In the video for the 39th week of pregnancy on meinhaushalt.at important information and tips for pregnancy in week 39 are presented.
In the 39th week of your Pregnancy pregnancy, the fetus is 36 weeks old, weighs around 3200g and is approx. 48cm tall. Since the child has almost no space left in your uterus, it has curled up very small and placed its little arms and legs firmly against its body. Around 95% of all children are already lying head down in the birth position and because it has become so cramped for the babies, they no longer move as much and only rarely. If you notice a sign of life from your child once a day, you don't need to worry – then everything is in perfect order.
The protective vernix caseosa, which completely surrounded the child until recently, has now almost disappeared. The small remainder that you will still recognize after birth helps your child to glide through the birth canal more easily. Many midwives advise massaging the remaining vernix into the skin, as it is perfect protection and optimal care for your child's sensitive skin.
Thoughts on birth
Are you worried about your child's head during birth? Nature has taken care of this too – the child's bones are not yet completely firm, and will not be for a long time after pregnancy, but are very flexible. During birth, the child's skull plates shift so that it can pass through the birth canal better. The top hole on the head – the fontanelle – is still palpable even after birth. This gap will not be completely closed until about 2 years of age.
The birth itself is associated with considerable stress for the child. However, this is not a cause for concern, as fetuses are capable of withstanding great exertion. During labor, numerous hormones are activated that protect against oxygen deficiency, support the heart's pumping capacity, increase the heart rate, channel blood to the brain, and raise blood sugar levels – never again in their entire life will the child experience such a surge of stress hormones.
When the contractions come in quick succession, the finale begins. The midwives check what the CTG looks like, whether the cervix is fully dilated, and perhaps press on your buttocks if necessary to increase the pushing activity. If the head then appears, the pain is usually completely forgotten. Once your child has finally seen the light of day, most of the hardships of Pregnancy, the strenuous birth, and all worries have flown away.
The first cry is often a small, gurgling sound – after all, around 25 million alveoli have to be filled with air. The subsequent attempts will be all the more successful and will delight the entire delivery room.
The umbilical cord is then cut immediately after delivery, but the placenta is still in the uterus and detaches gradually. Most women may still have some mild afterpains with which the placenta is expelled; other women do not notice this process at all – they are already so busy getting to know their child.
Once the placenta has been expelled, it is meticulously examined by the midwife to see whether the afterbirth, placenta, and amniotic sac are complete. Finally, it is checked whether the tissue of the vagina or perineum has torn. In this case, it is stitched under local anesthesia – the wounds heal very quickly and will eventually no longer be felt.
Read also:Â Video for pregnancy week 40, week 40
