How Do You Feel at 39 Weeks Pregnant?
It's getting more exciting! And there are three questions that you will particularly want the answers to:
1. What are the signs of labor?
There are some indications that things might start soon. These include:
- Loss of appetite
- Tiredness
- Inner restlessness – this can also manifest itself in the "nesting instinct" or "nest-building instinct". Shortly before giving birth, many women are overcome by the urgent need to clean the home thoroughly, wash curtains, clean carpets, and clean all the cupboards and drawers inside and outside. If it helps to relax you and makes you feel better, just do it. Just be careful not to put yourself and the baby at risk by climbing a ladder or lifting heavy things
- The bump dropping and you finding it easier to breathe
- An increased urge to urinate
- Diarrhea
- Back pain or period-like pains
- Vomiting and/or nausea
These signs are a clear indication that labor is imminent:
- Contractions that do not disappear or become stronger with the application of warmth. Dilation contractions last about 30-60 seconds.
- A mucus discharge and/or bloody discharge – the mucus plug that seals the cervix during pregnancy to protect the baby comes away during labor, and sometimes one or two days beforehand. This is also called "having a show".
- Watery fluid (rupture of the membranes)
2. What do I need to think about or do before this happens?
- Who should be there at the birth?
- Have you prepared a birthing plan (this contains information about who should be there with you, whether you would like music played during labor, whether you want pain relief and what forms of pain relief you can take, whether the baby should be passed to you for bonding immediately after the birth, whether you intend to breastfeed, etc.)?
- Who will take care of your other children and/or pets while you are in hospital? Have you prepared everything for them (e.g., food, diapers, clothes, pet food)?
- Can your birthing companion be contacted at any time?
3. At what point before the birth do I need to go to hospital?
- When the contractions come every 5-7 minutes, last for 30-60 seconds, and are becoming stronger.
- If you experience heavy bleeding.
- If your membranes rupture – you should then be transported to hospital lying down (to avoid a prolapse of the umbilical cord).
- Apart from that, you should also go to hospital or get in touch with your doctor anytime you experience pain, as this would make you feel less anxious.
If you have a midwife or doula, she can also answer many questions about the birth and stay with you until it is time to go to hospital.
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