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Why at least 39 weeks is best for your baby

If your pregnancy is healthy, it’s best to stay pregnant for at least 39 weeks. Wait for labor to begin on its own.

Scheduling means you and your provider decide when to have your baby by labor induction or cesarean birth.

If your provider recommends scheduling your baby’s birth, ask if you can wait until at least 39 weeks so your baby has time to fully develop.

Your baby’s brain, lungs, liver and other important organs are still developing in the last weeks of pregnancy.

Babies born too early may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born later.

Are you thinking about scheduling your baby’s birth? 

Scheduling your baby’s birth means you and your health care provider decide when to have your baby by labor induction or cesarean birth instead of waiting for labor to begin on its own. Depending on your health and your baby’s health, scheduling your baby’s birth may be best. But scheduling birth a little early for non-medical reasons can cause problems for you and baby. If your pregnancy is healthy, it’s best to stay pregnant for at least 39 weeks and wait for labor to begin on its own.

When you schedule your baby’s birth, you schedule either labor induction or a c-section. Labor induction (also called inducing labor) is when your provider gives you medicine or breaks your water (also called amniotic sac) to make your labor begin for vaginal birth. Vaginal birth is when the muscles of your uterus contract (get tight and then relax) to help push your baby out through the vagina (also called birth canal). Most babies are born by vaginal birth. A cesarean birth (also called c-section) is surgery in which your baby is born through a cut that your provider makes in your belly and uterus.

You may not have a choice about when to have your baby. If there are problems with your pregnancy or your baby's health, you may need to have your baby early. But if you have a choice and you're planning to schedule your baby's birth, wait until at least 39 weeks.

Why does your baby need 39 weeks?

Babies born too early may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born later. Being pregnant 39 weeks gives your baby's body all the time it needs to develop.

Your baby needs 39 weeks in the womb because:

• Important organs, like your baby’s brain, lungs and liver, need time to develop. The brain develops fastest at the end of pregnancy. A baby’s brain at 35 weeks of pregnancy weighs only two-thirds of what it will weigh at 39 to 40 weeks. 
• He’s less likely to have health problems after birth, like breathing, vision and hearing problems.
• He can gain more weight in the womb. Babies born at a healthy weight have an easier time staying warm than babies born too small.
• He can suck and swallow and stay awake long enough to eat after he's born. Babies born early sometimes can't do these things.
• He’s less likely to have learning problems and health problems later in life than babies born before 39 weeks.

Can scheduling an early birth cause problems for you and your baby?

Yes. Sometimes it's hard to know exactly when you got pregnant. Even with an ultrasound, your due date can be off by as much as 2 weeks. If you schedule an induction or c-section and your date is off by a week or 2, your baby may be born too early. Ultrasound uses sound waves and a computer screen to show a picture of your baby inside the womb.

Problems from inducing labor

• Stronger and more frequent contractions. Frequent contractions may cause changes in your baby’s heart rate.
• Infection for you and your baby
• Uterine rupture. This is when the uterus tears during labor. It happens very rarely.
• Needing a c-section. If your labor is induced and the medicine doesn’t start your labor, you may need to have a c-section.

Problems from a c-section

• Breathing and other medical problems for your baby. Babies born by c-section may have more breathing and other medical problems than babies born by vaginal birth.
• Needing a c-section in another pregnancy. Once you have a c-section, you may be more likely in future pregnancies to have a c-section. The more c-sections you have, the more problems you and your baby may have, including problems with the placenta.
• Longer recovery for mom. A c-section is major surgery. It takes longer for you to recover from a c-section than from a vaginal birth. You can expect to spend 2 to 4 days in the hospital after a c-section. Then you need about 6 to 8 weeks after you go home to fully recover. You also may have complications from the surgery, like infections, bleeding or blood clots.  So it's important to stay in touch with your health care provider even after you go home.

What questions can you ask your health care provider about scheduling your baby's birth?

If you’re planning to schedule your baby’s birth, print out this article and take it with you to your next prenatal care checkup. Ask these questions:

If your provider recommends that you have your baby before 39 weeks

• Is there a problem with my health or the health of my baby that makes birth before 39 weeks necessary?  
• Can I wait to have my baby until I’m closer to 39 weeks?

About inducing labor

• Why do you need to induce labor?
• How will you induce my labor?
• What can I expect when you induce labor?
• Will inducing labor increase the chance that I’ll need to have a c-section?

