Welcome to week 39 of your pregnancy! Your little one's birth is imminent, but how will you know when it's the real thing?
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You and your baby
Your baby at 39 weeks
Your baby is now ready to be born – apart from one or two finishing touches, like adding a little fat beneath the skin. Even though it's tight in there, he or she should still be moving regularly. So if things go quiet, do contact your hospital right away.
You at 39 weeks
How do you know for sure that your labour has started? One sign is your waters breaking. Contractions will have a steady rhythm and get progressively more painful without easing. You might feel nauseous and very tired. Don't worry if you sound the alert early – speak to the Labour Ward Midwife and she will let you know when to come in.
Babies vary in size as much as people. But as a rule of thumb, an average healthy newborn would be around 52cm long and weigh between 3.3 and 3.4kg. If yours was going to be particularly big or tall, you'd already know from your ultrasound.
Breastfeeding:
good for mums too
Breastfeeding isn't just good for your little one – you benefit too! It releases hormones that help stem any bleeding and helps your uterus contract. The skin-to-skin contact alone produces a hormone that'll relax you and even combat post-natal depression. Go cuddle!
Get some expert help
Remember our Careline team is always on hand to help. You can talk to our expert mums about any worries you may have. Get in touch 24/7 using our live chat, by phone or by email.
