage your perineum
Minimize the "sting" of nativity with perineal massage (only get your practitioner'southward okay first).
Here'southward how: Insert clean, lubricated thumbs into your vagina. Press down and slide across your perineum (the area betwixt your vagina and rectum) and dorsum continuously for 5 minutes. Repeat daily.
2d fourth dimension in labor? Adept news
This isn't your first labor? 2nd and subsequent labors and deliveries are usually — though not always — easier and shorter. Hooray!
Don't panic — infant volition exist here soon
At this bespeak, you're about as overdue every bit you can get, but try to stay calm and don't become too stressed. All is well equally long equally you're in regular affect with your practitioner and have plans to be induced soon if baby doesn't make an appearance. Get ready: Your footling bundle is almost here!
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Source: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week-42.aspx
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