Gymnastics for pregnant women 39 weeks. Gymnastic exercises for pregnant women are the best preparation for childbirth! How to avoid mistakes in determining the gestational age

The birthday of a child, unfortunately, or fortunately, cannot be planned when it comes to natural childbirth. After all, childbirth is a rather complicated process, which depends on many factors. Carrying a child in each case is individual, just like the course of pregnancy. For some women, the 42nd week of pregnancy is easily tolerated, while someone dreams of speeding up this process from 38-39 weeks.

Methods of stimulation

The desires of pregnant women sometimes defy any logic. One of these desires is the birth of a child at 39 weeks of gestation. Of course, childbirth during this period is safe for a child who has already fully formed and is ready to be born. But, before embarking on such an undertaking, it is necessary to make sure not only that the child is ready for birth, but that the woman's body is ready for this, because the consequences may not be the most pleasant. Therefore, it is worth considering several times whether it is necessary to bring closer something that does not depend on us.

Nevertheless, having this or that reason, pregnant women repeatedly ask themselves the question: “What can be done to bring the birth closer and give birth at 38-39 weeks of gestation and not harm either themselves or the baby?”. There are several ways in which at home you can bring the date of birth closer:

You can speed up childbirth at 38-39 weeks of gestation by resuming sexual activity. In this way, it is possible to prepare the genital tract for the upcoming process of childbirth, and the excitement that a woman feels during intercourse causes the uterus to contract. In addition, sperm that has entered the female genital tract acts as a stimulant to the uterus, causing it to contract and open.
A natural method to speed up the process of childbirth at 38-39 weeks of gestation is a stimulating massage of the nipples of a pregnant woman. When performing such a massage, it is important to remember the hygiene of the massager's hands and the woman's nipples in order to avoid infection in the mammary glands. The process of massaging the nipples brings the uterus into tone and at the same time allows you to properly prepare the woman's breasts for the upcoming breastfeeding.
Active physical activity is also good if necessary to speed up labor at 38-39 weeks of gestation. To do this, it is not necessary to attend classes for pregnant women, because you can implement the method at home. Many pregnant women a few days before giving birth are faced with physical activity, which can be provided by household chores and walks. Even the usual climbing stairs at 38-39 weeks of pregnancy can give the desired result.

In some cases, after consulting a doctor, you can resort to an enema. The procedure can not be called the most pleasant, but in most cases the result does not make you wait. In addition, having cleansed the intestines, having an effect on the uterus, it is possible to avoid the use of suppositories, which are prescribed to women in labor immediately before childbirth.

If it doesn't work at home...

If all the home methods that promised to bring the birth closer did not work, and the woman wants to give birth at the 39th week of pregnancy naturally, you can contact the doctor, who, after examining the condition of the fetus and the readiness of the uterus, will suggest proven ways to bring the birth closer. You should not be afraid of the intervention of doctors in order to bring the birth closer at the 39th week of pregnancy. In this case, you can feel safe.

You should not experiment on your own health and the life of an unborn child, testing methods that have not been mentioned by experts. After all, the result can be the most unpredictable, and the health and even the life of the baby may be at stake. If, after trying home methods, there was no result approaching the birth, and there is no desire or opportunity to contact the doctor, it is better to get rid of this idea and wait for the time when the body is ready for childbirth.

During pregnancy, which falls on the 39th week, experts recommend paying special attention to your health, and, using the methods of approaching childbirth, do not forget about safety. After all, a sharp movement, experience, stress, can affect the child. During this period, there is a high probability of the umbilical cord entwining the fetus, as a result of which it may be deprived of the necessary nutrients, oxygen, so it is better to entrust the stimulation of labor to doctors.

In the absence of contraindications, the doctor may prescribe drugs that contain hormones that stimulate uterine contractions and the appearance of contractions. At 39 weeks pregnant, labor can be induced with Prostaglandin. This is the most popular drug that allows you to speed up labor.

The use of the drug should be carried out after consulting a doctor and with his consent, since he also has side effects that at this stage of pregnancy can be dangerous to the health of the baby. We are talking about the appearance of vomiting and diarrhea, fever. The drug can be introduced into the body in the form of:

gel;
candles;
injections.

