Gymnastics for pregnant women 39 weeks. Gymnastic exercises for pregnant women are the best preparation for childbirth! Consult your doctor

Scientists have long proven the positive impact of gymnastics for pregnant women. Also, the benefits are confirmed by many years of practice. Thanks to morning exercises, a pregnant woman receives the necessary surge of strength and energy, as well as a great mood.

Moreover, it is not necessary to practice only in the morning. Physical exercises can be performed at any convenient time. Special complexes include exercises that involve the muscles of the back, legs and abdomen. Also useful breathing exercises, ball training, swimming and walking.

Complexes of exercises for pregnant women are developed under the guidance of obstetrician-gynecologists, and are allowed to be performed only by healthy women - those who have gestation without complications.

In the absence of contraindications, regular exercise will gradually prepare the body future mother for the upcoming birth.

Important! Women who exercise during pregnancy get in shape faster after childbirth, and the birth itself is much easier for them.

Here is a useful video about why you need gymnastics for pregnant women:

How does physical activity help you prepare?

• Gymnastic exercises develop the mobility and flexibility of the pelvic bones and lower spine, which will greatly facilitate childbirth and reduce pain in the lower back during the birth of the baby.
• The muscles of the thighs are stretched so that the woman in labor is comfortable in the delivery chair, as long as necessary.
• They maintain the tone of the muscles of the pelvis and vagina in order to avoid such troubles as urinary incontinence and hemorrhoids after childbirth, as well as to shorten the recovery period.
• Help the cervix to open up in a timely manner.

Contraindications

Note! During gymnastics, the expectant mother should carefully monitor her condition.

If symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, strange discharge, dizziness, increased heart rate over 130 beats per minute, increased blood pressure to more than 140/100 mm Hg, difficulty breathing or pain in the heart area appear during or after training - Stop exercising immediately and seek medical attention.

Restrictions

Before starting the lesson, you should once again check the selected complex for the presence of elements prohibited during pregnancy. These include:

• gaming;
• contact;
• weight lifting;
• press exercises;
• exercises on simulators;
• somersaults;
• jumping.

Also, do not forget that during pregnancy, sports such as skating, roller skating and equestrianism are prohibited.

Today, for expectant mothers, there are many opportunities for gymnastics. There are free groups in almost all antenatal clinics. Many fitness clubs and swimming pools have special sections for pregnant women. Besides, you can do it yourself at home, for this it is enough to find a complex suitable for yourself using the Internet.

But, regardless of which method of gymnastics is chosen, it is imperative to consult a doctor.

1. All physical exercises should be performed at a calm pace and not exceed the permissible load.
2. The optimal duration of classes is from 15 to 40 minutes.
3. It is necessary to start gymnastics with warm-up exercises, finish with relaxation-breathing exercises.
4. Meals should be an hour before class so that the body does not burn calories and fats that the baby needs, but gets “new” energy.
5. In the process of exercising, it is necessary to drink water: the body should not lose excess fluid.
6. It is not recommended to hold your breath.
7. Perform exercises, best of all, on a special rug.

Types of training

• Warming up.
• Relaxing.
• Respiratory.
• Exercises to strengthen muscles and joint mobility.
• Endurance exercises.

What gymnastics should be done from the beginning of pregnancy?

Further visual video about gymnastics at the beginning of pregnancy:

Classes for pregnant women in the 3rd trimester

On the recent months pregnancy before childbirth, it is quite difficult for women to perform any physical exercises. At this time, especially at week 40, it is recommended to do exercises on a special ball - fitball. These are useful, interesting and safe exercises to prepare for future childbirth, due to which pressure is reduced, blood circulation and heart function are normalized.

Each pregnancy is individual, and the estimated due date is just a convention, which is calculated taking into account the date of the last menstruation. If the baby has not yet been born, and the 39th week of pregnancy (41 obstetric) continues - do not worry. Such a slight overwearing is acceptable. In what situations should childbirth be accelerated?

The 39th week of pregnancy from conception is not yet a long period of pregnancy, so a woman can stay at home and go to the hospital only with the onset of contractions or when amniotic fluid leaks. Usually, those whose pregnancy proceeded physiologically and there were no indications for an earlier delivery are caring for this period. The main parameters of the development of pregnancy at this time are reflected in the table.

Table - Interesting Facts

What happens to the fetus

The baby is completely ready to be born. Its average weight reaches 3200-3500 g. The body weight of large children can be 4000 g or more. Height varies from 52-56 cm, and this is only an approximate indicator. All systems of the baby's body are formed and ready to exist outside the womb, nothing significant is happening anymore:

• the main organs - the liver, kidneys, pancreas, heart fully cope with their tasks;
• Breathe-helping machine- surfactant has already accumulated in the lungs, which after birth contributes to active independent breathing;
• gastrointestinal tract - able to digest mother's milk, the original tarry feces, meconium, which the baby will get rid of on the first day after birth, have already accumulated in the intestines;
• central nervous system- now and with the advent of the baby into the world, she continues to improve;
• immunity - the mother's immune cells are actively transferred to the fetus, because after childbirth, he especially needs antibodies that can protect him from pathogenic microorganisms.

The bones of the baby continue to mineralize, the fontanelles are compacted. During passage through the birth canal, the circumference of the head practically does not change, therefore, a post-term pregnancy is accompanied by a greater likelihood of complicated births, and a caesarean section is more often performed.

