Fully ready and waiting. The nails may have even grown past the fingertips.
What's Happening With Your Baby This Week?
- The baby is sleeping a lot to gather energy for the birth journey; sleeping 12-16 hours a day.
- Eye color is currently usually dark blue or gray; the permanent color will emerge within 6-12 months.
- Meconium accumulated in the intestines will form the first stool after birth.
- Lanugo hair has largely fallen out; the skin is smooth and soft.
- Grasp, sucking, swallowing, and breathing reflexes are fully ready for birth.
This Week's Tips for Mom
- Storing energy is very important; rest as much as you can, because labor can be like a physical marathon.
- You can observe your contractions without panicking; tracking contraction frequency and duration with an app can be helpful.
- Light walks can help labor begin; but be careful not to push yourself.
- Informing the person you want with you at the hospital (partner, mother, doula) and making sure they're ready would be great.
- Appetite may decrease in the final weeks; you can maintain your energy level with small, nutritious snacks.
Tip of the day: Remember the 5-1-1 rule: if contractions come every 5 minutes, last for 1 minute, and this has been going on for 1 hour, it may be time to go to the hospital! This rule is for first births; if you've given birth before, you may need to head in sooner. If your water breaks, you have bleeding, or your baby moves less, go to the hospital without waiting for contractions.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Length and weight values are averages; every baby grows at their own pace.