About having a c-section

• Why do I need to have a c-section?
• What can I expect during and after a c-section?
• What problems can a c-section cause for me and my baby?
• Can I have a vaginal birth in future pregnancies?

See also:  39 weeks infographic

Last reviewed: October, 2018

harbingers of childbirth in multiparous and primiparas, what happens, fetal movement, baby's weight, ultrasound

What happens to the baby at this time?

Now the weight of the child is 3000-3200 g. Sometimes the mother can feel in the abdomen not only the fetal movement, but also rhythmic tremors - this is the child hiccups, swallowing amniotic fluid. It is believed that hiccups are a kind of training before the start of spontaneous breathing. By this time, the baby has already taken its final position in the uterine cavity - head down, towards the exit from the uterus. The obstetrician determines the presentation of the fetus by probing the abdomen of the expectant mother. But sometimes doctors detect breech presentation, in this case, an examination is performed, ultrasound is performed and the tactics of childbirth are determined.

Index

Norm

Mother's weight gain

From 8.6 (with initial overweight) to 14.5 kg (with initial weight deficit), average gain 10-12 kg

Fundal height005

35-38 cm

Fetal weight

3000-3200 g

Fetal height

48-52 cm

Important!

During the 38th week of pregnancy, the expectant mother's body is actively preparing for the upcoming birth. It is important to know in advance, read the necessary information about this process (if you have not already done so) in order to clarify how to behave with the onset of contractions.

The first harbingers of childbirth appear in multiparous and primiparas. These are body changes, certain processes that set up the body and reproductive system for the birth of a child. The signs differ slightly depending on whether the mother is expecting her first baby or if this is her second and subsequent pregnancies.

Many mothers are afraid to miss or not recognize these important "calls". Don't worry about that - we've put together a handy labor checklist to help you figure out when it's time to go to the hospital.

During this period, drops of a yellowish-whitish liquid - colostrum - can periodically be released from the nipples of the breast. So the mammary glands prepare for childbirth and subsequent feeding of the baby. In order not to stain the linen, you can use special absorbent pads for the chest. They are sold in pharmacies and children's stores, they are a small circle of absorbent materials that is inserted into a bra. If colostrum is absent, this is not a sign of pathology. In some women, the work of the mammary glands starts only after the birth of the crumbs.

Harbingers of childbirth in women expecting their first child

One of the first signs that childbirth is imminent is breathing easier due to the fact that the stomach has drooped. This feeling is not always so vivid that the pregnant woman herself notices it, sometimes others focus on it. Although the child is also actively moving, the mother's shortness of breath decreases, breathing becomes easier, heartburn and mild nausea after eating less often occur or completely disappear. But due to the fact that the fetal head sank lower into the small pelvis, the uterus is increasingly in good shape, urination becomes more frequent due to pressure on the bladder.

Sometimes the expectant mother suddenly notices that the child is not moving much, his movements are not so sharp and active, he seems to calm down. This is a completely natural process, since every day there is less and less space inside the uterine cavity, the walls of its temporary “house” put more and more pressure on the arms and legs, tightly cover, and the amniotic fluid becomes a little less.

If the baby began to move less, he is also preparing for childbirth, gaining strength, but if for 10-12 hours you have not felt a single push or movement, it is better to consult a doctor. He will check if everything is fine with the baby.

Important!

If the mother feels the fetal movement is too active, a doctor's consultation is necessary. This is necessary to make sure that the baby does not have oxygen starvation, and the volume of amniotic fluid is normal.

If in earlier periods fetal movements were felt as various movements, pushes, kicks and even somersaults, then by this time it is more and more often pandiculation or slight movements. The baby already has little space, sometimes his movements are very noticeable - the woman notes that she is pulling her stomach in the area where the fetal activity is felt.

Preparing the body for childbirth

The 38th week of pregnancy is a period of active restructuring of the body. Under the influence of hormones, the body prepares for hard work: there is pain in the lower back, pulling the lower abdomen, there is an ache in the area of ​​​​the pubic joint (the place where the pelvic bones are closed). The lower abdomen hurts due to the descent of the fetal head and its tight fit to the pelvic bones, the occurrence of more and more frequent training uterine contractions and the gradual loosening of the ligaments. Sometimes there is a feeling that the stomach is turning to stone - this is the tone of the uterus, muscle training for subsequent contractions. If these contractions are irregular, occur occasionally, they are not intense, you just need to lie on your side, rest, and they pass. If the same time passes between contractions, they become more and more sensitive, the interval is reduced - this is the beginning of labor, it's time to go to the maternity hospital.

