What are the main indicators that labor is approaching at 39 weeks pregnant. How can you distinguish between true and false labor contractions. When should you contact your healthcare provider as labor begins. What physical and emotional changes occur in the final days before delivery.

Understanding the Onset of Labor: Timing and Variability

Labor typically begins between weeks 37 and 42 of pregnancy, with about 60% of women going into labor on or before their estimated due date. At 39 weeks, you are considered full-term and your body is likely preparing for the imminent arrival of your baby. However, it’s important to understand that the exact timing and progression of labor can vary significantly between individuals.

Some key points about labor timing:

• Preterm labor: Occurs before 37 weeks
• Early term: Between 37-38 weeks
• Full term: 39-40 weeks
• Late term: After 42 weeks

If your pregnancy extends beyond 41 weeks, your healthcare provider may recommend inducing labor to reduce potential risks associated with prolonged pregnancy.

The Baby “Drops”: Lightening as an Early Labor Sign

One of the initial signs that your body is preparing for labor is a phenomenon known as “lightening” or “dropping”. This occurs when the baby settles deeper into your pelvis in preparation for birth. How does lightening affect your body and comfort levels?

• Reduced pressure on your diaphragm, allowing easier breathing
• Increased ability to eat full meals due to less abdominal pressure
• Potential increase in pelvic discomfort or pressure
• More frequent urination as the baby puts pressure on your bladder

It’s worth noting that lightening doesn’t necessarily mean labor is imminent. For first-time mothers, this can occur several weeks before labor begins, while experienced mothers may not notice dropping until labor is already underway.

When does lightening typically occur?

For first-time mothers, lightening often happens 2-4 weeks before labor begins. However, in subsequent pregnancies, it may not occur until labor has already started.

Nesting Instinct: A Surprising Burst of Energy Before Labor

Have you suddenly found yourself with an overwhelming urge to clean, organize, and prepare your home for the baby’s arrival? This phenomenon, known as “nesting”, is a common occurrence in the final days or weeks before labor begins. Scientific research has confirmed that nesting behavior is not unique to other mammals but is also observed in humans.

Characteristics of nesting behavior:

• Sudden increase in energy levels
• Strong desire to clean and organize
• Urge to prepare the baby’s room or living space
• Increased focus on home-related tasks

While nesting can be a positive and productive experience, it’s important to avoid overexertion and listen to your body’s signals. Remember to rest and conserve energy for the upcoming labor and delivery.

Contractions: Distinguishing Between True Labor and Braxton Hicks

As you approach your due date, you may experience an increase in contractions. However, not all contractions signal the onset of true labor. Understanding the difference between true labor contractions and Braxton Hicks contractions is crucial for knowing when to contact your healthcare provider.

True Labor Contractions

• Begin after 37 weeks of pregnancy (earlier onset may indicate preterm labor)
• Follow a regular pattern and increase in frequency, intensity, and duration
• Start in the lower back and radiate towards the groin
• Persist despite changes in activity or position
• May be accompanied by other labor signs like water breaking or bloody show

Braxton Hicks Contractions (False Labor)

• Can start as early as the second trimester
• Irregular and do not follow a consistent pattern
• Generally felt as overall abdominal tightening
• Often subside with changes in activity or position
• Not accompanied by other labor signs

If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing true labor contractions, try changing your position, walking around, or taking a warm bath. If the contractions persist and intensify, it’s likely true labor, and you should contact your healthcare provider.

Cervical Changes: The Silent Signals of Approaching Labor

As your body prepares for labor, significant changes occur in your cervix. These changes are typically not noticeable to you but can be observed by your healthcare provider during examinations. Understanding these cervical changes can help you gauge how close you are to labor.

Key cervical changes during labor preparation:

1. Effacement: The cervix begins to thin and soften. This process is measured in percentages, with 100% effacement indicating the cervix is completely thinned out.
2. Dilation: The cervix starts to open, measured in centimeters. Full dilation is reached at 10 centimeters, allowing the baby to pass through the birth canal.
3. Position: The cervix moves from a posterior position (pointed towards your back) to an anterior position (pointed towards your front).

Your healthcare provider may begin checking your cervix in the final weeks of pregnancy to assess these changes. However, it’s important to note that cervical changes don’t always indicate imminent labor. Some women may experience gradual changes over weeks, while others may have rapid changes just before labor begins.

Bloody Show: A Visual Sign of Labor’s Approach

As your cervix begins to dilate and efface, you may notice a pinkish or blood-tinged mucus discharge, often referred to as the “bloody show”. This occurs when the mucus plug that has sealed your cervix throughout pregnancy is expelled.

What does the bloody show indicate?

The bloody show is a sign that labor is approaching, but it doesn’t necessarily mean labor is imminent. Some women may experience the bloody show days or even weeks before labor begins, while others may not notice it at all.

Key points about the bloody show:

• Appearance can range from pink or brown to red-tinged mucus
• May occur as a single event or as intermittent discharge over several days
• Not all women will experience or notice the bloody show
• If you notice bright red blood or heavy bleeding, contact your healthcare provider immediately

If you experience the bloody show before 37 weeks of pregnancy, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider as it could indicate preterm labor.

Water Breaking: A Definitive Sign of Labor’s Onset

One of the most well-known signs of labor is the rupture of the amniotic sac, commonly referred to as “water breaking”. This event, medically termed as spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM), is a clear indicator that labor has begun or is imminent.

How does water breaking typically occur?

Contrary to dramatic portrayals in movies, water breaking is often not a sudden gush of fluid. Many women experience it as a slow trickle or a feeling of wetness. In some cases, it may be difficult to distinguish from urine leakage, which is common in late pregnancy.

Key points about water breaking:

• Amniotic fluid is typically clear with a slight pink tinge
• It may come out in a gush or a slow leak
• Once your water breaks, labor typically starts within 24 hours
• If labor doesn’t start spontaneously, your healthcare provider may recommend induction to prevent infection

If you suspect your water has broken, contact your healthcare provider immediately. They will likely ask you to come in for an examination to confirm and assess next steps.

What should you do if your water breaks at home?

1. Note the time it occurred and the color of the fluid
2. Put on a sanitary pad to absorb the fluid (do not use a tampon)
3. Contact your healthcare provider or go to the hospital if instructed
4. Avoid sexual intercourse to reduce the risk of infection

Digestive Changes: Diarrhea as a Potential Labor Sign

In the days leading up to labor, many women experience changes in their digestive system, particularly diarrhea. While not as widely discussed as other labor signs, this symptom can be an indication that your body is preparing for childbirth.

Why does diarrhea occur before labor?

The exact cause of pre-labor diarrhea isn’t fully understood, but it’s believed to be related to hormonal changes that occur as your body prepares for childbirth. These hormonal shifts can affect your digestive system in several ways:

• Relaxation of the muscles in your rectum and intestines
• Increased prostaglandin production, which can stimulate bowel movements
• General shifts in your body’s systems as it prepares for the physical demands of labor

While diarrhea can be uncomfortable, it may serve a purpose in preparing your body for labor by emptying your bowels and creating more space for the baby to descend.

How to manage pre-labor diarrhea?

1. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and clear fluids
2. Eat small, frequent meals focusing on easily digestible foods
3. Avoid foods known to irritate your digestive system
4. Rest as needed and listen to your body’s signals

If diarrhea is severe, prolonged, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms, contact your healthcare provider for guidance.

Emotional and Psychological Preparation for Labor

As you approach your due date, it’s not just your body that undergoes changes. Many women experience significant emotional and psychological shifts as they prepare for the life-changing event of childbirth.

Common emotional experiences in late pregnancy:

• Increased anxiety or excitement about the impending birth
• Mood swings due to hormonal fluctuations
• Feelings of impatience or frustration, especially if you go past your due date
• Concerns about the pain of labor or potential complications
• Anticipation and joy about meeting your baby

These emotional changes are normal and can be an important part of mentally preparing for the challenges of labor and motherhood. However, if you’re experiencing severe anxiety or depression, it’s important to discuss these feelings with your healthcare provider.

Strategies for emotional preparation:

1. Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation
2. Discuss your fears and concerns with your partner, healthcare provider, or a trusted friend
3. Attend childbirth education classes to feel more informed and prepared
4. Create a birth plan to help you feel more in control of the process
5. Engage in gentle physical activity like prenatal yoga or walking to reduce stress

Remember, every woman’s emotional journey through pregnancy and into labor is unique. Trust your instincts and don’t hesitate to seek support when needed.

When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider

As you near your due date and start experiencing potential labor signs, it’s crucial to know when to contact your healthcare provider. While not every symptom necessitates immediate medical attention, certain signs warrant prompt communication with your doctor or midwife.

Situations that require immediate contact:

• Your water breaks, especially if the fluid is green, brown, or has a foul odor
• You experience heavy vaginal bleeding (more than light spotting)
• You have severe, constant abdominal pain
• You notice a significant decrease in fetal movement
• You have symptoms of preeclampsia, such as severe headaches, vision changes, or upper abdominal pain
• You experience regular, painful contractions before 37 weeks of pregnancy

Signs that warrant a call to your provider during regular hours:

• You notice the bloody show (unless it occurs before 37 weeks)
• You’re experiencing increased pelvic pressure or discomfort
• You have mild, irregular contractions that don’t intensify
• You’re unsure if you’re experiencing true labor or Braxton Hicks contractions

Your healthcare provider will give you specific guidelines on when to call or come to the hospital based on your individual health history and pregnancy progression. Always err on the side of caution if you’re unsure – it’s better to call and be reassured than to ignore a potentially important sign.

Preparing Your Hospital Bag: Essential Items for Labor and Delivery

As you approach your due date, having a well-packed hospital bag can provide peace of mind and ensure you have everything you need for a comfortable labor and delivery experience. While every woman’s needs may differ, there are some essential items that most mothers-to-be find helpful during their hospital stay.

What should you pack in your hospital bag?

1. For Labor:
   • Comfortable clothing (loose nightgown or oversized t-shirt)
   • Warm socks or slippers
   • Lip balm and hair ties
   • Birthing ball or other comfort items (if allowed by your hospital)
   • Camera or smartphone for photos
2. For After Delivery:
   • Comfortable, loose-fitting clothes to wear home
   • Nursing bras and breast pads
   • Maternity pads
   • Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.)
   • Going-home outfit for the baby
3. Important Documents:
   • Hospital registration forms
   • Insurance information
   • Birth plan (if you have one)
   • Pediatrician’s contact information

Remember to pack light – most hospitals provide many of the essentials you’ll need during your stay. It’s a good idea to have your bag packed and ready by 36-37 weeks of pregnancy, just in case labor begins earlier than expected.

Additional considerations for your hospital bag:

• Snacks and drinks for you and your support person
• Entertainment items like books, magazines, or a tablet
• A small fan or spray bottle for comfort during labor
• A going-home outfit for yourself that fits comfortably over your postpartum belly
• Car seat for the baby (this should be installed in your car before you go to the hospital)

By preparing your hospital bag in advance, you can focus on the excitement of meeting your baby without worrying about last-minute packing. Remember, every birth experience is unique, so pack items that will make you feel comfortable and prepared for this life-changing event.

7 Signs Of Labor And What To Do When You Are In It

Labor is unpredictable, and so you get doubts in your mind. ‘Are those cramps contractions?’, ‘What should I do if the water breaks?’ or ‘Is my backache a sign of labor?’

You might have asked these questions to the mothers you know, and might have got different answers, probably leaving you even more confused. This is because each woman’s experience is unique, and you might have your own story to tell later.

However, there are some signs that help you know you are in labor. Continue reading this MomJunction post to know about the signs and symptoms that may indicate labor.

When Does Labor Start?

In most cases, labor starts between the 37th and 42nd week of pregnancy. Labor that occurs before the 37th week is called preterm or early term; labor between 39th and 40th weeks is a full term; labor after the 42nd week is late term. About 60% of women go into labor on or before their estimated due date (1). If you go beyond 41 weeks, your practitioner may recommend labor induction (2).

You may begin checking for the signs of labor around your due date. However, note that the process of labor might begin way before your due date. Also, it is not necessary that you have all of these signs.

Signs And Symptoms Of Labor Pain

Labor comes after giving you enough alerts about its arrival. Here are some signs your body might give before labor. Each case is different and you may or may not have the same signs as other women did.

1. The baby “drops” (lightening)

When the body prepares for labor, the baby may settle deeper into the pelvis, making you feel lighter. There will be reduced pressure in the chest and abdomen, thus, making you breathe easily and eat a full meal (3).

However, it does not mean that labor is close. It will take a few more weeks. Moreover, first-time moms can have lightening earlier than experienced moms.

2. Nesting

As the name suggests, nesting is the motherly instinct to build a haven for the baby. Amid those days of breathlessness and weakness, you might suddenly feel energetic to get up and set the house in order, paint your baby’s room, or keep the things ready for them. It is scientifically proven that nesting happens not only in other mammal species but also in humans (4).

3. Contractions get intense

One of the major signs of true labor is contractions. They will become longer and stronger as you get closer to labor. It is hard to figure out if they are real or false (Braxton Hicks) contractions. Here is how you can understand the difference:

Real Contractions (True labor)	Braxton Hicks Contractions (False labor)
They start after the 37th week of pregnancy, and if they come earlier, they are the signs of preterm labor.	They start from the second trimester itself and appear frequently in the third trimester.
They are regular and follow a pattern.	They are irregular and do not follow any pattern.
They progress with time; become more frequent, stronger and longer.	They do not progress over time.
They begin from the lower back and radiate towards the groin region.	They are a generalized abdominal tightening.
Any activity or movement will not stop or lessen the contractions.	They disappear with any activity or movement.
Your waters may break.	Your waters do not break
The bloody show happens.	The bloody show will not take place.
Cervical changes occur.	No cervical changes.

