Your are having a baby! How wonderful! Pregnancy is a wonderful gift from the Lord! I was always blessed that we had no problems conceiving a child, when so many in this country have difficult times conceiving. Children are a gift from the Lord.... Children belong first to God and are His gift to us. "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. " Psalm 127:3
Body ChangesAs you body's weight, shape, and balance change, you may alter the way you sit and stand. This can cause muscle strain. In late pregnancy, if the baby is facing front with the back of his or her head pressing against your sacrum, severe low backache may result.
During the first trimester, your growing uterus and developing baby press against your bladder, causing a frequent need to urinate. This will happen again near the end of pregnancy, when the baby has dropped in preparation for being born. Hormones and the increased volume of your circulation also affect bladder control and the potential for urinary tract infections.
Your breasts produce colostrum, a yellowish or clear liquid, intended to be your baby's first food. some women experience leakage of this fluid in late pregnancy. Others do not. Either condition is normal.
During pregnancy, your growing uterus takes up part of the working space of your digestive system. Hormones, too may slow intestinal movement. In some cases, iron and vitamin supplements may contribute to constipation.
If you stand for long periods of time, low blood pressure may cause faintness. This is especially likely to occur in warm, crowded places or during long, uncomfortable periods of inactivity, such as standing on line at a check out counter. In late pregnancy, lying on your back may cause your blood pressure to drop and you may feel dizzy or faint when you first get up. Faintness may also result from low blood sugar or anemia (too little iron in the blood).
During pregnancy, the increase in your volume of circulation and supply of certain hormones may cause tenderness, swelling, and bleeding of gums. A lack of vitamin C in your diet also may contribute to this condition.
Nasal congestion, fatigue, eyestrain, caffeine withdrawal, anxiety, and tension are all possible causes of headaches during pregnancy (and any other time). In late pregnancy, a sharp, blinding headache that affects your vision may be associated with pre-eclampsia and should be reported to your care provider.
During pregnancy, your digestive system may work more slowly. Your enlarging uterus crowds your stomach and may cause stomach acids to be pushed upward. Both of these things may lead to heartburn and intestinal gas, or indigestion.
The increased volume of your circulation causes dilation of veins in your rectum and vagina. There is added pressure from your growing uterus.
Calcium, which affects muscle contraction, is less easily absorbed during pregnancy. Pressure from your growing uterus slows circulation in the legs, and this may lead to cramps. Leg cramps often occur when you are in bed.
Your body may be reacting to the hormones of pregnancy. Too little Vitamin B6 or too little glycogen, the natural sugar stored in your liver, can cause nausea. Emotions are another possible cause of nausea during pregnancy.
Membranes become overloaded during pregnancy from the increased volume of circulation. In some women, this causes nosebleeds.
During pregnancy, your pelvic joints relax to increase the size and flexibility of space available for the birth canal. This may cause pressure on the sciatic nerve, with pain in the pelvic area and down the thigh into the leg. Another source of discomfort may be the pressure of your growing uterus on the ligaments that support it. This may cause sharp, shooting pains on either side of your abdomen.
Your growing uterus takes up part of your breathing space, causing pressure on your diaphragm.
A high level of pregnancy hormones can trigger extra deposits of pigment, which may appear as darkened blotches on the cheeks , nose, and forehead as well as on the nipples and in a line from the navel to the pubic bone. These skin changes may be associated with an inadequate supply of folic acid as well as the increase in pregnancy hormones.
About 90 percent of pregnant women experience stretch marks to come degree. Stretch marks are a type of scar tissue that forms when the skin's normal elasticity is not sufficient to accommodate the stretching required during pregnancy. Stretch marks occur most frequently on the abdomen, but some women also get them on the breasts, buttocks, or thighs.
Fluid retention that causes swelling (edema) is a natural condition of pregnancy. The growing uterus puts pressure on the blood vessels that carry fluid from the feet and ankles. Tight clothing, especially around the ankles, legs, and lower body, can increase fluid retention and swelling by slowing down circulation. Too little protein in the diet may cause the body to retain fluid.
