You are 39 Weeks Pregnant!
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOU
Are you cleaning house for the first time in months? This may be your “nesting instinct” at work. You may find this a good time to “stock up” on groceries, cook and freeze some meals, and plan for the first few weeks with your new baby.
Some women begin to “turn inward” at this time of their pregnancy, thinking about the work ahead. They may seek the support of other women who have given birth, talk to their mothers, read voraciously or may just want to be alone.
Heartburn and constipation are two of the most common physical complaints at this time. Psyllium and water can relieve constipation. Try keeping a little something in your stomach at all times to avoid heartburn. Avoid large meals and don’t eat just before heading to bed. You may also find it helpful to sleep with your head elevated.
You are continuing to make amniotic fluid but the rate of absorption may outpace the amount you make, so levels may start to decrease a bit. Be sure to alert your care provider if you have any leaking of fluid. It can be difficult to tell the difference between leaking of urine and amniotic fluid. A good way to check is to recline in bed for an hour after emptying your bladder. If upon arising, fluid trickles out, it is most likely amniotic fluid. Regardless, it is always best to have this checked out.
You are probably feeling very large — and very uncomfortable — at this point of your pregnancy. If possible, don’t just stay at home. Go out! It might be some time before you have the chance to go out to dinner and see a movie alone with your partner!
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY
Your baby probably weighs at least six pounds and is approximately 19 inches long. There are many signs that your baby is full term: There is no longer any “lanugo” (fine downy hair) on the back and shoulders; fingernails now extend beyond your baby’s fingertips; he or she holds limbs well flexed and the chest is prominent with tissue below the nipples. If your baby is a boy, the testes are now in the scrotum, or palpable in the inguinal canals.
EATING FOR TWO
During the final weeks, as your baby experiences rapid growth, nutrition becomes more important than ever. Continue to take your prenatal vitamins and boost your iron intake. Also, boost your water intake. This can help to prevent dehydration during labor.
FACT OF THE WEEK
An episiotomy is an incision made between the vagina and the anus, which, some practitioners claim, may help women avoid severe tearing as the baby comes into the world. Typically doctors are more likely to perform episiotomies than midwives.
The ongoing debate is whether it’s better for a woman to tear naturally or to be cut. Women should know that they may not tear at all — especially if they follow their body’s urge to push and have their practitioner or partner support their perineum as they give birth. It is wise to evaluate your practitioner’s view of this procedure and to define your own desires.
In the meantime, there are indications that perineal massage can help stretch this sensitive area before labor and can make it easier for a woman to give birth with little or no natural tearing.