You are now 39 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 40. With around one week to go, your baby will be born soon (if not already!) During the next week, most of the thick, greasy vernix cream on your baby's skin goes away but there may be remnants left in their armpits and groin. Their fingernails now look long and manicured and their skin is supple.
Your baby's breathing exercises naturally stop about 24 to 48 hours before labour commences. Unborn babies have around 75 to 100mls of amniotic fluid in their lungs (aprox. 25 mls per kg of body weight). During labour, hormones are released to trigger your baby's system to absorb some of this fluid into their blood stream. A small amount remains in their lungs at birth, which is fully absorbed within 24 hours. This is why newborns often sound a little gurgly when they breathe during the first hour or so after birth.
If you do not experience labour (i.e. an elective Caesarean) there is an increased chance your baby will experience a condition called wet lung, where they tend to breathe more rapidly, possibly requiring observation in the intensive care nursery for a few hours.
If your baby is born around this time congratulations! If your baby has not arrived as yet - try and be patient and remember that the normal length of a pregnancy is any time from 37 to 42 weeks.
What is my body doing at 39 weeks?
Your body will be going through plenty of changes to prepare for labour, but here are some of the signs that you’re going through real labour and not Braxton Hicks:
While you’re waiting, keep paying attention to your baby’s movements and let your doctor or midwife know immediately if they seem to decrease, as the baby should remain active right until the birth, and any noticeable slowing down of movement could signal a problem.
Common symptoms to look out for:
Your baby's breathing exercises naturally stop about 24 to 48 hours before labour commences. Unborn babies have around 75 to 100mls of amniotic fluid in their lungs (aprox. 25 mls per kg of body weight). During labour, hormones are released to trigger your baby's system to absorb some of this fluid into their blood stream. A small amount remains in their lungs at birth, which is fully absorbed within 24 hours. This is why newborns often sound a little gurgly when they breathe during the first hour or so after birth.
If you do not experience labour (i.e. an elective Caesarean) there is an increased chance your baby will experience a condition called wet lung, where they tend to breathe more rapidly, possibly requiring observation in the intensive care nursery for a few hours.
If your baby is born around this time congratulations! If your baby has not arrived as yet - try and be patient and remember that the normal length of a pregnancy is any time from 37 to 42 weeks.
What is my body doing at 39 weeks?
Your body will be going through plenty of changes to prepare for labour, but here are some of the signs that you’re going through real labour and not Braxton Hicks:
- Strong, regular contractions that last more than 30 seconds and increase in frequency (when they last 30-60 seconds and are every five minutes, call your midwife, doctor or hospital). Established labour is when your cervix is dilated by more than three centimetres.
- A ‘bloody show’, in which the jelly-esque, pinky-looking mucus plug comes away either fully or gradually. Not all women have this, though.
- Your waters might break (this is a pale straw colour and might have some blood in it. However if it’s smelly, coloured or you’re losing too much blood then phone the hospital immediately). If your waters break before contractions start, then you should also phone your midwife, doctor or hospital immediately.
- Backache and strong, regular contractions.
- Diarrhoea, especially if accompanied by contractions.
While you’re waiting, keep paying attention to your baby’s movements and let your doctor or midwife know immediately if they seem to decrease, as the baby should remain active right until the birth, and any noticeable slowing down of movement could signal a problem.
Common symptoms to look out for:
- Water breaking: One of the best known signals that labour is near, your water breaks when the amniotic sac breaks and fluid gushes out. But unlike the movies, most women are already in labour and in hospital when their water breaks. If you think your water has broken early, call your doctor right away, even if it’s only a trickle.
- Haemorrhoids: While you may have experienced this earlier on in your pregnancy, the piles may be less painful now as you may be experiencing diarrhoea and therefore there’s less strain on your bowels (hey, we never said pregnancy was glamorous!). Make sure you have a good supply of the medicine that brought you relief last time, as many women experience aggravated haemorrhoids after pushing during labour.
- Heartburn: Nearly half of pregnant women experience heartburn, and it may be particularly acute now thanks to pregnancy hormones. Try to drink before and after meals rather than during meals, as too much fluid and food together will aggravate heartburn, and if you can, try to have six small meals a day rather than the traditional larger breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Other considerations
Postnatal exercise
Postnatal exercises can begin within a week of giving birth. However, women who have had a caesarean are usually advised to delay most abdominal exercises until about 7 to 14 days after the operation. Check with your caregiver. If you have back pain, you may wish to seek some guidance from the hospital's physiotherapist. Some women like to do their exercises regularly. Others do them when they remember, feel inclined or have time.