Fatigue is a natural effect of the hormones of pregnancy. Carrying and caring for your developing baby requires extra energy. Tiredness also may result from anemia, which is not uncommon during pregnancy.
Increased blood supply and hormones cause your vagina to increase its normal secretions. The normally acidic atmosphere of the vagina changes, too, creating a more fertile setting for the common vaginal infection monilia (yeast infection).
Veins in your legs can become overloaded as a result of the slowed circulation caused by the greater volume of blood and the pressure of your growing uterus.
See Varicosities.The tipped uterus is back toward the back of the pelvis. This occurs for different reasons, but may be from scarring from adhesions as a result of endometriosis, or fibroids. Giving birth can cause this if the ligaments that hold the uterus stretch. You may have pain with menstruation or sexual intercourse. You may also experience back pain and some incontinence of your urine, UTI, and fertility problems. You can treat this with out seeing a doctor (who would recommend surgery) by trying the knee chest exercise. This may help, but not if it is caused by fibroids or endometriosis. Then you may have to go the medical route- of surgery to fix the problem.
You need to tell your midwife or doctor if you have any of these signs. This can lead to preterm birth, growth retardation or still birth.
PIH is present when a pregnant woman's blood pressure rises above 140/90 on two or more occasions, at least six hours apart. PIH occurs in the second half of pregnancy (usually after 20 weeks of gestation) in women who previously had normal blood pressure. It disappears following delivery.
Pre-eclampsia is a condition of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Your blood pressure goes up, you retain water and may find protein in your urine. It is similar to PIH, but more severe and is also associated with protenuria.
You are more at risk if you are a first time mom. or a family member had this condition, if you are carrying more than one baby, or if you are younger than 20 or older than 40. If you already have high blood pressure before being pregnant, you are also more at risk. Mild pre-eclampsia is high blood pressure, water retention and protein in your urine. Severe pre-eclampsia you may have headaches, blurred vision, see spots or unable to tolerate bright lights, feel very tired, may have nausea or vomiting, urinating in small amounts, shortness of breath, pain in the upper right abdomen and may have the tendency to bruise easily. You may also have severe headaches,. Please contact your care provider if you experience any of these. This is why your care provider tests your urine each visit, and takes your blood pressure. Eclampsia is a serious condition and can result in convulsions. The heart, kidneys, liver and brain can be affected by PIH. PIH can occur at any time, but most often after the 20th week of pregnancy. If this occurs the placenta will not have enough blood flow which means the baby does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients. This can cause the baby's growth to slow. With mild PIH your B/P will rise slightly. You must work to keep in under control. Sometimes even though you do everything correct, you still may have trouble. Diet is VERY important and the diet called the blue ribbon baby diet by Dr. Brewer is the best for you and your baby.
You should rest on your left side. It helps the blood flow easier. You NEED to watch your diet more closely. You NEED to DRINK a lot of water, at least 8 glasses a day. (You should have been doing these things anyway!) Go for short walks to increase your circulation and help you with sleep and digestion. Take two grams of elemental calcium each evening before bed with a glass of whole milk. You should already be taking come calcium and magnesium together. Ask you care provider about this. Talk to your midwife about things that you can take to help your kidneys.
This is a very important area in your life as a pregnant woman. How you eat will help your baby grow, as a hungry baby comes out early. A hungry baby, does not develop correctly. A hungry baby may die.
It is very important that you eat healthy during your pregnancy. This means good food not junk food, or fast food, sugars and caffeine. Do you realize that you can eat you whole days of calories in one bag of chips? This would be 'empty' calories. They would add weight, bad type of weight, and not give you any thing of nutritional value, and you still would be hungry. You need good healthy calories. You need fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, juices, calcium, and protein. If you can't get fresh foods, then go for the frozen. Canned food from the store should only be consumed if you have to. You should also stay away from processed meats, such as hot dogs, hamburger, (unless it is made fresh), bologna, and other processed types of meats. I also prefer that you do not eat pork products. Pork has microscopic worms, and it had not been proven that these are destroyed in the cooking process. Also, following the bibical dietary guidelines will never allow you to go astray...Does our FATHER in heaven lie to us?