If the body of the future mother is not ready for the onset of childbirth, then all the measures taken may be useless, or they may cause significant harm to the health of the mother and call into question the possibility of having children in the future. If the stimulation of labor is carried out in the maternity hospital under the supervision of specialists, then the risk of negative consequences is reduced, but not completely eliminated. In some cases, doctors may decide to pierce the amniotic sac, which can bring the long-awaited birth closer.

Is it worth it to induce labor at this time?

During this period, the child is already fully formed and ready for the appearance, but this does not mean that childbirth should be stimulated. His birth will occur at the moment when the body is maximally prepared. When deciding to hasten the birth of a baby, a woman must understand all the risks that may arise. Without making sure of the health and proper development of the fetus, the readiness of her body, a woman is not recommended to use the methods mentioned above.

In most cases, the baby is born at the 40th week of pregnancy, so the 39th week is not an indicator that it is necessary to stimulate labor. Especially if a woman has health problems that call into question the likelihood of having a baby naturally.

This period of pregnancy is the most difficult, as the legs swell and pulling pains appear in the lumbar region. The body of a pregnant woman is preparing for labor.

Special exercises during pregnancy for a period of 36 to 40 weeks relieve unwanted stretch marks and tears during childbirth.

An active image during the entire pregnancy is the key to a quick birth and good health. Performing exercises for a period of 36 to 40 weeks is not only very useful for the expectant mother, but also a charge of vivacity for the baby.

Physical exercises at this stage of pregnancy associated with sudden movements, jumping, active running are not allowed. When performing exercises for a period of 36 to 40 weeks, they should be smooth and not hasty.

The complex includes exercises from various positions: normal walking, on toes, on the outside of the foot and on the heels; from a position, standing, kneeling, knee-carpal position and supine.

The set of exercises for pregnant women is included.

Starting exercises during pregnancy for a period of 36 to 40 weeks should be with the permission of the doctor in order to eliminate all the risks of pregnancy during this period.

Performing exercises, a pregnant woman should not bring herself to severe fatigue, this is not good. Tired, lie down, rest, and then if you feel good, continue to do the exercises.

Exercise during pregnancy at 36 to 40 weeks

The first set of exercises, while walking:

We start the exercises with normal walking: two steps - inhale, four steps - exhale, 30 seconds.
Then 30 sec. walking on toes, hands in a free position.
30 sec. walking on heels. In this case, the hands are fixed on the belt.
And the last type of walking on the outside of the foot, also for 30 seconds.

The following exercises during pregnancy for a period of 36 to 40 weeks, we will perform while standing:

We put our fingers on our shoulders: we take our elbows back - inhale, we take them forward and connect - exhale, 4-5 times.
We stand sideways to the gymnastic wall, we perform the exercise slowly. We make lateral inclinations of the body, after which the sides change, from 4 to 5 times.

Knee stand:

Stand on all fours (knee-carpal position):

We get on our knees and hands, perform swings first with the right foot up - inhale and come back - exhale, change legs and perform 3-4 times.

For further exercises, you must lie on your back:

We lay on our back, spread our arms to the sides so that the palms are at the top: Alternately we connect the palms to the right, then to the left 2-4 times.
Position as in exercise number 1. We raised our hands up - inhale, gently pull the right knee to the stomach, lower our hands - exhale, now hands up - inhale and pull up the left knee, lower our hands - exhale. Repeat this exercise 3-4 times.
Now we put our feet on our feet, spread our arms to the sides: we perform lifting and lowering the pelvis at a leisurely pace 4-6 times.
The legs are straight, the arms are spread apart: we first begin to take one leg to the side, then throw it behind the other leg, then take it to the side again and return back to the original one, then change the leg and repeat 3-4 times.
We do the exercise at an average pace, breathing is free. Spread your arms to the sides with your palms up: the hands are clenched into fists, pull the feet towards you, then unclench the hands and feet away from you, 8-10 times.

Final exercise, walking:

Walking for 1-2 minutes, arms through the sides up - inhale, then lower - exhale.

