Week 40 of Pregnancy | Labour Starts Soon & Final Pregnancy Symptoms
Week 40 of pregnancy: baby development, common symptoms, antenatal care and warning signs to watch for this week.
🌸 Week 40 of Pregnancy
“At this point, every cramp makes you wonder: labour… or just dramatic gas? 😭🍼”
Welcome to:
✨ Week 40
The waiting is almost over 🤍
Within days, you’ll finally meet your baby 👶✨
Pregnancy has been a long journey…
but honestly? The real adventure is just beginning 😭💙
🤰 What’s happening in your body?
If this is your first baby, you’ll probably have an antenatal appointment this week 👀
Your doctor or midwife will:
✔ check your blood pressure
✔ measure your bump
✔ test your urine
This helps screen for:
⚠️ pre-eclampsia
A serious condition linked to:
- high blood pressure
- protein in urine
🚨 Call your doctor urgently if you develop:
- severe headache
- blurred vision
- sudden swelling
- pain under the ribs
💫 Braxton Hicks vs Real Labour 😭
You’re probably getting lots of contractions now.
🌸 Braxton Hicks:
✔ tummy tightens
✔ then relaxes
✔ usually not very painful
🔥 Real contractions:
✔ painful
✔ regular
✔ getting stronger over time
✔ don’t disappear easily
💡 When contractions:
✔ last 60 seconds
✔ and come every 5 minutes
🚨 call your hospital or midwife.
👶 Labour Happens in 3 Stages
1️⃣ First Stage
Contractions begin and the cervix opens until:
✨ 10 cm dilated
Usually lasts:
⏳ 6–12 hours
or shorter if you’ve had babies before.
2️⃣ Second Stage
👶 Baby is born
3️⃣ Third Stage
✨ Placenta is delivered
💉 RSV Vaccination
If you haven’t had the RSV vaccine yet:
✔ it can still be given before labour
It helps protect your baby from:
- bronchiolitis
- severe chest infections
🌸 8 Tips for Labour
😴 1. Try to sleep if labour starts at night
Rest helps your body prepare for birth.
🚶♀️ 2. Stay upright & active
Movement helps:
✔ baby move down
✔ cervix open faster
🧘♀️ 3. Try different positions
Use:
✔ a birthing ball
✔ walking
✔ leaning on your partner
🚿 4. Warm bath or shower
Warm water can:
✔ relax muscles
✔ ease labour pain
🌬️ 5. Focus on breathing
Deep breaths in through your nose
Slow breaths out through your mouth
💡 Relax your jaw 😄
💆♀️ 6. Let people help you
Massage and reassurance increase:
✨ endorphins
Your body’s natural painkillers 👀💙
🍌 7. Eat light snacks
Good options:
- banana
- yogurt
- light snacks
Avoid heavy greasy meals.
🕯️ 8. Do anything that relaxes you
Music, dim lights, breathing exercises… anything calming helps.
💡 A calmer body often copes better with labour.
🌶️ Can Curry or Sex Start Labour? 😄
You’ve probably heard:
- curry
- pineapple
- walking
- sex
- raspberry leaf tea
💡 Truth?
❌ There’s no guaranteed safe way to start labour naturally at home.
Always ask your doctor before trying anything.
⚠️ Symptoms at Week 40
You may experience:
- Braxton Hicks contractions
- sleep problems 😭
- stretch marks
- bleeding gums
- round ligament pain
- piles
- headaches
- backache
- indigestion & heartburn
- constipation & bloating
- leg cramps
- feeling hot
- dizziness
- swelling
- urine infections
- vaginal infections or discharge
- skin changes
- acne
- thicker hair
✔ plus:
- mood swings
- cravings 😄
- leaking breasts
- stronger sense of smell
👶 What Does Your Baby Look Like?
Your baby is now around 51.2 cm long — about the size of a pumpkin 🎃💙
💫 Movements
Your baby is very squashed now 😭
BUT:
✔ movements should still stay regular
🚨 Reduced movements should NEVER be ignored.
Call your doctor or maternity unit immediately if movements change.
💧 Waters Breaking
Stay alert 👀
Waters breaking may be:
✔ a trickle
✔ or a gush
🚨 If you think your waters broke:
👉 call your doctor or hospital.
🧘♀ Important Things This Week
✔ enjoy maternity leave 😄
✔ continue pelvic floor exercises
✔ keep taking vitamins
✔ eat healthy meals
✔ stay gently active
✔ focus on emotional wellbeing
✔ ask about newborn screening
✔ think about contraception after birth
Mama…
you made it 🤍✨
And whether you feel:
😭 exhausted
👀 nervous
😄 excited
🥹 emotional
all at the same time…
that is completely normal 💙
At Dr. Mohamed Abdelghany Clinic, we support you every step of the way:
✔️ Pregnancy follow-up
✔️ Labour preparation
✔️ Fetal monitoring
✔️ Emotional and medical support
💙 Book your visit and feel reassured about your delivery journey.
Book your visit at Dr. Mohamed Abdelghany Clinic
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