You need deep green, deep orange fruits and vegetables every day. Then choose the deep yellow ones, and finally the more pale ones. So you should be eating broccoli instead of lettuce. Kale instead of lettuce.
You also need a source of calcium every day, as the baby will take from you what he/she needs, so if you are not getting enough, you will suffer. There is an old wives tale that says, you loose a tooth for every baby you have. This was true hundreds of years ago when they did not understand proper diets. Now we know the importance of calcium. You body will take from your reserves which then need to be replaced. This can effect your bone mass. If you don't like milk, cheese, or other dairy products, then you will need to take calcium supplements. Calcium helps your baby grow strong bones and teeth.
Signs that you are not getting enough calcium are leg cramps, irritability, and sleeplessness. It can also be associated with a increase of blood pressure. these minerals are important for your heart.
The following foods contain approximately 300 mg of calcium and are the equivalent of 1 serving: *1 cup milk *1 cup yogurt *1/3 cup dry milk powder (add to home baked foods, cereal, ground meat, or blender drinks) *1-1/2 oz. cheese *1-1/2 cup cottage cheese *1-1/2 cup ice cream *1 cup almonds *2/3 cup canned salmon (with bones) *3 Tbsp ground sesame seeds *1-1/2 cup broccoli, collards, raw cabbage or turnip greens.
As your baby grows and develops you want to be able to provide all the nutrients your child will need for proper development. Food you buy from a grocery store won't be able to provide all these nutrients.
Nature sunshine's Prenatal mulit-vitamin Supplement has 11 vitamins and 6 minerals to supplement your diet.A urinary tract infection can lead to problems with a pregnant mother. Sometimes you can get such 'cramps' from this that it can put you into premature labor. UTI's are also called bladder infections. Bacterial inflammation in the urinary tract are more common in pregnancy. This is due to the changes in the urinary tract. The uterus sits directly on top of the bladder. As the uterus grows, its increased weight can block the drainage of urine from the bladder. This urine remains undrained and can cause problems or an infection. I suggest that you increase your water intake, to at least 10 glasses a day. I also suggest that you take cranberry pills (careful of the juice as it may contain added sugars and that 'feeds' the infection).
Signs are as follows:You should go to a dentist . You need to be sure you are brushing well, and flossing. Good oral care will help prevent problems. Plaque is the cause of gum disease. the hormones that your body makes, that rise in pregnancy, will increase (exaggerates) the way gum tissues react to the plaque.
You should contact the care giver you have chosen as soon as you know that you are pregnant. I encourage my clients to contact me as soon as they believe they might be pregnant. Early care is essential to good health of the baby.
This is one of the first signs that most people experience. Unless you have irregular periods, this is usually the 'tale-tell' sign that everyone first notices. Sometimes you might experience bleeding when implantation occurs, this may cause some spotting, or light bleeding. I have known of some women who have had their period for a number of months after they become pregnant. If you suspect that you are pregnant, and are still having periods, you should contact your care giver so she can determine if this is normal for you or not.
Urine tests are the most popular. They measure the levels of HCG , this is a hormone that is secreted during your pregnancy, and excreted in your urine. If you get a negative test result, but still feel you are pregnant, wait a week and test again. Usually if you get a negative that is false, either it it due to not doing the test correctly, or that you did the test too soon. You should always assume that you are pregnant until you find out different. This is so you take better care of yourself. Use first morning urine as the concentration of hCG is at its highest. HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) is produced by the cytotrophoblastic layer of the chorionic villi. Its function is to stimulate the growth and activity of the corpus luteum. It is usually present in very large amounts at first, peaking at week 7 to 10, and then gradually reducing until the end of pregnancy. (you can also have a blood test to tell if you are pregnant or not)
Occurs from 4 to 14 weeks of pregnancy They say that this is influenced by hormones. Don't hormones influence just everything?! "Human chorionic gonadotrophin is found in large amounts until the placenta takes over from the corpus luteum at around 12 weeks. Estrogen and progesterone are also contributors." 1 'Heartburn is a cause of progesterone relaxing the cardiac sphincter of the stomach and allowing reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus.' 2 You need to avoid caffeine also as this increases the chance of heartburn. You can be sick any time of the day, it is not just 'morning' sickness. You need to contact your care provider if you are unable to keep any food or liquids down, you don't want to become dehydrated or malnourished.
