37 to 41 SA, 35th to 39th week. At 9 months of pregnancy, you are about to give birth despite the accumulated fatigue. Baby is ready to discover the outside world. The point with Céline Hattab Braha, liberal midwife.
9 months pregnant, you are tired, but happy to finally hold your baby in your arms. Childbirth is near you still ask yourself a thousand questions and perhaps apprehend the day of the birth. You have to formalize these fears with your partner, but also with your midwife. She will be able to answer all your questions and reassure you, especially about pregnancy pains and aches that you may feel more at 9th month of pregnancy. A final medical examination is scheduled before labor begins. Céline Hattab Braha, liberal midwife in Pairs, sheds light on this last month of pregnancy.
How many weeks at 9 months pregnant?
the 9th month of pregnancy starts at 35 weeks of pregnancy or 37 weeks of amenorrhea (SA) and ends at 39th week of pregnancy or 41 weeks. So you are completing your third trimester of pregnancy and preparing for childbirth.
What symptoms at 9 months of pregnancy?
Your back arches, your belly becomes more and more prominent, round and your breasts are tense. You feel more contractions. Good news: as baby descends, the pressure of the uterus on the other organs decreases. Baby presses less on your ribs. In the 9th month of pregnancy, you breathe better and you have less trouble digesting. On the other hand, you need to go to the bathroom frequently and find it difficult to find a comfortable position to sleep. Not to mention the stress that mounts as the big day approaches. It’s time to rely on the future dad! And to discuss with him his role on the day of delivery.
Fatigue and insomnia
The last weeks of pregnancy are not the most conducive to peaceful nights. Fatigue is both moral and physical and there are many reasons for not being able to sleep! Your big belly bothers you and you may struggle to find a comfortable position. To relieve yourself, use a positioning or nursing pillow, sit on your side, put the pillow between your legs and rest your stomach on it. At night, you could also be awakened by the movements of the baby whose sleep rhythm is (of course!) not aligned with yours.
Frequent urination
In the 9th month of pregnancy, your uterus presses on your bladder and causes frequent urges to urinate during the day and night! This symptom is common and not abnormal, it could even intensify further as baby engages in the pelvis. If you feel burning while urinating, see your doctor right away as it could be a urinary tract infection.
Blood loss
Light blood loss the day after a vaginal examination or after sex is not necessarily alarming. The cervix, very vascularized at this stage of pregnancy, can indeed bleed in reaction to stimulation. If the blood is bright red, it may be a placental abruption, it is therefore better to go to the maternity ward, especially if your doctor has already alerted you to the atypical positioning of your placenta. Brown or pink discharge can be a harbinger of birth if they are accompanied by painful and regular contractions.
contractions
At the end of pregnancy, the pregnant woman may feel “of the fairly regular but not necessarily painful contractions. It’s been quite common in the last month.”. She may still have pain in her pelvis and have that feeling of heaviness in her lower abdomen, caused by baby.
Loss of mucous plug
The mucous plug corresponds to the secretions which accumulate at the level of the cervical canal. The latter is actually a small channel closed at the top and bottom and inside which this mucous plug is concentrated. It provides protection against infectious agents and when the cervix matures at the end of pregnancy, that is to say softens and begins to open a little bit, the plug can come out. Not all women notice this and the loss of the mucous plug, which looks like a more or less compact mucus, is not a reason to go to the maternity ward.
What are the pains at the end of pregnancy?
Some women in late pregnancy may have pain in the digestive system notably. “The digestive system of a pregnant woman will be extremely variable, but most will be on the constipated side, especially if she takes iron supplementation which will increase this effect of constipation. Others may suffer from diarrhoea. Having a completely normal transit is rather rare in a pregnant woman”, says the specialist. Some painful contractions can also make you nauseous and cause diarrhea. The relaxation of the ligaments of the pelvis causes pain.
In most cases, the pregnant woman is looking forward to giving birth at 9 months of pregnancy, she feels ready to welcome baby. The excitement is there. “All the concerns related to contractions, pain, the course of childbirth generally disperse. But there can be concerns related to the arrival of the baby and after childbirth”, nuance the expert. Some women may also experience a boost of energy, which is very desirable before going into labor.
