The development of the baby at 39 weeks of gestation, which is 9 months pregnant, is complete and he can now be born. Even if the woman has colic and the belly is very hard, which represents the contractions of childbirth, she can have a C-section.
Birth contractions are regular, so it is good to note how many times a day you notice the contractions and how often they appear. Real labor contractions respect a regular rhythm and therefore you will know that you are in labor when the contractions come every 10 minutes or less.
Check the signs of labor and what can not be missing in the maternity bag.
Although the baby is ready to be born it can still remain in the mother's belly until 42 weeks, although most doctors recommend inducing labor with oxytocin in the vein at 41 weeks.
Fetal development
The development of the fetus at 39 weeks of gestation is complete, but its immune system continues to develop. Some of the mother's antibodies pass to the baby through the placenta and help protect it from illness and infection.
Although this protection lasts only a few months, it is important, and to complement it, it is recommended that the mother breastfeed the baby, but if this is not possible, it is good to evaluate the possibility of getting breast milk from the nearest human milk bank or offering the bottle with the milk indicated by the pediatrician.
Now the baby is fatter, with a healthy layer of fat, and his skin is soft but still has a layer of vernix.
Toenails have already reached your fingertips and the amount of hair you have varies from baby to baby. While some are born with a lot of hair, others are born bald or with little hair.
Fetus size
The size of the fetus at 39 weeks of gestation is approximately 50 cm and the weight approximately 3.1 kg.
Changes in women at 39 weeks of gestation
At 39 weeks of gestation, it is normal for the baby to move a lot, but the mother will not always notice. If you don't feel the baby move at least 10 times a day, tell the doctor.
At this stage, the high belly is normal as some babies only fit in the pelvis during labor, so if your belly hasn't dropped yet, don't worry.
The mucous plug is a gelatinous mucus that closes the end of the uterus, and its exit may indicate that delivery is closer. It is characterized by a kind of bloody discharge, but almost half of women do not notice it.
This week the mother may feel very swollen and tired and to relieve this discomfort it is recommended to sleep whenever possible, soon she will have the baby on her lap, and resting may be more difficult after birth.
Your pregnancy by trimester
To make your life easier and you don't waste time looking, we have separated all the information you need for each trimester of pregnancy. What quarter are you in?
- 1st Quarter (from the 1st to the 13th week) 2nd Quarter (from the 14th to the 27th week) 3rd Quarter (from the 28th to the 41st week)