Some babies are born at the 39th obstetric week of pregnancy, which is the norm. If this has not happened yet, mom should not worry. Before 42 weeks, pregnancy is not considered post-term. The main thing is to pay attention to any changes in the body, so that if something happens, immediately go to the hospital.

Despite the large belly, during this period the woman feels a little lighter, as the fetus is now placed lower. The cervix softens and becomes shorter, at the same time the growth of the placenta slowed down, and gradually it will begin to age. The remaining days or weeks before delivery, the size of the abdomen will also remain unchanged. Since the beginning of pregnancy, the breast has increased by several sizes, the release of colostrum is more often observed. Only a few days after birth, this substance will be replaced by milk.

During this period, a woman should carefully monitor her diet, because with the active use of food, the child will gain weight. This will cause it to be more difficult to pass through the birth canal.

Mom practically does not care about appearance, she wants to meet her own baby faster. Some women have developed stretch marks, especially if the pregnancy is multiple. The skin on the sides, chest and thighs is dry and sensitive. The vertical stripe on the abdomen became dark, the same happened with freckles and moles. In the area of the forehead or cheeks, many expectant mothers have a “print of pregnant women” - age spots. They will disappear shortly after birth.

Vaginal discharge may become more intense. Therefore, it is important not to miss the waste of amniotic fluid. Liquid in consistency, with lumps of yellow mucus, such secretions are one of the harbingers of the onset of labor. Including pain in the lumbar region.

Finally, the baby is ready to be born. Now he looks better than ever, his features are fully formed, his eyes are open, his ears are moving away from his head. (Let's hope not like his grandfather's, but there's not much that can be done about it right now.) His head may be covered in hair, but don't be surprised if it's an odd color; in many families where both parents are blonde, children are born with dark hair, and mom and dad with dark curls can have children with fluff on their heads, like a peach.

The baby's body has grown so much that it has already caught up with the head, which is now only one-fourth of the body instead of almost one-half, as it was in early pregnancy. One strange fact: the baby's head and belly are now the same volume, so it's easy to see why it's sometimes so difficult for babies to put things on over their heads.

In any case, the child can forget about water ballet. The uterus has become so crowded that it pushes and pushes your organs in the literal sense to make room for itself. Fortunately, it doesn't usually matter how big the baby gets, because the head can stretch to fit the shape of the birth canal. Because of this, the shape of his head after birth may be strange, but you should not pay attention to it. She will become as beautiful as he is approximately 24 hours after birth.

How to find out the future weight of the baby?

How much will the baby weigh? At birth, the "average" weight of children is between 3 and 4 kg. Many children weigh just about 3.3 kg. Boys usually weigh 100g more than girls. The baby will continue to gain weight as long as you take care of him. Studies have shown that the optimal weight is important not only for the health of the baby and how the birth will go, but also for his health in the future. Babies who weighed less than 2 kg at birth may develop various health problems both immediately after birth and later. It is known that children weighing more than 14 kg are also at risk, because they can develop obesity both immediately after birth and later.

Your body at 39 weeks pregnant

Surprises of childbirth

You've read all the baby books and diligently jotted down what your instructor told you about contractions, breathing, massages, changing positions, and possibly painkillers. Despite all the preparations, the baby may surprise you, because neither in courses, nor from books, nor even from your best friends, you will learn about childbirth without embellishment. Even if labor goes like most women, it can come as a shock if you haven't heard from anyone how it actually happens, so it's good to know everything better beforehand. For starters, don't be scared if you forget everything you were taught in the courses. Because of the pain during childbirth, the head may be empty. Breath? Fight positions? What? It may happen that you lie on your back and grab onto the bed, even if this is the last thing you thought you would do during childbirth. To prepare for this, you need to make sure that the birth attendant knows all the breathing techniques, has pictures of the birthing positions you talked about, and your wishlist of best and worst case scenarios. At some point, you may start chattering your teeth. About half of the women who gave birth complained of trembling and chattering of teeth, although the body temperature was even higher than normal. This is normal, nothing to worry about here.

