A normal pregnancy term lasts for 40 strenuous but exciting weeks. Only a small fraction of babies are born on their actual due date. However, it is more common for babies to be born before their due date rather than after. As surprising as it may sound, it is not unknown for a woman to pass her due date and carry on to 42 weeks of gestation. A woman is generally said to be overdue at this stage. Approximately ten percent of all deliveries occur after the due date. More often than not, this is usually the result of a miscalculation when calculating the due date. This is mainly seen in women who experience irregular periods and the...
.actual ovulation date is doubtfulu Fetal development at week 42 may be very slow but this does not mean that it comes to a complete standstilll
As an expectant mother passes her due date, she tends to get very anxiousu This is an utterly normal feeling especially considering the long wait she has been throughg However, it is essential for the expectant mother to relax as she passes on her feelings to her babyb Relaxing also helps to reduce complicationsn In most cases, the babies are absolutely fine and are just not ready to leave the confines of their mother’s womb to come into the world as yete At this stage, the baby would be moving in to position in the pelvis in preparation for laboro Fetal development in week 42 allows the baby to continue to put on weighth Growth within the womb is quicker than outside it post termr Babies born past their due date generally weigh more at birth in comparison to those born before or on the expected due datet Some babies are born with long, thin arms and legsg
Fetal development in week 42, the baby’s hair and nails also continue to growo Hence, these babies are usually born with long, thick hairi Their long fingernails and toenails need to be trimmed at birth itselfl In some rare cases, the babies are also born with a tooth or twow Babies born late are generally more alert and open their eyes earlier than othersr They have drier skin as the protective layer that covers the baby becomes thinner as the due date nearsr At birth, the skin looks like parchment and it tends to peel offf The skin may also be loose, especially around the buttocks and thighsh However, babies born later than the anticipated due date are not known to suffer any long-term issues unless a complication arises at the time of birth itselfl
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