Your Baby is the Size of a Pumpkin

The end of pregnancy

At 40 weeks pregnant, you’re at the official end of your pregnancy. You, or actually the placenta, are still providing the antibodies she'll need to fight off infections for the first six months of her life.

But if you plan on breastfeeding, your milk will provide more antibodies to boost the immune system — especially colostrum, a thin, yellowish precursor to breast milk that's super rich in antibodies and feeds your baby for the first few days postpartum.

Meeting your baby

The first thing you're likely to look for when your new arrival makes that dramatic — and possibly fashionably late — entrance: proof positive that your baby is actually a boy or a girl.

That major mystery solved once and for all, you'll also notice that baby, besides being cute as can be, is wearing a little leftover travel dust consisting of blood, vernix, lanugo, and amniotic fluid.

From your baby's perspective, you'll look a bit blurry — at birth, babies' central vision is still developing — but that's okay. Just be sure to say hello to your new arrival, since your baby will very likely recognize the sound of your voice and your partner's.

Your newborn may love being swaddled

You'll notice your little one is still curled in the fetal position, although her arms and legs may flail a bit. That's because after nine months in such cramped quarters, it'll take a while before your baby realizes she has room to spread out.

And because it's the only position she has really known, it's a comforting one to be in. That's also why so many newborns (though not all!) like to be swaddled — it reminds them of your uterus.

The Mutlu Anne app is with you every step of the way on your pregnancy journey.

Thanks for reading.