Physical recovery
The early weeks after giving birth are a time for the woman to learn, heal and recover. It is very common to have aches and pains to varying degrees, and you will usually feel sore, swollen and tender, especially if stitches were needed after a vaginal birth, or your baby was delivered by caesarean.
Emotional highs and lows
Most new mothers experience a range of emotional highs and lows in the days and weeks following the birth of their baby. These not only stem from the normal hormonal changes, but also the sheer physical, emotional and spiritual experience of giving birth. Emotions will be very different for each individual woman and if this is not your first baby, you may experience similar feelings to your previous birth/s, or they could be completely different. .
Women who have had a caesarean (and their partners) may also experience unique emotions, in addition to the normal postnatal adjustments.
Support strategies
During the early weeks of mothering most women require the same physical and emotional support, and unconditional love, that was needed during the pregnancy and birth. Some women pre-plan certain support strategies for this period, as well as rely on partners, family and friends (if these are available).
Postnatal variations
The postnatal recovery for the woman is usually uncomplicated. However, as with the labour and birth, the healing process can also deviate from the norm. If you develop complications, then your stay in the hospital may be extended, or you may need to return to the hospital after going home (or transfer to another hospital).
What to expect from your caregiver
For most women, the first few days after the birth are spent in hospital. However some women choose to go home early. For women having a home birth, they are already there! Where you spend your early postnatal recovery will determine the type of care you receive and how long your professional support continues, before relying on community services, networking, family and friends.
Rubella vaccination
During early pregnancy, a routine blood test can indicate a woman's immunity to Rubella. If this level was low, it is usually recommended to have a Rubella vaccination after the baby is born. The aim is to provide immunity for potential future pregnancies and it is usually given just before being discharged home from hospital.
During early pregnancy, a routine blood test can indicate a woman's immunity to Rubella. If this level was low, it is usually recommended to have a Rubella vaccination after the baby is born. The aim is to provide immunity for potential future pregnancies and it is usually given just before being discharged home from hospital.
Postnatal exercise
Postnatal exercises can begin within a week of giving birth. However, women who have had a caesarean are usually advised to delay most abdominal exercises until about 7 to 14 days after the operation. Check with your caregiver. If you have back pain, you may wish to seek some guidance from the hospital's physiotherapist. Some women like to do their exercises regularly. Others do them when they remember, feel inclined or have time.
Baby at birth
Physical recovery
The early weeks after giving birth are a time for the woman to learn, heal and recover. It is very common to have aches and pains to varying degrees, and you will usually feel sore, swollen and tender, especially if stitches were needed after a vaginal birth, or your baby was delivered by caesarean.
Emotional highs and lows
Most new mothers experience a range of emotional highs and lows in the days and weeks following the birth of their baby. These not only stem from the normal hormonal changes, but also the sheer physical, emotional and spiritual experience of giving birth. Emotions will be very different for each individual woman and if this is not your first baby, you may experience similar feelings to your previous birth/s, or they could be completely different. .
Women who have had a caesarean (and their partners) may also experience unique emotions, in addition to the normal postnatal adjustments.
Support strategies
During the early weeks of mothering most women require the same physical and emotional support, and unconditional love, that was needed during the pregnancy and birth. Some women pre-plan certain support strategies for this period, as well as rely on partners, family and friends (if these are available).
Postnatal variations
The postnatal recovery for the woman is usually uncomplicated. However, as with the labour and birth, the healing process can also deviate from the norm. If you develop complications, then your stay in the hospital may be extended, or you may need to return to the hospital after going home (or transfer to another hospital).
What to expect from your caregiver
For most women, the first few days after the birth are spent in hospital. However some women choose to go home early. For women having a home birth, they are already there! Where you spend your early postnatal recovery will determine the type of care you receive and how long your professional support continues, before relying on community services, networking, family and friends.
What to do this week:
Though it might be a terrifying thought, it’s time to start understanding what happens at each stage of labour to prepare yourself for the big day. In a nutshell, these are the three stages of labour:
Though it might be a terrifying thought, it’s time to start understanding what happens at each stage of labour to prepare yourself for the big day. In a nutshell, these are the three stages of labour:
- Stage one is the lengthiest part. You’ll experience the contractions to open up and dilate your cervix. It can take between six and 12 hours for a first pregnancy.
- When your cervix is fully dilated (around 10 centimetres), then you’re in stage two. During this phase you’ll be helping push the baby through your vagina with your contractions.
- Congratulations! By stage three, your baby will be safely in your arms. The only thing left for your body to do is for your womb to contract and push the placenta out.
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