4. Cervical changes during labor

The cervix is the opening of the uterus through which the baby is born. All through the pregnancy, this opening is thick (not effaced), closed (not dilated), pointed towards the back (posterior end of the mother), and has a layer of mucus (mucus plug) to protect the baby. The below changes to the cervix signal labor:

• Thinning of the cervix (effacement): The cervix begins to thin and widen, indicating that the lower part of the uterus is ready for labor.

• Opening of the cervix during labor (dilation): The cervix opens to about 10cm just before labor.

You may not know or observe the changes to the cervix; the healthcare provider might check your cervix once you near the due date (5).

5. Bloody show

As the changes occur in the cervix, you will shed the mucus plug. It drops out in a lump or discharge for a few days. It is tinged with brown, pink, or red blood and therefore referred to as “bloody show”. This indicates that labor is close (6). But note that not every pregnant woman will have this symptom. If you notice the bloody show between 32 and 34 weeks, you should call your doctor as it can be a sign of preterm labor.

6. Water breaking

Spontaneous rupture of the membranes or “breaking of the waters” is a strong symptom of labor. It happens when the amniotic sac ruptures and the fluid gushes out from the vagina. Once the waters break, you should immediately contact your doctor (7).

7. Diarrhea

During the early stage of labor, the body releases prostaglandins, which soften the cervix and contract the uterus. They also stimulate bowel movement, naturally emptying the bowel to make way for the baby. This is a good sign as it helps clean out your tummy and avoid any discomfort during labor (8).

Symptoms such as diarrhea are generic and might happen anytime during pregnancy. Therefore, you do not have to panic about them. But if you observe more prominent signs such as water breaking, bloody show or frequent contractions, it could mean that you are nearing labor. You need to talk to the doctor without delay.

What Happens If The Waters Break Without Contractions?

If your water breaks but the contractions do not set in, your doctor may induce labor. This is to prevent the baby from infection as the amniotic sac is no more present to protect the baby (9). Also, if you had a positive culture for group B strep (GBS), you will need antibiotics when the water breaks (10) to prevent the infection from passing on to the baby.

What To Do In Early Labor?

Stay calm and focused when you are in labor. It is natural to be overwhelmed with apprehension or disbelief. Have your partner or family member along if you think labor is close. Here’s what you can do (6).

• Lie down and relax: Find some quiet place, lie down and relax. Try to breathe normally. It helps you to cope with contractions and also stimulates your body to release oxytocin that is required for labor progression.

• Stay hydrated: Drink enough water or have juices to ease labor symptoms and prevent cramps that may occur due to dehydration.

• Eat well: You might feel hungry. Eat and drink when you feel like. Have small amounts of high-energy foods as it comforts you and also gives you the energy to push.

• Rest and wait: Alternate between resting and walking, or take a warm bath to ease pains and aches.

You can try breathing techniques or visual imagery to cope with contractions. Check if your partner or anyone else could track the symptoms you are experiencing. Call the doctor, explain the symptoms and ask them if the time has come.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is loss of appetite a sign of labor?

During early labor, the bodily changes and anxiety might suppress hunger and you might lose your appetite. However, loss of appetite cannot be a standalone sign of labor but it needs to come along with other solid signs as mentioned above.

2. Are headache and nausea signs of labor?

Headaches and nausea are likely to accompany signs such as bloody show or water breaks. As the baby moves down the cervix, the pressure could make you feel nauseous.

3. What are the signs of premature labor?

Premature labor can happen anytime between the 20th and 37th weeks of pregnancy. It begins with frequent, uncomfortable, and regular contractions. The associated signs include:

• Persistent ache or pressure in the pelvic region, groin or thighs
• Diarrhea and intestinal cramps
• Dull and occasional lower backache
• Pinkish or brownish watery discharge before labor

You should see your doctor if you experience these signs or more than four contractions in an hour (11).

5. Is pelvic pressure a sign of labor?

Intermittent pelvic pressure can be a sign of labor as it occurs when the baby drops into the pelvis (12). The pressure would be intense, making you feel like a bowel movement before labor.

Each woman’s body is different and so are their experiences with labor. It is not necessary for you to have all these signs of labor. Also, the signs are not limited to those listed above. Believe in your body, keep observing the changes, and if you find anything different from normal, then wait for a few more developments, and visit the doctor.

Do not dread the labor nor spend sleepless nights thinking about it. Instead, be prepared and be ready to enjoy the experience of motherhood.

Are you expecting a baby? Share your motherhood experiences with us in the comments section below.

References:

MomJunction’s articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

38 Weeks Pregnant | Symptoms, Nausea And Cramping

At 38 weeks pregnant the anticipation and waiting for baby at this stage can be overwhelming. The key at 38 weeks is trying not to focus too much on when baby is coming!

A normal pregnancy can go up to 42 weeks and in some cases beyond.

Now is the time to enjoy your baby bump, catch up with friends and enjoy a relaxing pregnancy massage.

Are you wondering what to expect at 38 weeks pregnant?

Read on. We hope we can provide the answer, and other things you need to know.

38 weeks pregnant how many months?

People talk about pregnancy in different terms weeks or months. It can be confusing but at 38 weeks pregnant you are into your ninth month of pregnancy! So exciting.

38 weeks pregnant exercise

At 38 weeks pregnant it’s a fantastic idea to do physical activity if you can.

Low impact walking and swimming in late pregnancy will help keep you active, release endorphins and help to get the baby into a good position for birth.

Be sure to drink lots of water when exercising to keep well hydrated.

Some women like to sit on a gym ball and bounce in preparation for labor. This can also help get the baby’s head down and open up the pelvis.

Bouncing on the gym ball can help with early contraction pain as well.

38 weeks pregnancy symptoms

This pregnancy week isn’t very different from previous weeks. You might only notice a little weight gain.

You probably still feel heavy and uncomfortable.

Baby is putting plenty of pressure on your bladder and you need to pee frequently, especially during the night.

Your organs and lungs are probably quite squashed, which makes you feel breathless and could give you heartburn.

Try to rest with your feet up as often as you can. Small frequent meals can help ease the heartburn.

38 weeks pregnant symptoms not to ignore

In this pregnancy week, you’re probably hoping to go into labor.

If you have any of these symptoms, however, it’s important to seek immediate medical assistance:

• Headache with visual disturbances
• Constant pain in abdomen or anywhere else
• Really sudden swelling in your legs, ankles, hands, feet and face
• Mid sternum chest pain
• You feel like your baby is not moving or has reduced movement
• You have vaginal bleeding
• Your water breaking
• Your water breaks. Yellow-green indicates meconium might be in the amniotic fluid.

Contact your healthcare provider or doctor right away if you have any of the above symptoms at 38 weeks pregnant.

38 weeks pregnant pelvic pain and pressure

During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone called relaxin. As the name suggests, this hormone allows your ligaments and muscles to stretch during pregnancy.

Thanks to relaxin and the weight of your baby, you might experience ligament, pelvic and hip pain. You might also feel pressure when your baby engages; this causes the infamous pregnancy waddle.

As the baby moves down and the head engages, the pressure at the front of your symphysis pubis can cause it to separate a little bit. This causes symphis pubic dysfunction and these twinges can be really uncomfortable and debilitating for some women.

Here are some ways to manage the discomfort:

• Wear a quality support garment to keep everything held together. It might also help with the pressure in your hips
• See a chiropractor, for alignment
• Acupuncture, for pain relief and nerve release
• Physiotherapy or yoga, for pain relief
• Massage is always beneficial for relaxation, and to prevent anxiety
• Rest with a pillow in between your legs or knees to support your hips and belly
• Simple pain relief, such as heat or ice packs.

Please see your doctor or care provider if hip and pelvic pain is a concern for you.

For more information be sure to read Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) During Pregnancy.

38 weeks pregnant blood on toilet paper

In pregnancy, the cervix is very vascular, meaning it has a large blood supply it. During pregnancy, it’s also more sensitive, so minor changes or touch can cause it to bleed.

Here are a few reasons why you might find blood on the toilet paper when you wipe:

• You are losing your mucus plug and the cervix is thinning or dilating. This is okay at 38 weeks of pregnancy as you are classified as full term after 37 weeks
• You’ve had sex recently and this has caused some spotting
• Hemorrhoids, which are common in pregnancy and can bleed
• Vaginal bleeding, usually with cramping or pain that indicates there is a problem with your placenta or baby.

Whenever you have vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, it needs to be investigated. Contact your health care provider for advice.

38 weeks pregnant white milky discharge

This milky vaginal discharge is called leukorrhea, and it’s quite normal.

At 38 weeks, you might find this fluid increases and you notice it on your underwear or panty liner.

There should be no odor, and there shouldn’t be copious amounts of fluid that soaks through a sanitary pad. If this is the case, it could be a sign of infection or that you’re leaking amniotic fluid from your water breaking.

If you are unsure at any time, discuss it with your midwife or doctor.

Read Discharge During Pregnancy – What’s Normal and What’s Not for more information.

38 weeks pregnant and no signs of labor

Most women won’t see any signs of labor at 38 weeks.

Rest assured. Baby can’t stay in there forever and you’ll meet your little one soon enough.

Hang in there, mama! Your due date is still 2 weeks away.

Even though you can’t see obvious signs of labor, you’d be surprised at the complex interaction of hormones and chemicals taking place – both in your body and in your baby’s.

Your baby will signal to your body when it’s time to be born. So, although you feel super ready to give birth, your baby might still need a few more weeks before those little lungs are ready for life outside your uterus.

Check out What Causes Labor To Start to read more about this fascinating event.

38 weeks pregnant period pain and backache

This pregnancy week you might feel cramping, like period pain, low in your pelvic or groin area. You might also have an ache in your back.

This uncomfortable back pain is usually intermittent, coming and going like contractions over the course of a day or night.

It’s usually a sign thing are starting to change and labor isn’t far away.

Many women can have this for weeks leading up to the actual start of labor. It’s called prelabor and it can be tricky to cope with.

If you have persistent pain that doesn’t get better at all, speak to your doctor or midwife as soon as possible. Pain that doesn’t ease or gets worse should always be investigated.

38 weeks pregnant signs of labor

Here are some other signs that labor might be not far off:

• Period-like cramping, low in pelvis, or backaches
• Mucus plug (a thick glob like substance)
• Your nesting instinct is in overdrive, and you just have a feeling baby is coming soon
• Your bowel movements could change (diarrhea)
• Baby’s head is well engaged (first time mothers). This is also called ‘lightning crotch’ as the baby can be pushing on nerves low in the pelvis
• Some women might have nausea at week 38
• Lots of Braxton Hicks contractions – ‘practice’ contractions or tightening of the belly
• Your water breaks.

There’s more information about signs of labor here.

38 weeks pregnant baby position

Ideally, your baby has assumed a head down position late in the third trimester. This is the easiest way for your baby to be born and also makes a difference to how your labor unfolds.

Most babies find themselves in an anterior position, with their back towards your belly and their chin tucked into their chest.

Some babies are posterior (baby’s back to your back) and this can make labor a little slow to start or progress at first.

You might like to check out Optimal Fetal Positioning – How To Make Birth Easier to find out more about fetal positioning and birth.

The position of your baby can have an impact on your labor and how your contractions feel.

8 Signs Your Baby’s Position Is Affecting Labour provides strategies about how to cope and what to do if fetal positioning is affecting your labor.

38 weeks pregnant baby weight in kg

A baby that arrives at week 38 is full term. Your baby at 38 weeks is about 35 cm (19 inches) from top to bottom and, on average, weighs about 3.2 kg (6.6 pounds).

Most of the lanugo – the fine covering of hair on your baby’s body – has fallen out.

At this stage, your baby is covered in the lovely protective vernix, and if you are giving birth at 38 weeks there will be plenty.

Your baby is fully developed physically, but the brain continues to grow, now and after your baby is born.

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39 Weeks Pregnant | Pregnancy

Baby’s development at 39 weeks

It’s almost time for the big moment. While you prepare mentally, baby is putting on the finishing touches, preparing to face the world. A final layer of fat is developing under their skin, for a bit of extra warmth and cushioning. Other than that, your not-so-little one is virtually fully-formed and at around three kilos, is more or less birth weight, (and don’t you feel it). Despite the lack of room, baby should still be stretching and wriggling regularly, so call the hospital right away if these movements seem to have lessened.

Changes in you and your body at 39 weeks

There isn’t a ‘green light’ moment to signpost going into labour, but rest assured you will definitely know when baby is ready to come out. You may also experience some impostor signs too such as Braxton Hicks.

Braxton-Hicks. These ‘false labour’ contractions are the tightening and relaxing of the womb muscles, which can happen from around the second trimester onwards. They’re usually painless, but can get stronger and more intense towards the end of your pregnancy. Basically, it’s your body having a practice for the main show.

• Backache and a heavy, achy, tired feeling.
• Feeling nauseous or being sick.
• A ‘show’ – a plug of sticky blood or mucus from your vagina, indicating the cervix has opened.
• Your waters breaking, though this can also happen during labour.
• And, of course, contractions to seal the deal!

No need to rush. Very few babies are born so quickly that their mums can’t get to hospital in time. However, lots of mums-to-be are sent back home because they’ve come in too soon, which can be a bit of a pain especially in the middle of the night. Either way, it’s always best to get in touch with the hospital if you’re unsure.

True labour. The contractions of ‘true labour’ have a steady, regular rhythm and get progressively stronger without easing when you move around. They can feel like very strong period pains. This is the moment to start using any techniques you’ve been practising for dealing with labour pains. Make sure you focus on what works for you, even if it means throwing the rulebook out and going rogue.

It’s not like on the telly. The familiar cry of “my waters have broken!” pre-empts many a TV and movie birth scene. In reality, this can happen at any moment during labour and some women can go into labour without their waters breaking at all. If in doubt call the hospital and explain your symptoms.