Occurs 4-8 weeks Your breasts may feel very tender, and you will not want them to be touched. This will usually go away during the second trimester.
Occurs 6-12 weeks This occurs due to the growing uterus competing for space with the bladder. It will not be as bad after about 12 weeks of pregnancy, but will re-occur in the later part of pregnancy due to the baby down into the pelvis, applying pressure on the bladder with its head. This is normal, and you should NOT decrease your fluid intake to avoid going to the bathroom so much. You need your fluids. You should empty your bladder often as this decreases your chance for a urinary tract infection.
Occurs 16-20 weeks This is when you first feel the baby move! If you have never been pregnant before, you will feel the baby move around the 20th week for sure, before that, you will feel it move, but may not recognize the feeling as movement of the baby. It feels like someone put their finger under your skin, and just run from one side of your tummy to the other. It is such a wonderful feeling to know that is your little baby moving!
Occurs 8 weeks You will start feeling 'big' at about 16 weeks. You care giver will be able to feel your growing uterus before that. We measure the height of the uterus above the pubic bone by one centimeter each week of pregnancy.
Occurs 16 weeks These are what I call practice contractions. If you were going to run a 10 mile marathon race, you would practice for a few months (training) ahead of time, well you body is practicing now for the labor and delivery. these last about 3 seconds to 15 seconds as the average.
If you have any itching or burning then you need to contact your care giver, but if your discharge is just a little, and no other signs of infection, then this is normal.
The risks of smoking while pregnant are as follows: Birth of a preterm baby. A baby that will not grow as well, meaning it may have complications at birth and beyond. Less oxygen to the baby . Increase risk that the baby may die. For the mother you have more of a risk for clots. On a personal note, of my five living children I smoked with the first one until I was 7 months pregnant. Then I learned that the baby would go through withdrawal after the birth if I did not quit now while pregnant. I felt that would be cruel to my baby to have him go through and not me. So I quit while pregnant thinking that the babys going through withdrawal while in side of me, was a nicer way than out in this world. When I worked in the nursery, I and other nurses would say about babies born to mothers who smoked, they were fussy more, needing a cigarette. If someone would just blow smoke into the babies face they might calm down. How mean to do this to a baby, smoke up until the birth and then make them 'quit' just because they were born.
My oldest son, is the only child that has had a problem with smoking.There is no safe level of alcohol consumption . If you drink, your baby drinks also. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a problem with women's children who drink. If this effects your child, they will struggle all of their life. They will always be slow or have problems in life with other emotional issues and learning issues. Why do you as a mother have the say that your baby will suffer all of its life? Why would you choose to give your child that kind of life?
| Vitamin A | 5,000 IU | Don't over do! Can cause birth defects if you take large amounts. |
| Beta Carotene | 3000-5000 mg | lowers heart problems |
| Vitamin B1 (thiamin) | 50-100mg | Is a brain energizer |
| B2 (Riboflavin) | 20-50 mg | antioxidant |
| B3 (Niacin) | 25-100 mg* | restores sanity, controls cholesterol, repairs joints. |
| B6 (pyridoxine) | 50 mg** | |
| B12 (cobalamin) | 100 mcg | Don't take alone, take with other B vitamins. |
| Choline | 25-100mg | nerve builder |
| Vitamin C | 500-2000 mg | |
| Calcium | 500-1500 mg | bones, teeth, lowers blood pressure. |
| Copper | 1-2 mg | take with zinc, toxic at high levels |
| Vitamin D | 400-600 IU | don't exceed! |
| Vitamin E | 400-1200 IU | prevents tears. take with food or drink that contains fat |
| Folic Acid | 800-2000mcg | lowers birth defects Iodine get from salt toxic at high levels |
| Inositol | 25-100 mg | natures sleeping pill |
| Iron | 10-30 mg | Don't take too much. Don't take with calcium. Take with Vitamin C for better absorption. |
| Iodine | 150 mcg in salt. | Toxic at high levels |
| Lutein & Zeaxanthin | from food sources | for eyes |
| Lycopene | from food sources | protects LDL from oxidizing, and building up on artery walls |
| Magnesium | 750 mg | balance with calcium. (take with calcium) toxic at high levels |
| Pantethine (pantothenic) | 25-100 mg | stops lipos and triglycerides |
| Potassium | Get from diet | |
| Quercetin | 500 mg. | take on empty stomach. promotes proper circulation. |
| Zinc | 15-28 mg | makes stronger membranes. Also if not enough, increases risk of low birth weight. |
Cooking with a cast iron skillet to help keep your iron where it should be, is a good thing to do. You need 2# of meat or a meat substitution each week. Do NOT take iron with calcium, as it does not absorb well. For best absorption take with 500 mg of vitamin C or orange juice. CAUTION: be sure that the OJ does not have calcium added!
