Week 39: So close now!
Image: @Rosiewetherall
Welcome to week 39 of the Happy Parents Happy Baby guide to pregnancy, birth and beyond.
This week we'll be covering:
We hope you enjoy it!
Can I help myself to go into labour?
Now that you’re so close to meeting your baby you’ve probably been told many anecdotes and tales about how friends or family have got their own labour started - but does any of it actually work??
There are many 'old wives tales' about how you might get labour started, but generally speaking, your baby will come when they are ready and you just need to trust in this process. However, if you are keen to help things along you might like to try:
Walking: being upright allows your baby's head to put pressure on your cervix (if they are head down) which can stimulate the release of prostaglandins. These soften and prepare the cervix for labour.
Dates: some small studies suggest dates may also prepare your cervix for labour but the data is limited.
Acupuncture: there is some scientific evidence that acupuncture may increase the readiness of the cervix for labour, but data is limited. If you want to try acupuncture, ensure you choose a practitioner who is appropriately qualified.
Sex: enjoyable sex releases oxytocin, the hormone which drives labour. Male semen also contains prostaglandins which can soften and prepare the cervix for labour. Check with your midwife if there are any reasons that sex is not advised for example a low lying placenta or if your waters have broken.
Nipple stimulation: releases oxytocin, the hormone which encourages contractions to start. There are some studies that suggest this can also help to prepare the cervix for labour.
Things to avoid
Castor oil: this can make you feel sick or give you diarrhoea. There are also suggestions it could make your baby pass meconium increasing the risk of breathing problems
Evening primrose oil: studies show this has no effect on promoting labour. It is also not advised to use it during pregnancy.
Your baby’s development in week 39
Size of a rhubarb
Weighs on average 3.3kg
Around 50.7cm long
We’re running out of fruit to compare your baby to now!
Not long ago, your baby's skin was almost transparent. But over the past few weeks the layers of the skin have been growing thicker and your baby has been laying down fat stores which will protect their internal organs and help with temperature control.
Their skin is coated in a white, cream cheese - like substance called "vernix" - meaning varnish in Latin. This makes them waterproof and acts as a lubricant to ease their route down the birth canal.
Some babies are covered in lots of it when they are born, others have very little.
Week 39 Checklist
You might like to:
Put the pram together. The last thing you want to be doing when you have a tiny baby and want to leave the house is working out how to assemble a buggy. Now is not just a great time to put it together, but also to make sure you’re confident at putting it up and down and also putting the car seat on it too if you have bought a travel-system.
Keep walking. Not only is walking great for your physical health, it’s also great for your mental health, especially if you have any pre-baby nerves. Being upright and active also helps your baby’s head to put pressure on the cervix, encouraging the hormones that will kickstart labour.
Look for the mucus plug. Your mucus plug is a pink or brown discharge that looks like mucus or snot. You may notice this in your underwear in the days leading up to birth, but not everyone does. It is normal for the mucus to be blood stained but If you're losing more blood than this, it may be a sign something is wrong, so phone your hospital or midwife straight away.
Spotlight on: Dreams
Each week we'll be delving into the common symptoms of pregnancy and bringing you top tips for managing them from our team of specialists and parent community.
Dreams
If a wriggly baby and getting up to pee multiple times aren’t disrupting your sleep enough right now, perhaps you’re also struggling with weird and wonderful dreams. This is completely normal, especially as you get closer to your due date and your mind starts to race ahead to what life will look like once your baby has arrived. Pregnancy hormones change your sleeping patterns and emotions which is why you might feel like your dreams are more vivid than usual.
Many people report having both positive and negative pregnancy-related dreams and nightmares during pregnancy. If you’re feeling nervous about giving birth and becoming a parent, your dreams may be a way for your subconscious to work through some of your anxieties. But, as with the dreams you had prior to being pregnant, there’s no reason to believe that what you dream will become a reality. In fact, your dreams are reflecting how much you care about your baby.
Other dreams women have reported having are about running away or being trapped somewhere. This could reflect concerns you have about losing your independence. Again, this is a totally natural feeling to have. However, if you’re finding your dreams or nightmares upsetting, share your feelings with someone you trust. It might help to try some relaxation or breathing techniques before bed. Also avoid screens for an hour before you go to bed and don’t drink caffeinated drinks late in the day.
Birth story of the week
This week we catch up with Rachel and Alex from our Stratford and Forest Gate courses who share the positive birth of their baby Clara.
“Happy Parents. Happy Baby. was such a fantastic course. It enabled Alex and I to learn so much about birthing options and outcomes, what to expect throughout that process and on into the fourth trimester. The relationships I've made with my fellow mums has been invaluable. We still message daily 18 months down the line. I am so grateful we did Happy Parents. Happy Baby. as we felt so prepared and ready for all the different situations that may arise during birth.
Following a few issues with reduced movements throughout my pregnancy, I ended up being induced at 37+3 due to another case. It didn't entirely go to plan, with a slow induction and development of an infection whilst in hospital.
I experienced a lot of things that before birth I hadn't wanted such as having my waters broken and having an epidural. My induction failed to progress and I ended up with an emergency Caesarean. However, Happy Parents. Happy Baby. were wonderful about talking through the different stages of birth, how things can move through from one stage to the next, and reiterating that you always have options and to always ask questions.
“For example, before my epidural, I was able to have mobile CTG bands as I knew through Happy Parents. Happy Baby. they were an option. I knew I could ask my midwife and doctor any questions and say no/ask for further information if I didn't understand why something was happening. The course really helped me know that despite the birth very much not going to my plan I felt like I had options.
“I also made sure I had a bluetooth speaker and music playing once we were on the labour ward, as we were there a while it made such a big difference to my mindset during that time.
“Alex was fantastic at keeping me calm, he took time to rest when he could too and helped with asking questions when I wasn't quite feeling up to it. There was also a funny moment towards the end as when the decision was finally made to go for a C-section, he was having a shower, so he emerged from the bathroom and was basically thrown some scrubs and told to get moving as the baby was coming.
“The moment I first saw Clara was such a special moment, one full of joy, love and for me relief as I had been in hospital for a long time by then.”
We really appreciate you sharing this with us!
Treat of the week
No home should be without a basic first aid kit, especially with a baby in the house. So this week we’re sharing the Reliance Medical first aid kit.
Combine this with the HPHB first aid session and you’ll be feeling prepared for any eventuality.
Products are based on suggestions from our specialists and community of parents. We may earn commission from shopping links.
Join our community
Happy Parents Happy Baby is here to support you through every step of your pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.
Connect with other parents-to-be and learn everything you need to know, by joining our award-winning antenatal classes.
That's all for now...
Thank you so much for joining us!
Have a great week.
Team HPHB x
Information you
can trust
Our articles are based on the latest-evidence based guidelines and scientific research and are written by our team of medical experts.
Coming up
next week
What is a stretch and a sweep?
Spotlight on: pelvic pressure
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