What is the difference between being born at 38 weeks and being born at 40 weeks? The doctor's answer is here.
It's hard for a pregnant mother to get pregnant. Everyone wants to unload the goods early, but they also want the baby to be born at full term, because there is really a big difference between a full-term baby and a premature baby, and pregnant mothers know it. But pregnant mothers are not very clear about the difference between babies born at 38 weeks and those born at 40 weeks. Maybe some treasure moms will think that they are full-term babies, so there should be no difference! Actually, not necessarily. The obstetrician gave the answer, let's have a look!
According to the time when the baby is born, if the baby is born within 38 weeks to 40 weeks, it is a full-term baby. If the baby is born before this time, the baby is premature. If the baby is born later than this time, it is late childbirth. Premature delivery and late childbirth are not good for babies and may affect their health.
But it is also a full-term baby, and babies born at different times are different. Next, I will tell you the difference!
In addition, if the baby is born naturally, as long as it is born within 38 weeks to 40 weeks, the difference is actually very small, because the baby is in the process of natural delivery, and after maturity, the baby has fully developed. So, there is not much difference. The difference here is mainly aimed at the baby delivered by caesarean section, because caesarean section is an unnatural delivery process, and the baby has not fully experienced the process of fruit ripening. Therefore, there are still some differences between babies. Let's have a look!
Different in appearance
There are still obvious differences in appearance and body shape between babies who are pregnant for 38 weeks and 40 weeks. Generally speaking, a baby born at 38 weeks is generally 50 cm tall and weighs 6 kg.
A baby born at 40 weeks should be well developed in height and weight, and the height will generally exceed 50 cm. But the newborn baby can't straighten because of its curly body. So the doctor records the height and fills in 50 cm uniformly, which is the normal height. In terms of weight, generally speaking, a 40-week-old baby will weigh more after a long period of development. Therefore, if a pregnant mother gives birth at 40 weeks of pregnancy, it will be more painful during childbirth. After all, the fetus is bigger.
The development of body organs is different.
Generally speaking, the fetus is full-term at 37 weeks, and almost all the body organs of the fetus are well developed and have met the birth conditions. But if the baby can stay in the pregnant mother's stomach for a long time, then the fetal body organs, especially the fetal lung organs, will be more mature and have stronger breathing ability. After the baby is born, it will be more adaptable to the outside world.
This is why some newborns don't cry by themselves after birth, but need the help of doctors to cry. Because the lung organs of the fetus are not well developed. Therefore, the spontaneous breathing ability is not complete, and the doctor needs to help the baby cry out and let the baby's lungs start working.
Different body immunity
When the fetus is 38 weeks old, the baby's physical immunity has been established, but if the baby can be born later and at 40 weeks old, then the baby's immune system and development will be more perfect, and the baby's immunity will be better than that of the baby born around 38 weeks old.
The above is about unnatural childbirth. Do you understand the difference between babies born between 38 weeks and 40 weeks?
to tell the truth
As long as the fetus can be born at full term, it doesn't really matter whether the fetus is born at 38 weeks or 40 weeks. However, if Ma Bao chooses to give birth naturally, the pregnant mother can wait a little longer if conditions permit, which is beneficial to the baby's health and development. Guess what # knowledge of childbirth #
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About the author: Zhang, female, has been working with children for many years 10, and there are two naughty boys at home. ※ Multi-platform account with the same name, original author in the field of high-quality parenting, focusing on sharing scientific parenting knowledge and growing up healthily and happily with the baby. If you have any confusion on the way to raising children, you can trust me privately. Like this article, welcome to like, leave a message, forward and comment. Your little encouragement to me is my motivation to keep moving forward ~