What
is going on with mom & baby
Baby:
Baby’s crown to rump length is around
35 cm (13.8 inches). Your baby weighs about 2850-2950
grams (6.3-6.5 pounds). Over the next few weeks your
baby will continue to put on fat. You may notice that
he feels a little lower in your abdomen. This is called
“lightening”. It is the result of your baby’s
head shifting down into your pelvis.
Mom: You may notice an increase in
vaginal discharge. This is common during the last few
weeks of pregnancy. If you notice mucous tinged with
blood, also called a bloody show, this may be a sign
that labor is starting.
This
week’s Pregnancy Checklist
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Make
sure your partner knows where your hospital bag
is. |
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Make
a belly cast of your belly. |
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Practice
lamaze breathing or other pain relief techniques. |
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Some
moms like to drink raspberry leaf tea at the end
of their pregnancy. (Talk to your doctor first). |
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Have
your partner practice timing contractions. Braxton
Hicks are great for practice. |
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Take
a new belly picture for your scrapbook or journal. |
Signs
of Labor
Here
are some of the common signs of labor.
Nesting: Many women begin to
“nest” right before they go into labor. Nesting
is a word used to describe preparing your baby’s
nest. You may feel the need to get your house super clean
or perhaps you may start cooking lots of freezer meals.
Dropping or lightening: As your
baby descends into your pelvis you may notice that your
baby’s position has dropped. Sometimes this is obvious
and other times you won’t notice this at all.
Cramping or Pelvic pressure: You
may notice menstrual like cramping or achiness or you
may sense more pressure in your pelvic area. Some women
describe this feeling as if their baby feels like she
might “fall out.”
Cervical dilation or effacement:
As your body prepares to give birth your cervix will begin
to thin out and dilate. Your doctor may begin doing cervical
checks at the end of your pregnancy. Cervical effacement
and dilation are a good indicator that labor might start
soon.
Mucous plug or bloody show: The
mucous plug seals the entrance to your cervix. You may
lose your mucous plug a little at a time or all at once.
Some women lose their mucous plug weeks before labor starts.
If you notice that you have lost your mucous plug or if
you see mucous tinged with blood this may be a sign that
labor may start soon. Blood tinged mucous is called a
bloody show. Many women have a bloody show shortly before
labor begins.
Contractions: At the start of
labor you may have contractions that are ten to fifteen
minutes apart. As your labor progresses your contractions
will become more regular and closer together. You may
be advised to call your doctor once your contractions
are five minutes apart; however, you will want to consult
your doctor for specific instructions on when to head
to the hospital.
Water breaking: If your water
breaks you may feel a “pop” followed by a
gush of water or you may just feel a small trickle. Some
women even feel like they have urinated. If you think
your water has broken call your doctor right away.
Real Labor or False Labor
False labor is a word used
to describe symptoms that feel like real labor but are not. It is sometimes
difficult to tell the difference between real labor and false labor. Surprisingly,
it is sometimes even more difficult for moms who have had a baby before to tell
when they are in labor. You may have more Braxton Hicks contractions with each
pregnancy and it may become difficult to tell the difference between Braxon
Hicks and the real thing.
Here are some of
the differences between false labor and real labor.
How far apart are
your contractions?
Real labor contractions: occur at regular intervals
and get progressively closer together over time.
False labor contractions: do not occur at regular
intervals. For example, you might have two or three contractions that are five
minutes apart then not have another one for thirty minutes, then have the next
one in ten minutes, then not another for thirty minutes. False labor contractions
do not get progressively closer together.
How intense or painful are your contractions?
Real labor contractions: Real labor contractions may
be difficult to breathe through, become stronger and more intense over time,
and you may feel pelvic pressure with each contraction.
False labor contractions: Although false labor contractions
may be painful, they usually do not get progressively worse. You may have a
contraction or two that is painful followed by contractions that just feel like
tightening of your abdomen.
Do your contractions improve with change of position or drinking fluids?
Real labor contractions: If you are having real labor
contractions changing positions or drinking plenty of fluids will not make them
go away.
False labor contractions: Dehydration can lead to
false labor contractions. If you notice that you are having contractions, drink
a large glass of water and see if they improve. Changing positions will also
help to relieve Braxton Hicks contractions.
What if you are not sure how to describe your contractions?
If you are not sure if your contractions are more like
Braxton Hicks contractions or real contractions it is
always best to contact your doctor.
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