There is one easy way to tell if contractions are false or true. You just need to count the number of contractions and the interval between them. Use a stopwatch on your smartphone, noting how long the contraction of the uterus lasts and how long the period of relaxation, rest, will then be. If the contractions of the uterus gradually increase, intensify, and the time intervals between them gradually decrease, this is a sign of the onset of labor. Then it was time to go to the maternity hospital.

Mucous discharge from the genital tract may occur during the 38th week. By the nature of the discharge, they look like lumps of dense transparent or whitish mucus with streaks of blood without any smell. This is the discharge of the mucous plug, which closed the cervix and prevented the penetration of pathogenic bacteria to the fetal membranes. The cervix gradually softens, opens slightly and the mucus gradually leaves.

Good to know

In nulliparous women, harbingers of imminent labor may appear approximately one to two weeks before the onset of labor. It's about 38 or 39th weeks of pregnancy.

In some cases, the mother-to-be may have loose stools at 38 weeks of gestation, although no change in the woman's diet has occurred. This is an acceptable bowel reaction to changing hormone levels and preparing the body for childbirth. The intestines are gradually cleared of the contents. However, not always different sensations and changes in the work of digestion are explained precisely by prenatal changes. Diarrhea at this gestational age may also be the result of dietary errors, food poisoning, or other influences.

A particularly alarming situation is when nausea and even vomiting occur against the background of diarrhea. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Harbingers of childbirth while expecting a second and subsequent children

If this is not the first pregnancy and childbirth for a woman, and the family is expecting a second, third baby, then the birth may come a little earlier. The body already knows what will happen and it takes less time for the preparatory phase. Thus, the appearance of the crumbs into the world can be expected in the period from the beginning of the 38th week of pregnancy. The processes themselves, which are associated with the preparation for childbirth, may not be so pronounced, sometimes they are absent or appear just a couple of days before the baby is born.

So, with repeated pregnancy, there may not be a pronounced and significant lowering of the abdomen. Often, the baby is initially located lower than during the first pregnancy, or the cervix relaxes just before the onset of childbirth. Then the woman feels that it has become easier to breathe, the pressure on the bladder has increased.

Important!

It is worth emphasizing that in multiparous mothers, the harbingers of childbirth may be completely absent. The birth process can begin suddenly, and the contractions will be stronger, the duration of labor will be shorter. Therefore, by the time of 38 weeks, you need to collect everything you need to go to the maternity hospital, all the necessary things and documents should be in an accessible place.

Childbirth is unique, it takes place differently in women, and even in the same woman childbirth is different. If this is the third birth or the fourth, often the precursors can be barely perceptible or completely absent. And the birth act itself proceeds quite quickly and sometimes even a little earlier than the date of birth, which is determined by the doctor. But, as for the second birth, this fact is not a strict pattern, childbirth is possible almost the same day with a pre-calculated date.

In any case, by the 38th week of pregnancy, it is necessary to collect everything necessary for a trip to the maternity hospital and, at the first contractions, immediately seek medical help.

Is it worth it to speed up labor at this time?

Many women feel tired towards the end of their pregnancy and want to have a baby as soon as possible. Therefore, they ask one question - how to speed up the onset of childbirth, is it possible to stimulate this process in order to meet the baby faster and return home, accept congratulations and raise the baby. But you don't need to think about inducing labor before the full term of 40 weeks. Although by the 38th week the baby is already full-term, he is still gaining weight, continues to develop, and nature knows better when he needs to be born.

• 1. Normal pregnancy (clinical recommendations) // Obstetrics and Gynecology: News. Opinions. Learning. 2020. No. 4 (30).
• 2. Burkitova A.M., Prokhorova V.S., Bolotskikh V.M. Actual diagnostic and clinical problems in post-term pregnancy in modern obstetrics // Journal of Obstetrics and Women's Diseases. - 2017. - T. 66. - No. 2. - C. 93-103. doi: 10.17816/JOWD66293-103
• 3. Obstetrics: national guidelines / ed. G.M. Savelyeva, G. T. Sukhikh, V.N. Serova, V.E. Radzinsky. 2nd ed. Moscow: GEOTAR-Media

• Pediatrician
• Pathophysiology, immunology, pediatric and adult nutrition

• Completed the course on HB from WHO/UNICEF, taught at the Volgograd State Medical University, Department of Pathophysiology with a course of immunology, allergology

Others articles by the author

38 weeks of pregnancy: sensations, weight and fetal development

PreviousNext

Starting this week, your baby is considered term. He can be born at any time, so be prepared. The baby's skin no longer looks so wrinkled, and the fat layer is clearly visible under it. The fluff that covered the baby's body until now is gradually disappearing.

