42 week of pregnancy: what happens to the fetus and the expectant mother?

The overwhelming majority of women wear their children up to the 39-40 week of pregnancy. It is at this time, according to the Ministry of Health of Russia, about 93% of children are born. The remaining 7% fall on babies who were in a hurry and were born before the appointed obstetric period (about 5%) or are in no hurry to be born, and “sit” in my mother's tummy until 41, 42 and even 43 weeks. About why birth does not begin at week 42, is it normal and what to do, we will tell in this article.

42 weeks of gestation is obstetric calculus of gestational age. Doctors considered to be the term of gestation from the first day of the last menstruation. In fact, it took about 40 weeks from conception. These are full nine months and two more weeks. (in 1 month on average - 4.285 weeks).

This is the main question that at the 42nd week of pregnancy torments both women and her relatives. In the exchange card as the estimated date of delivery is the date, which was about two weeks ago, but the delivery does not start. Because of this, and also because of strong physical and emotional fatigue, a woman is in constant stress, many are already waiting for childbirth as salvation, since it became difficult to wear the pregnancy.

Experts reassure - there is no question of repartitioning. At 42 weeks of childbirth, although this happens quite rarely, but still is a variant of a completely normal, full-term, just prolonged pregnancy. Pregnancy is considered to be worn from 43 weeks.

Mother nature itself may very well extend pregnancy to 42 weeks if, for example, obstetrician’s calculations were inaccurate. A woman at registration could have made a mistake with the date of the last menstrual period, ovulation could be late, as a result of which implantation was also delayed. This is the most common reason why a woman is still at home at 42 weeks, her bag, collected at the maternity hospital more than a month ago, is almost at the door, and every day for the expectant mother begins with the fact that she listens to her body in an attempt to detect at least some signs of the upcoming delivery.

Prolonged pregnancy may have other reasons - for example, the mother’s excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle, hormonal disorders in her body. It is hormones that “lead” all preparation for childbirth, and if there is an imbalance in their concentration and ratio, the childbirth may be delayed.

Even 20 years ago, women at 42 weeks strictly hospitalized and stimulated childbirth, or did a cesarean section. Now obstetricians look at this period a little differently - if the baby is not yet going out, then nature needs it. Therefore, there should be no panic or unrest for 42 weeks in either the doctor or the woman.

The weight and height of the child at this time largely depends on heredity - large parents usually give birth to rather big children, miniature mom and dad "get" small wagons in the hospital.

The average weight of babies at 42 weeks exceeds 3 kilograms 600 grams, height - more than 52 centimeters. And the child continues to grow, although it seems that he has nowhere to grow further - in the uterus it has become very crowded.

The 42-week-old baby is a fully formed person ready for life in this world. All organs and systems work in it, the heart knocks rhythmically, the liver and spleen produce hormones and enzymes, the stomach digests the swallowed amniotic fluid, the intestine stores the stock of the first in life of feces crumbs - dark green meconium, which will come out of the rectum in the first day after of birth.

The child perfectly hears, sees the light, touches. His nervous system continues to improve, but this process will continue after birth. Neonatologists claim that a child at the 42nd week of pregnancy is worried and worried with his mother, because he, too, is fully ready for birth, which for some reason does not begin.

The placenta is aging, becoming more delicate. On the one hand, this is not very good, since the child receives less oxygen and nutrients, but, on the other hand, his immunity is “trained”. An aging placenta, which cannot be a full-fledged barrier, begins to allow maternal antibodies to a baby to various diseases, viruses, infections that mom used to suffer from or vaccinated against.

The lungs of the child at 42 weeks are fully prepared for the disclosure, the amount of accumulated specific substance of surfactant is sufficient not to worry whether the crumb can breathe on its own in the maternity hospital.

Baby this week continues to accumulate subcutaneous fat, its forms are rounded, on a three-dimensional ultrasound, if you do it at this time, you can see puffy cheeks and cute "dimples". In general, it looks exactly as it will at the time of birth. His bones at this time become stronger, they gradually harden, which can create additional difficulties during childbirth.

The stomach has become so huge that it is now very difficult for a woman to wear it, so at week 42 the vast majority of expectant mothers experience emotional instability, nervous breakdowns, insomnia. They are caused not only by fatigue and anxiety, but also by hormonal changes: the woman's body is under the action of the hormone relaxin, which is responsible for softening the pelvic bones, which is necessary to overcome the crumb of the birth canal with the least discomfort.