You’ve got this! Remember your body is designed to do all this, and your team, from your birth partner, to your medical professionals are there to help you and your baby have the most positive birth experience possible.

Get ready for the big day: the signs and stages of labour.

Breastfeeding is good for mum too

It’s well known how important and beneficial breastfeeding is for your baby but it’s actually good for mum too.

The skin-to-skin contact (and after the first few weeks, the eye contact too) helps you bond with your baby. It also flushes your body with hormones and two in particular, oxytocin and prolactin, have a multitude of useful effects specifically for mum.

These include cutting down your recovery time by helping your uterus contract, improving blood clotting and even reducing the amount of bleeding after birth. Prolactin also induces a deep feeling of relaxation, while oxytocin is the hormone that helps you fall head-over-heels in love with your mini-me.

No wonder then, that breastfeeding is also linked to decreased risks of postnatal depression – you’re well and truly saturated with happy hormones.

Mini measurements

All babies are different, so the size of your baby at 39 weeks will vary from newborn to newborn. There are several factors that can affect this, including:

• Your own diet and weight, both before and during pregnancy
• Your prenatal health, including whether you drink, smoke or have diabetes
• Your own birth weight, plus genetics of both parents
• Your age (teen mums tend to have smaller babies)
• Whether your baby is a boy or a girl (boys tend to be heavier)
• Whether this is your firstborn (they tend to be smaller than subsequent children)
• Whether your baby is a twin or triplet (multiples tend to be smaller than singletons)

Broadly speaking, newborns weigh around 3kg (or six and a half pounds) and are about 52cm long. If you are having a particularly large or long baby, your midwife or doctor will have been monitoring this and should have told you already.

Recognizing Dangerous Headaches in Pregnancy

Headaches are common during pregnancy. While they’re painful, they’re usually nothing to worry about. However, headaches in pregnancy can sometimes be a warning sign of a more serious problem like preeclampsia.

Here’s what you need to know about the different types of headaches during pregnancy, how to recognize them, and what to do if you think your headache may be a sign of a dangerous complication.

Types of Headaches

Headaches are classified by what causes them and fall into two categories:

• Primary headaches, where the pain itself is the only problem
• Secondary headaches, where the pain is caused by another medical condition

About 40% of pregnant women report having headaches during pregnancy or postpartum (in the weeks after giving birth). Most are primary headaches and are less worrisome.

However, research suggests that secondary causes of headaches may be more common among pregnant women than was previously thought. One study found that between 25% and 42% of pregnant women seeking treatment had a secondary headache.

During the first trimester, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration due to morning sickness, as well as low blood sugar and caffeine withdrawal, can trigger headaches. During the second and third trimesters, headaches tend to be caused by weight gain, poor posture, lack of sleep, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Common types of headaches during pregnancy include:

• Tension headaches: Pain that feels like a tight band around your head, or pain in the neck and shoulders
• Migraines: Pain lasting hours, sometimes days, and may include blurred vision, light flashes, light sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting
• Sinus headaches: Pain or pressure around the forehead, cheeks and eyes, along with stuffy nose and congestion
• Cluster headaches: Pain usually around one eye or side of the head, wakes you up at night, and occurs in patterns
• Thunderclap headaches: Sudden, severe pain that peaks within a minute, lasts for at least five minutes, and can cause numbness and difficulty seeing, speaking, and walking

It’s important to tell your healthcare provider about any headaches you experience during pregnancy.

Verywell / Laura Porter

Headache as Preeclampsia Symptom

When a headache during pregnancy is accompanied by dizziness, blurred vision, or blind spots, it’s time to call your obstetrician or healthcare provider.

These could be symptoms of serious complications, such as preeclampsia, a kind of high blood pressure that can occur after the 20th week of pregnancy. The condition can damage other organs like the liver or kidneys and lead to a low number of platelets, cells in the blood that are important in the clotting process.

One study found that pregnant women with high blood pressure and a headache were 17 times more likely to suffer severe complications, like preeclampsia.

Besides high blood pressure (hypertension), other signs and symptoms of preeclampsia include:

• Abdominal pain
• Protein in the urine
• Swelling, usually in the feet, legs, face, and hands
• Sudden weight gain
• Nausea and vomiting

Pregnant people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have a two- to four-fold risk of preeclampsia.

Some people with preeclampsia develop a headache that resembles a migraine—a throbbing headache with nausea and/or a sensitivity to light or sound. This is another cue to contact your healthcare provider right away, especially if you don’t normally get migraines or the pain is different, more intense, or longer lasting than the headaches you usually get.

Left untreated, preeclampsia can develop into eclampsia, which includes seizures and possibly coma and blindness. Both conditions are dangerous, possibly even fatal to the mother and baby, and need to be treated urgently. Treatment generally involves delivery of the baby in addition to treating the mother with medications to bring the blood pressure down.

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Other Warning Signs

Other headache red flags include a thunderclap headache, which causes severe pain that comes on suddenly. Many people describe this as the worst headache of their life.

Additional symptoms of a thunderclap headache include:

• Numbness
• Difficulty seeing, speaking or walking
• Nausea, vomiting
• A high fever
• High blood pressure

Contact your healthcare provider immediately, because thunderclap headaches and high blood pressure during late pregnancy can be signs of eclampsia, stroke, or a condition called pituitary apoplexy, or bleeding in the pituitary gland, which controls hormones important for growth, milk production, and other important bodily functions.

Recap

If you never get headaches and you get one during pregnancy, or the pain you’re experiencing is different, more severe, or longer-lasting than your usual headaches, call your healthcare provider, as this can be a warning sign.

Treatment

The good news is that most headaches during pregnancy can be easily relieved with simple remedies like rest, relaxation, a cold compress, and eating and sleeping at regularly scheduled times.

Managing your anxiety and stress is an important part of keeping you and your baby safe. Schedule time to do things for yourself, like going for walks or going out with friends. Maybe try biofeedback, or listen to music or a book on tape.

Healthcare providers generally have considered acetaminophen safe for occasional use during pregnancy. However, in recent years, studies have raised the possibility of an association between prenatal use of acetaminophen and asthma, lower IQ, and other conditions among children.

Another study suggested a possible link between using acetaminophen during pregnancy and behavioral and hyperactivity problems in children by age 7. Due to data limitations and the designs of the studies, researchers couldn’t be sure whether it was the drug that caused these problems in children.

Health officials have also warned that using two other kinds of painkillers during pregnancy—non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen, and opioids such as codeine—may increase the risk of birth defects.

So it’s best to always check with your healthcare provider before taking any medication or herbal supplement to make sure it’s safe for you and your baby.

Summary

Headaches during pregnancy are common. While they hurt, most aren’t anything to worry about. However, changes in hormones, blood volume, and weight that occur naturally during pregnancy can make women more susceptible to headaches that are warning signs of serious medical complications like preeclampsia.

It’s important to call your healthcare provider if you suddenly start getting headaches, especially after your 20th week of pregnancy, or if the headaches you normally get change in location, severity, or duration.

It’s essential to seek care immediately if you have a headache and other symptoms of high blood pressure such as abdominal pain, swelling in the feet or legs, or problems seeing, walking, or talking.

39 weeks pregnant – all you need to know

What does my baby look like in week 39? 

Meconium is the word for your baby’s first poo. It is sticky and very dark green. Your baby now has meconium in their gut.

If your baby poos during labour, there will be meconium in the amniotic fluid. If this happens your midwife will monitor you and your baby very closely.

If you’re expecting a boy, he may be born with rather larger, swollen testicles – this is just due to hormones in your body and they’ll soon settle down.

Your pregnancy symptoms in week 39

A ‘show’

During pregnancy your womb is protected from infection by a plug of mucus on the cervix. A ‘show’ is the word describing this when it comes away and you see it on your underpants. It looks like a small amount of mucus mixed with blood. This can happen in early labour or before your labour begins, and it is a sign that your body is getting ready for labour.

Read about 4 ways your body gets ready for labour.

Braxton Hicks contractions

Braxton Hicks contractions can be quite powerful towards the end of your pregnancy and it’s easy to mistake them for labour contractions.

You have them because the muscles of your womb tighten and you may notice that your tummy becomes hard for a short period, then softens again. These should not cause pain.

If your tummy remains constantly hard or the tightenings become regular and painful, contact your midwife or labour ward for advice.

Actions to take

Being healthy in the last weeks of pregnancy

Carry on eating a healthy diet. You may need around 200 extra calories a day during the last part of your pregnancy but you also might feel more comfortable if you eat little and often.

Keep up with your pelvic floor exercises, too. Toning up your pelvic floor muscles will benefit you during labour and birth as well as after your baby is born.

Sleeping safely for your baby

When you reach your third trimester, the advice is to go to sleep on your side because research has shown that going to sleep on your back is linked to an increased risk of stillbirth. This advice includes daytime napping and night sleeping. Read more about safe sleep positions in pregnancy.

Labour and birth: things to think about

• Give your partner, family or friends a list of emergency contacts.
• Keep the phone numbers of reliable taxi firms to hand or have someone on standby with a car (and petrol) to take you to the hospital when the time comes.
• Take your hospital notes with you wherever you go, just in case – even to the supermarket!
• Make sure your hospital bags are packed and easy to grab at short notice.
• Complete your pregnancy and post-birth wellbeing plan.

Can anything really help start labour?

Raspberry leaf tea. Sex. Nipple stimulation. You’ve probably heard them all before – but is there really any way to help bring on labour?

“I was very stressed towards the end of my pregnancy, so I decided to try acupuncture. I can’t prove that it was this that set off labour, but it certainly helped me to de-stress.” Vicky, mum of two

Ask your midwife for more information about complementary therapies in pregnancy and labour.

Take a look at what you need for your newborn baby.

38 weeks pregnant – all you need to know

What does my baby look like in week 38? 

Their soft lanugo fur has disappeared, fat is being laid down to give them energy for their first few days while the breastmilk is coming in and they’re ready for the real world. Now it’s all about getting into position for the birth.

Your baby is still growing and filling the womb – but this doesn’t mean that their movements should slow down.

If baby is not moving as much as they were, or if you’re worried about their movements for any reason, talk to your midwife or doctor immediately. A change in your baby’s movements can be a sign that they need help.

Your pregnancy symptoms in week 38

Leaking nipples

Your breasts are producing colostrum – a very special milk rich in nutrients for the baby’s first few days. Don’t be alarmed if you spot yellow marks in your bra, or any wetness.

If needs be, buy some absorbent breast pads – they may come in handy when your baby arrives too.

What to do in week 38

Go to sleep on your side if you’re not already doing so

When you reach your third trimester, the advice is to go to sleep on your side because research has shown that going to sleep on your back is linked to an increased risk of stillbirth. This advice includes daytime napping and night sleeping. Read more about safe sleep positions in pregnancy.

I’m worried something is wrong

If you have any concerns get in touch with your midwife or labour ward. Don’t hold back from reporting a concern. Here are some tips for speaking with midwives in pregnancy.

Do you have persistent stomach pains? Brown or pink discharge? A severe headache that won’t go away?  

Take a look at the list of symptoms you mustn’t ignore.

How will I know when labour has started?

This is a common question at this point of pregnancy. You might be feeling worried about going out, making plans or being alone in case you go in to labour.

However, in most cases labour starts slowly with contractions very widely spaced, leaving you plenty of time to get home. This is especially true if it’s your first child. So don’t feel like you have to stay in the house.

Babies can go up to two weeks overdue before induction (bringing on the birth) is recommended, so it may be better for your mental health to get out, meet friends for lunch, walk around, do the shopping and so on as normal.

You might also be worried about knowing when you should go into hospital, especially if it’s not close by. But it takes a while to go through the first phase of labour, the latent phase (especially if it is your first baby). 

When you are having a contraction every five minutes that lasts 30+ seconds), call your midwife, birth centre or hospital labour ward if you are giving birth there. If you have chosen a home birth, the midwife will come to you.

How will I know when I am in labour? 

What happens during labour?

Antenatal care

You’re likely to have an antenatal appointment at 38 weeks to check on you and your baby. The position of your baby will be checked to see if he is head-down.

If his legs or bottom are facing down, your baby is ‘breech’. Your doctor or midwife may arrange for you to have a procedure where the doctor tries to move the baby into a head-down position. This is called external cephalic version (ECV).

Stay active if you can

Get outside and go for a walk. You can carry on exercising as long as you feel well and comfortable, even up to the birth, but it’s important not to overdo it.

Walking and swimming are great ways to be active at this stage in pregnancy. If you feel any pain or discomfort, dizziness, tightening in your tummy or leaking waters, stop exercising straight away and contact your midwife, doctor or the hospital.

“Do lots of things that you won’t be able to do for a while after the birth. I went to the cinema as much as I could (since having children I’ve made it about three times in the past five years!)” Anam, mum of three

After the birth

You may be wondering what you will be spending your days on after the birth if this is your first child. Minding a new baby is all-consuming. It may seem unlikely now, but keeping them fed and nappies changed is likely to take up all your time.

Newborn babies do not sleep through the night so staying in bed in the morning, after the time you would normally get up, to get an extra hour or two can make all the difference to your day. Keep the curtains closed and if your partner goes to work, see if they can get ready in another room.

Read more about after the birth.

Your body will be sore from the birth and you will also need to look after yourself. If you have a c-section planned, find out how to prepare your home here.

Warning signs during pregnancy: 8 to watch

Your body goes through many changes in pregnancy. It is difficult to know what is normal. Below we’ve listed the top warning signs during pregnancy and tips for knowing when to seek help. We’ve also included a list of normal changes that you don’t typically have to worry about.

Warning signs you should not ignore in pregnancy

1. Vaginal bleeding after 12 weeks gestation

Light spotting is normal before eight weeks as the embryo is implanting. Some spotting can also occur after sex or with a cervical infection. Bleeding with pelvic pain can mean an ectopic pregnancy. Bleeding after 12 weeks can also mean the cervix is shortening or dilating which can lead to preterm birth or miscarriage.

