Pregnancy Week 39
Baby’s Growth During the 39th Week of Pregnancy
At 39 weeks pregnant, it’s almost the end and your baby is weighing in between 7 to 8 pounds; and your baby is measuring between 19 to 21 inches in length. And it’s likely that those measurements won’t change from here on out but, the baby’s brain is still growing and at an astonishing rate, a pace that will continue for the first three years of life. The pink skin has now turned more white (even babies who’ll have darker skin later appear whitish now as they haven’t yet developed pigment).
By now, babies head has probably also dropped into your pelvis, which makes your breathing easier but walking harder. Try to take it easy as the end of your pregnancy is within reach.
Body Changes in the 39th Week of Pregnancy
At your now weekly visits to your doctor, you will have an abdominal exam to check your baby’s growth and position. You may also have an internal exam to see whether your cervix has started softening, effacing, and dilating. But, even this information about your cervix won’t help your doctor predict exactly when baby is going to come! Even if your cervix is already soft, partially effaced and dilated, you can still carry your baby for another few weeks – and just before you’re 42 weeks pregnant your doctor will speak to you about options for induction if you haven’t gone into labor yet. And if you’re cervix is still completely closed, that doesn’t mean you still have weeks to go. Softening, effacing and dilating can happen quickly (within several hours) or very slowly (over many weeks). But if your cervix still isn’t showing signs of opening, you can ask your doctor about certain natural methods to help the process progress – such as taking evening primrose oil supplements.
Since you can go into labor and your baby can come anytime now, make sure you know the signs of labor, and have your hospital bag packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice.
