Fetal development 36 weeks of pregnancy • hello healthy

When is the time for the baby to be born? The right time for babies to be born is when the mother is 9 months pregnant, to be precise at 39-40 weeks of gestation. There is a lot that happens in the 9 months of pregnancy at this gestational age. The following is the full explanation.

9 months pregnant

Entering the 9 month pregnant phase is the time the fetus is born. American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologist (ACOG), if the fetus is 37-38 weeks old is said to be born early.

While the age of 39 weeks - 40 weeks 6 days is called being born on time and born at the age of 41-42 weeks is called late birth.

The following is an explanation of 9 months of pregnancy which includes the final phase of the third trimester with a gestational age of 36-42 weeks.

37 weeks of pregnancy: the fetus is able to grasp its own fingers

Entering the gestation at 37 weeks of gestation, the fetal weight at this time has reached approximately 2.85 kg with a body length from head to heel of approximately 48 cm.

At this gestational age, the limbs of the baby in the womb develop quite well. Your little one is able to grasp his fingers.

If a bright light is directed at the abdomen, the baby may turn to face the light in the womb.

The baby's intestines now contain meconium, which is the fetus's first stool, which is a sticky green substance.

At birth, your little one can also produce the first feces that come out with the amniotic fluid.

38 weeks pregnant: baby's mouth has muscles to swallow amniotic fluid

Entering 38 weeks of pregnancy, the development of the fetus's body is 45 cm from head to toe with a weight of 3.2 kilograms. Your little one will still gain weight until it's time to give birth.

By this time, the baby's mouth already has the muscles to suck and swallow the amniotic fluid. As a result, the digestion of the fetus has begun to produce meconium, which is also known as the fetus's first feces.

Meanwhile, fetal lung development is still in the stage of refining its function when the mother is 9 months pregnant. The lungs will still produce a lot of surfactant.

A surfactant is a substance that prevents the air sacs in the fetus's lungs from sticking together once it starts breathing at birth.

Another development that can be observed at 38 weeks of pregnancy is the increase in fat in the fetal body.

In addition, the fetus will still perfect its brain and nervous system so that it can respond to stimuli when it is born.

39 weeks of pregnancy: the fine hair of the fetus is thinning

Entering week 39 of pregnancy, the development of fetal weight has now reached 3.5 kilograms. Body length is about 50 cm from head to toe.

At 9 months pregnant, at 39 weeks to be precise, the umbilical cord or umbilical cord may be wrapped around the fetal neck. Generally this does not cause any problems.

However, if the twists make it difficult for the baby to be born normally, the doctor will take a caesarean section.

Vernix or the thin layer of fat that covered the fetal skin at week 39 has started to disappear. In addition to vernix, lanugo or fine hair all over the baby's body are generally starting to thin.

The immunity that the mother transfers through the placenta will help your baby's immune system fight infection for the first 6-12 months after birth.

40 weeks pregnant: the fetus is ready to be born

Entering 40 weeks of pregnancy, the development of fetal weight has reached 3.5 kilograms with a body length of 50.8 cm.

In the uterus, the fetus will experience many changes in shape, especially in its head. The fetal head will likely be covered with vernix caseosa and blood. In addition, the fetal skin may experience discoloration and multiple rashes.

In general, the baby's hormonal system also starts to work properly at 40 weeks of gestation.

The shape of the baby's genitals (scrotum for boys and labia for girls) may appear larger when viewed on ultrasound.

The fetus this week is generally ready to be born into the world. However, there's no need to worry if you haven't shown any signs of giving birth when you're 9 months pregnant.

The reason is, there are only 5 percent of women who give birth according to the estimated HPL count (estimated day of birth) that has been determined.

The rest, pregnant women can give birth after or less than the estimated time of birth.

41 weeks pregnant: fetal skin drier

At 41 weeks of gestation, the large development of the fetus is now about the size of a jackfruit. The fetus is already more than 50 cm long and weighs about 3.6 kilograms.

This week, the fetus is ready to be born. It cannot remain in the mother's stomach so it must be born.

Most obstetricians will not allow a pregnancy to exceed 2 weeks of the estimated HPL (due date) that has been determined. This aims to prevent the risk of complications to the fetus and pregnant women.

Fetuses born during the final phase of 9 months of pregnancy, or 41 weeks of age, usually have dry, wrinkled skin, long nails, thick hair, and less sebum development around their body.

Babies born more than 2 weeks via HPL are also likely to be deficient in nutrients and their subcutaneous fat is also thinner. This needs to be considered in the development of the fetus at 41 weeks of gestation.

42 weeks pregnant: fetal skin is cracked and peeling

Entering the development of the baby at 42 weeks of gestation, you could say that it is nearing the time of delivery.

However, it is important to understand that not all babies will be born on their due date at the beginning of pregnancy.

In some cases, babies can be born 2 weeks earlier than their estimated due date.

The size of your fetus at 42 weeks of pregnancy is approximately the size of a large enough watermelon or jackfruit, this is in accordance with the development of the baby.

Even so, it is not impossible that you will still be able to give birth normally through the vagina.

Babies born past the due date should sometimes appear to have hair and nails that tend to be longer.

Even accompanied by dry, cracked, peeling, and wrinkled skin. This condition is often experienced by the fetus at the development of gestational age 42 weeks.

This condition is usually only temporary because he lost the vernix (a protective substance in the baby's skin) due to his birth past the due date.

