39 week of pregnancy: harbingers of childbirth, discharge

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

At the 39th week of pregnancy, the expectant mother is prepared for the appearance of the baby not only morally, but also physically. It is important for relatives to surround a woman with care and affection during this period, to try to reduce emotional stress.

Women may experience pain. In addition, there are many signs that signal the approach of the X-hour.

39 week of pregnancy: the state of the fetus

A fetus at 39 weeks is considered full-term, and its organs and organ systems function in the same way as in a newborn. And this means that the baby is viable and can adapt to environmental conditions.

The fetal digestive system is fully developed and ready to digest mother's milk or formula if breastfeeding is not possible for any reason. At this stage, the baby's intestines are sterile. Beneficial bacteria will enter it during the first feeding, along with mother's milk.

Location of the fetus in the uterus

By this time, the fetus is in its final position in the uterus. Places for baby to movevery little at this stage of pregnancy. As a rule, the child's legs are brought to the knees, and the arms are folded on the chest.

In most cases, at 39 weeks pregnant, the baby is in head presentation. Only in 4% of cases, the baby is located with the legs down.

It is worth noting that the breech presentation of the fetus is not a reason to panic. If the fetus is not in the right position, the doctor monitors the expectant mother more closely and prescribes additional examinations.

Most often in such cases, a woman is prescribed a planned operation - a caesarean section. Before the appointed date, as a rule, 4-5 days in advance, the woman in labor is hospitalized in order to conduct a complete examination of the body of the expectant mother, ultrasound, and take the necessary tests.

The operation is performed on the appointed date. In rare cases, a woman whose fetus is in a breech position is recommended to have a natural birth, as this is a big risk for both mom and baby.

Belly size

At the 39th week of pregnancy, the stomach drops lower and lower. It becomes much easier for a woman to breathe. Shortness of breath disappears.

If the baby is in head presentation, the bottom of the uterus is directed forward. At 39 weeks, the cervix begins to shorten. In this way, preparations are made for an early delivery.

The woman's belly is large and the skin is stretched.

Discharge at 39 weeks of gestation: norm and pathology

At the 39th week, there may be a phenomenon such as the discharge of the mucous plug. The start of this process is notmeans that the birth will begin this minute. The discharge of the cork, as a rule, lasts several days. The process may take up to a week.

Mucus plug is a thick, viscous mucus that is clear, white, yellowish, or cream in color. It may also contain streaks of blood, which is the norm at this time and should not frighten the expectant mother.

If bleeding occurs during the passage of the plug, an ambulance must be called to prevent possible premature delivery of the placenta.

In addition, at 39 weeks amniotic fluid may leak. They are a clear and transparent liquid that is odorless. Waters with a greenish or brownish tint signal that the baby may have swallowed the original feces. In this case, you should immediately contact a medical facility.

The discharge of water signals the imminent start of the delivery process and can occur for some time or every second.

Pain

A harbinger of imminent delivery are aching pains at the 39th week of pregnancy in the lower abdomen. Pain increases during training bouts. Baby moving can also cause pain.

In addition, most expectant mothers complain of pain in the perineum. This is understandable: the child falls lower and lowers and presses on the pelvic floor. That is why a woman at 39 weeks of gestation often has pulling, shooting and stabbing pains in her legs, as well as in the lumbar region orsacrum.

You may experience pain in the area of the mammary glands.

Mom feeling

A positive moment at this stage of pregnancy is the disappearance of shortness of breath and heartburn. This is due to the fact that the child sinks lower and no longer has a strong effect on the diaphragm, respiratory organs and esophagus.

However, lowering the abdomen means more trips to the toilet. This greatly complicates the life of the expectant mother. As a rule, the number of trips to the toilet increases by 2.5 times.

Finding the right position for sleeping or sitting is extremely difficult. At this stage of pregnancy, it becomes problematic for a woman to move due to pain in the lumbar region and sacrum.

But, in spite of everything, it is at this time that the so-called "nesting syndrome" appears. The expectant mother begins to collect packages for the maternity hospital for herself and her baby, equips the home, adapting it for a new resident. This phenomenon helps a woman to be distracted, reduce emotional stress, charges with positive energy and optimism.