Due to the divergence of the pelvic bones, the woman has pain in the region of the womb, the pain is aggravated while walking, when trying to get out of bed. If they are not permanently painful in nature and do not limit movements, there is nothing to worry about. You can take "No-Shpu", which has a pronounced antispasmodic effect.

42 weeks of pregnancy in many women is associated with the appearance of edema. Even those who previously did not have edema could have swelling on their hands, face, and ankles at this time. Due to the strong pressure of the uterus and the fetus on the lower veins in women, hemorrhoids and varicose veins are often manifested.

Intestinal problems literally pursue at this time most of the expectant mothers. The enlarged uterus compresses the intestinal loops, shifts them and the gallbladder upward, as a result of which the woman may complain of flatulence, that she becomes sick even after a small amount of light food. Often, loose stools and constipation are felt.

A woman can change the nature of the discharge. Against the background from time to time appearing pulling back pains, mucous bright or brown discharge with streaks of blood or jelly-like clots may appear. This may indicate that a woman has a so-called cork - mucus, which closed the cervical canal and protected the uterine cavity from the penetration of the entire outsider during the whole pregnancy. Cork sometimes goes out entirely, and sometimes departs gradually, over several days.

If the term for which the delivery was scheduled, has long passed, and the woman does not feel any symptoms and signs of approaching birth, you should not worry and panic. Not all precursors of childbirth appear in advance, in some cases, childbirth begins in the absence of precursors.

Anyway at 42 weeks A woman must visit her doctor, who will help to distinguish a prolonged pregnancy from a prolonged pregnancy. Rendering has certain clinical signs, it is dangerous for the baby and mother.

You can talk about re-routing if:

• the level of amniotic fluid is very small, the amniotic fluid index is at a critically low level;
• in the amniotic fluid on the ultrasound are determined flakes, suspensions, they are cloudy;
• the placenta is aging, it has decreased significantly in thickness, the USDG shows insufficient blood flow through the placenta-fetus system.

At 42 weeks, a woman will be given CTG to make sure that the child is feeling well, they will measure the level of amniotic fluid, and examine the condition of the cervix manually on the gynecological chair.

If the neck is mature, smoothed, there is a small opening for 1-2 fingers, but there are no contractions and labor activity does not begin, the doctor may recommend hospitalization and stimulation of natural childbirth. It is carried out medicamentally. Often used drug "Mifepristone" - A hormonal agent that blocks the production of progesterone.

Without this hormone, pregnancy cannot continue. The musculature of the uterus begins to shrink, the labor starts and flows quite naturally. Stimulation of labor by hormonal drugs has many contraindications, including preeclampsia, renal failure, hemostasis, late toxicosis, abnormal fetal location, heart and liver disease in women, etc.

After medication, childbirth usually begins in 48-72 hours. In addition, doctors can puncture the membranes of the fetus to stimulate the generic process.

Representatives of the older generation remember themselves and advise daughters and granddaughters to drink castor oil. Castor oil is a strong laxative and intestinal cleansing helps to produce prostaglandlin and start labor. From this method, modern medicine warns - castorca acts too much, it can provoke unwanted childbirth, and now absolutely unnecessary for a woman and a child diarrhea and vomiting, which only complicate the life of the future mother at 42 weeks of pregnancy.

A woman can “help” nature, if she is more active, moving, if she has sex (provided that the mucus plug does not move away from the cervical canal), and also massage her nipples (at the same time she produces oxytocin, which has the ability to reduce the muscles of the uterus ).

A walk and activity are not contraindicated in a woman, but experts advise not to go far from home - childbirth can start at any time. If there is a need to leave, be sure to take your passport, medical insurance policy, and exchange card with you into your purse. Bag with the necessary things and accessories for the hospital should be collected and stand on full alert in a visible place.

Particular attention should be paid to their diet at this time, because the gastrointestinal tract is subject to enormous loads. A woman should reduce portions, add fruits and vegetables to the diet, reduce the amount of meat and fish, and eliminate bread.

If there are atypical discharge, water from the genitals, blood, green liquid, you should call an ambulance and go to the hospital. All of these conditions require medical attendance and control.

Woman 42 weeks should protect themselves from viral and other diseases. Any infection, even if it manifests itself as a commonplace rhinitis, when admitted to the maternity hospital will be the basis for placing the mother in the observational department.

See what the next signs of postponing a child are in the next video.