So now you've felt more movement. Baby is getting to be more and more active by the day. What else is he up to now? Select the week of your pregnancy from below and find out the stage of baby's growth.

Week 36 - Your baby is full term
This week, your baby is considered full-term! But your baby hasn't stopped growing yet. He continues to develop fat at the rate of 14 grams a day. In general, boys weigh more than girls at birth.

Your baby has developed enough coordination to grasp with his fingers. If shown a bright light, your baby may turn towards the direction of the light inside the uterus.

Starting this week, you may begin to see your doctor every week. He may give you an internal examination to determine if cervical effacement (thinning of the cervix) or dilation (opening of the cervix) has begun. You may experience engagement, which is when the baby drops into the mother's pelvis in preparation for labor. Your appetite may return because the baby is no longer putting as much pressure on your stomach and intestines, and if you've been experiencing heartburn, the baby's descent may somewhat alleviate it.

Week 37 - Baby weighs much more now
Your baby weighs about 2,900 grams by now and measures about 13.4 inches in length from head to bottom (derrière). Though fat is still accumulating, growth is slower now. You may notice that your weight gain has decreased or ceased.

Since your baby has had the muscles to suck and swallow amniotic fluid, waste material has been accumulating in his or her intestines. Cells shed from the intestines; dead skin cells and lanugo hair are some of the waste products that contribute to meconium - a greenish-black substance that constitutes your baby's first bowel movement.

If you're having a boy, his testicles have descended into the scrotum, unless he has a condition called undescended testicle. If you're having a girl, the labia are now completely developed.

After this week, you may lose the mucous plug that sealed off your uterus. The mucus plug can be lost a few weeks, days, or hours before labour and is thick, yellowish and may be tinged with blood. As the cervix dilates in preparation for labour, the plug is discharged from the body. Be sure to discuss with your doctor about any discharge you may be having.

Week 38 - Baby cream and hair has disappeared
Most of the vernix - the thick cream - that covered your baby's skin has disappeared, as has the lanugo - the hair. Your body has been supplying the baby with antibodies through the placenta that will help the baby's immune system fight infection for the first 6-12 months of life.

Though they vary in size, umbilical cords measure about 22 inches in length and half an inch in thickness. Sometimes the umbilical cord can become wrapped around a baby's neck. Generally, this doesn't cause problems. But a cesarean delivery may be required if it causes pressure on the umbilical cord during labour or delivery. A true knot in the umbilical cord is much less common, occurring in only about 1% of pregnancies.

Week 39 - Baby is ready. Or maybe not.
After many weeks of anticipation and preparation, your baby is here! Or maybe not. Only 5% of women deliver on their estimated due dates, and many first-time mothers find themselves waiting up to two weeks after their due date for their baby to arrive.

The rupture of your amniotic sac could happen any day now. When water breaks, you may experience a large gush of water or some feel a steady trickle. Many women don't experience their water breaking until they're well into labour. Others need to have their water broken by their health care providers to get their labour started or to speed it up. If you think your water has broken or you are experiencing regular contractions, contact your doctor.

A baby born at forty weeks weighs about 3,500 grams and measures 19 to 20 inches. Don't expect your baby to look all chubby and cute right away - newborns often have heads temporarily misshapen from the birth canal and may be covered with vernix and blood. Your baby's skin may have skin discolorations, dry patches, and rashes - these many variations are completely normal.

Week 40 - Congratulations!
This week you'll experience the moment you've been anticipating - your face-to-face with baby! But before you can meet your baby, you have to go through labour and delivery. Labour actually consists of three stages.

• The first stage of labour, works to thin and stretch your cervix by contracting your uterus at regular intervals.
• The second stage of labour is when you push your baby into the vaginal canal and out of your body.
• The third and final stage of labour is when you deliver the placenta.

Right after birth, your doctor will suction mucus out of your baby's mouth and nose, and you'll hear that long-awaited first cry. Your baby may then be placed on your stomach, and the umbilical cord will be cut.

A series of quick screening tests, such as the Apgar score, will be performed to assess your baby's responsiveness and vital signs, and she will be weighed and measured. If your pregnancy was high risk, or if a cesarean section was necessary, a Neonatologist - a doctor who specializes in newborn intensive care - will be present at your delivery to take care of your baby right away. If your baby needs any special care to adjust to life outside the womb, it will be given. And then your newborn will be placed in your waiting arms.

If you do not go into labour within a week of your due date, your doctor may recommend you for a non-stress test, which monitors fetal heart rate and movement to be sure that the baby is receiving adequate oxygen and that the nervous system is responding.

Sometimes Mother Nature may need a little coaxing. If your labour is not progressing, or if your health or your baby's health requires it, your doctor may induce labour by artificially rupturing the membranes or by administering the hormone oxytocin or other medications. If your pregnancy is high risk, or if there are any other potential complications, you may require a cesarean section delivery.

Some women know ahead of time that they will be delivering via cesarean section and are able to schedule their baby's birth date well in advance. If you are one of them, you have probably been able to prepare yourself emotionally and mentally for the birth - which can help to lessen the feelings of disappointment that many mothers who are unable to deliver vaginally experience.

But even if you have to undergo a cesarean section that wasn't planned, rest assured that you would still be able to bond with your baby. It might not be the birth experience you imagined, but your beautiful newborn has arrived nonetheless. The months of waiting are over!

Congratulations! You're with your baby!

Overall Rating

Currently 1.5/5 Stars.