Appearance

The skin of the baby has a soft pink tint. The fluff (lanugo) and the original lubricant, which can only remain in functional folds, have completely disappeared from it. Many children already have hair at the time of birth. Almost all babies grow nails with which they are able to scratch themselves in the womb. The subcutaneous layer has formed, so there are no “wrinkles” on the child’s body. The face acquires individual features.

Movement and activity

At the 39th week of pregnancy, the fetus has already gained maximum weight and grown in size, so it is cramped to be in the womb. The baby continues to move, but now its activity is limited to pushing the limbs and turning the head. His arms and legs are pressed to the body, it is this position that is most favorable for the birth process. The expectant mother should continue to control the movements. There should be at least ten of them a day.

Location

Normally, by the 39th week of pregnancy, the fetus lies head down, along the uterus. This is the most comfortable position for passage through the birth canal. If the baby sank pelvis down, the woman is scheduled for delivery by caesarean section. At not big weight fetus and re-pregnancy, natural childbirth is allowed. Cases of transverse or oblique position of the fetus are usually delivered by 39-40 obstetric weeks. If they are found, a caesarean section is now performed.

Signs of postmaturity

It is possible to determine whether a woman has been pregnant or not by signs during or after childbirth. They are the following:

• oligohydramnios;
• lack of cheese-like lubricant;
• fruit weight about 4000 g;
• long fingernails and hair on the head;
• dense bones of the skull and reduced sizes of fontanelles;
• greenish or yellowish skin.

Mother's condition

At 41 obstetric weeks, no significant changes occur with the expectant mother. If something bothered her before, the symptoms may increase, for example, hemorrhoids worsen or back pain appears.

Now the thoughts of the expectant mother are focused on the topic of childbirth. This is an exciting period, because labor can begin at any moment.

If the woman's belly didn't sink before, it's happening now. Under the influence of hormones, the cervix continues to prepare for childbirth: at the 39th week of pregnancy, it shortens and softens, and the cervical canal opens.

The amount of amniotic water decreases, they can be yellow or even greenish, which is a sign of a delayed pregnancy and intrauterine fetal hypoxia.

Discomfort

In addition to excitement and anxiety, a woman experiences many other sensations.

• False contractions. They are increasingly making themselves felt, sometimes it is difficult to distinguish them from physiological ones. Periodically, the stomach "hardens" at the 39th week of pregnancy - the tone occurs when stroking, physical activity.
• Pressure on the perineum. The lowered baby puts additional pressure on the perineal area, while the pain can radiate to lower limbs and waist.
• The kicking of a child. Despite the fact that the pressure on the diaphragm has decreased and the stomach has lowered somewhat, the child can, with a sharp push of the leg / hand, cause pain in the stomach or liver to the expectant mother, causing heartburn and even nausea.
• Pain. There may be pain in the sacrum and lower back due to pinching of the femoral nerve. The upper and lower extremities may become numb, leg cramps may occur, especially at night.

Allocations

It is especially important to pay attention to the nature of vaginal discharge at 39 weeks of gestation. Normally they are:

• odorless and colorless;
• moderate and uniform consistency;
• are mucous in nature.

It is acceptable to remove mucus with bloody streaks or brown. This leaves the mucous plug that protects the child from the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms. It can be allocated in whole or in parts. This indicates the approach of labor activity.

Pathological discharge (candidiasis, colpitis) should be the reason for going to the doctor. The specialist will prescribe a treatment, most often these are local candles. Ignoring inflammation in the vagina increases the risk of ruptured labor and infection of the fetus.

If the discharge has become liquid, plentiful and has a sweet smell, leakage of amniotic fluid cannot be ruled out. They can leak for some time or pour out almost all at once. If in doubt, contact the hospital immediately. Green, yellow water or meconium-laced water is a sign of fetal distress.

Harbingers of childbirth at 39 weeks pregnant

Harbingers of childbirth are signs indicating the imminent onset of labor. A week before the start of contractions, the following harbingers may appear:

• easier to breathe - due to a decrease in the height of the fundus of the uterus;
• nesting instinct- due to fluctuations in the hormonal background, it is pleasant for a woman to review and fold the baby's things, to retire;
• baby inactive- movements are felt less often, but there should be at least ten of them per day.

The mucus plug usually goes away a day or two before the onset of contractions, this may be accompanied by a single diarrhea without signs of poisoning and without fever. For seven to ten days (sometimes earlier), a woman begins to be disturbed by pulling pains in the lower abdomen, lower back, sometimes contractions of the uterus every 10-15 minutes, but they soon pass.

Regular labor pains can be considered uterine contractions every 7-10 minutes. At the same time, their frequency increases, and the rest break decreases. Harbingers of childbirth at 39 weeks of gestation in multiparous women may appear with the onset of active contractions.

Survey

When visiting a gynecologist, a routine examination is performed, pressure, VMD and abdominal circumference are measured. Recorded CTG. At the discretion of the doctor, an ultrasound may be prescribed. It will help determine:

• indirect signs of overwearing;
• baby size;
• the amount of amniotic water;
• signs of aging of the placenta;
• the speed of blood flow in the uterine, fetal and placental vessels.

The need for stimulation

The period from 37 to 42 obstetric weeks is considered the norm for the onset of labor. This is influenced by many factors: the exact date of conception, the presence of previous pregnancies, the number of fetuses, the age of the woman.