You may feel sick. Nausea is normal; when you give birth, digestion slows down, and there may still be food in the stomach when strong contractions begin. Sometimes women feel sick when they get an epidural because it can drop their blood pressure. In movies, women growl and moan and then cry when they give birth. Chances are, you know that it can actually help with childbirth; if you scream, you feel more energetic and strong during contractions or when you push during the second stage of labor. However, be prepared for the fact that you will be angry and delirious, perhaps yelling at the doctor and swearing at your partner. Most of all, this happens if pain relief is not given, because a woman gets tired quickly, she will be in pain and all she wants is for the torment to finally end. Don't be embarrassed; the doctor has heard all this before, although the partner may be shocked.

You will make other sounds that are not talked about on TV. For example, you may pass gas as your baby moves through the birth canal, especially if an epidural has been performed. Maybe you'll be too busy to notice. But if you notice, know that this is a normal sound, and you should not worry about it. It is possible that bowel activity will also show up during labor, because the muscles will be directed to push the baby and everything else out due to the fact that the baby is squeezing the rectum as his head moves through the birth canal. You may be so busy during contractions that you won't notice it, but if it does, don't worry. There is nothing new here for the doctor. Your partner may also be shocked by such details, and you may secretly (or not secretly) be annoyed by his disgust with emotional and chaotic childbirth. Don't be too demanding: your partner will be just as frightened by the birth as you are, and later his emotions will be pride in how strong you are, and joy at the sight of the baby, part of both of you.

Communication with a partner

You have completed all the tasks at work. You renovated the nursery, bought a baby shower. Now you are completely focused on pushing the Morse table from the stomach. Women are so focused that they can forget that their man is also experiencing more and more every day, while the time to give birth is approaching. Perhaps, while you have nowhere to go from the good wishes of friends or strangers who want to touch the stomach, he may pull back and be afraid of his changing mood due to the fact that the body of his woman becomes unrecognizable.

A man may be hesitant or worried about your love for a person who is completely abstract to him, and afraid of what you have dragged yourself into. To get him closer, talk to him about how he can help during childbirth.

Here are the most important tasks he can handle:

be with you during contractions when you are most likely to be at home. Take a walk, rent a movie and watch it together, take a nap
massage your lower back
help getting in and out of the shower
feed you ice fruit pieces and ice chips
give you a massage
count the time of contractions and calm you down in between

Diet and exercise at 39 weeks pregnant

Why is it important to drink enough fluids?

Whether you have severe swelling, how often you need to go to the toilet, or how much you have eaten, keep drinking water. This is very important at the end of pregnancy. You can start giving birth at any time, and if there is enough fluid in the body, you will be more energetic and enduring, and if there is not enough fluid, then there will be less strength. Also, if you've been drinking enough, you probably won't need an IV. Drink water, milk, decaffeinated tea or coffee, fruit juices, mineral water, or sports drinks; suck on ice cubes; you can eat frozen fruits and fruits that contain a lot of water, such as watermelon and grapes, anything that would help get those same 8 glasses of fluid per day.

Walking late

If you've been walking all week 39, there's no reason to stop. Keep walking until the birth, if you can. Walking will help keep your muscles toned, help stabilize your blood sugar, strengthen your heart and lungs, improve your mood, and make you feel like you've achieved something. Keep drinking enough water and plan your route so that you can go to the toilet. If you get tired quickly, do not climb hills, and it is better to walk several times in a short time than once and for a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions at 39 Weeks Pregnant

I am afraid that I will have a rush labor like my mother and I will have a baby at home or in the car on the way to the hospital. What should I do if I find myself in such a situation?

Chances are you won't be in that situation. You already know about your predisposition to rapid labor, so you will start counting how long the contractions last from the first minutes of labor and, due to anxiety, you will immediately go to the hospital. However, if the contractions lasted quite a bit, and you already feel the urge to push, calm down. Wherever children are born - in hospitals, taxis, elevators, kitchens or huts - they can usually do all the work themselves. But if you prepare for an urgent delivery, it will help to calm down and be sure that any situation can be dealt with if something happens.

If you've started giving birth at home and don't think you'll be able to get to the hospital on time, it's best to stay where you are; it would be better for a baby to be born at home than in the back seat of a car. Call your doctor right away. If he is at work, he can give instructions over the phone while the ambulance is on the way. If you cannot get through to the doctor, call 03. Ask for assistance with childbirth and have the operator contact the hospital and the doctor. Women are advised to pack a first aid kit for such an occasion. Everything should be put in a waterproof bag away from children and pets.

