Overview

You can prepare to welcome your baby. Your baby can arrive at any time as labor pain can occur anytime when you are in 39th week of pregnancy. You must watch out for signs of labor. When your baby’s 39 weeks old it gets cramped inside due to lack of space and is ready to function outside the womb. So be prepared to deliver your baby at any hour during this week. Anytime before the official due date you may deliver your baby and however it would be counted as full term. If your baby is born in 39th week then the baby would be grown completely. You need not worry even if the baby is born in the 38th week as it is likely that there would not be any problems occurring. At this stage your baby would be bigger and weight near about seven pounds. This means the baby is cramped inside and wants to get out. Due to lack of space the baby cannot move freely. The birth of baby is just a few days away and you do not have worry. You can simply think of all the comfortable massages comforting the post pregnancy that you would have shortly. You would be impatiently waiting for the birth of baby but you need not worry as it’s the matter of few days. Get ready to welcome your baby.

Baby’s development

The baby is perfectly healthy and is in a good state when the baby is in its 39th week. At the 39th week the lungs of the baby become more matured. The surfactant production could be found increasing at this stage of pregnancy. The baby would be found weighting over seven pounds. However, your baby would continue to grow. The baby could be kept under a close monitoring during these last days of pregnancy. A regular check on child’s heartbeat could keep you updated with the baby’s progress. You can keep a track of your baby’s progress all the time. Your baby is ready to enter the world and with al the major development requirements. The baby would however seem a bit peculiar after the birth. You need to worry although as all the new born babies look different from what is expected. However, these strange looks do not last for a long time. Within few days, the baby would grow completely and look normal and beautiful. The features would change within couple of days from the days of birth. It is necessary for the baby to regulate the body temperature once they are born. Your body would start building new cells by replacing the older skin cells.

Changes in your body

At the 39th week you would notice many changes in your body. You would feel more uncomfortable during this time. You would feel a bit clumsy and feel like you are swaying around as your entire center of gravity is off. You would feel heavier as the baby grows thus feel uncomfortable. It would become difficult for you get up from your bed or sit easily on the chair. However, remember that it is to end soon. Your breasts would become larger and fuller also you would feel them to be sensitive. You will not be able to sleep at night and would often require going to bathroom. You will have to deal with the leg cramps as well while you are sleeping. Some find it more comfortable sleeping in a recliner than sleeping on a bed. You would notice a swelling on your feet and legs at 39th week of pregnancy. You would also find your fingers and face swollen too. However, if this is a problem then you can consult your doctor. You would experience false labor contractions. While you are having false contractions you would be easily able to move easily. While having this false contraction you may not be able to talk or walk if you are going through real labor. If you are having real labor then it would be difficult for you to change your positions. You would feel severe pain while changing your position also the contractions would get worse with time. You water would break at any hour. You would also feel a drop of water or sometimes even a large gush of water during this stage of pregnancy. If you feel the water is broken or is about to break, then you need to consult your doctor. Then it is probably time for the baby to arrive. The closer to the end of pregnancy, more would you hear about being effaced. Cervix prepares for delivery in the process of effacement. The baby gets engaged in pelvis and slowly comes closer to cervix also becomes soft, short and thin.

What to expect

You would start imagining how your baby would look like you or baby’s father, aunt or any other family member. You would deliver your baby anytime during this week too or balance it for few more days. There isn’t much time left as 38 weeks have already sailed. And the remaining days would also pass swiftly and end soon. Although the delivery of your baby is near you would want to monitor your baby’s movements. It is been found that many doctors actually count the movements of the baby. You may have already purchased a lot of things for your baby. Sonograms could help judging the size and gender of the baby. You can decide whether you want your partner to be present at the time of delivery or you want to be alone. Your baby should remain active until his or her birth. A decrease in baby’s activities could be a sign of problem in baby. You must consult your doctor and take necessary precaution steps. In less than 15 % of pregnancies you would find membranes rupture. If your water happens to break, call for a doctor immediately. However, do not panic as it may be hours in advance of your first contraction.