The last weeks of pregnancy: what is important to know, what sensations and changes, doctors' recommendations and preparation for childbirth

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

When the main period of bearing a child is over, it's time to prepare for the most crucial moment - the long-awaited meeting of mother and child. Of course, you need to be well prepared for childbirth. This applies to both the physical component and the emotional side. The successful course of childbirth largely depends on the woman herself. Read this article about what you need to know and how to prepare yourself for an important moment in the life of a mother and child.

Three parts

Many women are confident that childbirth will take place naturally and the body knows best how to deal with it. But there is another category of expectant mothers who are firmly convinced that you need to be ready for childbirth both mentally and physically! And they are right. When the moment of labor activity comes, different nuances may arise. That's betterbe aware of them and be prepared for them.

In general, it is better to start preparing for the birth of a baby from the very beginning, even in the first trimester of pregnancy. But we will talk about how to spend the last weeks of pregnancy and be as ready as possible to meet the baby. In general, two components of training are distinguished: emotional and physical sides. But there is another one - educational, thanks to which you can properly tune your spirit and body.

Physical fitness

Our body needs to be taken care of. If we treat it correctly, it responds to us in return and good he alth. A pregnant woman is not a diagnosis. She does not get sick, she bears a new life in herself. This means that the future mother should be responsible, especially when the last weeks of pregnancy come, because she has a fully formed baby, gaining strength to go out. A pregnant woman should lead an active and he althy lifestyle. No need to fall on the bed and be afraid to move once again, the muscles should work.

Moderate physical activity is essential for strengthening muscles. This will prevent excess weight from accumulating and will help facilitate the birth process. Of course, we are not talking about the pathology of pregnant women, when there is a threat of premature birth. Remember, you should always consult your doctor! Even if before pregnancy the woman was a professional athlete. Only in the absence of contraindications can you engage in physical activity, especially in recent weekspregnancy, when there is a noticeable pressure on the lower part of the pelvis.

What's good and what's not?

For expectant mothers, it is useful to walk in the fresh air, perform elementary yoga asanas, swim in the pool. Thanks to these simple actions, you can develop flexibility, endurance, and relieve tension from your back. Water aerobics, designed specifically for pregnant women, has a very favorable effect on all muscle groups.

If a woman went to the gym before pregnancy, then you can attend workouts, but significantly reduce the load and revise the set of exercises. Do not lift heavy weights, do ab exercises, or do intense training in general.

Strengthening the most important part of the body of expectant mothers

To strengthen the pelvic muscles in the last weeks of pregnancy, and throughout the entire period of bearing a baby, it is useful to perform Kegel exercises. This will help improve blood circulation, prevent ruptures during labor and the occurrence of hemorrhoids. If the pelvic floor muscles are strong, then childbirth will be easier and faster.

The cat exercise is very popular. It really relieves pain in the last weeks of pregnancy that occurs in the back. It is easy to perform it: you need to get on all fours, straighten your arms, knees and palms rest on the floor. Next, you need to alternately round and arch your back, lingering in each position, counting up to eight. In total, you need to do ten approaches.

Another famous and wellA proven exercise that relieves back pain in the last weeks of pregnancy is the "butterfly". It helps to open the pelvis, relieve tension and prepare the joints for childbirth. To perform the exercise, you need to sit on the floor, straighten your back, spread your knees, and connect your feet together. Feeling the tension of the inner side of the thigh, press the hips in places on the inner side next to the knees. The legs should go down and linger a little in this position. You can complicate the exercise further if you reach forward with your hands. Sometimes the "butterfly" is performed in the supine position.

Food

The question often arises, what to do if a woman has swelling in the last weeks of pregnancy? The first is to change the diet. Before childbirth, the body needs unloading. Heavy, fatty, fried, canned food will not do any good. This also applies to flour products. It is better to exclude such products from the diet. Mom and baby need nutrients, vitamins, but no heaviness! The meat should be lean, boiled or baked. The same applies to fish. In principle, meat products and eggs should not be abused. 2-3 times a week is enough. It is better to eat more baked vegetables and fruits. Sour-milk products will also benefit, however, you should always monitor their freshness!

To prevent constipation and increase tissue elasticity, it is recommended to add a little vegetable oil to food, preferably olive oil. Understanding what to do in the last weeks of pregnancy and focusing on the rightnutrition, a woman will be able to prepare well for the most crucial moment in her life. Then the birth will be as painless as possible, without negative consequences for the he alth of the mother and baby. Light and wholesome food will help a woman maintain normal weight in the last weeks of pregnancy, cleanse the body of toxins and go to childbirth without unnecessary heaviness.

