Week 40 of pregnancy marks your official due date, but going past it by a week or two is entirely normal — induction is typically only considered between weeks 41 and 42. Once the due date passes, doctors monitor fetal wellbeing through ultrasound, amniotic fluid testing, fetal heart rate monitoring, and assessment of breathing and limb movement, with induction or caesarean section recommended only if results are concerning. The average newborn weighs around seven and a half pounds and measures about twenty inches, with skull bones intentionally unfused to ease delivery — a temporary cone-head shape that typically resolves within weeks. Nutrition remains important right up to birth, and quinoa is highlighted as a particularly beneficial choice, providing all nine essential amino acids, high fibre, iron, magnesium, and riboflavin to support both mother and baby in the final stretch.
- At pregnancy week 40, a person can go a few weeks past their due date before being considered post term.
- Labour induction would normally happen between week 41 and week 42 of the pregnancy if cervical conditions require it.
- The average weight of a newborn at birth is approximately seven and one-half pounds, described as the size of a small pumpkin.
- The average length of a newborn at birth is about twenty inches.
- Quinoa is a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids needed for good health.
- Quinoa contains approximately double the fibre of most other types of grain.
- The brain utilises approximately 20% of the blood oxygen in the human body, making iron intake important for brain function.
Pregnancy Diary Week 40
Discover your pregnancy journey
Pregnancy Diary Week 40
You are 40 weeks pregnant. This means that you should be having your baby any time now, right? Well just because you reached pregnancy week 40 does not mean that the baby is ready for life quite yet. A person can go a few weeks past week 40 before they are considered post term. Even though you are most likely waking up every morning wondering if today will be the day, be patient and let nature lead the way on this birth.
It may be a frustrating time but be patient for the arrival of your baby. Timing is not always an exact science with pregnancy. Relying on a due date calculator can often lead to the wrong date since everything is not always exactly the same. Even with a reliable dating some pregnancies just last longer for no apparent reason.
Discover
How your baby is growing
What you can expect at this time
A beneficial food for your pregnancy nutrition
Pregnancy Diary Week 40: How Is Your Baby Growing?
Once the due date hits your doctor will start watching to make sure the baby is still thriving in the womb. Ultrasounds to make sure the overall movement, breathing movement which is the movement of the chest muscles and the diaphragm will be watched. Checking out the muscle movement is another test. Is the baby moving their limbs and fingers as they should?
Testing of the amniotic fluid is done to make sure there is still fluid supporting the placenta and baby. Fetal heart rate monitoring will also be done to record the babies heart and make sure there is no distress.
If fetal testing does not produce desired results such as the amniotic fluid being low, the doctor may decide to induce the labour. If there is a serious issue with the pregnancy a c-section may be ordered.
What you can expect
Before all of this, the doctor will do some tests on you. Checking to see if the cervix is preparing for birth. Is the cervix positioning itself correctly, is it starting to dilate in preparation? The position of the cervix will affect how and when the doctor will induce labour. This would normally happen between week 41 and 42 of the pregnancy.
It is difficult to say how big the baby will be at the time of birth. The average weight of a newborn is the size of a small pumpkin, about seven and one-half pounds. An average length is about twenty inches. The skull bones will not be completely fused to make birthing easier for the infant. This is why some babies have a slight cone head shortly after birth. This will normally even out within a few weeks.
Quinoa For Pregnancy Nutrition
Quinoa offers nutritious and protein-rich food. In fact, this complete protein contains all nine of the essential amino acids needed for good health.
Additionally, quinoa contains about double the fibre of most other types of grain. While fibre is often considered an excellent way to relieve constipation, it can also help with the prevention of heart disease by lowering blood pressure, as well as diabetes. Fibre also helps to lower glucose and cholesterol levels and could potentially reduce the likelihood of developing haemorrhoids. Fibre can also help with weight loss because it takes more time to chew than many other types of food and it will leave you feeling fuller and more satisfied for a much longer period of time. Fibre is also less “energy dense”, meaning that when compared to an equivalent amount of other types of food, fibre has fewer calories.
