Future mom

The uterine cervix shortens and opens while the bladder undergoes the heaviest pressure in the whole period of pregnancy. You might experience moderate nervousness days before the birth. Signs of upcoming birth may be increasing and more frequent contractions during regular time intervals. The other sign would be the pouring out at the moment when the amniotic bubble bursts and as well as blood-tinged discharge due to coming off the mucous plug; in both cases it is necessary to go to a maternity hospital or calling a midwife home.

The baby has already lost most of the lanugo hair on the body except for possibly the shoulders and those places hidden by the skin folds. The nails on the toes have grown completely. There is a likelihood of umbilical cord with a thickness of 0.51 inches, getting stuck in nods and twisting around the baby’s neck. After all this is through which the baby receives nutrients to keep gaining weight. A quantity of your antibodies finds their way through the placental barrier into the baby’s blood giving his immune system a push and helping it to start. However, it is not necessary for the baby to produce these types of antibodies himself and they will disappear by themselves in half a year.

Third stage of pregnancy is the birth of placenta. But prior to this, between the second and third stages, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut off. Starting from now, your baby becomes a fully independent human being and performs all essential functions on his own.

You probably know that the amniotic fluid continuously gets replaced every three hours, even during the birth. Pretty interesting isn’t it? We actually don’t know where the amniotic fluid comes from, although it is partially made of urine, sweat and other fluids released by the baby. Your baby has been inhaling the amniotic fluid for several weeks already to get ready for the life outside the womb and to breathing. Mekonium will be the first thing that intestines give out after birth. In approximately 30% of cases mekonium is released to the amniotic fluid prior to birth, which could pose problems if the baby swallows this fluid mixed with mekonium. It shouldn’t worry you though because it doesn’t lead to serious problems that often.

Length from crown to sacrum – approximately 19.69 inches.

Weight - approximately 6.6 lbs.