Pregnancy Week 39
Baby Development
By this week, the baby has grown to be a full-term one. The baby is now around 20 inches in length and 8 pounds in weight. Though the baby’s body has grown, The mind continues to develop rapidly, which will continue until the baby is three years old. The baby does cry a lot. However, there are no tears as the tear ducts Have not developed yet. The baby’s skin has turned from pink to white. The pigmentation would happen after the birth, and a baby’s color will be determined later.
Changes in mother
You will almost be at the end of the pregnancy by this week. Baby can beat you any moment, or it can be expected in the next few weeks. The mother feels more uncomfortable because of the increased uterus size. Also, Braxton Hicks contraction increases in tenacity and frequency as the due date arises. The movement inside the belly would increase as the baby feels increasingly cramped.
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Pregnancy Week 39 symptoms
- Backaches are common and would increase a lot during these final few weeks. Try to take a warm water bath to help relieve some of the pain.
- Diarrhea and hemorrhoids- This happens due to the muscles in the rectum loosening due to your body changing for childbirth.
- Increasing clumsiness– As the mother heads towards the end line daily, the bump’s weight steadily increases, making it challenging to balance. It would be better to seek help when reaching out for a high shelf.
Important Tips
What to do
- Keep an eye out for all the signs of labor. It includes water breaking where the fluids come out of the Amniotic sac, losing mucus plug, diarrhea, bloody show, etc.
- do take a small nap whenever possible
- It’s obvious to have anxiety growing up. Still, it’s better to calm down, take long breaths, maintain a proper routine, and, most importantly, have lots of excellent and healthy food with enough DHA or Docosahexaenoic acid to help develop the baby’s brain.
What to avoid
Avoid any rich or fatty food. It’s better to take home food and keep eating something small during Labor. They should give you energy for doing pushes.
When to Consult a Doctor
Consult a doctor to prepare for a C-section. Taking all necessary precautions is always better, as you never know when you need one.
Takeaway
By this week, the baby is 20 inches long and weighs 8 pounds. All organs are developed, and tear ducts are not functioning yet. The skin pigmentation will happen later. Mother is almost at the end of pregnancy and would have backaches, clumsiness, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids. She should keep looking out for labor signs like water breaking, bloody show, and loss of mucus plug. She should eat healthy food with a lot of DHA. Consult the doctor to keep the C-section possibility open if it’s needed.
- N H S
Pregnancy - Healthdirect Australia
Healthdirect - The Cleveland Clinic
Fetal Development - The Mayo Clinic
Fetal development - Women Health
Pregnancy: Stages of pregnancy