The baby continues developing in the 33rd-40th weeks of pregnancy. By week 40, the baby weighs around 7.5 pounds and is about 20 inches long. The baby is putting on fat stores and the lungs are finishing maturation in preparation for birth. The skull bones are still flexible to ease birth, and will fuse together after birth. Contractions and delivery can begin at any time during this period.

1. EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT
33RD-40TH WEEK

2. 33RD WEEK
The lanugo (body hair) begins to disappear.
The baby inside is now about 4.4 pounds and around 17.5 inches in
length.
Amniotic fluid is at its highest level during the pregnancy.
Neurons and synapses are developing in huge numbers.

3. 33RD WEEK
•While most of the bones are hardening, the skull is quite pliable and not
completely joined, to move slightly to make birthing easier.
•At week 33 of pregnancy, if the baby is a boy, his testicles will be
descending from his abdomen into his scrotum. Sometimes one or both
testicles won't move into position until after birth.
•The baby drinks about a pint of amniotic fluid a day.
•The diameter of the head is about 8.5cm.

5. 34TH WEEK
Gastrointestinal system is incompletely developed.
Fetal size: weight almost 5 pounds by this week.
Head and Neck
Gums now have ridges which may look like teeth. Head may now
position (head-down) into pelvis getting ready for delivery.
Abdomen
Gastrointestinal system is very immature and will not mature until
three or fourth years after birth. Baby stores about 15% of weight in
fat to keep temperature of body warm. Baby still receives and
eliminates nutrition through umbilical cord.
Limbs
Limbs begin to dimple at elbows and knees and creases form
around wrists and neck.
Skin
Skin appears light pink because of blood vessels close to its
surface.

6. 34TH WEEK
•Fat accumulations plumps up the arms and legs this
week.
•Eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping.
•The fingernails are now completely formed.
•Antibodies from the mother’s blood are being
transferred to the baby at week 34 of pregnancy. These
immunities continue to build until birth. Then breast milk
will add even more protection against disease.
•The baby may have already turned to a head-down
position in preparation for birth.
•Fingernails have reached the end of the fingertips now.

8. 35TH WEEK
•The body of the baby is growing round due to
developing fat layers.
•The baby's reflexes are coordinated.
•About 90% of babies born this week survive.

9. •Baby may push up against your ribs and make you a little
breathless. But soon, as the baby prepares for its
delivery, the baby drops into the pelvis and you will be
able to breathe again.
•The testis have completely developed in the males.
35TH WEEK

11. 36TH WEEK
Abdomen
Body is round and plump as new fat stores are made to
keep the body temperature above maternal turns toward
light sources in what is known as the orienting
response. Intestines accumulate a considerable amount of
meconium which is usually eliminated shortly after birth. If
birth is delayed, the fecal material will appear in the
amniotic fluid.
Limbs
Space limitation continues to restrict fetal movement.
Limbs are bent and drawn close to body. Bones are flexible
and ossification, hardening, progresses. At birth the tibia,
the longer of the two bones in the lower leg, is usually
completely ossified into bone.

12. 36TH WEEK
-The baby's body is becoming chubby as fat layers build.
-Contractions in the womb maybe felt, called Braxton
Hicks contractions.
-This week the baby may drop into the birth canal, this
is called 'lightening' or 'dropping’.
-The only organ still to mature is the lungs

13. 36TH WEEK
-His skin is growing smooth and, shall we say
it, "baby" soft.
-His gums are very rigid at week 36 of your
pregnancy. It won't be many months before
you'll see his teeth.
-She has a fully developed pair of kidneys and
her liver has begun processing some waste
products.

15. 37TH WEEK
•She is official full term now but can still benefit from
extra days in the womb.

16. 37TH WEEK
The water could break at any time.

17. 38TH WEEK
•Abdomen is large and round as the fetal liver
starts to produce red blood cells.

18. Head
Skull is not fully solid as the five bony plates, known as fontanels (little
fountains), are still separate and can be pushed together. Birth may
mold and elongate the fetal head, a safety precaution to reduce the
skull's diameter for an easier birth, without damaging the fetal brain.
After delivery, the baby's head returns to a rounded shape. Eyes have
no tear ducts yet, they appear a few weeks after birth.
Thorax
Chest is more prominent. Lungs begin to increase production of
surfactant to keep alveoli open.
Abdomen
Fetal abdomen is large and round mainly due to the liver which is
producing red blood cells.
Skin
Last of vernix usually disappears, but may remain until birth. Skin
becomes thicker and paler (white or bluish pink) and each day the
fetus gains 1/2 ounce (14 g) of fat.

19. 39TH WEEK
-At 39 weeks pregnant, the lanugo has mostly disappeared,
but you'll probably find a bit on her shoulders, arms and legs
and in those protected little bodily creases. It will vanish
completely on its own in time.
-The lungs are maturing and surfactant production is
increasing and fully prepare.
-The body continues laying on the fat stores that will help
regulate his body temperature after birth. In addition to
normal fat, he is accumulating a special "brown" fat in the
nape of his neck, between his shoulders and around organs.
Brown fat cells are important for thermogenesis (generating
heat) during his first weeks.

20. 39TH WEEK
•The average baby is about 20 inches and weighs about
7.5 pounds .
•The baby has reached its final birth position.
•It will be cramped inside your uterus for much
movement.
•The baby will continue to punch and kick but lower in
your abdomen, under your pelvis.
•The head is about 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter.

22. 40TH WEEK
Fetal size: weight about 7.5 pounds .
Abdomen
Fifteen percent of body is fat, eighty percent of which is underneath the skin, the
other twenty percent surrounds the organs.
Limbs
At the time of birth, the baby has a total of 300 bones. Some bones will fuse
together later, which is why an adult has only 206 bones.
Abdomen
Fetal abdomen is large and round mainly due to the liver which is producing red
blood cells.
Nervous System
A fetus can display more than seventy different reflex system behaviours which
are automatic and unlearned behaviours necessary for survival.

23. 40TH WEEK
•Approximately 60 - 75 percent is water!
•The lungs will continue developing until birth. They are
manufacturing large quantities of surfactant which works to keep
the air sacs open.
•The baby continues to grow; her hair and nails longer as well. You
may need to trim those fingernails soon after birth or protect her
face from scratches with mittens.
•Small breast buds are present on both sexes at week 40 of
pregnancy.
•Contractions can begin at any time.

25. Thank you………