Size of baby in fortieth week
During the fortieth week of pregnancy the weight of the baby is seven and half pounds and his size is approximately twenty and half inches. By this time the baby is ready to get out of the uterus. The size of the belly does not show significant changes now. Some women are quite complacent about the fact that from the past couple of weeks they are not experiencing any weight gain. Many women have their due date during the fortieth week of pregnancy. It is also possible for you to not deliver even after your due date and then reach the fortieth week of pregnancy. Especially women who are expecting their first babies are most likely to miss their due dates.
Accuracy of due date
The due date is often missed as the due date itself cannot be predicted accurately because the exact moment of conception cannot be known by the doctors. Since the due dates are hardly accurate, one can find it hard to fathom the exact date when the baby will take birth. According to various factors some babies are delivered within the thirty eighth week of pregnancy and some are delivered after the forty first week of pregnancy.
Inducing labor pains
There are many women who want to induce labor at the fortieth week of pregnancy, so that contractions can begin at that time. There are some methods that can induce labors. Sex is considered as the most common way to induce labor. Since you feel so tired and grumpy by the fortieth week of pregnancy, sex might be the last thing on your mind. Prostaglandins which can be found in semen can trigger the process of labor. Due to this reason many women want to try out this method. Even your spouse will have no qualms with indulging in sex at this time because you are not allowed to have sex till one and half months after delivery. At times having an orgasm can also give rise to labor.
If you are having irregular contractions, then walking might help in inducing labor. While you are walking your baby can reach the pelvic area so that delivery becomes a possibility at that time. Spicy foods containing garlic, etc is believed to induce labor. Nipple stimulation is another way of triggering labor. During nipple stimulation, the body releases a hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin has similar properties like the pitocin, which is used for inducing labor by the doctors. Nipple stimulation can give rise to very frequent and painful contractions. If the contractions get too strong then it is not good for the baby because his heart rate decreases. Nipple stimulation should be done only after consulting your doctor. It is said that castor oil can also give birth to labor contractions. But you should ask your doctor first before proceeding with this method. Most of these labor inducing methods should not be performed before the fortieth week of pregnancy because before that the baby might not be fully developed. Membrane stripping is another method used by the doctors to induce labor.