The ninth month of pregnancy marks the final stretch before your baby arrives. This will be the time that is usually filled with excitement, anticipation and a mix of emotions. However, the entire situation in some of the cases will be physically and mentally challenging because your body will be preparing for the birth of the child. Understanding what will be happening during the last few weeks will be very important for the expectant mothers so that they will be able to feel prepared, calm, and composed at all times. So consistently going for gynecologist consultation will be important in all such cases so that ladies will be able to feel very confident for labour and delivery.
Basic expectations in the last month of pregnancy:
- Determining the growth and development of a baby: By the ninth month, the baby will be almost ready for the outside world, and the lungs as well as the brain will be fully developed, which will be preparing for independent breathing and cognitive growth after the birth. Body fat will be increasing, which will provide the babies with a rounded appearance and will also be helpful in regulating the temperature after the delivery. The baby will usually move into head-down position, which will be ready for birth, and you might notice a few strong kicks, which will be based on stretching movements, because this space in the uterus will become limited. An average baby will weigh around 2.8-3.5 KG and will be measuring about 50 cm in length. Regular ultrasound and checkup will always be made to ensure the position and health are optimal for delivery.
- Physical changes in the mother: The Final month will bring a combination of physical discomfort and noticeable changes in the mother’s body because the body will be preparing for labour. As the baby engages in the pelvis, you will feel an increase of pressure in the lower abdomen area, and the pelvis will make breathing very easy, but this will lead to frequent urination and pelvic swelling. You might also experience irregular and mild contractions in all such cases, which will also be helpful in preparing the uterus for real labour. Additionally, due to growing belly and hormonal changes, lower back pain and exhaustion will be very common, and for this you should focus on using the pregnancy below, practice exercise and doing the rest frequently will be helpful in getting rid of discomfort.
- Emotional changes and mental preparation: Hormonal fluctuations and anticipation with sleepless nights will lead to a rollercoaster of emotions, and many ladies will be experiencing a lot of instincts, which will be the sudden urge to clean, organise and prepare the home for the arrival of the baby. It is also very common to feel anxious about the labour and delivery pain, along with excitement to finally meet the baby. In some cases, they might also be impatient due to the date approaching. So, practising the relaxation techniques like deep breathing and all such cases will also be very important so that you can calm your nerves down, and further, you will be able to focus during labour very easily.
- Changes in the cervix and signs of labour: The doctor will usually be monitoring the cervical changes in your weekly visits during the last month, and further, the opening of the cervix in preparation for delivery will be very well checked out. Some of the early signs and symptoms related to labour will be taken into account by the doctor, which is the main reason that taking the appointment with female doctor gynaecologist should be taken very seriously by the parents, so that there is no chance of any kind of issue. If your water is breaking or you are having very regular and strong contractions every few minutes, then it will be time to head to the hospital as soon as possible.
- Common symptoms in the last month: Multiple discomfort situations will lead to peak levels during the last few weeks, and there might be difficulty in sleeping, heartburn, digestion, frequent urination, shortness of breath, along with stretch marks and itchy skin. So, you need to be very clear about managing such symptoms very well with the consultation of doctors, so that there is no chance of any kind of problem, and things are very well sorted out. Moisturising your skin regularly with oil and cream will be very important so that dryness will be eliminated, and there will be no chance of any kind of issues in the management of your skin.
- Preparing yourself for labour and delivery: The last month will be the ideal time to finalise all of the preparations. In all such cases, you need to focus on packing your hospital bag with the essential items for yourself, your baby and your partner. Discussing the birth plan with your healthcare provider, including the pain relief options, will also be very important, along with clarification of the concerns related to postnatal care. Arrangement of transportation to the hospital is very important, and further, you should keep the important contacts available at all times to avoid any issues. Additionally, preparing your home and nursery for the baby will be very important so that you can take it to work, so that things are very well sorted out. When you are remaining ahead of time, you will be able to reduce the last-minute stress very easily, and you will be able to enjoy a very smooth transition into motherhood without any problem.
Conclusion: Apart from the points mentioned above, remaining in touch with the best paediatrician will be very much recommended for the ladies, so that mental and emotional guidance for birth will be determined because a positive mindset and suggestions of experts will be helpful in reducing the anxiety by promoting a smooth birth giving experience. Additionally, you should always focus on remaining patient and focusing on self-care, which will be very important so that things are sorted out and you will be able to get the ultimate reward of your preparation and endurance with the baby in your arms.