Your Baby in week 39
Your Baby in week 39:
Umbilical cords, which carry nutrients from the placenta
to the baby, vary in size but average about 22 inches
(55 cm) long and half an inch (1-2 cm) thick. Sometimes
the umbilical cord can become wrapped around a baby’s neck.
Generally, this doesn’t cause problems, although a cesarean
delivery could be required if it causes pressure on the
umbilical cord during labor or delivery. A true knot in the
umbilical cord is much less common, occurring in only about 1% of pregnancies.
Most of the vernix that covered your baby's skin has disappeared,
as has the lanugo. Your body has been supplying the baby with
antibodies through the placenta that will help the baby's immune
system fight infection for the first 6-12 months of life.
What's going on with You:
Braxton Hicks contractions may become more pronounced.
Also called "false labor," these contractions may be as
painful and strong as true labor contractions but do
not become regular and do not increase in frequency as
true contractions do.
Another sign of labor, the rupture of your amniotic
sac, could happen any day now. When their water
breaks, some women experience a large gush of water
and some feel a steady trickle. Many women don’t
experience their water breaking until they’re well
into labor. Others need to have their water broken
by their health care providers to get their labor
started or to speed it up. If you think your water
has broken or you are experiencing regular contractions,
contact your Doctor.
next week 40
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