Still pregnant? If this is your first baby the chances are high
you will not deliver right on your due date and in fact, are more
likely to go a little overdue. Even if you are 100% sure of your
dates, this is no guarantee that you will deliver when you've been
advised. Try to be open minded and confident that your baby will
know when it is ready to be born. Every baby will take their own
unique time to grow and be ready for extra uterine life. Although
you may be feeling increasingly impatient and eager to have your
baby, try not to wish this time away. At least while your baby is
still in your uterus, all of its needs are being catered for and
your workload is not as high as it will be.
oh, was that what I think it was?
Every little twinge is likely to make you sit up and take notice
when you are 39 weeks pregnant. You'll ask yourself if what you are
feeling could possibly be contractions or early labour pains. Many
women find it hard to tell if they are going into early labour and
seek reassurance from their doctor of midwife sometime in their
39th week of pregnancy. Don't feel as if you are being a nuisance
if you need to contact them. You will be having weekly checks by
now so this will be an ideal time to have your questions answered.
Make a list if your brain isn't as retentive as you'd like it to
be, or ask your partner to remind you.
gosh, you look ready to pop!
People will be asking you now, more than ever, when the baby is
due. You'll attract all sorts of comments, often from complete
strangers who can seem genuinely interested, or just plain curious
about how you are going. If you still feel like venturing out, be
prepared for some curiosity as well as empathy from women who've
been where you are. It's okay to be evasive about when you are due.
Not everyone needs to know precise details and repeating the same
thing over and over can be very tiring.
your physical changes this week
- As well as all the other changes you've undergone in the last
nine months, you may have noticed you're generally more hairy.
Stray hairs may have erupted on your face, your back and even your
nipples. Don't hesitate in removing them if you find them
off-putting. Many pregnant women maintain their usual waxing
appointments with their beautician. Having a pubic wax pre-labour
is a common request for women who feel this is an essential part of
their overall grooming. Don't worry - hair removal won't hurt the
baby, only you.
- Your eyes may feel dry and as if they have sand in them. This
is because the shape of your eyeballs has changed in response to
the extra fluid circulating around your body. The tears which
normally lubricate the outer surface of your eye can't follow their
usual route and slide down your cheek instead. Keep a tissue handy
and some lubricating eye drops if they are really irritating
you.
- You may not gain weight from now on, but the baby will be. It's
still laying down fat stores underneath its skin to assist with
insulation once it is born. Young babies have immature temperature
regulating mechanisms in their brains so they need a reasonable
buffer to insulate themselves and their vital organs.
your emotional changes this week
- You may feel a little on edge this week, as if you are in a
holding pattern just waiting for the signal to go ahead. You won't
want to stray too far from home and will want to time your outings
to not be too long and elaborate. You'll probably work out plans
with your partner which you feel cover most of the possibilities,
but still, there may be doubt in your mind if you have left
something out.
- If you haven't had much to do with babies before it can all
seem a bit daunting. Look back over photos of yourself and your
partner when you were both babies and have some fun picking out the
characteristics which you'd like to see in your own baby and those
you'd prefer not to. For those who've had children before, look at
early photos of your other children and familiarise yourself with
just how small a newborn can be.
- Be sensitive to your body's signals that your labour may be
starting. It is unclear exactly the catalyst for labour to start
is, though one theory is that the baby releases a particular kind
of protein which starts a chain of labouring events in its
mother.
your baby's changes this week
- More breathing practice and surfactant production this week. If
your baby were to be born now their lungs would be mature enough to
support them and they would not need medical assistance.
- Your baby weighs close to 3.5 kilograms and is about 53
centimetres long this week. In terms of maturity and development,
it's done all it needs to in making the change to surviving
independently.
- Your baby's brain is still laying down nervous connections
which will continue throughout its early childhood. Try to read to
your baby while it is still in the womb, play some music and sing
to it. Encourage your partner to become involved in these fun early
bonding opportunities. Your baby won't think you're being silly and
will only be more clever and smart as a result of this early
stimulation.
hints for the week
- Head for the closest pool around now, especially if it's
summer. You'll enjoy the feeling of weightlessness as the water
supports your entire body. Don't worry about how you look, no one
else cares so why should you? Swimming and floating around in the
water is an excellent way to reduce your core temperature so strip
off and get yourself wet.
- Read lots of books, catch up on some movies, ring some friends
and write some letters. Make use of your time and enjoy the things
you haven't had time to do especially if you've been working. If
you've got older children look for activities you can enjoy
together. Get them involved in preparing things for the new baby
and give them useful jobs. Think about organising a gift to each of
your older children from the baby. This is an effective way of
promoting good sibling relationships. Speak with them about who
will mind them when you go to hospital and tell them that they will
be able to visit you and the new baby. Kids who are informed feel
as if they are involved in the decision making so tend to deal with
change more easily.
- Look forward to your ante-natal appointments and know that they
are coming to an end. Many women develop a very close relationship
with their midwife or doctor and feel sad that this is not going to
continue.
- Toss your partner out of bed if you feel space is at a premium.
Your insomnia is not likely to have improved much and your frequent
overnight trips to the toilet may be disturbing his sleep anyway.
If you manage to reclaim the bed as your own, spread the pillows
around so they are working for you. Some white noise in the
background such as a fan or radio can be useful. Try playing a
relaxation CD before you go to sleep and do some progressive
muscular relaxation.
Week 40 (at last) comes
next.