39th week
LET'S GET MEASURED!
Size of baby: 48 cm
Baby's weight: 3.25 kilos
3... 2... And... the countdown that will lead you to your goal has just started! Studies show that this week, and the 40th week, are the two safest weeks to give birth. The doctor will diagnose how mature the placenta is and according to that he will calculate the time until when it will be able to feed your little one. Your little one though is not so little anymore; on the contrary, it is now quite chubby and is cramped up for good! Boys especially tend to be slightly heavier than girls. Its tiny nails grow more and more and now its toenails reach the tips of its toes. A tiny little man anxious to see what you looks like...!
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
...The vocal chords of your baby are ready for their first high note? Yes, they are prepared, wound up and waiting for the air to penetrate, so they can mark their presence! The baby's lungs will continue to grow until the baby comes out in the air at the time of birth. For now, they build day and night like good "workers" the surfactant, a substance that prevents the too many tiny air sacs from sticking together, until the baby gets its first breath!
And through breathing comes its first cry! Strong and brave... A moment you will cherish in your memory, as this might be the only time in your life together when you will hear it cry and... rejoice! You will hear the cry (the louder it is, the better the breathing), but you will see no tears as its lachrymal canals will start producing tears after a few weeks.
Do you really want to know what a newborn looks like? Allow us to tell you!
Its torso is enlarged, while the neck is comparatively smaller. The baby is pushed hard in its attempt to get out of the birth canal, so eventually its skull may be more pointy. It is normal to have some soft areas in the skull, as these help the head to be compressed as much needed when coming out. It still has a part of the cord on its body, which will progressively dry and will "fall off" on its own. And that's how it will get its belly button. The tiny hands and feet are a little crooked, but will become straight as it grows. The genitals are quite swollen and you may notice some reddish marks on its skin. Most of them will go away with time, but others may stay like this for forever and will be called... birthmarks.
After birth, it will be time to experience a second miracle, that of breastfeeding. Prepare yourself physically and psychologically. Breastfeeding is a very personal experience between mother and baby. Your nipples should be ready before birth, as the baby will be placed on your breast the very same day of birth. Some mild pulling of the nipples will make them more durable. It is important to mind (as much as possible) not to hurt your nipples during breastfeeding, but also not to get "stiff" breasts from the increasing burden. You should know that the more relaxed you are, the more and better will be your milk.
Advice
If you have not already purchased some, now is a good opportunity to buy some nursing bras (not just one, because they get dirty easily from milk). What should you watch out for? It should be made of cotton, good quality hypoallergenic material without any odours and colours. It should fit well with adjustable straps and it should be neither too tight, thus clogging milk ducts, nor too loose. It should be stretchy and wrap your chest correctly. "Skin-to-skin" contact with the baby is very important during breastfeeding, therefore it should have the correct openings, with clip for added convenience.
Have a pleasant week... and make good choices!
Source
http://www.paidorama.com
