39 WEEKS PREGNANT

• The sonographer is getting a 3/4 view of your baby's face and you can actually see his/her eyelashes!
• Your doctor may also want to see if your baby has settled into a head-down position, the best position for normal delivery.

• Your baby possibly weighs close to three kilograms now and measures about 21 inches.
• You will soon be able to hold the little one in your arms and those tiny little fingers will clutch yours. Once he/she is born, those tiny fingernails may need a clipping as soon as possible as your baby may accidentally scratch themself.
• At week 39, your cervix is going through a process called 'effacement'. What does an effaced cervix mean? Simply put, effacement is the process in which the cervix prepares for birth giving.
• During the process of effacement, your cervix will become soft, thin, and short. As the due date gets closer, your baby will move closer and closer to the cervix.
• As your baby continues to accumulate a thin layer of fat under his/her skin, it will help regulate the body temperature and keep it warm. Your baby is also beginning to form new skin cells, which are quickly replacing the older ones.
• Along with this, your baby's skin has lost its translucence completely and has taken on a pale, white appearance. Your little one has now developed little breast bumps, irrespective of your baby being a girl or a boy.
• While your baby has definitely learned how to cry by now, his tear ducts may not activate up until he/she reaches the second month in the outside world.

• Vaginal discharge : Are you spotting blood along with normal white discharge? Don't worry, your cervix is dilating or opening up.
• Backaches : Your backaches could be really bad now as you are in the 39th week. Have a warm bath and try to relax.
• Braxton Hicks contractions : Braxton-Hicks Contractions are like a tightening sensation happening in your uterus. These contractions are practice sessions to get your uterus in the form to give birth. Do note the frequency and get to the doctor immediately, now that you are 39 weeks.
• More frequent urination : Do you feel every time you go to the washroom, the baby may just pop out? His/her head is pressing your pelvis, making less room in your bladder. Do not cut down on fluids because of this.
• Heartburn or indigestion : You may find them unbearable at this stage. Apart from small regular meals, drink lots of water, and get out for a walk after meals.
• Pelvic pain : Note that your baby's head is now putting pressure on your pelvis, thus causing all the pelvic pain. If it's too painful, do see the doctor.
• Diarrhea : Wow! From all that constipation, now you have moved on to diarrhea? Loose bowel movements are a definite sign of labour. Up on your feet, right away!
• Mucous plug : About this time, your mucous plug may fall out though you may not notice it. It just means that the big moment is just around the corner. Hang in there!
• Lesser fetal activity : Are you feeling about ten movements in a couple of hours or less? Remember the baby is grown now and must not be finding enough space to move around.
• Water breaking : The much talked about symptom of labour - water breaks! Your amniotic sac breaks, and out comes the fluid - this is what actually happens. Don't worry, for most women it happens when they are already at the hospital for delivery. If not, do get to the hospital right away!

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• We assume that those contractions are coming in big time and have left you constantly wondering if it is going to be any minute from now!
• Well, it really could be any minute now and we hope you and your partner are well prepared.
• If there are things you should be keeping an eye out for, it is basically the same as last week's symptoms.
• All symptoms at this time may point to one thing: labor.
• When labor kicks in but you do not know that it has, it looks a little like this: your contractions are increasing, each one lasting up to about five minutes or more.
• You will also see a mucus-like discharge from your vagina and will continue to urinate rather frequently.
• Again, the obvious way to determine that you are going into labor is when your water has broken.