This week you feel and look like a ripe peach - in juice and in full ripeness. Even if you enjoyed every minute of your pregnancy, at the 38th week, annoying, nagging doubts can arise in your head. “Am I too fat?”, “Am I too thin to give birth?”, “Is this baby ever going to be born?”, and the classic “How can this baby get out of me?”.

Due to mood swings, you can be thrown from calm to panic and back every minute. There are only two weeks left before the birth, and the baby in your arms is almost a reality. Try to cope with the excitement and believe in the ability of your body to safely give birth to a baby. Trust your doctor and look to the future with optimism. Even if something goes wrong, modern medicine has methods to deal with many difficult situations.

Was that what I thought?

Some women have practice contractions this week. If they do not progress and eventually disappear, consider this just your body's preparation for the main event. Many expectant mothers have a mucus plug at this time, and they think that labor has begun. In fact, the cork that covered the cervix may come out a few weeks before the baby is born, so don't count too much on going to the hospital in the coming hours.

Complete your list of baby names by keeping an open mind about even those you didn't immediately think of. If you're nostalgic, dig into your family history and look for "reusable" names. Just keep in mind that times are changing and what sounded great in the 19th century may sound old fashioned now.

Physical changes at 38 weeks of gestation

• You feel big, you look big, and your tummy always enters the room first. For several weeks now, you have not been able to see your legs when you are standing, and it seems that there is simply nothing below your pregnant belly.

• Finding the right clothes is getting more and more difficult, and even your old tried-and-tested things are bursting at the seams. Be creative and think about how you can expand your clothes, try borrowing something from friends who have given birth. These last weeks are just to be lived through.

• At 38 weeks it is almost impossible to find a comfortable position to lie down. On the stomach is not an option, on the back it is dangerous for both you and the baby, because one of the main blood vessels of the body (the inferior vena cava) will be compressed under the weight of the heavier uterus. It is best to lie on your left side with your right leg bent and resting it on a pillow.

• Stay away from crowds and unhealthy people. It is impossible to protect one hundred percent from a cold, but at least do everything in your power. You must be in the best shape in order to mobilize all your strength and energy for childbirth.

• Your feet and ankles may now look like one piece. It looks funny, but it doesn't feel funny at all, because the swelling is quite unpleasant. You must be dead tired of wearing the same shoes every day, but don't worry, your feet will soon stop being so plump. After childbirth, most women experience a large diuresis, in other words, they quickly get rid of a significant amount of fluid in the body through urine. So wait with buying new shoes in a larger size.

• Your breasts may be producing even more colostrum this week, to the point where some women have to use bra pads to deal with the leakage. If you have already breastfed, this is more likely to happen. You may feel heaviness and discomfort in the breast, but this is normal - she is just getting ready for the important work of feeding the baby.

Emotional changes at 38 weeks of pregnancy

• This week you need time for meditation and slow reflection. You may be overwhelmed with things you haven't done before, but don't forget to take breaks to recharge and focus on what's really important. Massage, yoga classes, swimming or long walks are great ways to relax.

• You may feel guilty towards your older children, as if you were about to cheat on them with a newborn. You don't fully believe that you can love their new brother or sister as much as you love them. Do not worry about this: motherly love is enough for everyone.

• Buy your baby at least a few new things, even if you have a lot of older children's clothes left - it is psychologically important to recognize the individuality and originality of a new family member. Invite older children to write messages to a younger brother or sister. Someday, already in adulthood, they will review these records with tenderness.

What happens to the baby this week of pregnancy

• Your baby weighs just over 3 kg. He continues to store fat and gain weight every day. His growth has slowed down and is close to the birth average of 53 cm.

• You may find that your baby's movements are slowing down. Firstly, he simply does not have enough space, and secondly, he spends all his time sleeping and resting in order to store maximum energy for the difficult birth process. Most likely, from time to time he has bursts of activity, during which you feel confident, strong movements. If you think that the baby has become too quiet, or you do not like something in his behavior, trust your instincts and tell your doctor about it.

Tips 38 weeks

• Chat with friends who have recently given birth. If they like the pediatrician who sees the child, you might want to remember his last name.

• Talk to relatives and friends and form your own support group. If you know that there are people around you who are ready to provide emotional and physical help, it is reassuring.

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