39th week of pregnancy

You are in the middle of the 10th and final month of pregnancy. That means it can start at any time! Because: Most babies are not born exactly on their but within a four-week period around that date. What happens in the last weeks of your pregnancy and how you can prepare for the birth are explained in this article.

How big is your baby in the 39th week of pregnancy?

Your baby is about the size of a pumpkin this week at 34 centimeters. The crown-to-heel length is approximately 49 centimeters.

39th week of pregnancy: What's changing for you

Waiting is the order of the day, because there's not much more you can do this week as you are probably not very mobile with your baby bump. Many pregnant women now feel a mix of impatience, anticipation, and excitement. Physically, everything is now in the final stretch: Braxton Hicks contractions are occurring more frequently, pushing your baby further towards the cervix. However, the beginning of labor pains can also cause diarrhea, stomach pain, or nausea.

Some pregnant women also experience a real energy boost shortly before birth, which often manifests in the form of nesting instincts. So don't be surprised if you suddenly feel the urge to organize the kitchen cabinets or clean the windows. However, you should leave these preparations for the arrival of your little explorer to your partner. If you feel the urge to move, opt for short walks and otherwise rest.

39th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby

Most babies now weigh between 3,200 and 3,300 grams and are thus ready for life outside the womb. Of course, the weight and size of your little explorer may also vary, as children develop more individually towards the end of pregnancy than at the beginning. His vernix and lanugo hair have completely disappeared this week. Both, along with dead skin cells, are now in the amniotic fluid, which is therefore no longer clear but milky white. Your baby is moving only minimally now. On the one hand, because there is no more space, but also to conserve energy for the upcoming birth. When labor begins, his body releases stress hormones that signal to him that it’s starting and help him prepare for life outside your body. Especially in the first days, this transition demands a lot from him and costs energy! That’s why your baby is still accumulating fat reserves, because after birth, it will initially lose weight again – sufficient reserves are therefore important.

The first days with the baby – what to expect

Are you already dreaming of finally seeing your little explorer, holding them in your arms, and smelling their incomparable baby scent? Then you might also be wondering what your first together days will look like. Once you're home, the whole family will first settle in peacefully and enjoy the closeness. At the same time, this little person brings a completely new daily (and nightly) rhythm that everyone will have to get used to. Even if it may seem to you like you don’t have to do much between or , and comforting, so much happens in these first days. What is important during this time and how you can enjoy the first beautiful but also exhausting days to the fullest, you will read in the article „ “.

This is now important

• You should head to the hospital when the contractions come regularly every three to six minutes and require your full attention. If you're unsure whether it's time, it's best to call your midwife or the hospital first. A good test: if your contractions subside in a warm bath, you can relax a little longer.

• This week, increased discharge or spotting may occur, indicating that your cervix is opening and the mucus plug is loosening. It is also possible that it contains no traces of blood, but instead you notice it as a thick, whitish mucus. Other pregnant women, in turn, do not consciously notice the loss of the mucus plug at all.

• When you are alone at home for the first time with your newborn, many new parents worry about accidentally hurting this delicate being. But your baby will love being close to you and being touched. To prepare you for handling your little explorer, midwife Sissi from LILLYDOO demonstrates the essential techniques in the video:

With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which also in exchange with our