Pregnancy week 41 - baby's development and your body

Your baby is full-term, and you’ve now passed the estimated due date. Both your body and baby are preparing for labor. With a high chance that labor will begin soon, it’s a good idea to stay prepared and try to rest when you can.

Size:

Your baby is about 51 cm or 20.08 inches long, from head to foot.

Weight:

Approximately 3.6 kg or 7.94 lbs.

Baby's development:

Your baby is now fully developed and ready to be born. However, the brain continues to mature, and your baby is still gaining fat and growing to ease the transition to life outside the womb.

Your baby now sleeps and wakes in longer cycles. When awake, they practice breathing by drawing in and pushing out amniotic fluid through their airways.

With space getting tighter, kicks may feel more like sweeping movements, stretches, or pushes. However, the frequency and strength of movements should remain consistent.

Your body:

You may start noticing signs that your body is preparing for labor. Contractions might be more frequent, especially after exertion, often followed by mild cramping.

The cervix is now positioned forward and has likely started to soften and dilate slightly in preparation for labor.

With the baby pressing down, finding comfortable positions to sit, stand, or sleep can be challenging. Pelvic pain after activity is also common as the hormone relaxin softens the pelvic joints in preparation for childbirth. Some people also experience back pain as muscles tense up to support the effects of relaxin.