Call your doctor if:

You have bleeding after 12 weeks.

Consult with a specialist: Maternal fetal medicine from Sanford Health

2. Contractions

Contractions are common in pregnancy and can occur from the second trimester until term. The Braxton Hicks contractions are normal and do not typically change the cervix or indicate labor. They are usually painless, feel like tightening or hardening of the uterus and occur irregularly.

Call your doctor if:

Your contractions are painful, regular or accompanied by any bleeding or spotting.

3. Decreased fetal movements

You should feel your baby’s movements by 18 weeks gestation. At first, the movements will feel like a fluttering but will get stronger as you get farther along. Fetal movements after 28 weeks are usually more regular and more common at night than during the day. Regular monitoring of fetal movements is a good idea for all pregnant women. Starting at 28 weeks gestation, count how long it takes to feel 10 movements. This should be done daily and in the evening (6-9 p.m.).

Call your doctor if:

You don’t feel 10 movements within two hours.

4. Leg swelling and pain

The changes of pregnancy place women at an increased risk for blood clots. Blood clots can be dangerous and require immediate treatment.

Call your doctor if:

You experience swelling and pain in one leg (calf). Find out if you have a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).

5. Severe swelling, headache, blurred vision, high blood pressure

Swelling of the lower legs is common in pregnancy. However, swelling accompanied by a severe headache, blurred vision, spots in your eyes, or abdominal pain can be a sign of high blood pressure in pregnancy called preeclampsia. If you experience these symptoms, have your blood pressure checked.

Call your doctor if:

You have blood pressure of 140/90 or higher with these symptoms.

6. Pelvic pressure

As the baby grows, you will experience pelvic pressure and uterine stretching pains. You will also have a small amount of vaginal discharge during the pregnancy.

Call your doctor if:

The pressure turns into pain and the discharge becomes bloody or increased in amount. You should be evaluated for possible cervical dilation and preterm labor.

7. Pain with urinating or one-sided lower back (kidney) pain

Frequent urinating is common in pregnancy but you should not feel pain when urinating or feel back pain on one side. These could be signs of a bladder or kidney infection. Bacteria in the bladder or kidney can result in a serious blood infection and preterm labor.

Call your doctor if:

You have pain with urinating or one-sided lower back pain.

8. Headaches

Normal hormone changes in pregnancy cause the blood vessels to dilate. This can result in women experiencing headaches. A lack of sleep and discontinuing caffeine can also bring on more headaches. These common headaches of pregnancy should be relieved with Tylenol in most cases.

Call your doctor if:

You experience severe headaches, especially occurring in the front or back of your head. Severe headaches can be a sign of preeclampsia that may require additional testing or treatment.

Find a doctor: Sanford Health locations

Other warning signs in pregnancy

• Blurry or impaired vision — this can be a sign of preeclampsia which is high blood pressure and protein in the urine
• Severe or persistent abdominal pain or tenderness — this can be preeclampsia, gallbladder disease or appendicitis
• Excessive vomiting and diarrhea — if you are losing weight, can’t keep any fluids or food down, feel weak
• Fever over 101 degrees F or chills
• Increase in vaginal discharge or a change in type of discharge
• Trauma to the abdomen — abdominal trauma from a car accident, fall or hit
• Fainting, frequent dizziness, rapid heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Severe itching of your abdomen, palms, soles of your feet
• Exposure to someone with known flu or if you have flu symptoms — symptoms of the flu include fever, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, body aches and chills
• Exposure to someone with chicken pox if you are not immune

Normal symptoms during pregnancy

Sometimes uncomfortable symptoms are a normal part of pregnancy. This may include:

• Nausea and vomiting in the first trimester
• Heartburn
• Restless legs syndrome
• Sciatica — nerve pain that shoots down from buttocks to legs
• Carpal tunnel syndrome — pain and numbness in thumb and fingers
• Hemorrhoids
• Constipation
• Frequent urinating or incontinence
• Round ligament pain—sharp groin pains, on the sides of uterus, with movement
• Light headedness/dizziness—with standing
• Back pain
• Swelling of legs
• Mild shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Nasal stuffiness
• Nose and gum bleeds
• Darkening of the skin on abdomen and face
• Small red rashes on face, neck and chest
• Redness of the palms

Learn more

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Nauseous at 39 weeks of gestation

Pregnancy is not always easy, it happens that it is accompanied by various unpleasant problems. It becomes especially difficult in the last stages. Often a woman is nauseous at 39 weeks of gestation. The main reason for this is the enlargement of the uterus, which begins to press on the stomach. As a result of such changes in the body, the digestive system is disrupted.

Difficult period – 39th week

Even if there were no complications when carrying a child, as soon as the 39th week of pregnancy begins, nausea may appear.It is important not to be intimidated by this symptom. If necessary, consult your doctor and take the necessary measures to alleviate the condition.

This article will discuss what happens at 39 weeks of gestation. We will also tell you why nausea occurs and what to do to eliminate it.

Why does a pregnant girl feel sick at a later date?

When a woman reaches 38-39 weeks of pregnancy, her stomach begins to harden, it is very difficult for her to walk, her lower back is strongly pulled, her back hurts and so on.This period is considered prenatal.

Most expectant mothers at this time have to experience various ailments. But when a woman is severely nauseous during pregnancy in the late stages, then this may be a signal of an impending birth.

During this period, the body begins to produce special substances that help the uterus to mature. It starts to take up too much space. Therefore, there is pressure on neighboring organs, including the stomach or intestines.

If the expectant mother is sick at the 39th week of pregnancy, this means only one thing – the uterus has begun to expand, and its cervix has begun to open. But if vomiting occurs, you should immediately consult your doctor about this. This will help you avoid further complications.

Only a specialist can identify the cause of this manifestation on the part of the digestive system. After all, this can be not only a prenatal symptom, but also a sign of an infection in the stomach or intestines.Pregnant women tend to combine unusual foods. Therefore, poisoning often occurs.

When to call an ambulance?

If a woman is not only nauseous at 39 weeks pregnant, but also changes appear in the body, such as headache or dizziness, a sharp drop or increase in blood pressure, visual impairment in the form of black dots or nebula, the occurrence of a gag reflex, diarrhea, then you urgently need to call an ambulance.

With such manifestations, doctors often consider it necessary to accelerate the process of having a child.This is done through an artificial induction of labor.

Can drugs be used?

When a woman is sick at 39 weeks pregnant, this period becomes unbearable and you want everything to end sooner. But the clock seems to stop, and it seems that all the symptoms will never stop.

Most drugs for nausea are contraindicated in pregnant women because they can harm the fetus. In this regard, doctors do not want to prescribe them and do not recommend using them on their own.

Only in emergencies does the specialist decide to use drugs. For example, when there is endless vomiting, and the general condition of the woman in labor worsens. Then the pills can save the life of the unborn child and make the mother feel better.

How to get rid of nausea? Helpful tips

Recommendations:

1. In order to reduce the manifestation of nausea in a pregnant woman, you need to create a favorable psychological environment around her, thanks to which the woman will become calm and comfortable to rest.It is worth eliminating all annoying factors.
2. Sleep should be normalized. At night a woman should sleep for about 8 hours, and during the day no more than 2. If it is difficult for her to fall asleep, insomnia appears, then a favorable environment also helps.
3. Nausea at 38-39 weeks of pregnancy in the evening, very often from fatigue. Therefore, you need to avoid unnecessary stress and overwork of the expectant mother. Before going to bed, the bedroom where the woman will rest is ventilated. Evening walks in the fresh air are also recommended, but short, so as not to overwork.
4. Many are helped by the soothing aromas of oils or incense. But you should be careful with them, because they can not only eliminate nausea, but, on the contrary, cause it to appear. And some oils are harmful to women during pregnancy.
5. If a woman does not make a lot of movements before breakfast, then nausea may not appear. Therefore, the man should take care of the meal so that the wife does not get out of bed. This will not only prevent the appearance of an unpleasant symptom, but also create a positive mood for the expectant mother.It is not necessary to bring a hearty breakfast, a minimal amount of food is enough for a woman to be refreshed and able to get out of bed calmly. You can eat a fruit or a crouton, but after that you have to lie down a little. Then the girl will be able to get up and go to the kitchen to have a full meal.
6. It is very important that absolutely all groups of vitamins and essential substances enter the body. Therefore, during pregnancy, you need to organize the correct, and most importantly, balanced nutrition.
7. There are special diets for pregnant women that help improve the functioning of the digestive system without overloading the stomach. The bottom line is to increase the amount of protein foods and reduce the consumption of fast carbohydrates. Porridge, potatoes and other starchy foods are preferred.
8. All food should not be very hot or cold, warm dishes are considered optimal.
9. It is worth excluding all fried foods and fatty foods from the diet.
10. You cannot drink food.It is best to consume plenty of water between meals, especially before meals.
11. To preserve your own health and the fetus, you need to beware of sudden movements, because they contribute to the occurrence of nausea.
12. If vomiting occurs at night or when the position of the body changes during sleep, then it is necessary to use medicines as prescribed by the attending physician.
13. If there is a clear threat of miscarriage or the health of the mother and fetus, the pregnant woman is immediately taken to the hospital, and the woman is in the hospital until the birth.

Dehydration and fear are two more causes of nausea

Dehydration is another cause of nausea. In this condition, the pregnant woman must be hospitalized. Doctors do their best to recover the fluid lost by the body. If for some time this cannot be done, then urgently, artificially induced childbirth is called in order to save the child.

Against the background of future childbirth, women have various fears. Some people think that if she is nauseous herself, then the child is experiencing the same.But this is absolutely not the case.

The pre-birth period is often referred to as obstetric week 39 because it is the home stretch before the baby is born.

Signs of approaching labor

In order to understand that labor is close, you should pay attention to the following signs:

1. Nausea suddenly leaves, the abdomen drops, and therefore the uterus drops. It becomes easier for a woman.
2. The appearance of water or their slight leakage is the first sign that it is time to pack up and go to the hospital.This must be done quickly. Better to collect everything you need in advance.
3. The woman is dramatically losing weight, the puffiness disappears.
4. Excretion of mucus with blood. This can be very dangerous, so a doctor’s examination is needed.
5. Appearance of diarrhea and frequent urge to use the toilet.
6. The onset of pain, often pulling the abdomen at 39 weeks of gestation.
7. Often, the presence of contractions with the same time interval indicates the approach of labor.

It is worth noting that the 39th obstetric week of pregnancy is a very difficult period for the mother, because the whole body is working in an emergency mode: the heart rate increases, the work of many systems is disrupted, and, in general, the state of health worsens.

What happens to the woman and the fetus at the end of the term?

At the 39th week of pregnancy, the uterus descends, due to which it ceases to press on the internal organs. Then the woman is relieved.

But nausea is replaced by other unpleasant symptoms. The uterus has ceased to press on the upper organs, and now its influence has shifted to the urinary and pelvic area. This leads to frequent urge to use the toilet and severe pain in the lower abdomen.

The cervix must change size all the time, then it becomes wider, then narrower, so that the head of the child can fix on it.In this connection, drops of blood appear along with mucous secretions.

The fetus gradually slides down, as if preparing to exit, so the woman’s breathing quickens, the digestion of food is accelerated, which leads to diarrhea. Toxicosis at 39 weeks of gestation either appears or worsens if it has arisen earlier. In the body of the woman in labor, colostrum begins to form, which serves as food for the baby during the first feeding period, and then milk appears.

The placenta is aging rapidly because it is no longer needed.The amniotic fluid, which serves to protect the child from damage, begins to decrease, but to a certain amount, which is quite enough at a given time to perform the main function.

What happens to a woman’s body at the 39th week of pregnancy is aimed at preparing for future childbirth.

What should be avoided during this period?

It is important to avoid colds at such times, although it is very easy to get it due to the weakening of the body. With the disease, the risk of complications is high.Therefore, in the case of a cold, not only at the 39th week, but throughout the entire period of pregnancy, treatment should be carried out exclusively by a doctor.

The woman becomes unbearably hard, she is very tired, she experiences many unpleasant symptoms. But you need to gather strength and wait for the birth.

Child development

The fetus at 39 weeks gestation reaches the following dimensions: height is not less than 50 cm, and weight is about 3 kilograms. Although each child is different, the parameters may vary.Biparietal head size – 90 mm, thorax about 99 mm in diameter. All values ​​are conditional, average. With this size, the child is fully formed and ready to be born. At this time, the fetus sank upside down, and the knees are pulled up to the chin. This situation is due to the fact that he becomes cramped and constantly has to, as it were, toss and turn. During this period, it takes a lot of time for the child to sleep, because he needs a lot of strength to get out.

The skin is already very clean.Fingernails and toenails grow back. Hair may start to appear. The internal organs are all developed and ready for full functioning from the outside. Drooling will not come out immediately, but only after a month. The kid can see at a distance of no more than 30 cm, but the picture is colored, and the eyes react to movement. The child is fully formed and can independently conduct the life of his body.

Small conclusion

The 39th week of pregnancy is a very difficult period for the mother, but favorable for the fetus, since it is finally preparing for birth.During this period, a woman needs to be extremely careful!

39 weeks headache, what to do

The last weeks of pregnancy are associated with preparing a woman’s body for childbirth. Headaches at 39 weeks – a sign of a serious pathology or a particular pregnancy?

Causes of headaches at 39 weeks

High blood pressure

Changes in blood pressure in pregnant women at this time are a symptom of a serious complication – late toxicosis, or gestosis.With this disease, in addition to headaches, women are worried about edema. In the normal course of pregnancy in the last weeks, the appearance of swelling of the legs in the evening is associated with venous congestion due to the pressure of the growing uterus on the choroid plexuses of the small pelvis.

