Medical expert of the article

Gynecologist, fertility specialist

New publications

Pregnancy: 41 weeks

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

How the child grows:

A little over 50 cm in height, the child continues to grow and can now weigh almost 3.6 kg. Your child is no longer as comfortable as before, so for his safety, the doctor will advise you to begin the challenge of birth activity, next week. Most doctors do not recommend waiting longer than two weeks after the expiration of pregnancy, since delayed births increase the risk of complications. Approximately 5 to 6 percent of women prolong their gestation for three weeks.

Infants born after 42 weeks suffer from dry skin and excessive weight. Late births also increase the risk of infection in the uterus, which can be dangerous for the baby, and also increases the risk of stillbirth. In addition, there is a need for caesarean section.

Important: the development of each child is strictly individual. Our information is designed to give you an idea of the development of the fetus.

Changes of the future mother

It is difficult not to worry, when the labor activity does not occur after the expiration of the term. But do not despair, you will not be pregnant forever. Generic activity is likely to begin this week on its own, otherwise it will be caused by a doctor.

Methods of calling for labor will depend on the condition of the cervix. If she has not opened up and is not ready for delivery, the doctor will use hormones or "mechanical" methods. Depending on the situation, the doctor can use such drugs as oxytocin to stimulate contractions. If these and other methods are not effective, a cesarean section will be performed.

In the meantime, immediately tell your doctor if your child's activity has decreased or you have noticed the flow of amniotic fluid from the vagina.

trusted-source [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]

Translation Disclaimer: The original language of this article is Russian. For the convenience of users of the iLive portal who do not speak Russian, this article has been translated into the current language, but has not yet been verified by a native speaker who has the necessary qualifications for this. In this regard, we warn you that the translation of this article may be incorrect, may contain lexical, syntactic and grammatical errors.