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| What
is going on with your baby during week 39? |
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Note:
The length,
weight and size mentioned
below are only a guideline,
as these vary from baby to
baby and from one pregnancy
to another. |
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The fetus is now considered full term - its skin is
plump, the lungs are mature, the mammary glands and
external genital structures are visible. There is
some lanugo on the shoulders and back; some of the
vernix remains in the folds of the skin, especially
around the groin and armpits. There are creases on
the soles of the feet. Baby now fills most of the
uterus and it moves into the birth position. The head
points down toward the birth canal while the arms
and legs are pulled close to the chest. Like the newborn,
the fetus spends most of its time sleeping but its
body rhythms, responses and activity patterns are
established. Its intestines are filled with meconium
- a sticky greenish black substance that is made up
of alimentary gland secretions, lanugo, pigment and
cells from the wall of your bowel; this will be passed
during baby's bowel movements after its birth. Baby
now weighs a little over 7lb (3.25kg) and the full
length is almost 21.5in (48cm) while from crown to
rump baby is 36cm or 14½ in.
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| What
is going on with you during week 39? |
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Although there is a lot to be done and you
have the energy to do them, try and save
your energy for the birth. As week 40 approaches,
the balance hormones shift as your body
prepares for birth. Estrogen level rises,
causing the uterine walls to become sensitive
to oxytocin (the hormone that stimulates
uterine contractions). Levels of prostaglandin,
a hormone like substance that stimulates
contractions also rise just before labor.
You are almost at the end of your pregnancy;
your weight should not increase much from
this point. The total increase may remain
between 20-30lb (9-13.5kg) until delivery.
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| What
is going on with your head during week 39? |
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Feeling huge and uncomfortable is expected
at this time. You may also think you will
never want to be pregnant again because
of all the discomforts you have felt and
are still feeling. Some even consider tubal
ligation as an option. If you have other
children you may wonder 1) whether you have
enough love to share with another baby,
2) whether you are going to upset the other
child by throwing a sibling into the mix.
Prepare yourself and your other child by
reading up on sibling rivalry and also how
to cope with situations with the arrival
of a newborn. |
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| More
On Week 39 During Pregnancy |
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