1000 borage oil OR 1000mg evening primrose oil. Begin taking in the 32 week and at 26 weeks up it to 2000 mg of evening primrose oil. Be sure you are also taking zinc, vit. C, calcium, magnesium and red raspberry.
If you have a problem with yeast, you should be taking acidophilus daily, it has been suggested for you to take this the last 4-6 weeks of pregnancy to help avoid a problem with yeast for you or baby.
The following has been used to help treat nausea, especially if you have a real hard time keeping any thing down. I call it the ‘oral IV’.
The following all help, talk to your midwife about what she would like you to take.
It's normal for your baby to move often in your womb. By the 27th to 28th week you should begin to watch that your baby is moving each day. to begin doing the counts, choose the same time each day to do this. Pick the time when your baby is most active. This is sometimes after you have eaten or drank cold water or juice, or perhaps been up walking or right before bed. Write down the time you begin, count how many times your baby moves in the time recommended (usually 15 minutes to 1/2 hour). This is a way to tell that your baby is growing and healthy. Sometimes we think that our baby is not moving well, but after sitting down to really tell, we find out he/she is moving ok, perhaps we were just too busy to really tell before. By spending time to concentrate on what your baby is doing, you will see that your baby is ok. If not, notify your midwife right away!
![[8.5 weeks.]](../images/8.5_weeks.png)
![[3.5 weeks.]](../images/3.5_weeks.png)
I believe that your baby's life began at the time the sperm joined the ovum (egg). This occurred in one of your fallopian tubes, after 1/2 hour the new cell divided into 2 cells. It will continue to divide. It travels into the uterus where it attaches to the uterine wall.
During the first two weeks of your cycle, prior to you becoming pregnant, you body is preparing to ovulate. Hormones are stimulating your ovaries to produce and release an ovum. They are also signaling the endometrium to thicken, readying it to receive a fertilized egg. As this fertilized egg travels to the uterus, it will be gin to divide. By the time it implants in the uterus, it has grown to over 100 cells with a fluid filled cavity. (called a blatocyst) it has two layers, the outer one will form the placenta, the inner one will become your baby. Once implantation occurs, your cervix gets wider and softer, and a thick mucous plug seals off the uterus to protect it from infection. You may experience cramping and spotting when this happens. In the first month you may feel prickling, tingling sensation in your breasts due to increased blood supply particularly around the nipple area. You may have morning sickness, you will have and increase HCG in your blood and urine. The embryo is about 1 cm in length, with a head, tail fold and limb buds. A primitive central nervous system (CNS) forms.
By week number 5 you may have a positive pregnancy test. You may be tired, have tender breasts, your nipples may begin to darken, and you may experience a metallic taste in your mouth or have morning sickness. You baby will implant into the uterus about this week, it will measure about 0.1-0.2 cm. the CNS, muscles and bones are in early developing stages. To avoid problems A lack of protein causes the placenta to adhere poorly to the uterine wall. Then the stress in labor can cause it to dislodge it.
By the end of the 7th week your baby will be about the size of a pea. The heart has divided into the right and left chambers and the primary airways have developed in the lungs.
