From Body Carre we are going to see two pregnancies of two friends, from two different perspectives and countries, one from Latin America and the other from Spain. I hope you like it and see if you are able to find those little differences.
At 39 weeks pregnant, your baby is completely ready to go into the world. At this stage you only gain weight. It can reach about 3,300 kg and measure about 49 cm . It moves less and when the mother does, it feels very strongly marked in her belly. Your baby can give the signal that he is ready to start at any time, so you should be aware of your body’s signals such as the sensations of coming out, lighter and more rhythmic contractions, any presence of vaginal bleeding or the rupture of the interruption. out of the bag.
Despite being ready to be born, your baby can remain in the womb up to 42 weeks gestation. Her immune system is still very sensitive and she needs antibodies from the mother to protect herself against potential viruses, bacteria and infections. That is why breastfeeding is important during the first 6 months of the baby’s life, it is through breast milk that the mother’s antibodies are passed to the little baby.
At 39 weeks pregnant, your body is quite chubby and you have a large amount of fat to control and withstand the temperature outside the uterus. Her pink skin is smooth and has a thin layer of vernix until the day of delivery. Her hair is growing longer and longer, as are her fingernails and toenails, so don’t be surprised to find a baby with long nails. Baby kicks can be powerful! Some days will be calmer and others more hectic. Baby’s movements these days can annoy Mom, because they are actually quite strong for her size.
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The internal sensations of the mother in the 39th week of pregnancy
Mom, I can tell you that there is no more magical, more beautiful and more awaited moment for a woman in life! All the anxiety and discomfort of these last 3 weeks of pregnancy will be rewarded soon! Some mothers may still be afraid of childbirth, but I can tell you with all the letters that anything goes! No matter what type of delivery you choose, the moment is unique! Although birth can generally occur between 37 to 42 weeks, it is more common in these three weeks.
Cesarean section, normal delivery, humanized delivery, water delivery, vertical delivery… There are many options, and depending on your will, physical condition and advice from your doctor, choose, because the time is near! Some mothers prefer to schedule the birth for convenience, others prefer to let nature take its course. But the delivery is democratic , each one chooses the experience they want to have and if anything unforeseen happens, don’t feel bad. Some things are out of control and your doctor will do what is best for you and the baby.
One of the biggest concerns of mothers is anesthesia, whether the delivery is by cesarean section or not, it is a general rule in any intervention to relieve pain. Don’t worry, the anesthesia usually doesn’t hurt any more than a normal injection.
Do you know the signs that you are waiting for the start of labor? The tampon can come out and scare mom, but it is very normal and can occur up to 1 week before birth without problems. Do you know that the position of the baby in the uterus can influence the type of delivery? Sitting cephalad and sitting is a great start to a normal delivery. The same nature that helped during fetal development is now in charge of helping with the birth of the baby as well.
Sensations and external factors in the 39th week of pregnancy
The only goal now is to wait for the right time for the delivery to occur, unless you have already scheduled your C-section! In this phase you will have anxiety and butterflies in your stomach. After all, at some point you will meet the love of your life! Have your maternity bag ready, your pregnancy card handy, and now, wait!
Hurray! Your baby has finally reached full term! You probably feel like you want to receive the baby. We’re not sure, but the impatience and discomfort mothers feel around 39 weeks pregnant and beyond. It could be nature’s way of getting you mentally prepared for the time of delivery. Do you remember how you freaked out earlier regarding childbirth? Now, in the 39th week of pregnancy, you don’t care what it takes, you just don’t want to be pregnant anymore.
How big is the baby at 39 weeks?
By 39 weeks pregnant, your baby is as big as a pumpkin. The 39-week fetus is about 20 inches long and weighs about 7.3 pounds. Your baby continues to grow, despite being quite tight inside, at 39 weeks of pregnancy.
39 weeks pregnant, how many months?
39 weeks pregnant is eight months and three weeks pregnant. Next week, you will have completed nine months of pregnancy and will reach your due date (although the due date could be earlier this week). This is really very exciting!
Symptoms of pregnancy at week 39
Typical 39 weeks pregnant symptoms (the ones that aren’t signs that labor is happening now) are similar to what you’ve been experiencing in the last few weeks. Most are signs that labor is coming soon. These symptoms include:
- Contractions At 39 weeks pregnant, the colic or hardening of your uterus can seem pretty constant, no matter what you do. These false labor pains usually start in the front of your body and ease when you change positions. You will know that it is true labor, when they start at the top of your uterus and become more frequent and regular.