The benefits of quinoa also include the fact that it is rich in iron. Iron is the foundation of haemoglobin formation and helps to keep the red blood cells in our body healthy. Iron carries oxygen to the cells in our body and supplies our muscles with the oxygen needed for contraction. The brain utilizes approximately 20% of the blood oxygen in our body, so iron also plays a vital role in increasing brain function. Some of the other great benefits of iron include regulation of the body’s temperature, neurotransmitter synthesis, energy metabolism and helping with enzyme activity.
Quinoa also contains lysine. Lysine is essential for proper tissue repair and growth.
Quinoa is high in magnesium. Magnesium can help relieve migraines because it aids in the relaxation of blood vessels. Magnesium might also play a role in reducing Type 2 diabetes because it helps promote healthy blood sugar levels. Other healthy benefits of magnesium are detoxification, the formation of healthy teeth and bones, energy production, help with the transmission of the body’s nerve impulses and regulation of body temperature.
Quinoa is also high in Riboflavin (vitamin B2). Vitamin B2 helps increase energy metabolism in the brain, as well as in the cells of muscles. It is also known to be helpful in producing proper energy production in the cells of the body.
Quinoa has a high amount of manganese. As an antioxidant, manganese can help prevent damage to mitochondria which can happen during energy production; it also plays a vital role in protecting red blood cells, as well as other cells, from the injury caused by free radicals.
Quinoa With A Latino Feel
This can be eaten as a delicious snack or as a great accompaniment to many dishes, it really is very versatile. It works really well with chicken, pork or seafood. Check out the full recipe here
Pregnancy Diary Week 40
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DISCLAIMER
All articles on the blog and website are intended as information only. Please do not consider any of the information provided here as a substitute for medical advice. At all times seek medical advice directly with your own doctor and medical team.
ANNOUNCEMENT
This website was formerly Merrion Fetal Health. The clinic has undergone a rebrand and is now known as Merrion Ultrasound.
What happens at week 40 of pregnancy if the baby hasn't arrived yet?
Reaching week 40 does not mean the baby is immediately overdue, as a person can go a few weeks past week 40 before being considered post-term. Doctors begin monitoring closely to ensure the baby is still thriving in the womb. Induction of labour would normally be considered between weeks 41 and 42 of pregnancy.
What tests are done on the baby after the week 40 due date passes?
Doctors use ultrasounds to monitor overall movement, breathing movement of the chest muscles and diaphragm, and limb and finger movement. Amniotic fluid levels are tested to confirm the placenta and baby are still supported, and fetal heart rate monitoring is performed to check for signs of distress. If results such as amniotic fluid levels are unsatisfactory, the doctor may decide to induce labour.
What is the average weight and length of a newborn at 40 weeks?
The average weight of a newborn is about seven and one-half pounds, roughly the size of a small pumpkin. Average length at birth is about twenty inches.
Why do some babies have a cone-shaped head after birth?
A newborn's skull bones are not completely fused at birth, which makes passing through the birth canal easier for the infant. This can result in a slight cone head shape shortly after delivery, which normally evens out within a few weeks.
Why is quinoa recommended during pregnancy?
Quinoa is a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids needed for good health. It is also rich in iron, magnesium, riboflavin (vitamin B2), lysine, and manganese, all of which support key functions including red blood cell health, tissue repair, and energy metabolism during pregnancy.
How does the fibre in quinoa benefit pregnant women?
Quinoa contains about double the fibre of most other grains, which can help relieve constipation, lower blood pressure, reduce glucose and cholesterol levels, and potentially lower the likelihood of developing haemorrhoids. Fibre is also less energy dense than many other foods, meaning it provides fewer calories while keeping you feeling fuller for longer.
What role does iron in quinoa play during pregnancy?
Iron is the foundation of haemoglobin formation and helps keep red blood cells healthy by carrying oxygen to the body's cells and supplying muscles with the oxygen needed for contraction. The brain uses approximately 20% of the blood oxygen in the body, so adequate iron intake also supports brain function.
How does magnesium in quinoa support health during pregnancy?
Magnesium can help relieve migraines by aiding the relaxation of blood vessels and may help promote healthy blood sugar levels, potentially reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Additional benefits include supporting detoxification, healthy teeth and bone formation, energy production, and regulation of body temperature.