Pregnancy Week 41 and Week 42
Many expectant mothers will go passed the typical 40 weeks of pregnancy. In fact, first time pregnancies often go one or two weeks over. So, if you are 41 or 42 weeks pregnant, don’t give up. You will soon hold your little one in your arms, and this will all be a faded memory. Women who are 41 weeks pregnant are often experiencing a certain amount of stress and anxiety. They have followed all the rules, kept themselves healthy, and endured morning sickness. Now where’s the baby? He or she is tucked inside, still in the preparation mode.
If you are 41 weeks pregnant, you may have started looking for ways to rush this labor along. There are many folk’s tale remedies, said to send a pregnant woman into labor. Some of those include: eating spicy foods, exercise, and sex. Women have attributed their subsequent labor pains with doing some of these. But it’s uncertain whether or not they actually work.
One thing that is certain, for a woman who is 41 weeks pregnant, her baby is continuing to grow and gain weight. She and her baby have officially entered into the fourth trimester of pregnancy. To be honest, almost no woman wants to be in this situation. But sometimes this is the case, and it’s better to face it than to take on stress about it.
Women, who are now 42 weeks pregnant, are even more miserable than those who are 41 weeks pregnant. They are feeling heavy, bloated and just plain uncomfortable. Many women, who reach this particular stage, are plagued with fatigue and even swollen feet. There is one good thing about making it this far though.
Almost no physician will allow a pregnancy to go beyond this point. So if it hasn’t come up yet, the topic of induction is on the horizon. You aren’t alone in this process if you are 42 weeks pregnant. At least 10% of pregnant women go 2 weeks past the 40.
Your baby is still putting on weight, and most are somewhere between eight and nine pounds. He or she is about twenty-one inches now. There are some issues that occur particularly when a baby is in the womb this long. Many of them have either peeling skin or rashes. These can be addressed after birth, and typically go away.
A look at your baby now would show its plumpness and even the growth of longer finger nails and hair. Many babies born at this stage, come out with a head full of hair, just like mommy’s or daddy’s. In more ways than one, it’s time for this little one to come out!
Until that big day comes, however, there are a few things expectant mothers can occupy themselves with. One of them is packing your baby bag. The baby bag, will have everything you, or your baby will need while at the hospital. Women commonly pack comfort items like night gowns or fuzzy slippers. Keep this bag near the door, or in your car. So, when your fast exit occurs, all you’ll have to do is grab it and leave.
Stay positive at this point. Within a matter of days, you’ll be holding your beautiful blessing!
