42 Weeks Pregnant – Baby Development, and Tips!

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42 Weeks of Pregnancy

42 Weeks Pregnant – Know here Symptoms, Baby Development, and Tips ✓ hyper-alert baby ✓ Baby becomes fatter ✓ Contractions, Etc. – It is finally time to meet your baby! In most cases, the baby comes out by now but if yours has not yet, nothing to worry about! You will be now induced by your doctor or the midwife to bring the baby out. Now that it is time for the baby to see the world, they obviously have grown a full human size, weighing 8.1 pounds and measuring an easy
20.3 inches long – baby size!

Here’s what is happening to the baby in their final week of vacation in the womb-

1. The baby is referred to as Post-term

Since a baby is ideally supposed to pop out by the 41st week and yours is still a week late, the baby will be called a post-term baby. While post-term babies are common, there could be an increased chance of a birth complication because the placenta has now over-aged and it may not be able to carry nutrition and oxygen to your baby. Hence, induction.

2. A hyper-alert baby

The baby will soon be coming to the world and as nature’s play is, they will also, in fact, come out super-alert at birth in the 42nd week.

3. Baby becomes fatter

In the 42nd week of pregnancy, since your baby is post-term, they’d still be gaining weight and hence, will appear to be a little bigger than a full-term baby.

42nd week of pregnancy- What is happening to the mother’s body?

1. Contractions (we know that is obvious!)

In the 42nd week, since the pregnancy is now post-term, mother’s might find themselves confused if the contractions they feel are real or Braxton Hicks contractions or if the body will directly hit the labor. Having said that it is important for mothers to ensure that they time whatever contraction they feel – even if they have a reason to believe it’s Braxton Hicks.

2. Increased fatigue

It is common for mothers to start feeling a little more exhausted than ever in the 42nd week as you literally have been carrying around weight for a little too long already. Don’t worry, hold it in there, it really is just a little bit more longer now!

3. Increased stress

You might have expected your baby to pop out at full term but since they have entered the past term, you might find yourself a little stressed and anxious about the situation. However, try and keep your mind away from unwelcome stressful thoughts because this is the time where you should rather be preparing yourself to welcome the little one. Keep your doctor in the loop with every change you experience in your body, keep up the kick count, and, literally, just chill out! So what the baby took a little longer, they must be a little too special too!

Final Thoughts

In the 42nd week of pregnancy, the most obvious question popping in your head right now would be- How will the baby be induced?

Inducing, as per Mayo Clinic, is the process of “stimulation of uterine contractions during pregnancy before labor begins on its own to achieve a vaginal birth. A health care provider might recommend labor induction for various reasons, primarily when there’s a concern for a mother’s health or a baby’s health.” Since your post-term baby has already stayed inside a little too long, induction is advised to avoid birth complications.

Medical induction is and should only be done professionally and never be tried on your own. It is recommended that you read up about induction and ask as many questions as you can in order to make an informed and certain decision for yourself and your baby.

FAQs: 42 Weeks Pregnant - What To Expect ? Symptoms, Baby Development, and Tips!

1. What is a post-term pregnancy?

As per the NCBI, “Post-term pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy that has extended to or beyond 42 weeks of gestation (294 days), or estimated date of delivery (EDD) + 14 days (ACOG, 2004).” Mothers are usually induced in cases of post-term babies in order to avoid childbirth complications.

2. What are the tax benefits after childbirth?

Child Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit are some of the tax benefits you might qualify for. It should be noted that in order to add your child to a tax form, you will need the child’s social security card. The baby’s said social security card, in most cases, can be applied for at the hospital while filling out the birth certificate paperwork.

3. What is the longest pregnancy ever recorded?

A woman called Mrs. Hunter gave birth to a baby after 375 days of pregnancy (against the normal 280) at Los Angeles' Methodist Hospital!

4. Are 42 weeks of pregnancy normal?

Pregnancies can last any time between 37th-42nd week. While, ideally, a baby is supposed to come out before the 42nd week, it is not absolutely uncommon for the pregnancy to last more than 42 weeks (called a post-term pregnancy). Post-term pregnancies might come with some birth complications and hence, inducing is usually recommended to avoid the said risks.

On behalf of the editorial team at Parenthoodbliss, we follow strict reporting guidelines and only use credible sources, along with peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and highly respected health organizations. To learn about how we maintain content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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