If indications are found, a decision can be made to induce labor at the 39th week of pregnancy (from conception). These include:

• mature cervix
• discharge of amniotic waters without the onset of labor;
• oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios;
• preeclampsia or only edema / increased pressure.

Methods

The following methods can be used to induce labor.

• Amniotomy. The most natural way. It involves opening the amniotic membranes with the help of a branch from bullet forceps. The procedure is painless. A woman feels everything as if she is undergoing a routine examination on a gynecological chair. Amniotomy can only be performed if the cervix is ​​mature.
• Special catheter. A small diameter balloon is installed in the cervical canal for a day. Immediately after installation, a certain amount of sterile liquid is injected into it. Thus, mechanical pressure is exerted on the cervix, and it "opens". The catheter is removed and an amniotomy is performed.
• Preparations. With an immature cervix, hormonal preparations based on prostaglandins (prepidil, Prostin gels) or mifepristone are prescribed. They are inserted into the vagina or taken orally.

In the second and subsequent pregnancies, induction of labor has a more favorable prognosis. In primiparas, such actions often end in an emergency caesarean section.

In order for the pregnancy to proceed successfully, and childbirth to be easy, a set of special exercises should be performed. In this article we will talk about the features of the exercises and the goals of certain complexes.

Gymnastics before childbirth

Gymnastics before childbirth will speed up the metabolism and increase blood circulation, strengthen the muscles that will be involved in labor. Also, gymnastics in late pregnancy will prepare the body of the expectant mother for the upcoming birth, facilitating them as much as possible. Pain can be significantly reduced by performing various exercises for pregnant women in the third trimester.

Exercises for easy childbirth

Now there are many physical exercises for easy childbirth. You should also understand the importance of preparation, helping the child and yourself, because for the baby, the birth is no less a test than for his mother.

Even if the expectant mother has not been involved in physical education before, you can pick up simple suitable gymnastics exercises for pregnant women that provide easy childbirth.

But before a woman stops at any specific set of exercises for quick delivery, you should first consult with your gynecologist. However, there is a certain set of traditional exercises for painless childbirth:

• Slowly squat down from a standing position. In this case, the feet should be firmly planted on the floor. At first, linger like this for 15-20 seconds. Over time, you need to bring the stay in this position to a minute. Such gymnastics for pregnant women for easy childbirth will strengthen the abdominal cavity, abdomen and pelvic area.
• Sit on the floor. One leg should be extended, the other bent at the knee. Take a long towel. Tilt the body forward, stay 20 seconds in this position. Straighten up, repeat this exercise 5 times.
• Get your hands behind your head with a towel. Elbows should be below shoulder level. Hold this way for 30 seconds. Repeat this exercise several times.
• It is necessary to lie on your back with your buttocks against the wall, stepping up the wall with your feet. Then the legs should be widely spread apart. Stay in this position for 30 seconds.
• Take deep breaths in and out while sitting in a chair, kneeling or standing. Deep breath in through the nose, deep breath out through the mouth. Do 8-10 minutes.
• Lie on your back. Slowly relax the muscles in this order: thighs, legs, buttocks, abdomen. Breathe calmly and think only about pleasant things. Turn on relaxing music.

Labor induction exercises

Many pregnant women resort to exercises that stimulate labor. Physical exercise will allow your child to descend and improve his progress. There are at least 5 labor induction exercises that every mom-to-be could do. Exercises to open the cervix before childbirth can accelerate the natural process.

1. Walking is one of the exercises to hasten labor;
2. Climbing the stairs will also serve as the beginning for childbirth;
3. Swimming;
4. Squatting;
5. wiggle.

Gymnastics with breech presentation

A set of exercises in order for the baby to roll over must be performed from the 32nd week of pregnancy.

1. Lie down on the side where the baby's head is displaced, and lie down in this position for 3-10 minutes. Lie on the other side for the same amount of time. Exercise should be done 2-3 times a day. It is also better to sleep on the side where the baby's head is shifted.
2. In order for the fetus to eventually turn over, it is necessary to lie on your back, placing something under the lower back, so that the pelvis is about 20-30 cm above the head. In this position, you need to lie down for 5-15 minutes. Exercise should be performed twice a day.
3. Swimming in the pool. Very useful in breech presentation can be swimming in the pool.

Fitball exercises

Fitball for expectant mothers has no contraindications, and you can work with it at any stage of pregnancy.

Fitball exercises before childbirth were invented in Switzerland. Thanks to the fitball, many women in labor during their delicate position, as well as after childbirth, began to feel great.

The expectant mother can practice lying on the ball, which will strengthen her back muscles and abs, sitting to strengthen the pelvis or lying on the fitball and standing on all fours, which will reduce the load on the spine and eliminate back pain.

Exercises:

• sit on the ball, lean on it with your hands, keeping your balance. Later this can be done without hands. Start rotating and rocking back and forth with your pelvis;
• sit on the floor, spread your legs wider and grab the ball, then start squeezing it as tightly as possible. Perform until you feel tired;
• sit on a fitball, spread your knees, and stretch your arms to each foot in turn;
• also while in a sitting position, turn the body to the left, and then to the right.

Kegel exercises

Kegel exercises before childbirth are another way to maintain your women's health, namely, to bring the pelvic floor muscles into good condition, which are under enormous stress during the bearing of the baby.

