Pregnancy Week 39: The First Signs of Labor and Lightening

All you can do during pregnancy week thirty-nine is wait for the first signs of labor. Every time you feel your uterus tighten you look at your watch to time the contraction in the hopes that another one will follow. Your baby will start to descend into your pelvis by your thirty-ninth week of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Week 39: Baby's Development

With only one week to go, all your baby has to do is gain weight. The average baby weighs between seven and eight pounds at birth, so your little one should be right in that weight range.

Pregnancy Week 39: Lightening

Your baby will start to descend further into your pelvis. This is called "lightening". The good news is that this will give you a little more room to breathe because his feet will no longer be pushing against your diaphragm. The bad news is that if you think you went to the bathroom a lot before then think again. Your bladder has very little room to expand anymore.

Pregnancy Week 39: First Signs of Labor

As your due date approaches you will be watching for the first signs of labor. You will need to time the length of any contractions along with the length of time between the end of one contraction and the beginning of the next. Labor contractions can start out sporadic and then get more organized as your cervix dilates.

If you are wondering whether or not your contractions are real or just Braxton Hicks contractions the rule of thumb is if the contractions are coming and going at regular intervals then it is probably true labor. You can also read this article to help you distinguish between Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor contractions.

As your cervix dilates, your mucus plug may be expelled. This is more commonly known as the "bloody show". This can happen up to four days before labor begins. Losing your mucus plug is just another sign that labor is imminent and you will not be pregnant forever.

One imminent sign of labor is when your water breaks. This is a rupturing of your membrane and the leaking of amniotic fluid. Only about 15% of pregnant women experience a spontaneous breaking of their water. It may be just a trickle of fluid but if this happens then you will need to go to the birthing center in order to be monitored.

True labor contractions normally start immediately after your water breaks. The contractions will start out mild but may rapidly become more intense.

Pregnancy week thirty-nine is a waiting game. If you can, use this time to catch up on any unfinished business. Do whatever it takes to keep your mind busy. It will help to keep you from going stir crazy.

For more pregnancy weeks and fetal development you can read:
Pregnancy Week 35

Pregnancy Week 36

Pregnancy Week 37

Pregnancy Week 38

Click here to find more information on your pregnancy and baby's development.

Sources:

Personal Experience

Fit Pregnancy (2009). Pregnancy Calendar. Retrieved: April 8, 9, 2009. Web Site: fitpregnancy.com/calendar/40251887.html

Myers-Gorrie, Trula, Slone-McKinney, Emily, & Smith-Murray, Sharon (1998). Foundations of Maternal-Newborn Nursing (2^nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders Company.

What to Expect (2009). Weekly Pregnancy Calendar. Retrieved:April 8, 9, 2009. Web Site: whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/landing.aspx