Week Thirty-Nine of Pregnancy

Baby’s Development

Your baby has reached his final birth position by now and it’s only a matter of time until you welcome her into the world. She has flipped nicely and her head is resting against your cervix, cradled in your pelvis. Her little head is approximately 4 inches in diameter and it won’t take its true shape until a few hours or even days after delivery. Don’t be alarmed when your little one looks like a ‘cone head’ or looks strangely askew. Their heads are designed to be flexible so the squeeze they experience being born does no damage to their delicate little brains.

Your amniotic fluid is now pale and milky from a combination of vernix and the first few outer layers of your baby’s skin shedding. It will remain this color until it is expelled in the birth process. Expect your baby to go through another extensive ‘shedding’ in the first few days after he’s born as his body adapts to it’s new environment.

If those kicks and punches in your lower abdomen are bothering you, take comfort in knowing that it’s just a matter of days until he’s on the outside and finally in your arms!

Your Body and Emotions

Any day and any time now, your new addition will be out of your body and into your lives. This thought can make you feel a million things at once. For some women, they experience a great sense of relief to know that the aches and pains of pregnancy will be over. For others, it’s bittersweet knowing that the closeness they’ve had with their little one these nine months is coming to and end. All of these emotions are valid so don’t be afraid to share them.

Sharing becomes particularly important these days as you approach your due date. Over 80% of all women will experience some form of postpartum distress in the hours, days or even weeks after birth. This is due to the sudden, shocking decrease of hormones in your system and how your body responds to it. For some women, postpartum distress manifests itself as uncontrollable crying and for others it becomes acute anxiety over the baby. Some mothers have reported feeling unable to bond with their new baby and others have felt overly concerned for their child’s welfare. Some are afraid to hold their new one and some simply can’t let go. However your postpartum distress manifests itself, try not to be frightened. Depending on your system, you may feel this way for a short time or for up to two weeks but you can be assured that you will start to feel better as the days pass. Until then, rely on your partner, friends and family for help. Cry when you want to, sleep when you need to and take the help that is offered. Your body has just gone through an incredible amount of change and you don’t need to start rushing the postpartum recovery quite yet.

Remember – if your postpartum distress lasts longer than two weeks, it may be time to see your doctor. Postpartum depression or psychosis can both be treated easily with a combination of counseling and medication. If you are suffering, you owe it to yourself and your new family to get the help you need.

Dad’s Tips

The first week or so after the birth of your baby will be some of the hardest times in your partner’s life. She’ll be adjusting to a new position and new responsibility and at the same time, her hormones may be making her feel anxious, miserable and generally mentally unwell. She’ll probably cry a great deal in the days following labor and this can come as a shock for you if she’s never been much of a weeper. She may seem abnormally nervous and obsessive. She may withdraw from you and the baby as well. This reaction and others like them are normal for the first two weeks. Try not to judge her during this time. Do your best to offer her unconditional support and reassurance that everything she’s experiencing will pass. Remind her that she’s not going crazy; it’s just her body rapidly returning to its pre-pregnancy state.

If your partner’s behavior lasts longer than two weeks, you may have to step in and get her some help. Even if she is resistant, postpartum depression is something that is easily cured and shouldn’t stand in the way of her enjoyment of her life and new baby.