It should contain the following:

a pack of large plastic-lined hygienic bags to keep the sheets free of all sorts of nasty liquids
baby syringe (made of soft plastic, often called an ear syringe; it should not be a nasal syringe because the plastic tip is not suitable for a baby's nose)
small bottle of isopropyl alcohol
set of large cotton balls
box of recycled plastic or latex gloves
white shoelaces (to tie the umbilical cord)
sharp scissors (to cut it)
twelve large pads
dry ice pack (the kind where the ice comes out when you push)
warm water bottle (to keep baby warm)
six disposable diapers
pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
a small bar of antibacterial soap or liquid disinfectant

I have just arrived from the hospital and the doctor told me that the cervix is dilated by 3 centimeters and flattened by 50%! Does this mean I'm having a baby today?

In simple terms, contractions are the process of thinning (smoothing) and opening (expanding) of the cervix. Due to false contractions in the last weeks of pregnancy, the doctor may say that the cervix is flattened by 50% or more. Initially, during pregnancy, the cervix looks like a cone with thick walls, but before childbirth, it becomes like a flat, thin cylinder next to the baby's head. If the cervix is 50% effaced, that means you're still halfway there.

Contractions will gradually open the cervix to the magic number of 10 centimeters. When it expands to this extent (almost the width of your hand), your midwife or doctor will tell you that you can push between contractions and have a baby. The fact that the cervix is 3 cm open means that it has already begun to expand. This is a good sign. However, when exactly you will start giving birth is unknown. On average, when contractions begin, the cervix usually dilates 1 cm per hour if it's the first baby, and 1.5 cm if it's the second baby.

Week 39 can be the last week of pregnancy, or maybe not the last - it’s quite difficult to predict the date of birth, and there’s nothing to it. For the expectant mother, something else is now more important - monitoring well-being, counting the movements of the crumbs and good rest.

Size, appearance and position of the fetus

The weight of the fetus at 39 weeks reaches 3.5 kg (but it can be either 3 or 4 kg), height is 51-52 cm. The baby has a fairly large head, wide shoulders, a bulging tummy, a narrow pelvis and legs that may seem short compared to the body and arms. Folds-constrictions have already appeared on the arms and legs of the baby, and the larger the mass of the baby, the more pronounced these constrictions. There is still a little protective lubricant left in the folds, but on the body it is almost gone. In the same way, vellus hair disappeared from the baby's body (a small amount of them can remain only on the shoulders). The skin has lost its redness and wrinkling. The nails completely covered the nail beds on the fingers. That is, the baby is now no different from a newborn.

At the 39th week of the prenatal period, the expectant mother may note that the baby seems to have become calmer, and the stomach has stopped shaking. There is no need to worry about this. The baby simply does not have enough space and all he can do is lightly push his mother with his elbow, knee or heel. But what is very important - a woman must definitely feel these movements, no one has canceled the “rule of 10 movements”. If the tremors are gone, you should immediately consult a doctor.. Ultrasound and cardiotocography (CTG) will help assess the condition of the baby.

By week 39, the fetus has already taken a position in the uterus, in which it will be born. Normally, it should be longitudinal, head down, the back of the head to the internal os of the cervix. But in some cases, the baby is located quite differently:

transverse;
obliquely;
or legs;
throws back the head and turns to the internal pharynx of the cervix with the forehead or face.

Most of these positions of the baby are an indication for a caesarean section.

Well-being of the expectant mother

The bottom of the uterus has sunk down a little, so it becomes easier for the expectant mother to breathe and eat at 39 weeks (the stomach and lungs are no longer supported by the uterus). But the bladder, on the contrary, now feels the greatest pressure in the entire pregnancy, so you have to write almost every hour.

In general, the woman's well-being remains consistently satisfactory - it cannot be called good, since preparation for the upcoming birth makes itself felt constantly:

the pelvis diverges;
numb and sore legs;
loose stool.