1. Relax and tighten your perineal muscles for 10 seconds. Then take a break of 15-20 seconds and repeat the approach again. It is necessary to do 4 approaches.
2. Squeeze and relax for 5 seconds, take a break for 5 seconds and repeat. It is necessary to perform 8-10 approaches.
3. Squeeze the muscles for 20 seconds, then relax and repeat again after 20-30 seconds.

It is necessary to pay great attention to Kegel gymnastics in preparation for childbirth and perform it constantly.

The cherished 39 weeks of pregnancy have come. The baby can be born at any time. The expectant mother expects the onset of childbirth and psychologically prepares for them. A grown tummy by the end of the term causes discomfort, it is difficult for a pregnant woman to walk a lot and do household chores. But there is a possibility that another 1-1.5 weeks may pass before the birth of the child.

Will the baby be born soon?

It is not possible to determine the baby's birthday with accuracy, even by correctly calculating the date. The approximate one depends on many factors, the influence of which cannot be taken into account even by the most experienced doctor. But a woman should be ready for an earlier than she expected, the onset of childbirth, since the baby is already considered full-term.

On a note! If the birth process does not occur within the terms suggested by the doctor, it is necessary to listen to the recommendations of a specialist and go to the maternity hospital in advance in order to avoid prolonging the pregnancy.

Many expectant mothers are interested, 39 weeks - how many months is it? To answer this question, it is necessary to clarify what term of calculation is meant: obstetric or embryonic.

• According to the obstetric calculation of the gestational age, thirty-nine weeks is a full 37 weeks from the moment the baby was conceived.
• In the embryonic calculation of the current period, thirty-nine weeks correspond to 41 weeks.

Thus, by medical standards, a woman at 39 weeks is pregnant for 8 months and 3 weeks.

How to avoid mistakes in determining the gestational age?

It should be understood that the actual gestational age may differ from the obstetric, suggesting that ovulation occurred in the middle of the cycle. The maturity of the child and the age of delivery can be agreed with the doctor (there are clear criteria for the maturity of the child, obtained using ultrasound). If the gestational age already allows childbirth, and the ultrasound doctor and neonatologist forbid this due to the immaturity of the child, the expectant mother needs to be prepared to wait.

That is why, when it is already, and even the 40th week, upon admission to the maternity hospital, an ultrasound should be done to determine the biophysical profile of the baby, its degree of maturity and readiness for delivery. Then there will be no errors.

Intrauterine development of the baby at 39 weeks

By conventional standards, a baby is considered full-term and ready for birth. Parents-to-be should be aware that this could be the final stage of a 9-month journey. All vital organs have completed the development cycle, the baby is fully viable. Counting the days of the last weeks, the pregnant woman with anxiety and bated breath is waiting for a meeting with a small lump that is under her heart.

What happens to the baby at 39 weeks

All the sense organs of the baby in the womb are already fully included in the work of his life. While still in the mother's abdomen, the fetus can hear sounds, see changes in light, taste amniotic fluid, and even smell. Maturation nervous system continues, getting better every day. The process of forming new connections between nerve cells started on early dates pregnancy and will occur throughout later life crumbs.

How is the development of the fetus during this period of pregnancy

In the formation of the baby's body, the following is observed:

• All the organs of the child are formed, ready for functioning and ensuring a full life for the baby after his birth.
• The respiratory system is prepared for the process of the first inhalation-exhalation, but is not yet perfect enough.
• Organs gastrointestinal tract and auxiliary organs of digestion adapted to the assimilation nutrients rich in mother's milk.
• Works own hematopoietic system.
• The mechanisms of the immune response will start working from the first minutes of the baby's birth.
• Connective and adipose tissue by this time are developed quite well.
• The baby's head is covered with hair, and long nails have grown on tiny arms and legs (which is why expectant mothers need to take baby nail clippers to the maternity hospital).

Changes in the body of the expectant mother at 39 weeks

This week, the pregnant woman is visited by radically opposite feelings. There is a little excitement before the upcoming event of the birth of a child, but at the same time I want to quickly wait for the moment of touching my long-awaited baby. Unpleasant sensations in the lower back may also disturb, some discomfort remains due to the heaviness of the abdomen. In the final week of pregnancy, thoughts can excite how to speed up the birth and get to the hospital no later than the 40th week to meet your beloved daughter or son.

What does a woman feel during this period of bearing a child

At the 9th month, the pregnant woman's body directs all resources to prepare for the birth process. The head of the baby pressed with maximum density to the exit from the uterine cavity. Main female organ softens and shortens in the neck area. The excitability of the uterus increases. These manifestations are conceived by nature, so that in the process of moving along the birth canal, the fetus passes through the cervix and pelvic bones as painlessly and easily as possible without receiving any injuries. The connective tissue in the pelvic bones also becomes softer.

At a period of 39 weeks, the expectant mother has an understanding that her meeting with the baby is not far off. On a wave of emotions, mood swings arise: a moment of joy and fun is replaced by fear and anxiety before the upcoming birth. It's all the fault of hormones, intensively produced by the body to prepare all organs and systems for difficult work - the process of childbirth.

Doctor visits and examinations

In the normal course of pregnancy at this time, no special examinations are prescribed. A visit to the doctor in the consultation takes place once a week, where for each appointment it is necessary, as before, to be done in the direction general analysis urine. In the office of the doctor leading the pregnancy, all standard measurements will be entered in the woman's card: blood pressure, current weight, abdominal circumference. The specialist will also measure the height of the fundus of the uterus to determine whether the stomach has sunk by this time. Also, the doctor will palpate the tummy of the pregnant woman to find out the location of the fetus in the uterus. The doctor will note the presence or absence of complaints, hands and feet will be visually examined for the presence of edema.

