39 Weeks Pregnant

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• Your Baby
• You
• 10th Month of Pregnancy Video
• Diary of a Daughter

Your Baby

During this time of your pregnancy, many women may find themselves anxious about their upcoming predetermined due date. There are many babies who are born within a 2-week period of this proposed time, so keep in mind that the big event can happen at any moment!

While some little ones may want to enter the world a week or so early, others will be quite content on relaxing and extending their stay within the womb.

The size of your little one can vary from person to person, but typically your newest family member will range in size from 7 to 7.5 pounds in total during this week. Some infants will slow their growth down now while others may continue to put on a few extra ounces during these last few days on the inside.

If this is your first child then you may be curious as to how long they will measure or how much they will weigh. Other mothers who have experienced a birth previously may find a pattern with their previous children in size at delivery and may expect the same from an upcoming birth.

Remember that each baby is different and is as individual as any one of us.

If you want to learn about what a newborn baby might look like, you'll find information here.

You

The upcoming arrival of your newborn baby is an exciting time for everyone involved. Preparations must be made in order for the entire process to go smoothly.

Having your bag packed for the hospital with all of the necessities required is just one of the many steps you can take in order to prepare yourself and your partner for the big day.

Another big step, which is certainly good to complete when 39 weeks pregnant, is to have your birthing plan prepared to avoid any confusion in the delivery room. Having open communication between birthing partners or support persons is essential for the laboring mother in order to be clear on what is expected or wanted for her during this process.

Some women find themselves extremely uncomfortable during this time of pregnancy, with hemorrhoids, heartburn, swelling of the hands and/or feet, pelvic pain or even tender or swollen breasts.

While most of these symptoms may be relieved shortly after birth, others may require some attention such as creams in order to help alleviate discomfort. Be sure to talk to your doctor or health care provider if you are experiencing any further complications after the birth of your baby or during these final weeks where you may need help.

Baby blues or post-partum depression can occur at any time after the birth of your baby and has been known to increase with subsequent pregnancies. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about how you may be feeling after the birth of your new baby.

While some symptoms of blues will decrease over time once hormone levels are regulated, other women find themselves engulfed in a larger scale depression and may require medication to help them during this time. It is imperative that if you feel any unsettling emotions to discuss this with your doctor so that if the need arises you will have access to the help and support you need.

Visit our section about giving birth here.

10th Month of Pregnancy Video

If seeing is believing for you; watch this video explaining the 10th month of pregnancy in pictures and words.

Instructions: When watching the video clips, start the videos by clicking the small arrow down to the left, not the large one in the middle of the screen. If you're using Internet Explorer as your browser and the video doesn't start, try clicking twice on the small arrow.

Diary of a Daughter