With gestosis, edema appears at any time on the arms, legs, face and abdomen. In addition to these symptoms, late toxicosis is characterized by impaired renal function. In a laboratory study of urine, protein is found in it.

Low blood pressure

Pregnant women are characterized by a physiological decrease in blood pressure during the period of gestation.Low blood pressure develops against the background of hormonal changes in the body of pregnant women.

This occurs as a protective mechanism: excessive vascular tension, which occurs when the pressure rises, negatively affects the uteroplacental blood flow. A headache occurs when blood pressure drops below normal working levels.

Another cause of headaches with a decrease in blood pressure is the inferior vena cava syndrome. In the vast majority of pregnant women, this syndrome can develop suddenly in the supine position.The pregnant uterus compresses the inferior genital vein, in response to this there is a sharp reflex drop in blood pressure.

In addition to headaches, a pregnant woman experiences nausea, darkening in the eyes, and anxiety. Prolonged compression of the inferior vena cava can provoke placental abruption.

Excessive tension of the muscles of the back and shoulder girdle

By the end of pregnancy, a woman is gaining an average of 10 to 20 kg of weight. The load on the spinal column increases, as a result of which a woman has to make more efforts to maintain her posture.Such constant tension of the muscles of the back, neck and shoulder girdle causes a short-term spasm of the vessels supplying the brain. Due to oxygen starvation, a headache develops.

Increased emotional lability

At 39 weeks, many women experience emotional stress. The term of childbirth is approaching, the upcoming events excite the woman and against the background of increased experiences, the nervous system is experiencing an overload. The woman becomes whiny, irritable.This overreaction can trigger an attack of tension headaches.

In addition, during late pregnancy, many women periodically experience sleep problems. Insomnia also overloads the nervous system and provokes headaches.

Anemia of pregnant women

During the period of gestation, due to the inclusion of an additional circle of blood circulation (uteroplacental) in the woman’s body, the amount of circulating plasma increases, but the formation of formed elements may be delayed.At 39 weeks, attacks of headache and dizziness can be triggered by a lack of oxygen in the blood due to low hemoglobin levels.

Diseases of ENT organs

Slow inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx without pronounced symptoms can cause dull aching headaches, especially in the afternoon. Due to the constant swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose and sinuses, the brain experiences a chronic oxygen deficiency, and the woman notes pulling, aching headaches.

Untreated caries or inflammation of the gums can often be a mediated cause of headaches. An infection in the oral cavity supports the inflammatory process in the nasopharynx.

Test: Why do I often have a headache? What is the reason?

What to do if you have a headache at 39 weeks

First of all, you need to find out the cause.

If a headache during 39 weeks of pregnancy develops against the background of edema, you should immediately seek qualified help.Gestosis is a serious complication of pregnancy and threatens the health of the mother and child.

With the development of a symptom against the background of low blood pressure, pregnant women need to carefully monitor their condition. If the pressure drops in a stuffy room, with a sharp change in the weather or after a long break between meals, then after a cup of strong tea or coffee with sugar, the condition should return to normal. In cases where the headache against the background of a decrease in pressure constantly bothers you, you need to consult a doctor for help.

To prevent inferior vena cava syndrome, supine position should be avoided. The best posture for resting a pregnant woman at 39 weeks is reclining, it is better to raise the head end of the bed a little.

A prenatal brace will help relieve the spine and get rid of excess tension in the muscles of the back and shoulder girdle. In addition, a light back massage and daily contrast shower will help you forget about this symptom.

With low hemoglobin, it is necessary to take glandular preparations and multivitamins.The correct dosage and timing of treatment will be prescribed by the attending physician.

If the cause of headaches is rhinitis, sinusitis and other ENT diseases, you should consult an otolaryngologist. If caries is found, it is necessary to undergo a sanitation of the oral cavity at the dentist.

Rules for getting rid of headaches at 39 weeks of gestation

If this symptom at this time is not caused by any disease, then you can get rid of it using simple methods.

• Rest and sleep, preferably in a well ventilated area.
• Before bed, you can drink motherwort tincture. This will help calm the nervous system and ensure proper sleep.
• Tension headaches are well relieved with cold compresses. Cooling the occipital region for 15-20 minutes will normalize blood circulation and eliminate the symptom. To do this, moisten a towel with cold water and apply it to the back of your head, periodically you need to change the compress.
• Well relieves headaches at 39 weeks light massage of the temporal region, forehead and occiput.
• If such measures do not help, it is permissible to take a single dose of paracetamol or ibuprofen. These drugs are safe for the fetus.

Prevention of headaches

In late pregnancy, a woman should pay special attention to her daily routine and diet. In order for this ailment to stop bothering you, you need to sleep at least 8 hours a day. It is better to go to bed before 22 pm, and get up no later than 7 hours. If you wish, you can arrange a daytime sleep.

Daily light exercise and a contrast shower must be included in the list of measures to prevent this symptom. A daily walk in the fresh air, at least 2 hours a day – the same. Evening walks before bedtime are especially useful for pregnant women.

Protein products must be present in the diet of a pregnant woman: beef and lamb meat, fish, dairy products, vegetable proteins (legumes, cereals and nuts). Pork is not recommended for pregnant women.Fresh vegetables and fruits are essential in the daily diet as a source of vitamins and fiber.

In addition, you can take a multivitamin for pregnant women, which is recommended by your doctor.

For a period of 39 weeks, as preparation for childbirth, doctors often prescribe herbal sedatives – motherwort or valerian tincture. These funds will help improve the state of the nervous system, normalize sleep and serve as a good prophylaxis to prevent headaches.

Causes of Anxiety and Anxiety in Pregnancy | Pampers RU

Most of the seemingly unpleasant symptoms that a pregnant woman encounters are not threatening.They are an integral part of the process. But all the same, it is difficult not to worry if everything is in order, and most importantly, not to have time to understand in time that something went wrong. Serious complications are rare, but you should still learn to recognize dangerous symptoms during pregnancy.

Remember that it is completely normal to experience some of these symptoms during pregnancy. However, they can also be signs of a serious medical condition, so contact your healthcare professional if you notice any of the following signs.

If you think that you are experiencing one of the symptoms listed above, then, as we said, do not neglect the help of your doctor.It should be borne in mind that we have not listed all the dangerous symptoms during pregnancy that require the attention of doctors. Therefore, it is always better to play it safe and see a doctor. You will not worry in vain, and the problem, if any, can be quickly resolved.

90,000 precursors of childbirth in multiparous and primiparous, what happens, active movements of the child

What happens to a woman at the 39th week of pregnancy?

The fetus at the 39th week of pregnancy is already large and takes up all the place in the uterine cavity.The kid is constantly on the move – so he not only reminds of himself, but also trains the muscles on the arms and legs. He can no longer move as actively as before, but nevertheless, these movements disturb the expectant mother both day and night, because the kicks of the grown toddler are quite palpable and even painful. Do not expect that the baby will get tired of this activity, and the rest of the pregnancy will pass without unexpected blows to the internal organs: if the baby is very active, he will calm down only for childbirth.

It is normal for a baby to show his temperament at the 39th week of pregnancy.However, many women note a decrease in the baby’s motor activity.

This is also quite natural and is due to the fact that there is simply no place in the uterus for active movements of a grown child.

If the child has begun to move much less at the 39th week of pregnancy, or, on the contrary, is excessively active, it is necessary to consult a specialist. An unexpected change in the character or behavior of the baby, as well as his extremely active movements, may indicate a lack of oxygen.

Count the baby’s movements. In one day, the child must push more than ten times.

At the 39th week of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid becomes less, but they continue to be renewed several times a day. As before, all nutrients reach the fetus through the placenta. This means that it is just as important for the expectant mother to monitor her diet now as it was in the early stages of pregnancy.

A woman can notice changes in her condition, which are signs of the imminent approach of the “X-hour”.The so-called precursors of childbirth include abdominal prolapse and the associated relief of breathing, discharge of the mucous plug, and more abundant discharge.

How does the baby feel?

At the 39th week of pregnancy, the child has already fully completed the formation of all organs and systems. He looks plump due to his well-defined fat layer, and his skin has acquired a pinkish tint. Light crumbs are ready to spread out in order to inhale the first breath of air after birth.The digestive tube can actively move the contents, and the glands produce the necessary enzymes to digest food – the baby is ready to receive nutritious colostrum in the first minutes after birth.

The kidneys of the fetus independently filter the liquid and are able to fully remove metabolic products from the body. And even the nervous system, the most complexly organized of all body systems, is already functioning. The child is able to distinguish between tastes, reacts to light and pain. After childbirth, the maturation of the nervous system will continue, while other vital organs will adapt to work in a different environment.

39–40 weeks of gestation, the baby’s head descends and presses tightly against the exit from the uterus.

Harbingers of childbirth

A woman at the 39th week of pregnancy should be attentive to the signals of her body. Some changes, imperceptible at first glance, indicate the beginning of the labor process, and it is important not to miss them.

Harbingers of childbirth in primiparous and multiparous do not differ, however, by the second and subsequent births, a woman learns to better recognize them.Here are the main harbingers of childbirth:

• The stomach goes down and the woman breathes easier. Reduced heartburn (not always) and nausea due to a decrease in uterine pressure on the stomach area.
• The mucous plug is coming off. This can happen up to 3 weeks before delivery and on the day of delivery.
• Practice contractions appear, but may or may not occur.
• The fetal movement has become more intense, or, conversely, it is felt that the child has calmed down.
• The fetal head is lowered and inserted into the pelvic opening.At the same time, the woman feels pressure, her stomach pulls.
• Loose stools may occur 1-2 days before delivery.

Some women believe that one of the harbingers of childbirth should be a headache. It’s a delusion. Such a symptom is often a sign of late gestosis and, in general, not a very good prognostic sign!

Even the absence of precursors of childbirth does not mean that it is too early to think about a hospital ward. Sometimes the birth process can start suddenly.However, if the expectant mother does not observe any precursors in herself, she should consult with a specialist. Most likely, he will send the woman for an ultrasound scan to find out about the condition of the fetus. If the child is actively moving, the problem may be in something else.

During the second, third pregnancy, a woman will no longer worry about some of the harbingers of childbirth. Experts assure that the second and third births are painless compared to the appearance of the first child, and, as a rule, multiparous children are able to give birth faster.

Very little left! In a few days, for the first time, you will take in your arms and press to your chest the best, charming and beloved baby in the world!

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90,000 Pregnancy 39 weeks headache what to do. Three stages of labor

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The last weeks of pregnancy are the most important for completing the preparation of the body for the upcoming birth.A fully formed fetus is ready to be born at any time. It is this period that is the most difficult for a woman, since the body is under enormous stress and there is a lot of pain. Nausea, heart palpitations, pain in the head are far from the whole list of unpleasant sensations.

Headache at 37, 38, 39, 40 weeks of pregnancy can manifest itself in different ways, depending on the cause of its occurrence:

1. Hypertension. The pain in this case can be of a pulsating nature and intensify with movements.An increase in pressure very often appears in the last weeks, therefore, its control at a doctor’s appointment should be carried out constantly.

2. Preeclampsia. Along with a headache with this pathology, nausea, swelling of the legs, black flies before the eyes, high blood pressure appear. Timely detection of preeclampsia avoids complications for the child and mother.

3. Load on the spine. Due to squeezing of some vessels, a headache may appear, which disappears with a light massage of the neck or back.
4. Voltage. Pain usually occurs with exertion or excitement. For this reason, the pain compresses the head, starting in the back of the head.

5. Increased eye pressure. Pain in this case may appear in flashes in the forehead or eyes.

6. Cervical osteochondrosis.

7. ENT diseases. The localization of pain in the head for this reason depends on the ENT disease. For example, sinusitis manifests itself as pain behind the cheekbones.

8. Head injuries.

9. Lack of sleep.

10. Fasting.
11. Incorrect power supply.

12. Weather changes.

Headaches are diagnosed by a neurologist who interviews the pregnant woman, measures her blood pressure and recommends possible treatments, if necessary. For pains of a non-pathological nature, it is recommended to rest more and other non-drug methods of treatment. Treatment is usually only given for preeclampsia.

In the last weeks of pregnancy, most drugs are prohibited, which makes it difficult to prevent headaches quickly.

Prohibited drugs are:

Analgin.

Ketarol.

Nise.

It is best to use non-drug methods of getting rid of headaches during this period:

1. Adequate rest and sleep is often the best way to get rid of a headache.

2. Massage.

3. Contrast shower.

4. Compresses, warm or cold.

5. Ventilate the room.

6. Avoid stress and physical stress.
7. Aromatherapy. In this case, odor tolerance is an individual feature of a woman. The smell of lemon or mint can help with the headache.

8. Ointment “Zvezdochka” applied in the area of ​​the temples.

9. Small gymnastics or yoga for pregnant women.

10. Manual therapy.

These methods in the last weeks of pregnancy are practically the only means of getting rid of headaches, since many drugs for headaches during this period can harm the baby or cause various complications during childbirth.

Material prepared specially for the site

39 week of pregnancy is a very important period during which the female body completes its preparations for the upcoming childbirth. The baby by this time is fully full-term and is ready to be born at any time. The last weeks of pregnancy are difficult for many women, at this time the number of complaints of nausea, palpitations, shortness of breath, pain in the abdomen, back and head increases.

High blood pressure is a very common cause of headaches in late pregnancy.You cannot silently endure the pain, the expectant mother should tell her gynecologist about the symptoms that disturb her, who will prescribe her an additional examination. Sometimes headache can signal such a serious illness of pregnant women as preeclampsia. In addition to headaches, the characteristic signs of this disease are nausea, flickering of black flies before the eyes, high blood pressure, dizziness, swelling in the legs, and the presence of protein in the urine. Preeclampsia is uncommon in pregnant women, however, when complaining of headaches, doctors first rule out this disease in the expectant mother.If preeclampsia is not detected in time, it can lead to seizures, which can end in failure for both the mother and the fetus.