Ultrasound at the current stage of pregnancy

Ultrasound examination is not scheduled. It is performed in the presence of certain risks associated with childbirth. For example, with multiple pregnancy, with previously identified multiple entanglement of the umbilical cord, or in the presence of pregnancy pathologies. Also, several control ultrasounds are prescribed for delivery by caesarean section.

A few important points for pregnant women in the later stages of gestation:

1. All questions about the upcoming birth, the choice of the maternity hospital and the doctor chosen to be present in the delivery room must be resolved now.
2. Always keep a few important documents with you: passport, medical policy and exchange card. The last of the listed documents should be in the bag around the clock, wherever the pregnant woman goes. A woman can literally be in a perinatal center at any moment, and without an exchange card, a woman in labor will be immediately sent to the pathology department.
3. If delivery is required by caesarean section, then the operation itself will be scheduled for the current week.

Harbingers of childbirth at 39 weeks

Although a woman and her family prepare for the main process that completes the “nine-month marathon” throughout pregnancy, the onset of childbirth can be unexpected for many. A significant part of pregnant women enters the emergency department of the maternity hospital in the state of childbirth, often with broken water and a large opening of the uterine os. How to understand when to give birth, and what harbingers can signal the beginning of the birth process? Let's try to figure it out.

Important! If the following harbingers or indirect signs of childbirth occur, a woman should remain calm as much as possible, consult a doctor or call an ambulance medical care, trust doctors to receive qualified assistance in the maternity hospital.

Harbingers of the first and second births - what's the difference?

The above symptoms can be observed in full as harbingers of childbirth in primiparas. Repeated births may differ from the first, especially if the interval between them is small. If the interval between two pregnancies was less than 1.5 years, then the second / third birth can be rapid. Harbingers of labor in multiparous women can represent a completely different scenario:

• there may not be a preparatory period with false (irregular) contractions at all, and the woman will feel that she is in childbirth, already with regular contractions;
• the cervix, which has retained increased elasticity, will open faster, significantly reducing the duration of the birth process.

On a note! According to statistics, the second pregnancy and childbirth are easier and with fewer complications.

As for the pain of repeated childbirth, everything here is purely individual. It happens that the expectant mother refuses anesthesia under the pretext that everything turned out to be quite bearable the first time, but then she regrets her decision. There can be only one advice here - listen to the doctor and your inner feelings. Often, it is the doctor in charge of childbirth who understands more clearly how events will develop in a particular labor activity.

The right attitude: preparation for childbirth

Thoughtful and prepared behavior during childbirth can not only calm the pain of labor without the help of medicines, but also relieve unnecessary worries and help the baby to be born safely.

The reason for the decrease in the threshold of pain sensitivity may well be fears, fear of pain, negative emotions before childbirth. Meanwhile, the process of delivery, like pregnancy itself, is a natural process, and normally, during childbirth, a woman should not feel strong, exhausting pain. There are techniques for simple self-pain relief that are taught in mom training courses, but they can be mastered at home, on your own, without outside help. Let's consider them in more detail.

Psychological attitude

From the first days of pregnancy, it is important for a woman to tune in to the fact that all nine months will pass easily, carefree and without complications. If during childbirth there is no outside interference and everything goes as intended by nature itself, then the body turns on the “anti-pain system”, which suppresses such unpleasant pain impulses, and releases endorphins into the mother’s blood to anesthetize the process. They are called in the common people the hormones of happiness, and they are provided for by nature itself. The body with a positive, optimistic mood will receive endorphins in the required amount, which will significantly reduce the pain of childbirth.

Important! The main thing is not to panic for no reason. This is especially important for women who are having their first pregnancy. In the process of childbirth, it is important to imagine what not only the mother feels, but also her child. The baby is also not easy and you need to help him to be born. To do this, you need to carefully listen to what the midwife and the doctor who leads the birth says.

Choosing the right body position

The correct position for each period of childbirth is also one of the keys to success and relieve discomfort. It is important to know these provisions in advance so that there is an opportunity to practice and master them at home, and at the right time to choose the right one. Among the possible positions, one can single out vertical (contractions are more intense), standing on all fours (stimulating effect), kneeling, squatting (the lumen of the pelvis expands) and lying on your side. For each expectant mother, the best position is her own, the one in which she is comfortable at a particular moment of childbirth.

Massage techniques

Proper massage relieves labor pain, making it less intense. Massage movements have a stimulating effect on the nerve endings, which in turn send impulses to the brain. You can start the massage from the moment of regular contractions. Movements can be stroking, kneading, rubbing. The area of ​​the back, the sacral area is massaged, inner surface thighs and lower abdomen.

Breathing techniques

Proper breathing in childbirth is a skill that you can start learning and improving now. Breathing techniques will help a woman in labor at any time to relax the pelvic muscles, get rid of emotional imbalance, and save strength. You can use the following breathing options:

1. "Doggy" - the mother's mouth is open, inhalation-exhalation is frequent and superficial. This technique helps at the peak of the contraction to reduce pain, relax the tense muscles of the uterus and just be slightly distracted, take a break;
2. “deep breathing” - a full exhalation is several times longer than inhalation. Reception is very effective in the process of opening the cervix;
3. "train" - one deep breath and a series of short accentuated exhalations. The technique helps before the full opening of the cervix, but when attempts are still prohibited by the doctor, and there is a need to reduce tension in the abdominal cavity;
4. "Blowing out the candle" - one short breath and a calm long exhalation through the lips, folded in a tube. An alternative technique to the previous method.