Psychology

In order to be ready emotionally, you must first of all get enough rest. A pregnant woman must have a he althy sleep! In addition, she mentally connects with her baby, talking to him, stroking his tummy and imagining how she will cherish him in her arms. The expectant mother must understand and accept her position, establish a connection with the unborn baby, organize a comfortable regime for herself.

Do not be afraid of the upcoming event, the birth will pass and be forgotten. The body of a woman is arranged in such a way that, holding a newborn in her arms, she forgets about all the unpleasant sensations.

To cope with fears, you can visit a psychologist. The main thing is awareness, watch films, find out how everything happens, read literature. Understanding at what stages what needs to be done and how to behave, the woman is no longer afraid, but does everything to help herself, the baby and the doctors taking delivery.

Learning to relax

Your baby in the last weeks of pregnancy is also preparing for the meeting. His headfalls lower, the pelvic bones are prepared and slightly moved apart. The child feels everything - both fear and confidence. The bond with mom is so strong that literally everything a pregnant woman feels, the baby feels too.

Expectant mother should learn the technique of relaxation. The fact is that the pain threshold during childbirth is directly related to the psychological state of the woman in labor. The greater the fear of pain, the more intense it is.

The signal for the beginning of labor is the discharge of water. At this moment, you can not hesitate - you need to go to the hospital! The main harbinger of childbirth is the discharge of the mucous plug. She can move away immediately before childbirth and two weeks before that. Therefore, after the cork has come out, you need to carefully monitor when the water leaves.

Many mothers prefer to go to the hospital in advance and be monitored so that everything goes without any surprises. In recent weeks, the mammary glands swell, and colostrum may appear from them.

What happens to the body and why is it especially difficult for women in the last weeks of pregnancy?

From the 37th to the 40th week, the load on expectant mothers increases very much. The woman's heart lies almost horizontally, the pulse quickens. This is due to the fact that the blood is driven through an additional (placental) circle of blood circulation. The cardiovascular system works in an enhanced mode. The metabolism is changing, the thyroid gland is also very active.

The placenta has almost exhausted itsresource. She is no longer able to fully provide the baby with all the nutrients and oxygen. Then the baby begins to prepare to go outside in order to begin to function as an independent organism.

Back pain is caused by changes in the pelvic ring. This is necessary for the baby to grow normally and then pass through the birth canal. The ligaments of the pregnant woman, along with the joint capsules, gradually relax, and the muscles experience additional stress, the center of gravity also shifts.

Why does the gait change?

The pregnant uterus is pulled forward. The woman is forced to maintain balance while walking and lean back more.

She walks more carefully and her movements are smooth and unhurried. All these changes happen instinctively. In total, she has to carry at least 6.5 kg of extra weight: 3-4 kg baby, 1.5 liters of amniotic fluid, 2 kg of placenta with uterus.

There is less calcium in the bones of a pregnant woman. This causes pain in the calf muscles. The belly grows especially fast in the last weeks of pregnancy, it can become truly huge, because the child is gaining weight intensively. That is why it is worth following the diet during gestation. Neither the child nor the mother needs extra weight. Moreover, with a sharp increase in the weight of a pregnant woman and intensive growth of the abdomen, she may develop stretch marks.

It happens that a pregnant woman's navel turns out. Don't be afraid. This usually happens with a large baby. For your comfortconsult a doctor, he will clarify the situation.

Breast filling

Chest should be supported by a tight cotton bra. She is getting much heavier, and you need to help her not to lose shape. Milk in the breast of a woman appears already 3-4 days after childbirth. Before that, colostrum is produced in the breast. The abundance of milk depends on many factors. Genetics play an important role here. Although if you properly attach the newborn to the breast, observe the necessary nutrition and, above all, do not be nervous, then the likelihood that everything will be fine with milk is very high.

Some very important points

• If a pregnant woman has swelling in the last weeks of pregnancy, it is necessary to inform the doctor about it. He will find out the reason and give appropriate recommendations.
• Labor can start anytime from 37 weeks. At this time, you need to be especially attentive and ready to go to the hospital at any time.
• In the last stages of bearing a child, you should not go on particularly difficult and long trips. Especially one. It is necessary that one of the relatives is always within reach and in a state of readiness to help the woman in labor.

Intimate relationship

Regarding sex in the last weeks of pregnancy, there are different reviews. There are adherents of the fact that sex is generally unacceptable throughout the entire period of gestation and breastfeeding. A pregnant woman is sacred.

There is another opinion when they think that sexualpleasures are acceptable and even useful for mothers before childbirth, allegedly even doctors recommend. But still, women themselves, for the most part, go to such relationships during pregnancy solely for the sake of their husband. That is, she herself does not need sex, she is all concentrated on bearing, giving birth and feeding the baby. Therefore, many religions prohibit touching a pregnant and nursing mother. She must keep herself pure.