At week 39, standing on the scales, the expectant mother may notice a weight loss of 1 or even 1.5 kg. This is absolutely normal. The body, preparing for childbirth, tries to get rid of excess fluid and toxins that have accumulated in the intestines. That is why a pregnant woman has to run to the toilet more often "big" and "little".

Placenta at 39 weeks pregnant

At week 39, the placenta begins to age - its thickness decreases, calcium deposits appear in the tissues, blood flow in the vessels worsens. Of course, these changes affect the blood supply and provide the baby with all the necessary substances, but not critical. Doctors believe that such stressful training is even useful for the baby before childbirth, during which there are always periods when the fetus begins to suffer from a lack of oxygen. However, it happens that the children's place begins to age prematurely and by the 39th week they almost completely lose all their functionality. In such conditions, the baby stops gaining weight and is constantly in a state of oxygen starvation.

To determine that the baby is bad inside the uterus, you can use CTG and dopplerography. In addition, both the obstetrician-gynecologist, after listening to the heart of the fetus, and the expectant mother, watching the movements of her baby, may suspect something was wrong. Therefore, do not ignore going to the antenatal clinic and monitoring the baby's motor activity in the last weeks of pregnancy.

There is another important point - the aging of the placenta leads to the fact that it ceases to perform its barrier function. Now, infectious agents, toxins, harmful chemical compounds, etc. can get to the baby. Therefore, the expectant mother should not forget about vigilance for a minute:

no self-treatment;
no visits to crowded places where you can “pick up” something;
no experimentation with food;
no general cleaning with the use of strong household chemicals and repairs in the house.

Harbingers of childbirth at 39 weeks pregnant

The expectant mother most likely already met with the harbingers of childbirth, but if not, we recall them:

Lowering of the abdomen (the abdomen begins to sag down a little).
The exit of a lump of mucus from the vagina is a mucous plug that "plugged" the cervix throughout pregnancy and protected the baby from the outside world.
Frequent training contractions.
Selection . It could stand out before, but not so abundantly.
The desire to "build a nest for your chick."
Decrease in body weight.

The appearance of any of these symptoms does not mean that you need to immediately go to the hospital. This is just evidence that very soon (perhaps in a few days) childbirth will begin, so it is advisable for the expectant mother to carefully listen to her body.

Necessary examinations

At week 39, you should visit the observing gynecologist in the antenatal clinic. Now this is more important than ever, because only a doctor can determine whether everything is fine with the baby and whether there is a reason for hospitalization in the maternity hospital.

During this visit, the doctor will do the following:

Ask about health and complaints.
Evaluate the results, which should be pre-passed.
Will measure blood pressure, weight and parameters of the patient's abdomen.
Listen to the fetal heart.
Feels the abdomen to determine if the baby is positioned correctly and whether his head has sunk into the mother's pelvic area.
Check the woman's legs for swelling.
Will give direction to and CTG, if there is evidence.

If a woman cannot give birth herself (for example, if there are several scars on the uterus, if there is a narrow pelvis), at 39 weeks she will most likely be hospitalized and will have a planned one.

When to go to the hospital?

The peak of experiences for the expectant mother usually occurs at the end of pregnancy. How to understand that it is time to go to the hospital is one of the most exciting questions. To reassure themselves and loved ones, some pregnant women go to a medical facility in advance and wait there for the onset of labor. In fact, you can wait for childbirth at home - there is nothing difficult and dangerous in this.

The expectant mother at the 39th week of pregnancy needs to focus on several important points:

Also, the expectant mother needs to be aware of situations in which it is better to immediately call an ambulance or go to the hospital on her own, without waiting for the onset of contractions, shortening of the gaps between them or leakage of amniotic fluid. Such situations include:

Severe pain - as if the uterus cannot fully relax between contractions.
A change in the nature of the movements of the crumbs - if the fetus has stopped moving at all or has become very active.
Increase in blood pressure. It is advisable to check it if the expectant mother has a severe headache or cloudy eyes, “flies” appear.
The onset of labor in a woman with multiple pregnancies.
Permanent and expectant mother.

Going to the hospital, the main thing is not to panic! Important: do not forget to take your documents with you (passport, exchange card, certificate issued by the antenatal clinic) and a prepared bag with things (it should already be in the room packed for at least 2 weeks).