If the 39th week of pregnancy has come, the head hurts, and the blood pressure is normal and preeclampsia, fortunately, is not detected, then the pain in the head may be associated with tension or migraine. It is quite simple to distinguish one pain from another: tension headache squeezes the entire head, spreading most often from the occipital region, and migraine is characterized by pulsating paroxysmal pain in one of the temples, which intensifies with excitement or physical exertion.Exacerbation of migraine is associated with hormonal changes in the female body, its causes can be stress, lack of sleep, sudden changes in the weather, unhealthy diet.

A correct daily routine can help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches. The expectant mother should remember that fresh air has a positive effect not only on the development of the child, but also on the state of her health. Daily leisurely walks away from busy trails and crowded places will have a beneficial effect on the well-being of a pregnant woman.Women who, even during pregnancy, cannot deny themselves a cup of coffee or strong tea, should be aware that these drinks can raise blood pressure and cause a headache attack. A pregnant woman’s head can ache if she does not get enough sleep, so it is very important to go to bed early, having previously ventilated the room before going to bed. Moderate physical activity is recommended for almost all women in position, it will be invaluable not only for the head, but for the whole body. The head can also get sick from hunger, so it is important to follow the correct diet during pregnancy.

Consider a few more explanations for why headaches during pregnancy. Sinusitis can cause persistent headaches in later stages. In this case, the pain will be concentrated behind the cheekbones. Increased eye pressure can also trigger headache outbreaks in a pregnant woman. Vision problems can lead to pain around the eyes or in the frontal area.

Few people can tolerate a headache. It interferes with thinking and doing important things, depriving a person of peace and efficiency.In case of severe pain in the head, an ordinary person will drink a pill of analgin or spazmalgon and after a couple of hours will forget about his discomfort. However, pregnancy is a contraindication to most pain relievers. Headache. What should a woman do in this case, who can become a mother at any time? Of course, try to get rid of the pain with non-medication.

If the headache is irregular, sleep is considered the best remedy for it.It is often enough to get a good night’s sleep so that there is no trace of the unpleasant malaise.

With frequent tension pains, you can try to resemble a massage course, thanks to which you can relieve muscle tension and forget about this health problem for a long time.

Gymnastics is not only a sport, but also an excellent therapy for mental clarity. Exercise is encouraged during pregnancy as it helps relieve tension headaches, accelerate blood flow, stretch muscles and joints, lower blood sugar, and prepare the body for childbirth.In order not to overdo it with physical education, it is necessary to do it in special groups for pregnant women under the supervision of a specialist. Yoga can be an alternative to gymnastics.

During a migraine attack, do not neglect warm compresses on the forehead, and in case of tension pains – cold compresses applied to the back of the head. Cool or contrast showers can help relieve migraine headaches.

For some women, aromatic oils of mint and lavender help to cope with headaches.It is enough to drop a couple of drops of one of the oils on a handkerchief or napkin and from time to time inhale its aroma. However, care should be taken with aromatherapy during pregnancy, as overuse of scent can backfire.

Pills from the head during pregnancy deserve special attention, since some of them are permissible only in extreme cases and as prescribed by a doctor. The safest medication for pregnant women is paracetamol, which can be taken in late pregnancy, observing the dosage.The very popular and well-known nurofen at 39 weeks of gestation is contraindicated to drink, since it can lead to disruption of the lungs and heart of the fetus. Analgin, tempalgin and pentalgin are also on the list of drugs prohibited for pregnant women.

It is interesting to try to cure a headache with reflexology. The big toes are the area responsible for the condition of the head. It is believed that if you massage your fingers with light movements for two minutes, the headache is guaranteed to go away.Massage can be replaced by pressing on the active points on the toes.

Any headaches during pregnancy should not go unnoticed by the attending physician. The task of a pregnant woman will be to inform the obstetrician-gynecologist about all health problems that arise during the period of carrying a child. Thanks to the joint efforts of the doctor and the expectant mother, it will be possible to effectively cope with even the most severe headache, give birth to an absolutely healthy baby and enjoy motherhood.

3.Load on the spine. Due to squeezing of some vessels, a headache may appear, which disappears with a light massage of the neck or back.

4. Voltage. Pain usually occurs with exertion or excitement. For this reason, the pain compresses the head, starting in the back of the head.

5. Increased eye pressure. Pain in this case may appear in flashes in the forehead or eyes.

6. Cervical osteochondrosis.

7. ENT diseases. The localization of pain in the head for this reason depends on the ENT disease.For example, sinusitis manifests itself as pain behind the cheekbones.

8. Head injuries.

11. Incorrect power supply.

12. Weather changes.

3. Contrast shower.

4. Compresses, warm or cold.

5. Ventilate the room.

6. Avoid stress and physical stress.

7. Aromatherapy. In this case, odor tolerance is an individual feature of a woman. The smell of lemon or mint can help with the headache.

8. Zvezdochka ointment applied to the temples.

9. Small gymnastics or yoga for pregnant women.

10. Manual therapy.

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A headache at 39 weeks of pregnancy what to do

39 weeks of pregnancy stomach ache: reasons

Most likely, it’s your time to go to the hospital.When the stomach hurts at 39 weeks of pregnancy, the possible reason for this is the onset of labor.

Why does the stomach hurt at 39 weeks of pregnancy?

All this happens against the background of changes in the hormonal background of a woman, aging of the placenta and pulling pains in the abdomen. The main feature that distinguishes the onset of labor from precursors is the regularity of contractions. If within an hour you have counted more than five attacks, pack your things.

What problems can you meet at 39 weeks of pregnancy?

Discharge at 39 weeks of gestation.Mucous discharge (sometimes in the form of a lump, sometimes just in the form of mucus, possibly with bloody streaks) indicates that the cervical plug has come off. This means that the birth will begin very soon. If the discharge is yellow, profuse, and foul-smelling, it may be a symptom of an inflammatory disorder (such as vaginosis). You need to tell your doctor about this. If there are few such secretions, you can ignore them.

Thrush at 39 weeks of gestation. Urgently see a doctor. Thrush must be cured before childbirth, otherwise the child will be infected.

Nausea and heartburn at 39 weeks of gestation. Since all internal organs are compressed by the pregnant uterus that has increased to its maximum size, the stomach and intestines cannot fully function, hence these unpleasant symptoms. Be patient, after childbirth it will pass. However, do not forget that nausea can have another cause, for example, poisoning. The same can be said about diarrhea. True, diarrhea (like vomiting) at such a late date may indicate the onset of labor.

Chest hurts.This is not normal, talk to your doctor about it. The breasts at 39 weeks of pregnancy should increase, the nipples should become coarse, colostrum may be secreted from them, but there should be no pain.

Late toxicosis. If you have a headache, high blood pressure and swelling, see your doctor right away.

Placenta abruption or previa at 39 weeks of gestation. If you feel weak and find bleeding from the genital tract (even minor), urgently call an ambulance.

Constipation as a cause of pain during pregnancy

When the stomach hurts and begins to sink, the head of the fetus enters the pelvis and presses on the rectum, which is the cause of constipation. Constipation at 39 weeks gestation is a serious problem that should not be ignored. Stool lingering in the body becomes a source of infection and intoxication, and this, in turn, leads to various complications.

How to deal with constipation? The usual advice – to eat more foods rich in fiber – is hardly appropriate now.It is better to purchase bran at the pharmacy and drink kefir, only fresh.

© Olga Vasilyeva for astromeridian.ru

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39 weeks of pregnancy Photo

39 weeks of pregnancy

Every day of a woman’s pregnancy is very important for the development of the baby that the expectant mother carries under her heart. And the 39th week of pregnancy is a particularly crucial stage both for a baby who is almost ripe for the birth of a baby, and for the well-being of the mother herself.

What changes in the process of intrauterine development of the fetus are characteristic at 39 weeks of gestation. Week 39 (3 trimester) – the period when the baby has already grown to one centimeters, he weighs more than 3.4 kilograms. The diameter of the head is 9.25 centimeters, the abdomen is more than 10 centimeters, and the chest is 9.8 centimeters. The skin of the baby is no longer covered with fluff, it is present only on the skin folds. On the head, the hair can grow up to 3 centimeters. At this time, the possibility of tangling the umbilical cord, or wrapping it around the baby’s neck is not excluded.It still serves as a supplier of a lot of nutrients to the body. The 39th week of pregnancy is interesting for a woman in that she more and more clearly feels the movements of the crumbs in her womb, but they become more and more constrained, since the baby is already very large and ready to be born.

The child has developed volumetric, color and bipolar vision, there is contrast and acuity, accommodation and refraction. The visual organ is able to determine distance, depth, focus at a distance of centimeters, (at the moment of feeding, the child will see the mother’s face), there is a reaction to movements and flickering.The skin has a pale pink tint. the subcutaneous base is formed. Certain parts of the nervous system develop at different rates.

Growth and weight at 39 weeks of gestation continue to increase, systems and organs are fully formed, and the lungs are ready to open at the right time. But now the respiration and nutrition of the fetus is carried out with the help of the umbilical cord and the placenta.

During this period, a woman may feel sharp pains in the womb, more and more often pulls the abdomen. To reduce pain in a pregnant woman, the doctor may prescribe no shpu.

Oxygen and nutrients enter the body through a vein and a pair of arteries that intertwine in the umbilical cord. Her born child is not cut right away, it is necessary to wait until the pulsation in it disappears.

The 39th week of pregnancy often ends the period of bearing the baby – at this time it is necessary to prepare all the necessary things in advance in the maternity hospital. As soon as contractions appear, the baby will begin to move lower towards the cervix, his chin pressed against his chest. The head presses hard enough for the neck to open slightly.Then the child’s head and torso are slowly turned over. Most often, the face is turned towards the mother’s back, which is called the occipital presentation. The contractions are followed by the next phase of childbirth – attempts, these are no longer contractions, but distinct jolts, the mother feels how the child is pushing off with her legs in order to be born faster.

Surgical intervention during childbirth may be required not only during a caesarean section. It is not uncommon for a woman to undergo an episiotomy (dissection of the perineum under local anesthesia, followed by suturing).

Epidural anesthesia is used at 39 weeks of gestation. if the woman in labor is diagnosed with hypertension, kidney and heart muscle diseases, diabetes mellitus; when the uterus opens slowly or unevenly; with a low pain threshold and emergency surgery.

For many women, the 39th week of pregnancy is a period of preparation for childbirth. If the development of the fetus in the mother’s womb proceeded normally, without identified pathologies and violations at all stages, then at 39 weeks of pregnancy the fetus is fully formed and preparation for childbirth can begin.What other characteristic changes occur in the womb. The 39th week of pregnancy is a very difficult stage for mommy – her health may worsen, her stomach pulls, constant pains in the lower abdomen appear. But in the third trimester, a pregnant woman has a much stronger relationship with her unborn baby – the baby’s movements in the tummy are more noticeable, often mommy feels the baby’s heartbeat. Next, we will tell you in more detail about what changes the 39th week of pregnancy will bring to the developing fetus, what feelings mommy experiences (pains in the lower abdomen, the stomach pulls more strongly) and what to do first if the amniotic fluid has departed.See how it looks like after 39 weeks of pregnancy Photo.

We told you in detail about what physiological changes in the womb occur at 39 weeks of gestation and how to adjust the diet for the full development of the fetus. Helpful advice can help you reduce the risk of emergency medical intervention during the birth of your baby.

INTERESTING FOR WOMEN:

40 WEEK OF PREGNANCY

40 weeks of pregnancy is the end of the period of bearing a baby, if the baby did not want to be born earlier.

The baby’s bones and skull are not yet reliable enough and easily deformed, since the baby has yet to pass through the mother’s narrow birth canal into the Light. The fetus has already accumulated enough fat so that its fragile body can maintain a normal body temperature after birth.

The baby’s immune system is practically not formed and does not create antibodies, which means that the baby must be reliably protected from any infection after birth. Once you start breastfeeding your baby, breast milk will provide the baby’s body with the antibodies it needs to fight off various infections.

The length of the fetus at 40 weeks of gestation is about 52 cm, and the weight is about 3500 grams.

The period of pregnancy, which seemed like an eternity to you, is coming to an end. Most women are desperately afraid that they will not be able to restore the attractiveness of the figure lost during pregnancy. By 40 weeks, your breasts are sensitive and painful to touch – the mammary glands produce colostrum. Pregnancy is really a challenge for you, but now you can relax.Now at any time you can enjoy the new life of a tiny creature who was given life. Do not worry, you will definitely restore your figure and the weight will return to normal, but this will not happen immediately, of course.

It is good if you prepare your breasts in advance for breastfeeding your newborn, if you have not started doing this before the final 40 weeks. It is very useful to massage the nipples during this period to make them less sensitive to the baby’s attachment.In addition, if you do not prepare your breasts for lactation, then serious problems can appear – cracks in the skin, sore nipples and swelling, which, in turn, causes discomfort from wearing a bra.

In the last 40 weeks of pregnancy, an ultrasound will be done again to see the condition of the baby in the womb, whether you have an opening of the cervix, etc. Other examinations are also performed – monitoring the fetal heart, measuring the level of amniotic fluid – if the amniotic fluid is below normal, the gynecologist will offer to do a cesarean section or a procedure for stimulating labor.If the pregnancy is proceeding as it should, but the birth of the baby did not occur at the 40th week of pregnancy. dragging on until 41 and even up to 42 weeks, the gynecologist prescribes induction (induction – artificially induce labor).

38 week of pregnancy

At 38 weeks of pregnancy, your uterus is above your navel. At this time, many expectant mothers listen very carefully to the child and to themselves, expecting the onset of childbirth at any time. You can indeed give birth during weeks of pregnancy.Only 5-6% of multiparous women carry their babies in the remaining weeks.