By the 8th week you can tell the nose on the baby, eyelids have begun to form. The bronchi (the tubes that go from the trachea to the lungs) are beginning to branch out. Arms grow longer. The baby is now about 2-5 cm in length.
During weeks 4-8 all major organs are laid down in primitative form. there are early movements and the external genitalia is present but can't yet tell the sex.
The kidneys begin to function between the 8-12 week.
![[16 weeks.]](../images/16_weeks.png)
Week number 9 your baby's ears are forming more exterior. Feet and hands continue to form.
The baby will pass urine at 10 weeks. By the 10th week the baby is now considered a fetus! By the end of the 10th week the babys organs and systems are all formed, and now just continue to develop and grow. The baby is 1.25-1.70 inches in length and weighs just under a quarter of an ounce.
By week number 11 it is 1.75-2.4 inches in length and weighs about 0.3 ounces.
By week number 12 the baby is 1/2 ounce and is 2.5 inches in length. You can hear the heart beat now. The pituitary gland is starting to produce hormones, such as growth hormone, prolactin, corticotropin and others. There are now bone formations, Finger nails continue to grow, the baby is developing hair. Fingers and toes are fully separated.
Week #13 the baby now looks like a baby in the face! it weighs about .5-.7 ounces and is about 2.5-3 inches in length. The baby's intestines have been developing outside the body in the umbilical cord before, will now be drawn into the abdominal cavity.
Week #14 the baby is 3.5 inches long and weighs an ounce. The neck grows stronger and longer. The chin no longer has to rest on the chest. External genitalia continues to develop.
Week #15 the baby has fine hair begin to cover its body, called lanugo. Bones are getting harder and retaining calcium. Begins to suck his/her thumb, and the skin looks thin. It is about 4 inches long and weighs about 1.75 ounces.
Week #16 the baby is about 4.5 inches long and weighs about 3 ounces. There is more lanugo. Quickening or flutters are felt by the mother.
![[24 weeks.]](../images/24_weeks.png)
Week #17. The baby is now developing fat layers. The baby is about 5 inches long and weighs about 3.5 ounces.
Week #18. The baby is now about 5.6 inches long and weighs about 5 ounces. You may have uneven patches of color on your face due to hormones. As capillaries under your skin on your face can increase, causing you to look flushed. You can feel your uterus just below your naval.
Week #19 the baby is now about 8 ounces and is about 9 inches long. Baby can begin to hear things outside of the womb.
Week #20 The baby is beginning to form vernix. Baby is now about 9.5 to 10 ounces and is about 10 inches long. you have begun to have braxton hick contractions.
Week # 21 The baby is now about 11 inches long and weighs about 12 ounces
Week # 22 the baby is about 12 inches long and weighs about 12.5 ounces. Caution: contact your midwife if you have any vaginal bleeding , abdominal pain, severe swelling in your face or fingers, blurry vision, painful urination, headache that wont go away, severe vomiting, fever or chills, loss of fluid from your vagina, or changes with the baby's activity.
Week # 23 -24 The baby is now about 15 ounces and 12.5 inches long.
From week 20-24 most of the organs become capable of functioning; periods of sleep and activity are noted, and the baby responds to sound. The skin is red and wrinkled.
![[30-32 weeks.]](../images/30-32_weeks.png)
Week # 25 the baby is about 13.5 inches long and weighs about 1to 1 and 1/4 pounds. It has hiccups (caused by when the baby practices breathing as they inhale and exhale and swallow fluid)
Week #26 the baby is 1.5 pounds and is 13.75 inches long. The development of fat stores help with regulation of temperature after the birth.
Week # 27 the baby weighs 2 pounds and is 14.25 inches long. The baby continues to practice sucking and can now open eyes and see light thru the mothers abdomen.
Week # 28 the baby is 2.4 pounds and is 15.25 inches long.
Week # 29 The baby is now 2.5 pounds and is 16 inches long. Eyelashes and eyebrows and the hair fully formed and continue to grow.
Week # 30 The baby is now 3 pounds and is 16.8 inches long.
