Ready for birth
The baby will be born any day now. Delivering after the due date is not unusual, so you and your partner shouldn’t worry, but if labor hasn’t started by 41 weeks, you’ll be offered an induction. The time will come before you know it.
During this time in utero, the baby continues to gain weight. They most likely have hair on their head and their body is rounded and fleshy.
The baby’s body is covered with a waxy lubricant that protects the skin and helps them pass more easily through the birth canal [1].
Newborn babies usually have large genitals because they swell under the influence of hormones. However, they change to their normal size in a short time [2].
The newborn will have many reflexes and skills that will help them master their new world. For example, if you put your finger in the baby's palm, they will squeeze it tightly.
The baby will instinctively reach for the mother’s breast and find her nipples because they smell like the amniotic fluid that surrounds them in utero [3].
What we can see on an ultrasound
In this picture, the baby is lying on their back, with the right side toward the screen. The head, arms, legs, and stomach are visible.