What are the signs a few days before giving birth?
Labor before delivery begins when very painful and regular contractions, every 5 minutes, appear. “The loss of water and bleeding does not necessarily lead to labor”, underlines the midwife before adding: “In the last month, if there is water (the bag of waters breaks editor’s note) flowing even without contraction, you have to go to the maternity emergency room within 2 hours of this loss of fluid”. Not to be confused with the loss of the mucous plug, which is a sign that the cervix is maturing.
Close contractions
The pain of the contractions is felt, it can be quite sharp. “Pain is subjective, but usually one cannot speak during a contraction, which is indicative of pain. If this is the case, you have to go to the maternity ward after 2 hours.“, insists Céline Hattab Braha. At the start of labor, it can be likened to the pain that accompanies strong diarrhea, your belly hardens completely for several seconds and then relaxes. Women sometimes experience pain in the lower back or that radiates to the legs. During birth preparation classes, the midwife will inform you about the signs of birth.
Can we give birth at the beginning of the 9th month of pregnancy?
You can give birth at 9 months of pregnancy. At this point, your baby can no longer be considered premature. It is therefore quite possible to give birth at the beginning of the month, even if it is always preferable to keep baby warm until the end of pregnancy.
In the stomach, baby’s body completes its development. Baby loses its down and the “vernix caseosa” that covered it. Her skin is now all pink and almost more wrinkled. He can no longer move so much because he lacks space. He stands with his arms folded across his chest and his legs raised and bent, his head pointing out in the majority of cases. The amount of amniotic fluid has decreased. Finally, all his organs are working perfectly. He is ready to meet you!
What is the average baby weight at 9 months pregnant?
In the 9th month of pregnancy, baby weighs about 3 kilos for 50 cm. He takes an average of 250 g and 1.5 cm per week.
Baby moves less, why?
At the end of pregnancy, it is not uncommon for baby moves less. It has less room and the amount of amniotic fluid may also decrease slightly. Its position in your belly also affects his movements. If his head is already engaged in the pelvis, he has for example less freedom to turn and move. Even if the number of his movements decreases it is important that you feel him move every day several times. If you have the feeling that he has not moved for several hours, that he does not respond to your stimulations or that his rhythm has suddenly changed, go to the maternity ward.
Baby push down
Baby may be required to push down at 9 months of pregnancy, which is complitly normal. Baby weighs and inevitably it feels in the belly.
What to do in the last month of pregnancy?
Medical exams
There remains one last medical examination the last month of pregnancy which is automatically planned before delivery. It is canceled if she goes into labor before the term. “In general, the pregnant woman is asked to come to the maternity ward a week or the day of the term if nothing has happened to record the baby’s heart and do a late pregnancy monitoring“, explains the midwife. The date of this monitoring varies depending on the hospital. Before that, the last consultations with your practitioner are used to follow the child’s development, to determine how the delivery will take place, to record your contractions and the baby’s heart rate, but also to measure your weight, your tension and perform a urine analysis. You will also be required to pass a assessment with an anesthesiologist even if you are not considering an epidural. Indeed, this assessment allows the doctor to intervene in the event of a problem during childbirth by performing a general anesthesia.
Maternity suitcase
If it’s not already done, it’s time to wrap up your maternity suitcase and to have it close at hand ready on D-Day. Inside, add your baby’s first clothes, childcare accessories, baby care products, not to mention your personal belongings (clothes, charger, towel bath and toiletry bag, positioning cushion, etc.).
Stay close to motherhood
Avoid traveling at the end of pregnancy, also reduce car trips if you drive. If some women decide to go away for the weekend not far from home, it is advisable to leave with their maternity suitcase and their medical file, in case they need to give birth near the vacation spot.
Anticipate the return home after childbirth
So that the back home happens best after birth, try to anticipate certain things! The priority is to enjoying your first three weeks with baby and rest as much as possible. Even if your doctor has determined an approximate date for the birth, remember that baby can decide to arrive at any time! If you can with the help of your loved ones, plan meals in advance that you can freeze. Also plan a drive for shopping if needed. With your partner, also prepare baby’s room or small sleeping area in yours. If you still have energy, practice installing the car seat.