Week # 31 the bays is now 3.5 pounds and is 18 inches long. Lungs are not mature, but most of the other body systems are completely developed. Nerve cells and connections are functioning and they can feel pain.
Week # 32 the baby is now 18.9 inches long and weighs about 4 #. Nails reach end of fingers and the skin is less red, more subcu fat, vernix is present and the wrinkled appearance is now gone. Plantar creases are more visible and the ear cartilage is soft. Testes are descending in males babies. The fat begins to form , and the fat continues to be stored as well as iron.
![[40 weeks.]](../images/40_weeks.png)
WEEK # 33 the baby is 19.4 inches and weighs 4.4 pounds.
Week # 34 the baby is 19.8 inches and weighs 5 pounds. The testicles descend into the scrotum now, if has not already.
Week # 35 the baby is 20.25 inches and weighs 5.5 pounds.
Week # 36 the baby is 20.5 inches and weighs 6 pounds.
Week # 37 the baby is 6.5 pounds and is about 21 inches long. The baby makes a hormone that matures the lungs. (cortisone) The lanugo is starting to wear off.
Week # 38 the baby is about 21.25 inches long and weighs about 6.5 pounds. The vernix begins to dissolve.
Week # 39 the baby is about 21.5 inches long and weighs about 7 #.
Week # 40 the baby is about 22 inches long and weighs about 7.5 pounds.
The following are some of the most asked questions from couples I have served in both midwifery and childbirth classes.
Some people do and some don't. The increased blood flow to the genitals (female private area) can cause some women to feel more aroused (excited). If there are no medical reasons and it doesn't go against your personal or religious beliefs, go ahead and enjoy love making. Satisfying sexual activity can be relaxing and make you feel closer to your husband.
At the beginning and at the end of pregnancy, sometimes women do not feel like having sex, and are sometimes turned off by the thought of sex. Sometimes men also feel this way. Sometimes they are afraid of hurting the baby. This is normal. You should still spend time together, even if there is no sex involved. You are husband and wife, and the relationship needs daily work. sit out on the porch swing in the evening, watch the sun set. Sit on the couch together as you watch a movie. Take a walk in the park, or go for a drive in the country. (with out the children) Just be together.
Some men are afraid they will hurt the baby or their wife. So they restrain themselves from being physically intimate with their wife. Others really do find their pregnant wife very unattractive. Men, discuss this with your wife, gently. Don't hurt her with your words. Caution men: never make here feel ugly or unattractive. If you don't find her to be sexy, because she is gaining weight, then search your own hearts attitude. She is pregnant with your baby. Choose your words carefully.
Well if you do have sex, please be careful. The mucous plug and the bag of waters protect the baby. If there is bleeding prior to making love, or any fluid leaking , do not have sex. If one of these things happen after you have sex, be honest with your care giver when you call her. Don't be afraid to tell her you just had sex. It will help her to diagnose what has happened. Usually sex does not cause these things to happen. Sex does not cause premature labor in a healthy pregnancy, but if you are past your due date and the cervix is getting ready, then intercourse resulting in orgasm, and with nipple stimulation can be a way to help get labor started.
One of the ways that people use to determine your due date is a result of Dr. Naegele, in 1850. His way to tell your due date is based on a cycle of 28 days. If you use this way, you will do the following: The First day of your last Menstrual Period (LMP) add seven (7) days to that date. Now subtract three months (3 months) and this will give you a due date. EXAMPLE : If my last period started on November 2, I would add the 7 days, giving me a date of November 9th. Then I subtract 3 months, giving me a date of August 9th. This would be my due date, August 9th. Remember that this way does not take into account other factors such as: longer or shorter cycles, first time mothers, the fact that we have better health care today, and better nutrition, and that some women, African American and Asian women tend to have shorter gestations.
We will use other ways to be sure of your due date.
You carry a baby about 40 weeks or 9 calendar months. But you will notice that if you go by every 4 weeks, it comes out to be 10 lunar months. (moon phases) This is important to understand. If you are reading from some books that talk about 10 months of pregnancy, you will understand that they are not referring to 'going over due'. They are talking about moon phases.