What you feel when you are 9 months pregnant

Along with the growth of the fetus, the mother's body will also experience several changes during 9 months of pregnancy, namely:

The uterus is enlarged at the 9 months pregnant phase

When you're 9 months pregnant starting at 36 weeks of gestation, the baby is getting bigger. The bigger the baby, the more compressed the organs in the stomach.

This makes eating large meals or eating regular portions more difficult. So, pregnant women are advised to eat smaller portions but more often.

On the other hand, you may experience less heartburn and you can easily breathe.

This is especially true when the fetal head is in the pelvis. This process of shifting the position of the fetal head is called lightening and generally occurs in the weeks before delivery.

Mother's weight stops gaining when she is 9 months pregnant

In the 9 months pregnant phase, most pregnant women will stop experiencing weight gain.

During this time the body weight may neither increase nor decrease. Don't worry, the normal fetal weight will remain the same.

In fact, staying at the same weight can be a sign that your body is ready for labor.

The presence of amniotic fluid and loosening of the intestines to prepare for childbirth can indeed reduce the weight of pregnant women.

Mucous discharge from the vagina at 9 months of pregnancy

There is a possibility that the mother may experience pregnancy symptoms in the form of mucus that comes out of the vagina.

This mucus can be large or small when it comes out. Sometimes, this white or clear mucus can mix with blood.

It is not yet known the exact cause of mucus discharge from the vagina of pregnant women. However, some people believe that a mixture of mucus and blood that comes out can be a sign of childbirth.

Apart from those already mentioned above, pregnant women also experience several other changes, such as:

Blood spots appear
Appear stretch marks.
The stomach feels pressure
Insomnia
Itchy stomach
Swollen foot
Fake contractions
Vaginal bleeding

For pregnant women with gestational age 41-42 weeks, there are several less than ideal conditions that will be experienced.

Quoting from the American of Obstetrician and Gynecologist (ACOG), the gestational age of 41-42 weeks is called the time of late birth. Meanwhile, if it is more than 42 weeks, it is called too late.

Babies born at the end of the 9 months pregnant phase or age 41-42 weeks, generally have dry skin and are overweight.

It is not recommended to leave the fetus in the womb for too long. This can increase the risk of infection of the uterus which can be dangerous and even cause the baby to be stillborn (still birth).

If there are no signs of childbirth at that gestational age, you need to be vigilant. The reason is you are at risk of experiencing pregnancy complications.

Things that need to be considered when consulting a doctor

When carrying out control during the 9 months pregnant phase, the mother is obliged to report all kinds of symptoms that are felt to the doctor.

Later, the doctor will tell you how to handle it and what are the signs of wanting to give birth so you can give birth on time.

Usually the doctor will tell you about the option of induction injections to stimulate labor. Induction medication will be given if the baby is not born the following week.

Most doctors will not allow mothers to delay delivery more than two weeks from the estimated HPL that has been determined. This condition will increase the risk of complications for both mother and baby.

You are also encouraged to feel how many kicks your little one usually does in the stomach during this third trimester of pregnancy.

Immediately be alert if the baby's kicking frequency suddenly changes, especially less frequently.

Tests you need to know when you're 9 months pregnant

There are several tests performed to monitor the 9 months pregnant phase. Some of the tests carried out are:

Measure body weight (weight will stop or decrease at this time).
Check blood pressure (may be higher than the second trimester).
Urine test to check sugar and protein levels.
Check for varicose veins in the legs and swelling of the hands and feet.
Check the size of the uterus by examining the inside to find out how thin and ready the uterus is to stretch.
Measure the height of the fundus (top of the uterus).
Fetal heart rate test.
Pelvic exam to see where the fetus is

For the final phase of 9 months of pregnancy, to be precise at 41-42 weeks of gestation, there are several tests that need to be done.

Described on the official website of the American of Obstetrician and Gynecologist (ACOG), it is likely that the doctor will suggest doing contraction stress test (CST).

This test is to assess the fetal heart rate changes when the uterus contracts. To make the uterus contract lightly, the doctor will give oxytocin through an intravenous tube (injection in the arm).

All of these tests are aimed at checking if the baby is moving well, is breathing smoothly, has an adequate amount of amniotic fluid, and has a stable heart rate.

If the delivery is likely to be late from the due date, the doctor may consider induction of labor.

Tips for maintaining health during 9 months of pregnancy

Here are some ways that can help you to maintain your health and stimulate contractions when you are 9 months pregnant:

Having sex at 9 months pregnant

Having sex will not harm the fetus at 36-42 weeks of gestation. In fact, sperm fluid can be a natural induction that triggers contractions, considering that 9 months of pregnancy is the time for your little one to be born.

Even so, you and your partner must still understand the rules of having sex during pregnancy. It's best to avoid making love if you have the following conditions:

Are diagnosed with placenta previa (placenta is located low)
Experiencing vaginal bleeding.
When the amniotic fluid has broken
Have had premature labor.
Having a weak cervix or uterus.

Give positive suggestions to the fetus so that it is not stressed but can still be born immediately, considering that the gestational age is getting bigger.

Avoid consumption of certain drugs

If you experience frequent migraines before pregnancy, you may experience more frequent migraines. It could also be that the migraines you are experiencing feel worse.

Some mothers may be worried and wonder which headache medication is safe for pregnancy.

Generally, obstetricians will advise pregnant women to take paracetamol as a headache reliever during pregnancy.

Women who are 9 months pregnant are not advised to take aspirin or ibuprofen for migraines without a prescription and doctor's recommendation. Always consult a gynecologist before taking medical drugs.