Your pregnancy by week: Weeks 35 to 40
Week 35
Baby: Your baby's lungs are almost fully developed. It still
deposits fat deposits under the skin to keep warm after exiting your belly.
Mom-to-be: Your uterus is about 15 cm above the navel. By now, you've
probably gained 25-30 pounds. Your doctor will test you for group B
streptococci before 37 weeks.
Tip of the week:
Are you ready for a baby? Make sure you pack the necessary baby clothes, gear
and equipment, especially a car seat, as well as the furniture you need for at
least the first few weeks after your baby is born.
Week 36
Baby: Your child measures approximately 52.5 cm from head to toe
and weighs approximately 2.7 kg. The baby may fall lower onto the abdomen,
usually in a head-down position to prepare for birth. The brain has developed
rapidly and your child has learned to blink.
Mom-to-be:
Your uterus has grown in recent weeks and is probably under your ribs. But you
are on the last stretch of the road! After this week, you will see a doctor
every week. You can switch between fatigue and additional bursts of energy. You
may also have back pain and feel heaviness and discomfort in your buttocks and
pelvis.
Tip of the week:
Start filling your freezer with foods that can be easily put into the oven or
microwave after you bring your baby home. Chili, casseroles, and other simple
meals can be prepared ahead of time and frozen for later use.
Week 37
Baby: Your child measures approximately 53.5 cm from head to toe
and weighs approximately 2.9 kg. The baby becomes rounder every day, and the
skin turns pink and loses its wrinkled appearance. Your baby's head is now
usually at the bottom of the pelvis.
Mom-to-be:
Your uterus may remain the same size as it was a week or two ago. Your weight
gain should be as high as possible, about 11-15 kg. Around this time, your
doctor may perform a pelvic exam to check on the progress of your pregnancy.
Tip of the week: If
you were born early, consider collecting two bags for the hospital. Prepare
yourself a bag with warm socks, a bathrobe, lip balm and everything you need
for work. Pack another bag with the things you will need for your newborn.
Week 38
Baby: Most of your baby's
fluffy hair, lanugo and whitish coating, primordial lubrication will be gone.
Your child receives antibodies from you to protect him from the disease. The
baby's growth slows, but the fat cells under the skin become plumper for life
outside the uterus. Your baby is almost ready to be born.
Mom-to-be:
You probably aren't gaining weight, but you may feel more uncomfortable. Make
sure you have a bag packed for delivery. Now it won't last long - 95% of all
babies are born within two weeks of their mother's due date.
Tip of the week:
You may want to consider whether you are going to circumcise your child if it
is a boy. Circumcision is not so much a medical issue as it is a cultural or
religious one.
Week 39
Baby: The muscles in your child's arms and legs are strong, and
the fingernails and toenails are in place. The baby's head sank into the
mother's pelvis - the head-down position makes breathing a little easier.
Mom-to-be:
You probably feel pretty big and uncomfortable. Your uterus has filled your
pelvis and most of your belly, pushing everything else out. Your center of
gravity has shifted, so you may feel more awkward than usual.
Tip of the week:
Watch for signs of labor, but don't get too hung up on it. This may happen soon
or again in a week. Some differences between false labor and labor pains: false
labor pains are usually concentrated in the lower abdomen and groin, while real
labor pains can start in the lower back and spread throughout the abdomen. Real
work also becomes stronger and more powerful over time and will not disappear
after eating, drinking water or lying down.
Week 40
Baby: Boys often weigh a little more than girls. More lanugo is
shed, but some may remain at birth on the baby's shoulders, in skin folds, and
behind the ears.
-Expectant mother: It's almost
time! You should be due soon, but don't worry if your due date comes and goes.
Only 5% of all babies are born exactly on time. You may find it harder to sleep
as it is difficult to find a comfortable position. However, try to rest as much
as possible, with your legs elevated if possible.
Tip of the week: If
you think you're in labor, don't eat. Even something light in the stomach can
cause nausea.
What is happening inside you?
Your baby continues to grow
and mature. The lungs are almost fully developed. Your baby's reflexes are
coordinated so she can blink, close her eyes, turn her head, grasp tightly, and
respond to sound, light, and touch.
You should still feel movement every day. Your baby's position is changing to prepare for delivery. The baby falls into the pelvis and his head is usually turned towards the birth canal.
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