Note! If future parents are planning a partner birth, then it makes sense to master correct breathing together. At the time of the birth process, the spouse will be able to help the woman in labor regulate her breathing by doing exercises with her.

Pregnant diet at 39 weeks

In the third trimester, a woman experiences maximum weight gain, because the child in the womb begins to grow rapidly. For 7 days, a pregnant woman normally adds 300-400 g. The daily diet at the 39th week of pregnancy should contain at least 2500 kcal in order to fully satisfy the mother's need for energy. At the same time, special attention should be paid to the correct composition of trace elements in food: magnesium, iodine, iron and calcium are especially important for expectant mothers.

Here is what one of the menu options for a future mom looks like in the third trimester:

How much fluid to drink per day with edema?

Often, noticing edema, a pregnant woman begins to limit herself in daily fluid intake. This approach is fundamentally wrong. The kidneys of the expectant mother are arranged in such a way that with a lack of fluid, they stop its excretion. In other words, the less a woman in a position drinks, the more swelling can increase. To maintain normal water-salt balance, doctors recommend drinking at least 1.8 - 2 liters of fluid per day, including broths / soups, juicy vegetables and fruits.

Recipes for light everyday meals

Salad of apples and prunes

Grate a sweet, peeled apple on a coarse grater. Sprinkle lightly with lemon juice. Add prunes pre-soaked in water and softened pulp (2-3 pieces) to the apple. Stir, season a light salad with honey or natural yogurt.

Chicken soup with meatballs and herbs

Boil 2.5 liters. water. In boiling water, add 250 g. chicken drumsticks, boil. Salt and cook for 15 minutes. Add 3 peeled and chopped potatoes, 1 grated carrot and finely chopped onion to the pan. Take the drumsticks out of the broth. Minced chicken (100 g) salt and pepper lightly. Form chicken mince and one egg into small meatballs. Add to simmering soup, stirring lightly. Cook for 15 minutes. Then add finely chopped parsley to the pan. Bring to a boil and turn off the heat. Serve with a slice of bread or croutons.

Zucchini stewed in sour cream

Peeled zucchini (2 pcs.) Cut into small slices, salt and stew in a pan with a piece butter. When the liquid from the vegetable evaporates, add 2 tsp. flour, mix well, pour 1-2 tbsp into the dish. sour cream and bring to a boil. Eat ready-made food warm, sprinkled with fresh herbs if desired.

Tips for reducing the risk of ruptured labor

Prevention of ruptures and obstetric injuries during childbirth are the following activities.

Formation of a small fetus.

During pregnancy, it is important for the expectant mother to gain no more than 15 kg. You can take a glucose tolerance test to rule out gestational diabetes, which leads to high fetal weight. From 38 weeks onwards, it is necessary to control weight gain and the estimated weight of the child, watching your diet. At the first birth, a woman should come to the end of the gestation period with a baby weighing no more than 3600 g. At repeated births, the weight of the child should not be significantly more than at the first. Then the risk of breaks will be much lower.

Do not purchase dubious funds.

There are no technologies that could prevent ruptured labor during pregnancy. Various creams, balls, etc. It's just commercial marketing. There is no evidence that these agents are effective.

Check with your doctor.

Before childbirth, it is advisable to undergo an examination by an obstetrician to determine the height of the perineum. With a high and rigid perineum, the risk of ruptures is really high. Then the doctor taking delivery will be able to draw up a plan of behavior in the second stage of labor, help to choose the right position (perhaps vertical delivery or delivery on the side, etc.).

Without haste.

Lack of haste during delivery is another condition for the absence of ruptures. If the birth goes physiologically, the baby's heartbeat does not suffer, there are no situations requiring emergency care, you should wait for the maximum descent and formation of the head in the birth canal, and only then start pushing.

The issue of rupture prevention should be resolved only directly with the obstetrician leading the pregnancy.

The pregnancy dragged on: is it possible to speed up the birth?

The fear of premature birth, which is present throughout the pregnancy up to the third trimester, is replaced by the fear of not giving birth on time and enduring the pregnancy. The expectant mother is worried that day after day passes, and her long-awaited baby is still in no hurry to be born. This makes the pregnant woman worry and look for ways to speed up the birth. But even if the baby's gestation period has already crossed the line of the expected date of birth, there is no need to worry and worry about this.

The thing is that, having determined the size of the embryo, the doctor could make a mistake when calculating the estimated day of his birth. According to medical standards, a pregnancy is considered post-term if more than 1.5-2 weeks have passed since the estimated date of birth. In this case, an ultrasound is done. If the doctors in the emergency department of the maternity hospital decide that the fetus is ready for birth, they can perform a chair examination and pierce the fetal bladder to drain the water. From this moment, labor activity will begin.

In the antenatal clinic, you can hear simple tips on how to stimulate the onset of labor on your own. There are many such methods, including folk methods, but only a few of them can be considered truly safe.

• The first method offers the expectant mother in the last stages to continue to have sex with her husband. Many couples refuse sex for a period longer, which is completely in vain - sperm tends to soften the cervix, gradually preparing it for the birth process. For a period of 39 weeks, making love 2-3 times a week will help tone the uterus and stimulate it to mature faster.
• The second method offers a woman to massage her breasts and nipples daily, which also stimulates the production of hormones that help increase the body's readiness for childbirth. Massage should be soft, not traumatizing delicate skin, but persistent and regular.