As a result of the fact that the cervix begins to slowly shorten and open, the woman begins to feel the baby's head in the pelvis between the thighs.

Harbingers of childbirth

A woman may experience unusual sensations at 39 weeks pregnant. Harbingers of childbirth are a series of symptoms that appear in a pregnant woman a few days or weeks before them. Their main role is to designatethe readiness of the body of the expectant mother for the onset of labor activity.

It should be borne in mind that during the first pregnancy, the harbingers of childbirth are not always noticeable, do not differ in regularity and may appear at different times. There are several harbingers of imminent labor that appear at 39 weeks of gestation:

1. Sagging of the abdomen is more noticeable in nulliparous women, due to the greater elasticity of the abdominal muscles. As a rule, it is observed a couple of weeks before the expected date of birth.
2. Protrusion of the navel when the uterus descends.
3. Change in gait as a result of a shift in the center of gravity in a pregnant woman. In primiparas, as a rule, this harbinger appears 2-3 weeks before delivery.
4. Exit the mucus plug. Her gradual departure may begin a few days or weeks before the date of the expected birth. Most often, the mucus plug comes off gradually and may contain particles of blood.
5. Frequent mood swings occur in women throughout pregnancy. However, a few days before the birth, this phenomenon manifests itself more often and more intensely. This is due to the emotional stress of the expectant mother and the fear of the upcoming birth. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in primiparous women.
6. Weight loss that occurs 2-3 days before delivery.
7. Practice contractions are one of the most common harbingers of imminent labor and occur in most pregnant women.

It is worth noting that these signs may not appear simultaneously. In addition, some harbingers maybe absent altogether. Some women say that they did not show any signs at all, signaling the imminent start of the birth process.

False contractions

False contractions or, as they are commonly called, training, are arrhythmic in nature. In addition, their intensity is much less than that of true contractions, signaling the onset of labor. They can last several weeks.

Their main function is to prepare the uterus for work during childbirth. Until the 37th week of pregnancy, contractions are not harbingers of imminent labor, but are called Braxton-Hicks contractions.

Training contractions are short and relatively painless. They can appear up to five times a day or more. They activate the mother's blood circulation and provide the child with the delivery of more nutrients. The stomach at 39 weeks of pregnancy pulls, but the pain does not last long.

Preparatory uterine contractions pass after a short period of time on their own or after taking a shower. As a rule, they last about 5-7 minutes. Medication or a relaxing massage can help soften training contractions.

Is childbirth dangerous at this stage of pregnancy

At the 39th week of pregnancy, all the baby's organs are ready for full functioning. And this means that the child is considered full-term. That is why giving birth at 39 weeks of gestation is quite acceptable.

Delivery at this time does not pose a danger to the life and he alth of the baby and mother. At this stage, the average weight of the child is 3300 kg, and the height is 49 cm. The baby is able to breathe on his own.

What to do if labor starts

At the very beginning, the contractions are not very painful and are more like training. The interval between them is 20-30 minutes, sometimes more.

It is worth noting that in some women, the onset of labor is not accompanied by a discharge of water. In such cases, the amniotic sac is pierced by doctors in a hospital setting. In addition, the onset of labor for each woman can occur in different ways. And the intensity and frequency of contractions can also vary.

When the first contractions appear, you need to call an ambulance or get to the maternity ward on your own, if possible. You need to take things with you according to the list for yourself and a newborn baby, as well as all the necessary documents: passport, exchange card, birth certificate, medical policy, SNILS.

It is better to collect packages with all the necessary things for the expectant mother and baby in advance so that at the moment of x to avoid unnecessary panic and running around.

Instead of a conclusion

39 week is an important stage of pregnancy. At this time, it is important not to confuse the harbingers of childbirth with the signals of their onset.

The woman becomes somewhat clumsy in her movements. The abdomen increases in size even more and falls down. The number of trips to the toilet becomes more frequent, but shortness of breath andheartburn, which caused discomfort to a woman for several months. There are pains in the back, lower back and legs of a different nature: stabbing, aching, shooting.

It is during this period that the "nesting syndrome" manifests itself in a woman. The expectant mother gladly equips the house, collects bags for the hospital, buys things for her baby, tries on the role of a mother. This helps a woman to get distracted, get rid of emotional stress and fear of the upcoming birth.