The 39th week of pregnancy - 41 weeks of gestation - is the week that you should give birth, if it is not yet done. Your baby may have already been there for two weeks or, instead, decided to stay a few days of warmer.
The body of Mother
The contractions are there, and painful regular and the amniotic sac has broken: it is the starting signal for motherhood.
Do not be surprised if when you arrive, the first thing you have to do is the paperwork. Not to worry because the cervix takes several hours to fully expand.
Then, the medical team will carry out some tests: taking your blood pressure, your temperature and check your urine. In addition, a measure of the dilation of your cervix will be taken, if it is only just beginning, you will be installed in a room awaiting its total expansion.
So that your perineum is visible, it is possible that you are open. Finally, know that your baby can get out if your rectum is empty. Also, the midwife will prescribe a laxative, if it is not the case, take one home before leaving for maternity.
Next is the longest time of delivery: expansion. It takes on average between seven and eight hours if this is your first child between 4 and 5 hours for a second.
Once the cervix is fully dilated, you will have to put your preparation for childbirth.
In a few hours baby arrives ...
If the term is exceeded ...
If you do not give birth this week, you'll be overrun word. You will be closely watched because the placenta is perhaps more adequate to feed your baby, possibility that Doppler will confirm or not. You must go to maternity or your doctor every day to monitor the heart sounds of your baby. In addition, a amnioscopy be practiced to control the color of amniotic fluid. Indeed, if it is green, it means that your baby rejects the meconium, a sign that he suffers. In this case, delivery will be triggered. If your baby is still not decided to leave after 41 weeks of gestation, delivery will be artificially induced. Do not worry, your baby will be born in perfect health.
The evolution of Baby
On average, your baby measures 50 cm and weighs 3.5 kg, but this varies greatly from one baby to another. When your contractions, your uterus grows and compresses your baby to the cervix and the pressure of the head allows the cervix. The largest diameter of the head is located in the widest part of your pelvis.
At the end of the first part of labor, your baby's chin is against his chest and his head and his upper body slowly turn to face your back once the expansion is complete. During the expulsion, it will actively participate in its birth by pushing with his feet against the wall of the uterus and making contortions of his head to pass the cervix and vagina.
Your baby will then engage in the symphysis pubis and the opening of crossing the pelvic floor muscles.
The pressure is intense, but fortunately for him his skull is soft and can be reduced to about 1 cm. He also thought to be as small as possible by sticking his chin against lui.Une Once his head is visible from the vulva, expulsion begins.
When the head is out, his sudden turns and stretching while your baby is tilted on one of your sides. With new contractions, followed by his shoulders, then the rest of his body. Here he is at last!
Note
Minutes after the baby arrives, you will definitely have new contractions much less intense than during childbirth. Do not panic, this is not a twin but only ignored the separation of the placenta still attached to the uterus. The midwife will then press your uterus while pulling on the cord to the placenta.