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Your Pregnancy: Week 40 for Mom
By: ePregnancy
 Welcome to the longest week of your life.
Can you believe it? Here you are, week 40, the magic week! So where's the baby? Late, as usual. A mere 5% of women actually deliver on their due dates, and your doctor won't even label you "overdue" until after you've passed the 42-week mark. However, it is true that you could go into labor at any time, so be on the lookout for those early labor signs we told you about. And in the meantime, try to relax and get some rest -- you are going to need it!
If you don't go into labor in these next two weeks, your doctor may start to talk about inducing (especially if your baby is on the big side). There are lots of tales circulating about inducing your own labor by eating spicy foods, exercising or having sex -- but talk to your doctor before you try any of these. If you need a medical induction, there are several ways the doctor might try to trigger labor:
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Medicine -- Your doctor may dose you with prostglandins or oxytocin, both of which naturally occur in your body. These hormones are what jump-start your labor under normal circumstances.
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Artificial Rupture of the Membranes (AROM) -- If your water hasn't yet broken, your doctor may do it for you. Typically, the baby will then move into the birth canal as your contractions grow stronger. Breaking your water allows your doctor to check for the presence of meconium in your fluid, which can indicate fetal distress. She'll also be able to monitor the little one's heartbeat.
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Balloon -- A small balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into your uterus. Water is used to inflate the balloon, which irritates your uterus just enough to start opening your cervix.
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Laminaria -- This is actually a type of dried seaweed. When cylinders of laminaria are placed in the cervix, it absorbs water and thickens, resulting in slight dilation. Your body usually takes over from there.
None of the induction procedures hurt, although the contractions they produce are often stronger and more frequent than a naturally occurring labor. Either way, your doctor will walk you through each step and at the end of it all, you'll have the baby you've been waiting for!
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