What’s happening to my baby after 40 weeks?

In many pregnancies there are no changes to what your baby is doing and their movement patterns will be the same. In other pregnancies mums may notice a slowing down of movements as the pregnancy progresses.

The placenta, which feeds the baby, operates on a lower efficiency from about 38 weeks, and certainly after 41 weeks. This means that your baby’s growth tends to slow down the further your pregnancy goes. Because it is not possible to accurately predict which placentas will not function as well as others most hospitals have an induction policy as the risk of distress to the baby increases the longer the pregnancy goes on ¹.

Your baby’s head should move lower into your pelvis as it gets ready for labour resulting in a lighter feeling under your ribs and a heavier feeling down in the pelvic area.

¹NICE guidelines (National Institute for Clinical Excellence). Induction of labour. June 2001.