Both methods are considered safe and are not capable of harming the mother and the unborn baby. But you should know that it is impossible to induce labor without consulting your doctor at home! With an incorrect and careless approach to your own body, there is a risk of harming yourself and the little growing life inside you.

• Check your own readiness for a planned admission to the maternity hospital. Documents and plastic bags with things must be fully assembled. Do not forget that things must be divided into three parts: those that will be required before childbirth, then the necessary items after childbirth, and the last package - with clothes for discharge for you and your baby.
• Each hospital may have local rules and allowed/prohibited items that you need to be aware of in advance. In order not to get into trouble at a serious moment, specify important points with women who have recently given birth, ask a question on the forum in your city, or visit the emergency department unscheduled, where you can find information for expectant mothers.
• As in the previous periods, it is necessary to adhere to the principles healthy eating. It is not necessary to indulge in "breaking bad" before childbirth, eating a lot of sweets, fast food, smoked and fatty foods. Overloading the digestive system before the birth of the baby is fraught with indigestion and loose stools. Lean meat is the priority sea ​​fish, seasonal vegetables and fruits, cereals, boiled dishes and steamed dishes.
• Get more rest - very soon there will be no time for a good sleep, so use the opportunity to get a good night's sleep now. Late watching TV, nightly gatherings should be left behind. Build your day so that at least 10-12 hours are allocated for night and day sleep.
• Soon your family will be replenished with one more little man, so try right now to gradually accustom those close to the emergence of new responsibilities. Unload yourself from household chores and distribute some of them among your relatives. So there will be no misunderstandings in the postpartum period, when you will urgently need support and help.
• Take care of your body. Continue to lubricate stretch marks with a special cosmetic oil or cream. It may be worth choosing a new deodorant - after the birth of the baby, it is recommended to use odorless products and aggressive substances in the composition so that the baby during breastfeeding it was comfortable.
• Prepare for the birth process by studying special literature or visiting thematic sites. Theoretical knowledge about caring for a newborn will be stored in the memory and prompt how to act at the right time. It is especially useful to shoe yourself in terms of breastfeeding for those who are preparing to become a mother for the first time.

So one of the last stages began -. You have already packed your things and are looking forward to the first contractions with impatience and fear.

Calm down and relax!
When the first spasms begin, you will have enough time to get to the hospital.

I can tell you a little secret.
A few days before the birth, the woman's health improves dramatically and there is a desire to redo all the housework.

So if for no reason at all you want to wash windows, iron all things or start a general cleaning, then you can get ready - in 1-2 days you will give birth.

Your baby is also tired of his cramped abode.

It became very crowded in the stomach, it was difficult for him to move, all the limbs were bent - it's time to get out.

His organs are fully developed and ready for independent functioning.

Meconium is now passing through the baby's intestines (the so-called original feces). This suggests that digestive system fully formed and prepared for the processing of breast milk.

Try to keep track of your secretions. I'm not talking about thrush now, but clots of pinkish mucus or brown blood spots. Such signs indicate the imminent onset of labor. After about a couple of hours (or maybe earlier), the first contractions will appear.
By this time, the baby is considered full-term, so do not plan long trips alone, labor can begin at any time.

Make it a habit to always have some kind of document or an exchange card from a doctor.

If you are at risk of a caesarean section, most likely you are now in the maternity hospital under observation.

At 39 weeks pregnant, you should not put on weight, as the baby has already gained the required amount of weight and height.

fetus at 39 weeks pregnant

By this time, the fetus has occupied the entire uterine cavity and, in principle, there is nowhere for it to actively move. Now you can feel regular tremors from time to time. If, for several hours, you do not hear the baby's pushes, immediately call an ambulance and go to the hospital.

At this stage of development, the weight of the crumbs is at least 3 - 3.5 kg, with a height of 50-52 cm.

All organs are formed and ready for independent work. But even after birth, the process of development of internal organs and the central nervous system will continue and improve.

The pancreas is ready to produce enzymes to break down food.

With the onset of lactation, beneficial bacteria will appear in the intestines.
Your baby, while still in the womb, has learned sucking movements well, a month or two after birth, salivation will appear.

Of course, in the early days chewing muscles faces are not yet developed, but every day with the use of mother's milk, they will be more and more improved.

Immediately after childbirth, the first emptying of meconium will occur, this is the original feces formed in the womb.
If emptying occurred before childbirth, doctors use a special procedure - lavage, which is designed to cleanse the bronchi.

Often at 39 weeks pregnant, this happens through a lack of oxygen. The placenta is no longer able to provide the fetus with all the necessary nutrients, including oxygen. By this time, the natural aging process of the placenta begins.

Mom's feelings at 39 weeks pregnant

Behind already 38 difficult weeks of pregnancy, now the woman is ready to give birth at any moment, from this she has additional fresh energy, a surge of strength is felt.

Perhaps you are already partly accustomed to constant pain in the bones and muscles. Carrying extra pounds has become a habit for you. But the load on the pelvic bones, back and spine did not disappear. Don't despair, there's not much left.

Try to talk more with the child, he hears you perfectly and understands everything. Perhaps your baby will be the first to give a signal about the upcoming labor activity.