If you periodically have the feeling that you are being electrocuted from the lower abdomen to the legs, do not be alarmed, this is justified by lowering the baby into the pelvis and touching the nerve trunks with it. If, at 38 weeks of gestation, you find a discharge of mucus mixed with blood, this is a mucous plug and, most likely, you will give birth from day to day.

You are likely to confuse Braxton Hicks fights with real ones.They can be just as powerful. You can determine the authenticity of the contractions by starting to move around the room. Then the false spasms will subside. Labor pains intensify and become more frequent by the minute. In any case, if at 38 weeks of pregnancy, the stomach periodically hurts, then it is worth calculating the intervals between contractions.

Swelling at this time is the norm. However, if you are severely swollen, have a painful headache, vomiting and diarrhea, dizzy or double vision – immediately seek medical help.It can be preeclampsia – preeclampsia with a clinical picture of cerebrovascular accident.

Do not forget – the exchange card should always be with you.

Unborn child:

During the week of pregnancy, the baby gains 30 grams of weight per day. Now he already has a strong grip, his palms are surprisingly strong.

The child’s organs are formed and brought to the ideal – the baby is ready to live outside. The pancreas and liver are still developing, but they will be fully formed in the first years after birth.

Now your baby understands and feels everything. Your mood is transmitted to him, he reacts to your emotional state.

Look at the typical photo of a baby at 38 weeks of gestation – he is well-formed and plump. Soon, this miracle will snore sweetly in your arms.

Child’s height cm. weight00 grams.

How to get rid of a headache at 39 weeks of gestation

The last weeks of pregnancy are associated with preparing a woman’s body for childbirth.Headaches at 39 weeks – a sign of a serious pathology or a particular pregnancy?

Causes of headaches at 39 weeks

High blood pressure

A change in blood pressure in pregnant women at this time is a symptom of a serious complication – late toxicosis, or gestosis. With this disease, in addition to headaches, women are worried about edema. In the normal course of pregnancy in the last weeks, the appearance of swelling of the legs in the evening is associated with venous congestion due to the pressure of the growing uterus on the choroid plexuses of the small pelvis.

With gestosis, edema appears at any time on the arms, legs, face and abdomen. In addition to these symptoms, late toxicosis is characterized by impaired renal function. In a laboratory study of urine, protein is found in it.

Low blood pressure

Pregnant women are characterized by a physiological decrease in pressure during the period of gestation. Low blood pressure develops against the background of hormonal changes in the body of pregnant women.

This occurs as a defense mechanism: excessive vascular tension, which occurs with increased pressure, adversely affects the uteroplacental blood flow.A headache occurs when blood pressure drops below normal working levels.

Another cause of headaches with a decrease in blood pressure is the inferior vena cava syndrome. In the vast majority of pregnant women, this syndrome can develop suddenly in the supine position. The pregnant uterus compresses the inferior genital vein, in response to this there is a sharp reflex drop in blood pressure.

In addition to headaches, a pregnant woman experiences nausea, darkening of the eyes, and anxiety.Prolonged compression of the inferior vena cava can provoke placental abruption.

Excessive tension in the muscles of the back and shoulder girdle

By the end of pregnancy, a woman is gaining an average of 10 to 20 kg of weight. The load on the spinal column increases, as a result of which a woman has to make more efforts to maintain her posture. Such constant tension of the muscles of the back, neck and shoulder girdle causes a short-term spasm of the vessels supplying the brain. Due to oxygen starvation, a headache develops.

Increased emotional lability

At 39 weeks, many women experience emotional stress. The term of childbirth is approaching, the upcoming events excite the woman and against the background of increased experiences, the nervous system is experiencing an overload. The woman becomes whiny, irritable. This overreaction can trigger an attack of tension headaches.

In addition, during late pregnancy, many women periodically experience sleep problems.Insomnia also overloads the nervous system and provokes headaches.

Anemia of pregnant women

During the period of gestation, due to the inclusion of an additional circle of blood circulation (uteroplacental) in the woman’s body, the amount of circulating plasma increases, but the formation of formed elements may be delayed. At 39 weeks, attacks of headache and dizziness can be triggered by a lack of oxygen in the blood due to low hemoglobin levels.

Diseases of ENT organs

Slow inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx without pronounced symptoms can cause dull aching headaches, especially in the afternoon. Due to the constant swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose and sinuses, the brain experiences a chronic oxygen deficiency, and the woman notes pulling, aching headaches.

Untreated caries or inflammation of the gums can often be a mediated cause of headaches. An infection in the oral cavity supports the inflammatory process in the nasopharynx.

What to do if you have a headache at 39 weeks

First of all, you need to find out the cause.

If a headache during 39 weeks of gestation develops against the background of edema, you should immediately seek qualified help. Gestosis is a serious complication of pregnancy and threatens the health of the mother and child.

With the development of a symptom against the background of low blood pressure, pregnant women need to carefully monitor their condition. If the pressure drops in a stuffy room, with a sharp change in the weather or after a long break between meals, then after a cup of strong tea or coffee with sugar, the condition should return to normal.In cases where the headache against the background of a decrease in pressure constantly bothers you, you need to consult a doctor for help.

To prevent inferior vena cava syndrome, supine position should be avoided. The best posture for resting a pregnant woman at 39 weeks is reclining, it is better to raise the head end of the bed a little.

A prenatal bandage will help relieve the spine and get rid of excess tension in the muscles of the back and shoulder girdle. In addition, a light back massage and daily contrast shower will help you forget about this symptom.

With low hemoglobin, it is necessary to take glandular preparations and multivitamins. The correct dosage and timing of treatment will be prescribed by the attending physician.

If the cause of headaches is rhinitis, sinusitis and other ENT diseases, you should consult an otolaryngologist. If caries is found, it is necessary to undergo a sanitation of the oral cavity at the dentist.

Rules for getting rid of headaches at 39 weeks of gestation

If this symptom at this time is not caused by any disease, then you can get rid of it using simple methods.

• Rest and sleep, preferably in a well ventilated area.
• Before bed, you can drink motherwort tincture. This will help calm the nervous system and ensure proper sleep.
• Tension headaches are well relieved with cold compresses. Cooling the occipital region for minutes will normalize blood circulation and eliminate the symptom. To do this, moisten a towel with cold water and apply it to the back of your head, periodically you need to change the compress.
• Well relieves headaches at 39 weeks light massage of the temporal region, forehead and occiput.
• If such measures do not help, it is permissible to take a single dose of paracetamol or ibuprofen. These drugs are safe for the fetus.

Prevention of headaches

In late pregnancy, a woman should pay special attention to her daily routine and diet. In order for this ailment to stop bothering you, you need to sleep at least 8 hours a day. It is better to go to bed before 22 pm, and get up no later than 7 hours. If you wish, you can arrange a daytime sleep.

Daily light exercise and a contrast shower must be included in the list of measures to prevent this symptom. A daily walk in the fresh air, at least 2 hours a day – the same. Evening walks before bedtime are especially useful for pregnant women.

Protein products must be present in the diet of a pregnant woman: beef and lamb meat, fish, dairy products, vegetable proteins (legumes, cereals and nuts). Pork is not recommended for pregnant women.Fresh vegetables and fruits are essential in the daily diet as a source of vitamins and fiber.

In addition, you can take a multivitamin for pregnant women, which is recommended by your doctor.

For a period of 39 weeks, as preparation for childbirth, doctors often prescribe herbal sedatives – motherwort or valerian tincture. These funds will help improve the state of the nervous system, normalize sleep and serve as a good prophylaxis to prevent headaches.

Thank you very much for this post after giving birth my friend had a headache looking for what to do and found this post.

39 week of pregnancy

Sweet days are approaching when a woman can finally take her long-awaited baby in her arms, because 39 weeks of pregnancy have already come. There is no need to be afraid to give birth – this is a natural process that most women go through.

What happens to a woman’s body at 39 weeks gestation

By 39 weeks, many are already mothers, the time has come to give birth. This week is not much different from 38. At 39 – at the beginning of 40 weeks, the following changes occur in the woman’s body:

• Colostrum appears, which the child feeds on in the first days after birth.
• The placenta stops growing and ages, its purpose is fulfilled. Now the fetus has already stopped gaining weight.
• In most women, the belly does not enlarge at 38 – 39 weeks of gestation, the belly at this time becomes hard, it seems to be stiff.
• At 38 – 39 weeks, the weight of a pregnant woman decreases by several kilograms, as excess fluid leaves the body.
• Vaginal discharge is increased, white or slightly yellowish. Should alert the discharge of a cheesy appearance, white with foam and a green tint, having an unpleasant odor.These are signs of STDs and other infectious diseases, they should be cured before delivery. Sometimes discharge indicates that the cork has already come off, this will soon begin the contractions.
• If at 38 – 39 weeks the breech presentation does not change, then it will already remain so. The tactics of childbirth – to do a cesarean section or to allow to give birth on their own, in each case, doctors determine individually.
• Sometimes at 38 – 39 weeks, when there are training pre-contractions, the stomach hurts badly and unpleasantly pulls the lower back.Training preliminary contractions do not require any treatment, they are just harbingers of childbirth. If the duration and regularity of contractions increases, these are no longer precursors, but real contractions, labor begins.
• The leakage of water is especially dangerous when the amniotic sac does not completely rupture, and the water leaks little by little, some take it for discharge.
• At 38, at the beginning of 40 weeks, the placenta may begin to exfoliate or bleed with placenta previa.Blood discharge, when the stomach hurts and pulls badly, nausea begins, and threatens the life of the mother and child.
• There is no need to be afraid of the veins of blood coming out with abundant mucus. This is the release of the cork, the contractions will begin soon. 39 obstetric week is the best time to give birth.
• The cervix of the uterus begins to shorten and open at 39 – 40 weeks of gestation. The belly becomes hard. The training preliminary bouts begin.
• Amniotic fluid decreases.There are just as many of them as is required so that the fetus can gently absorb and be under their reliable protection, but sometimes a woman has polyhydramnios, which is very dangerous for the baby.

What are the dangers of polyhydramnios and low water

If a woman has not cured polyhydramnios in time, then due to overstretching of the uterus, there is a weakness in labor. The uterus contracts poorly, and after childbirth, polyhydramnios can cause hypotonic bleeding. Also, polyhydramnios leads to placental abruption, due to which the fetus dies.If a pregnant woman has polyhydramnios, she is more likely to have a cesarean section.

A pregnant woman constantly feels tired when polyhydramnios appears, she has shortness of breath, her pulse quickens, pulls her lower back strongly, the temperature may rise. Experiencing discomfort and fetus. Painful sensations appear in the groin, polyhydramnios causes swelling of the abdominal wall, and the stomach hurts badly. Polyhydramnios occurs due to chlamydia, gonococci, Trichomonas. Also, polyhydramnios can cause metabolic disorders, thrush or colds.Therefore, if polyhydramnios is recognized in a pregnant woman, she should undergo a course of treatment several weeks before giving birth.

Low water is no less dangerous during 39 weeks. At a time when the mother begins to lack water, she experiences severe pain when the fetus moves.

Determine oligohydramnios using ultrasound. In 50 percent of cases, oligohydramnios causes premature birth. If the mother has oligohydramnios, the baby is born underweight, even with a full-term pregnancy.

Signs of approaching labor

39 weeks of pregnancy most often brings women unpleasant sensations.The sooner childbirth, the more intensively the body begins to prepare for them. Sometimes the preliminary training contractions are so strong that a woman wakes up from pain at night, the stomach becomes hard, it hurts, and at the same time pulls strongly on the lower back.

A sign of the onset of labor is intensifying, becoming more frequent contractions. They come at regular intervals, when a pregnant woman has contractions, her body hurts and pulls all the time. If a woman has a second birth, it is easier for her to distinguish real contractions from training ones.

Now the fetus begins to sink deeper, the bottom of the uterus goes down with it, the stomach turns to stone – it’s time to give birth. Sometimes a woman starts having diarrhea, an increase in appetite occurs.

In the mother’s belly, the baby’s movements stop – these are signs of labor.

How the plug comes off before childbirth

In the cervix during pregnancy, a mucous plug is formed in the form of a clot of viscous mucus, reminiscent of the protein of a raw egg. A cork appears under the influence of hormones at the end of the first month of pregnancy.The cork gradually thickens. The mucous plug protects the child from all kinds of infections.

At the end of pregnancy, the woman begins to produce estrogen, the cork under its influence softens, when the cork starts to come out – this is the first sign that labor is starting.

How does a baby feel at 39 weeks

39-40 weeks is nine obstetric months. There is still one week left before the birth – so much time is allotted by nature for bearing a baby.At the end of the week, the child is already fully matured and can function independently outside the uterus. The growth of the fetus by the 40th week of pregnancy reaches cm, the fetus weighs an average of 3200. On the head of some babies hair grows up to 4 cm long. There is a sign that the longer the baby’s hair, the more the pregnant heartburn suffers. During this period, the child reacts to movement and flickering.

By 39 – 40 weeks, the fetus has already matured spinal cord and other parts of the central nervous system. At the time when the fetus is preparing for release, its movements in the mother’s abdomen practically stop.

How does a woman feel at 39 weeks

For 39 – 40 weeks, women gain an average of 11 to 16 kg. If a woman suffered from heartburn during pregnancy, due to an enlarged abdomen, the heartburn goes away when the stomach goes down. Diarrhea is a very common occurrence at 38 – 40 weeks, because of it, the stomach pulls and hurts badly, sometimes it feels sick, all these are harbingers of childbirth.

How to deal with constipation

Some expectant mothers did not even know what constipation was before giving birth, but in the last week of pregnancy a new problem arises – constipation.The fetal head presses on the rectum, and it is difficult for a woman to empty herself. To prevent constipation, you need to fight it.

