The end of the 3rd trimester of pregnancy is approaching. At 3 weeks of the term, the baby can be born at any time. Already very cramped in his mother’s womb, he continues to gain weight every day. On the lookout for the slightest sign of the start of labor, the mother-to-be oscillates between impatience, excitement and fatigue.

At 37 weeks of pregnancy (39 weeks of amenorrhea), the baby measures 48 cm for 2,9 kg on average. It continues to gain weight at a rate of 20 to 30 g per day and builds up fat reserves under the skin. On this one, the lanugo (fine down) has almost completely disappeared, but it is possible that it remains here and there at birth. It will eventually fall the first few days. 

Although cramped in the womb, the baby can no longer move too much at ease, but the mother-to-be can still feel her little kicks. Unless he has remained in a seat, he stands upside down, arms crossed over his chest, legs bent, back to one side or the other of the stomach. He may have already started his descent into the basin or be still quite high.

Thanks to the secretion of surfactant, her lungs are now ready for breathing in the open air, but the alveolar stage during which the alveoli multiply will continue after birth again. This is the case for many other functions: the digestive system, the immune system and of course the baby’s brain will continue to mature for many years after birth. 

In the presence of certain maternal complications (hypertension, gestational diabetes, heart problems), fetal (growth retardation, breech presentation) or obstetrical (cracked water bag for example) making the continuation of the pregnancy risky for the baby or his mother, it is possible at this stage to artificially induce childbirth. The baby is ready to be born, it will not be premature. Scheduled cesarean sections are usually around 39 weeks. 

The belly seems to have reached its maximum volume and yet it continues to grow. The last month of pregnancy, the mother-to-be may be careful, weight gain often accelerates. There is the weight of the baby, the fat mass in order to make reserves for breastfeeding, but also the water retention present all over the body. These edemas resolve naturally after birth. 

Under the effect of the hormonal climate at the end of pregnancy, the joints and ligaments continue to relax. The cervix changes little by little in preparation for childbirth: it softens, which can lead to the loss of the mucous plug in the form of white mucus streaked with blood filaments. But in the absence of contractions or loss of water, there is no need to go to the maternity ward. 

Back pain, acid reflux, hemorrhoids, heavy legs, sleep disorders, night cramps are very common ailments as the term approaches. Added to this are concerns about childbirth but also about the future role of mother. These questions are quite natural and are part of the motherhood process that begins long before you have your baby in your arms. 

Sometimes, the mother-to-be experiences a burst of energy and begins to clean, tidy up, bricks so that everything is perfect for the arrival of her baby. It is nesting, a trait common to all mammals. Others will also activate to speed up the process a little. But if all the conditions are not right for the birth, there is little chance that this household frenzy will trigger childbirth. It is in fact customary to say that it is the baby who decides when he is born.

At the end of the day, it is common to have contractions in reaction to fatigue and straining. These contractions will be relieved at rest… unless it is the beginning of labor. 

At this stage, everything must be ready for the birth: the maternity kit closed, the last exams carried out, the papers collected, the custody of any elders organized. 

This is a subject that is rarely discussed: visits to the maternity ward. There are mothers who will be happy to be surrounded, to present their baby to their family and friends. And others who prefer to stay in their bubble, with their baby and their companion, to gently start this new life together. It is important to talk about it beforehand within the couple, and to entrust the dad with the task of “filtering” the visits. Due to fatigue and the drop in postpartum hormones, it is good to protect the mom from this kind of worry.

At the end of pregnancy where the body is so heavy and the difficulties to move freely are real, water is the friendly element of the mother-to-be. A small session in the swimming pool allows you to feel light, release tension and promote blood circulation. At home, the bath is also the best ally for relaxation. 

Unless there is a medical contraindication (rare in this term since the baby is ready to be born), it is possible to have sexual relations until the end of the pregnancy. Provided that both partners want to of course. As to whether that can trigger childbirth – the famous “Italian trigger” – that would be a myth. The hormones (prostaglandins and oxytocin) secreted respectively by semen and during orgasm are not in sufficient quantities to induce labor.