Your Body At 40 Weeks
- Your baby's head occupies much of your pelvic cavity (unless the baby is not head down).
If it has not already expelled, the canal of your cervix is still filled with a plug of mucous (your mucous plug).
- If this is your first pregnancy, the external os (the small opening at the bottom of the cervix) is usually not dilated. If you have given birth before, it might be slightly dilated before labor begins.
Common discomforts:
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Increased Braxton hick's contractions
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Frequent urination
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Increased constipation,
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Swelling (water retention)
- Aching of the legs and vulva
- Varicose veins in the vulva, rectum, and legs.