The intestines, when constipation occurs, presses on the uterus and the vessels of the small pelvis, which causes hemorrhoids, because of this, constipation occurs with blood. To eliminate constipation, you need to start with mild measures – this is the establishment of proper nutrition. Drinking plenty of fluids will help eliminate constipation; it is better to drink compotes from dried fruits and fermented milk drinks. In most cases, constipation can be relieved with vigorous movements.Constipation pain is often similar to training pre-contractions. If, in spite of everything, the constipation persists, doctors prescribe pills, suppositories and drops.

Is sex at week 39 beneficial

Some people think that sex at week 39 is not only harmful, but even beneficial. Doctors, when asked whether sex is needed at a week of pregnancy, can answer differently. Some doctors impose a strict ban on sex during this time, while others respond that intercourse helps prepare for childbirth. Sometimes, if the birth is already the second, the couple is not afraid of sex

Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the woman’s well-being, if she does not have a stomach ache, she feels good, sex does not bring discomfort, intimate life even at 40 weeks is not forbidden.At this time, the woman’s belly is like a stone.

If a woman constantly feels tired, does not feel well, she often has a headache, fever rises, then it is better to exclude sex. If sex at 39 weeks becomes the reason for the onset of labor, it’s okay, then the woman’s body is already ready for childbirth.

39 week of pregnancy is a very important period during which the female body completes its preparations for the upcoming childbirth. The baby by this time is fully full-term and is ready to be born at any time.The last weeks of pregnancy are difficult for many women, at this time the number of complaints of nausea, palpitations, shortness of breath, pain in the abdomen, back and head increases.

High blood pressure is a very common cause of headaches in late pregnancy. You cannot silently endure the pain, the expectant mother should tell her gynecologist about the symptoms that disturb her, who will prescribe her an additional examination. Sometimes headache can signal such a serious illness of pregnant women as preeclampsia.In addition to headaches, the characteristic signs of this disease are nausea, flickering of black flies before the eyes, high blood pressure, dizziness, swelling in the legs, and the presence of protein in the urine. Preeclampsia is uncommon in pregnant women, however, when complaining of headaches, doctors first rule out this disease in the expectant mother. If preeclampsia is not detected in time, it can lead to seizures, which can end in failure for both the mother and the fetus.

If the 39th week of pregnancy has come, the head hurts, but the blood pressure is normal and preeclampsia, fortunately, is not detected, then the pain in the head may be associated with tension or migraine.It is quite simple to distinguish one pain from another: tension headache squeezes the entire head, spreading most often from the occipital region, and migraine is characterized by pulsating paroxysmal pain in one of the temples, which intensifies with excitement or physical exertion. Exacerbation of migraine is associated with hormonal changes in the female body, its causes can be stress, lack of sleep, sudden changes in the weather, unhealthy diet.

A correct daily routine will help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches.The expectant mother should remember that fresh air has a positive effect not only on the development of the child, but also on the state of her health. Daily leisurely walks away from busy trails and crowded places will have a beneficial effect on the well-being of a pregnant woman. Women who, even during pregnancy, cannot deny themselves a cup of coffee or strong tea, should be aware that these drinks can raise blood pressure and cause a headache attack. A pregnant woman’s head can ache if she does not get enough sleep, so it is very important to go to bed early, having previously ventilated the room before going to bed.Moderate physical activity is recommended for almost all women in position, it will be invaluable not only for the head, but for the whole body. The head can also get sick from hunger, so it is important to follow the correct diet during pregnancy.

Consider a few more explanations for why headaches during pregnancy. Sinusitis can cause persistent headaches in later stages. In this case, the pain will be concentrated behind the cheekbones. Increased eye pressure can also trigger headache outbreaks in a pregnant woman.Vision problems can lead to pain around the eyes or in the frontal area.

Few people can tolerate a headache. It interferes with thinking and doing important things, depriving a person of peace and efficiency. In case of severe pain in the head, an ordinary person will drink a pill of analgin or spazmalgon and after a couple of hours will forget about his discomfort. However, pregnancy is a contraindication to most pain relievers. Headache. What should a woman do in this case, who can become a mother at any time? Of course, try to get rid of the pain with non-medication.

If the headache is irregular, sleep is considered the best remedy for it. It is often enough to get a good night’s sleep so that there is no trace of the unpleasant malaise.

With frequent tension pains, you can try to resemble a massage course, thanks to which you can relieve muscle tension and forget about this health problem for a long time.

Gymnastics is not only a sport, but also an excellent therapy for mental clarity. Exercise is encouraged during pregnancy as it helps relieve tension headaches, accelerate blood flow, stretch muscles and joints, lower blood sugar, and prepare the body for childbirth.In order not to overdo it with physical education, it is necessary to do it in special groups for pregnant women under the supervision of a specialist. Yoga can be an alternative to gymnastics.

During a migraine attack, one should not neglect warm compresses on the forehead, and in case of tension pains – cold compresses applied to the back of the head. Cool or contrast showers can help relieve migraine headaches.

For some women, aromatic oils of mint and lavender help to cope with headaches.It is enough to drop a couple of drops of one of the oils on a handkerchief or napkin and from time to time inhale its aroma. However, care should be taken with aromatherapy during pregnancy, as overuse of scent can backfire.

Pills from the head during pregnancy deserve special attention, since some of them are permissible only in extreme cases and as prescribed by a doctor. The safest medication for pregnant women is paracetamol, which can be taken in late pregnancy, observing the dosage.The very popular and well-known nurofen at 39 weeks of gestation is contraindicated to drink, since it can lead to disruption of the lungs and heart of the fetus. Analgin, tempalgin and pentalgin are also on the list of drugs prohibited for pregnant women.

It is interesting to try to cure a headache with reflexology. The big toes are the area responsible for the condition of the head. It is believed that if you massage your fingers with light movements for two minutes, the headache is guaranteed to go away.Massage can be replaced by pressing on the active points on the toes.

Any headaches during pregnancy should not go unnoticed by the attending physician. The task of a pregnant woman will be to inform the obstetrician-gynecologist about all health problems that arise during the period of carrying a child. Thanks to the joint efforts of the doctor and the expectant mother, it will be possible to effectively cope with even the most severe headache, give birth to an absolutely healthy baby and enjoy motherhood.

90,000 Stimulation of labor or induction of labor

The purpose of this information material is to familiarize the patient with induction of labor and to provide information on how and why it is performed.

In most cases, labor begins between the 37th and 42nd weeks of gestation. Such births are called spontaneous. If drugs or medical devices are used before the onset of independent labor, then in this case the terms “stimulated” or “induced” labor are used.

Childbirth should be stimulated when further pregnancy for some reason is unsafe for the mother or child, and there is no way to wait for the onset of spontaneous labor.

The goal of stimulation is to initiate labor by stimulating uterine contractions.

When stimulating (induction) labor, the patient must be in the hospital so that close monitoring of the health of both the mother and the baby can be carried out.

Methods of inducing labor

The choice of the method of stimulating labor depends on the maturity of the patient’s cervix, which is assessed using the Bishop scale (when viewed through the vagina, the position of the cervix, the degree of its opening, consistency, length, position of the presenting part of the fetus in the pelvic region are assessed).The patient’s medical history (medical history) is also important, for example, previous caesarean section or surgery on the uterus.

The following methods are used to induce (stimulate) labor:

• Oral misoprostol is a drug that is a synthetic analogue of prostaglandins found in the body. It prepares the body for childbirth, under its action, the cervix becomes softer and begins to open.
• Balloon catheter – A small tube is placed in the cervix and a balloon attached to the end is filled with fluid to exert mechanical pressure on the cervix.With this method, the cervix becomes softer and begins to open. The balloon catheter is kept inside until its spontaneous exit or until the next pelvic examination.
• Amniotomy or opening of the fetal bladder – in this case, during a gynecological examination, when the cervix has already sufficiently opened, the fetal bladder is artificially opened. When the amniotic fluid departs, spontaneous contractions of the uterus will begin, or an intravenous drug can be used to stimulate them.
• Introduced intravenously synthetic oxytocin – acts similarly to the hormone of the same name produced in the body. The medicine is given by intravenous infusion when the cervix has already opened (to support the contractions of the uterus). The dose of the drug can be increased as needed to achieve regular uterine contractions.

When should labor be stimulated?

Stimulation of labor is recommended when the benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Induction of labor may be indicated in the following cases:

• The patient has a concomitant medical condition that complicates the pregnancy (for example, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, or some other medical condition).
• The duration of pregnancy is already exceeding the norm – the likelihood of intrauterine fetal death increases after the 42nd week of pregnancy.
• Fetal-related problems, such as problems with the development of the fetus, abnormal amniotic fluid, changes in fetal health, various fetal diseases.
• If the amniotic fluid has departed and uterine contractions have not begun in the next 24 hours, then there is an increased risk of inflammation in both the mother and the fetus. This indication does not apply in the case of premature birth, when the preparation of the baby’s lungs with a special medication is necessary before delivery.
• Intrauterine fetal death.

What are the risks of inducing labor?

Stimulation of labor is usually not associated with significant complications.

Sometimes, after receiving misoprostol, the patient may experience fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, too frequent contractions of the uterus (tachysystole). In the case of too frequent contractions to relax the uterus, the patient is injected intravenously with relaxing musculature uterus medication. It is not safe to use misoprostol if you have had a cesarean section before, as there is a risk of rupture of the uterine scar.

Using a balloon catheter increases the risk of inflammation inside the uterus.

When using oxytocin, the patient in rare cases may experience a decrease in blood pressure, tachycardia (heart palpitations), hyponatremia (lack of sodium in the blood), resulting in headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of strength and drowsiness.

When labor is stimulated, in comparison with spontaneously onset labor, the risk of prolonged labor, the need for instrumental intervention (use of a vacuum or forceps), postpartum hemorrhage, rupture of the uterus, the onset of too frequent uterine contractions and the associated deterioration of the fetus, prolapse of the umbilical cord, and also premature detachment of the placenta.

If labor induction is unsuccessful

The time frame for induction of labor may vary from patient to patient, with an average onset of labor within 24–72 hours. Sometimes more than one method is required.

The methods used do not always act on different patients equally quickly and in the same way. If, as a result of stimulation of labor, the cervix does not open, the attending physician will tell you about further options (they may be stimulating labor later, using a different method, or delivering by caesarean section).

ITK833
The information material was approved by the Health Service Quality Commission of the East Tallinn Central Hospital on 19.12.2018 (Minutes No. 19-18).

90,000 How to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy

If some time after a meal, the expectant mother has a feeling of warmth or a burning sensation behind the breastbone, then this is heartburn.

Not all antacids can be used during pregnancy. For example, preparations containing bismuth nitrate ( Vikalin , etc.), should not be taken by expectant mothers due to the fact that the effect of bismuth on the development of the child is unknown.

Usually, heartburn appears after the 20th week of pregnancy and torments the expectant mother until the baby is born.

what it looks like

If, some time after eating, the expectant mother has a feeling of warmth or burning sensation behind the breastbone, then this is heartburn. And most often these unpleasant sensations occur in the evening. Heartburn usually appears after the 20th week of pregnancy and torments the expectant mother until the baby is born.According to popular belief, she worries the expectant mother when the baby’s hair grows. In fact, heartburn occurs due to the fact that the acidic contents of the stomach are thrown into the lower esophagus. This is because during pregnancy, the muscle sphincter located between the esophagus and the stomach relaxes under the action of the hormone progesterone. Another reason for the occurrence of heartburn is that the enlarged uterus (and it just greatly increases after the 20th week) presses on the neighboring organs: the stomach, intestines.As a result, the volume of the stomach decreases and even the usual amount of food leads to its overflow and food back up into the esophagus.

what will help

If heartburn occurs infrequently and does not bother much, then in order to reduce its symptoms, you just need to eat right and change your lifestyle. The simplest thing that helps with heartburn:

• Fractional Meals: Eat often 5-6 times a day at 1.5-2 hour intervals and in small meals.Eat slowly, chewing food thoroughly.
• Healthy food: Avoid fatty foods, fried foods, and chocolate. All these foods provoke additional relaxation of the esophageal sphincter.
• Heartburn usually occurs in the first two hours after eating, so do not lie down immediately after eating.
• Sleep with the head of the bed raised by placing another pillow.

common funds

The simplest thing that helps with heartburn is some foods.For example, a burning sensation behind the breastbone perfectly removes low-fat milk, just a few sips – and heartburn goes away or significantly decreases. Ice cream works the same way, as well as grapefruit and carrot juices. You can get rid of heartburn by eating nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds), but they rather prevent heartburn than eliminate the already existing one. And for some, ordinary seeds help to cope with heartburn. In general, the expectant mother can only find the right product for herself, but here, as with food in general, one must observe the measure.There is no need to eat an ice cream briquette or a package of sunflower seeds every day, drink juices in glasses or endlessly eat nuts. Of course, they will help, but ice cream and nuts are high in fat and calories, and juices in large quantities hit the pancreas and increase sugar levels. A small amount of one of some kind of product will quite cope with an attack of heartburn.

be careful

Some drugs, especially antispasmodics (drugs that relieve spasms of smooth muscles of internal organs), for example, No-shpa , Papaverine , relax the esophageal sphincter and thus contribute to heartburn.Certain herbs, such as mint, do the same. Tight clothing under the breast (elastic bands, belts), changes in body position (bends, turns) can also cause heartburn.

In general, every expectant mother can carefully observe herself and identify her personal cause of heartburn, then it will be much easier to deal with it.

old agent

Soda is often used to relieve heartburn. It really helps very quickly to relieve the unpleasant burning sensation, but at the same time it does not last long.In addition, when soda interacts with gastric juice, carbon dioxide is formed, which irritates the stomach – as a result, new portions of hydrochloric acid are produced and heartburn resumes. It turns out that a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water instantly relieves heartburn, but in response to taking baking soda next time, the attack of heartburn will be even stronger.

safe medicines

During pregnancy, you can use the so-called antacids (Maalox, Almagel, Rennie, Gaviscon) .