- Pelvic pressure. While getting into position for birth, the baby can sit so low that your lower torso feels heavy and uncomfortable.
- Lightning bolts in your crotch. Because your baby is so low, his movements can hit some sensitive nerves, giving you sharp sensations in his pelvis and leg, like lightning.
- Nest instinct. Some mothers say they get a surge of energy and a strong desire to clean their house just before the baby arrives. Do not exaggerate at this point, remember that you will need energy later, so you cannot wear yourself out before delivery.
- Plug of mucus or mucus plug. At 39 weeks pregnant, you may have a discharge that is as thick as mucus and sometimes has a tinge of blood, which is your mucus plug (blood is, you guessed it, a real sight). Although many people think this is a sign that you will be entering work soon, there is no scientific proof, so it is difficult to say when it happens.
If you are a mother who at 39 weeks pregnant with twins and they have not yet been born, let us congratulate you. You have kept the babies in the womb despite the chances of preterm labor and despite your general discomfort. You’re probably feeling a lot of 39-week-pregnant symptoms, including the urge to pull your baby partner out of the 39-week-pregnant womb and show them off to the world. Don’t worry, the end is so close!
Signs of labor in week 38 of pregnancy
There are other symptoms that represent the way your body tells you that the baby is about to be born soon. At 39 weeks pregnant, the signs of labor are the thousands of things on your mind. It is important that you know what they are, but do not worry too much if you have to go into labor without realizing it. In most cases, the symptoms of childbirth will be so strong and so different from what you’ve been experiencing, that you won’t be able to ignore them.
Call your OB if you experience any of these signs:
- Breaking waters. It may not be like in the movies, you may have a slow stream instead of a huge stream of water. But if at 39 weeks pregnant the discharge is watery instead of its usual consistency, that probably means that your amniotic sac has ruptured and you are likely to go to labor in a matter of hours.
- Regular contractions If your belly becomes stiff and has been repeatedly for some time, start timing the contractions. If the contractions keep coming and the time between them decreases more and more, you are in the early stage of labor. How long does this stage last? It will vary from mom to mom (yes, you will be a mom soon). So keep your obstetrician informed and follow each of his instructions, to get to the hospital when labor progresses.
When you’re 39 weeks pregnant and there are no signs of labor, don’t worry, it’s normal that they haven’t appeared yet, that’s fine too. The average for a new mother to go into labor is 41 weeks, but a mother in her second pregnancy tends to go at 40 weeks. While some women begin to show signs of labor: their cervix dilated and elimination, regular contractions, etc., weeks or days before giving birth, others go from zero to 10 centimeters dilated in hours.
Induce labor in week 39 of pregnancy
Now that you are 39 weeks pregnant (full term) and perfect to give birth, you will wonder how to induce labor naturally at home. Ingesting castor oil and taking herbal remedies are not considered safe and eating spicy food will not. But there are some things that are normally safe and can work for you:
- To walk. Find your sneakers and go for a long walk. Although this method is not medically proven to induce labor at 39 weeks, some experts believe that gravity will push your baby down on your cervix and pressure will be the beginning of the dilation of the cervix.
- Acupuncture. Again, although acupuncture is unproven, but there is some evidence to suggest: acupuncture helps regulate blood flow, causing the cervix to dilate.
- Having sex . Some believe that having an orgasm can help trigger contractions. You don’t lose anything by trying, right?
For some women who are 39 weeks pregnant, their doctor may recommend a medical induction. Reasons for inducing labor include complications (pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, heart condition), placental problems, and infection of the uterus. Induction may also be recommended if you are 39 weeks pregnant with twins or if the water has broken but labor has not yet started.
Ultrasound at week 38 of pregnancy
Inside your 39 weeks pregnant tummy, your baby can probably flex his limbs now. Your baby’s brain is still developing rapidly – he or she is getting smarter every week! Your baby’s nails can extend beyond the fingertips now.
A 39 week pregnancy ultrasound and non-stress test may be used to check the baby’s well-being, especially if you are 39 weeks pregnant with twins. After looking at the results of these two tests, your doctor might say that everything seems to be going very well, or he might recommend an early delivery.
At 39 weeks pregnant, there is nothing left to do except see your doctor every week, wait for your baby, and keep your mind busy with small tasks. If you can do it, great. If not, there is not problem. We know it’s hard to relax, but give it a try!
Considerations regarding pregnancy at week 39
- Schedule your 40-week prenatal visit.
- Practice some breathing and relaxation techniques.
- Find out what happens during the birth.
- Read the birth stories of other mothers.
