WEEK 37
Your baby is continuing to grow and gain weight during these last few weeks. Around
this time your baby's head must be down, if not it could be in a breach position (babies
bottom or legs comes into the pelves first). By the end of this week, your pregnancy would
have come full term - your baby can be born any day now. The crown to rump length is 14
inches (35 cms). The baby weighs almost 6.5 pound (2950 gms).
WEEK
38
Your baby sheds most of her downy coating of lanugo & vernix - the cheese like coating
that covers a fetus and protects the developing skin. The baby swallows both, along with
other secretion and will come out in the baby's bowel at birth. The baby weighs about 6.8
pounds (3100 gms). The crown to rump length hasn't changed much. Its still about 14 inches
(35 cms).
WEEK
39
The baby continues to gain weight, even upto the last week or two of pregnancy. It doesn't
have much room to move in the uterus. At this point, all the organ systems are developed
and in place. Your baby is still building a layer of fat to help control body temperature
after birth. The last part of development is maturing of lungs. Your baby is ready to
greet the world. The crown to rump length is about 14.4 inches (36 cms). Your baby weighs
a little over 7 pounds (3250 gms).
WEEK
40
Your long wait is finally over. The D-Day is almost here. It won't be very long before you
have your little one wrapped around in your arms. Don't panic if by the end of this week
if you still haven't delivered. Only 5% of babies are born on the expected due date. In
this week the the bilirubin is transferred easily across the placenta from the fetus to
the maternal circulation. The crown to rump length is about 14.8 to 15.2 inches (37 to 38
cms). The baby weighs about 7.5 pounds (3400 gms).
