Now changing position leads to discomfort – whether you sit, lie down, or stand up. Any movement requires an effort from you as you are 9 months pregnant. Your belly has become huge, that’s why it’s difficult for you to find a comfortable position during sleep. The lack of sleep and heavy burden may cause a constant feeling of exhaustion. You feel clumsy and tired.
How Do You Feel?
- In case it is your first pregnancy, the head of your baby has already moved down into the pelvic area.
- The uterus puts your stomach and diaphragm under less pressure, so, fortunately, heartburn, upset stomach, and short breath occur seldom. But there is a feeling of heaviness in your lower belly instead. It is possible that due to the pressure on your bladder urges to urinate will become more frequent.
- The discharge from the vagina becomes thicker and contains more mucus, where blood streaks may be seen. They may become clearer after the internal examination or sexual intercourse. Your belly is itching.
- The cervix of the uterus grows soft in preparation for childbirth. The contractions are more frequent, and sometimes you will feel like the delivery has already begun. But if the contractions are not regular then that’s only so-called “false contractions” before childbirth. They are sometimes also called “practice contractions”. In case of such contractions occur too frequently you should do a special respiration exercises.
Your Weight is Stabilizing
In the 38th week of pregnancy, your weight becomes stable. If you’ve gained less than 29 pounds the restoration of your former weight after birth won’t be difficult for you. And now weigh yourself every 2-3 days and memorize, or better write down your weight index. The moment you stop gaining weight (and then it even begins to diminish) you should be ready for the beginning of the birth within the next 10 days.
Your large belly has changed your center of gravity, so watch your bearing. Keep your legs vertical as often as possible to prevent swellings and varicose veins.
The Lifestyle of a 9 Months Pregnant
Try to spend the last days of pregnancy resting. Housekeeping chores are of no use to you now. Show your talents in management: plan chores for your husband and folks. If after your leave for maternity hospital your husband will stay at home alone, fill your fridge with food that will last in advance. And teach your loved one to cook. Then you won’t have to worry that he’ll be hungry in the evenings.
The Last Month of Pregnancy Diet
Eat 5-6 times a day. Cook small portions and gradually limit the calorie content of your food. Completely exclude foodstuffs that may cause allergy (even if you’ve never had them). Such measures will help to protect your baby from this malaise.
Packing for maternity hospital: buy special bras for breastfeeding mothers and tissues for your breasts. Pack the case for maternity hospital thoroughly considering the list of needful things for the discharge – for you and your baby.
Visiting a Doctor Every Week
No matter how difficult it may be for you to pay regular visits to the maternity welfare center you should do it for the sake of your own and your future baby’s health. Always remember that in the last month of pregnancy you should visit your doctor every week.
How often does the baby move? If you have noticed that the baby stirs less than 10 times a day, ask your doctor to listen to your baby’s heart: maybe the fetus has a disorder in the work of its organism. It’s not impossible that the doctor will send you for a cardiotocography. It will give the answers to important questions: how is the baby breathing, how is it moving, is the heart of the baby working fine, and how much amniotic fluid is there around the fetus? Such detailed information helps to prevent deterioration in the baby’s state of health during childbirth.
The right position of the fetus. The doctor will also check if the baby is ready for birth and if it has occupied the right position: on its left side with its head down. Sometimes it happens that the future baby turns over and lies with its buttocks down or across the uterus. This is another cause not to miss your visits to the doctor – thus, it will be possible to notice all the changes and take necessary measures.
The due date, If the birth is behind schedule but the doctor hasn’t seen any reason for concern you also shouldn’t worry about it. Plus or minus two weeks to the estimated due date is within the normal range. Anyway, there isn’t much time left!
The Development of the Baby: Coming Soon
During the last month, the active preparation of the baby for a new life is going on. In the 36th week, it occupies the whole uterine cavity and that’s why now it’s not stirring but kicking painfully. There are delicate nails on the baby’s toes and fingers. Another important stage has passed – the formation of the baby’s genitals has finished. The dark substance is gathering in the baby’s intestines – meconium, or rudimentary excrement. During the last month, the baby will gain about 0.06 pounds a day.
By the 40th week, the length of the fetus is about 20 inches, its weight is about 7.8 pounds.
9 Months Pregnant Belly Pictures
Check out what the bellies look like in the ninth month of pregnancy.
9 Months Pregnant Ultrasound
30-34 weeks of pregnancy – the ideal time to have a 3D or 4D scan in the 3rd trimester. You’ll get the best images of your baby, provided your placenta is at the front of your uterus (anterior placenta).
34-36 weeks of pregnancy – ultrasound may be used to determine the health of the baby, and his position. Ultrasound diagnosis of the nuchal cord helps to determine the tactics of the delivery process.
Born in Belarus, 1985, a pedagogue and family psychologist, mother. Taking part in procedures of social adaptation of the foster children in new families. Since 2015 is a chief editor of the motherhow.com project, selecting the best and up-to-date material for those, who are planning, expecting, and already having babies.