You are 39 weeks pregnant

Your baby

By this week, your baby has lost most of the slippery vernix that had been covering and protecting her skin. In addition to supplying the little one with nutrients, around this time your placenta c...Read more

Your body

Suddenly obsessed with tidying up? Scrubbed the floors so well you could practically eat off of them? Stocked up on groceries, baby supplies and prepared a freezer’s worth of meals? That&rsqu...Read more

Your life right now

We totally understand your urge to stay home at this point. But consider getting out of the nest and having a date night. As many as possible! Think about it: Once the baby arrives, it’s goin...Read more

Mums like me

‘After my C-section, I had my DH go to Mothercare and get me the postpartum support belt. It helped me and I'm planning on taking it to the hospital this time.’ - cjyoung1130

...Read more

By this week, your baby has lost most of the slippery vernix that had been covering and protecting her skin. In addition to supplying the little one with nutrients, around this time your placenta continues supplying antibodies to help protect her against infections from bacteria and viruses. In fact, these antibodies will actually give her immune system a boost for the first six months of her life. Pretty amazing! Your baby’s total length is now likely close to 21 ½ inches - and if you could peer inside your belly, you’d notice that her tiny fingernails have reached or grown past her fingertips. She’ll need a trim fairly soon after she arrives.

Suddenly obsessed with tidying up? Scrubbed the floors so well you could practically eat off of them? Stocked up on groceries, baby supplies and prepared a freezer’s worth of meals? That’s your nesting instinct kicking in. And yes, it’s a very real feeling many pregnant women get - especially around this time. Go with it! It’s your body’s way of telling you that the baby is coming - and you had better be ready. Don’t fret, on the other hand, if you have no such urge. In fact, plenty of women find that at this stage of their pregnancy, the only thing they want to do is relax, read a magazine or treat themselves to a manicure. And that’s normal, too. Speaking of manicure – go out and get your nails done this week! When baby comes, there will be a lot of close-up pics of you handling that little bundle and you’ll want your hands looking great for posterities’ sake. And are you still feeling the burn? The heartburn, that is? Keep eating frequent, small meals (you probably can’t stomach big ones, anyway, at this point). And prop your upper body up slightly with a pillow or two at night to help keep acid from backing up into your oesophagus. Drinking plenty of water and avoiding foods that are spicy or high in acid - such as tomato sauce and citrus fruits - can also help. You’ll get through it! Your body is continuing to produce amniotic fluid, but levels may start to decrease a bit soon. Be sure to alert your doctor if you notice any fluid leakage which could be a gush of fluid or a slow, constant trickle. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a bit of urine seeping out and amniotic fluid. One way to check is to chill out in bed for 30 minutes to an hour after you wee. If any liquid trickles out when you get up, if it’s odourless and colourless, it is more likely amniotic fluid. If Kegels can stop it, it’s likely urine. Regardless, it’s always best to have this checked out, so give your doctor a call.

We totally understand your urge to stay home at this point. But consider getting out of the nest and having a date night. As many as possible! Think about it: Once the baby arrives, it’s going to be quite a while before you have another night out alone with your partner. So seize the opportunity to have some romantic dinners. Catch a couple of movies. See a show. We know you’re excited to become parents. Yet why not celebrate and relish your final days as a just-the-two-of-you couple? Plus, with evenings to look forward to, you can take your mind off of constantly wondering when the baby’s big premier will be.

‘After my C-section, I had my DH go to Mothercare and get me the postpartum support belt. It helped me and I'm planning on taking it to the hospital this time.’ - cjyoung1130

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