Listen to your body, the onset of labor is accompanied by severe lower back pain, spasms that increase in intensity, and the time between contractions is reduced, unlike false contractions. Then the water will begin to leave and even slight bleeding is possible.

By this time, the fetus should take a stable, correct position - head down.

It puts more and more pressure on the bladder and intestines. Now the urge to go to the toilet has become even more frequent.

Even at the 39th week of pregnancy, it is necessary to regularly do gymnastic exercises for pregnant women. These exercises will unload your lower back, spine and relieve muscle pain.

Pain at 39 weeks pregnant

The chest pain is still disturbing, it is swollen and very painful at any touch. The mammary glands prepare for lactation while a yellow substance called colostrum is secreted.

If the stomach sank, there was no pressure on internal organs, and with this pain, but there was a load on the bladder. Even when filling Bladder by a third, it seems to you that it is crowded.

There were additional pains in the pelvic bones and lower back, this is due to pressure on them of the fetal head.
Despite the decent weight of the abdomen, shortness of breath and chest pain disappeared, breathing became easy and free.

In the last weeks of pregnancy, the body began to intensively produce the substance relaxin, which helps soften the bones and relax the ligaments. The pelvic bones diverge, for better passing fetus.

By the way, after childbirth, the reverse process of restoring the pelvic bones into place will begin, accompanied by discomfort.
The load on the legs has increased. You are already painfully enduring aching pains in your legs, especially in the evenings, and with a shift in the center of weight, we will become even more difficult.

Take frequent breaks, eat right.

Pay attention to how you sleep. Get into the right position, although I'm sure at 39 weeks pregnant it's hard to sleep in any position.

While resting, take a position so that the legs are slightly above the pelvis.

Particular attention should be paid to contractions. Before that, they were false, but prenatal contractions can begin at any time. Unlike false ones, the time between uterine contractions decreases, and the pain intensifies. With such symptoms, immediately call an ambulance and go to the hospital, I hope by this time you have already folded your bag and all the necessary things.

Harbingers of childbirth at 39 weeks pregnant

One of the main symptoms of approaching childbirth is the lowering of the uterus and abdomen down. But this applies to primiparous women to a large extent. Their stomach drops 2 weeks before giving birth.

In women carrying a second and next child, it may also drop 1-2 days before delivery.

The main feature is the passage of the mucous plug. In most cases, this happens within 1-2 weeks.

The expectant mother suddenly loses her appetite, her total weight with the child decreases to 2 kilograms. This is due to the fact that the body prepares for childbirth, throwing off excess weight, thereby simplifying the process of labor activity.

False contractions are becoming more frequent, now there may be several times throughout the day, and the duration has increased by 2 times. But do not worry, this is a painless process, in this way, the uterus is prepared for the upcoming birth. Get into a comfortable sitting or lying position and the contractions will subside on their own.

If you long time walk around the apartment, you don’t want to sit down, and the contractions only intensify, most likely, these are prenatal contractions and the time has come, getting ready to go to the hospital. Until your water breaks, you can take your time, you will have enough time to calmly get there.

We have already mentioned that one of the signs of the approaching meeting with the baby, a woman in one two weeks, for no reason at all, begins to prepare her "nest". It happens in the subconscious.

You start running around the apartment, start a grand cleaning, start buying things that will help you make a cozy home nest. But do not overdo it, otherwise the birth for you will really begin prematurely.

If on this moment you feel satisfactory, in the last weeks of pregnancy, spend your free time on a clean fresh air. During the 3rd trimester, the baby is extremely lacking in oxygen. Be sure to take someone close to you to accompany you.

Examination, tests and ultrasound

If the pregnancy proceeds without complications, at this stage, the child should take the correct stable position with the head down. Testing and ultrasound is not required.

The only thing you can do is a urine test.

You continue to see your doctor regularly for routine checkups.

A scheduled medical examination includes:

• Measurements of fetal size, abdominal circumference and uterine fundus
• Location (heads)
• Your total weight
• Arterial pressure
• Checks baby's heartbeat
• Carry out KGT (cardiotocography)
• At week 39, the doctor determines the maturity of the placenta, its deterioration.

If necessary, an additional ultrasound is prescribed. This is done in cases where there is a risk of entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord, or the dimensions (length and weight) are too large, in order to avoid unforeseen situations.

It is at this stage, with a sufficiently large weight of the crumbs, the doctor determines whether there will be an independent birth, or with the help of a caesarean section. Although the latter option, doctors can take at any time during labor.

39 weeks pregnant. The diet of the expectant mother

Many women in the position in the last weeks of pregnancy are concerned about the issue of nutrition, because every day can end in childbirth.

Pay special attention to ensure that the required amount of protein enters the body, eat meat, fish and dairy products.

Steam as before, boil and simmer.

refrain from fried potatoes, do not stuff your stomach. In addition, you should eat food often, but in small portions. Eat at least 6 times a day.

At the 39th week of pregnancy, you should eat complex carbohydrates, they will give the body of the expectant mother strength and energy.

Carbohydrates found in cereals, raw and stewed vegetables, and wholemeal bread will help you raise your glucose levels.

Your diet should include fruits and vegetables every day. They contain a large number of vitamins and useful substances that you and your baby need. These products contain fiber, it will help cleanse the body before childbirth and prevent constipation.

And, of course, do not forget about the need to drink liquids, give preference to non-carbonated drinks, you can drink weak green tea.