A few days before the due date, everything is ready for the birth of the baby, which can arrive any day. The mother-to-be awaits with impatience mixed with excitement the slightest sign of the onset of labor.

At 38 weeks gestation (40 weeks), the baby weighs on average 3,3 kg per 50 cm. He will only gain little weight from here to birth. The nails and the hair continue to grow. He is ready to be born overnight. 

He continues to swallow amniotic fluid, but it gradually decreases in the amniotic pouch. Meconium builds up in his intestines. It will gradually evacuate its first 3 days of life. These first thick, viscous and very dark stools will be carefully checked by the maternity staff. The emission of meconium is indeed a sign of the proper functioning of the baby’s digestive system. 

The baby is very sensitive to all the sounds around him, to the touch of his hands on his mother’s stomach. His mother’s heartbeat is a reassuring melody for him, which he will be happy to find again at birth, with skin-to-skin sessions. Studies show that skin-to-skin care in the delivery room helps newborns to acclimatize to their new environment. Nestled against his mother’s bare chest, he stabilizes his body temperature better, slows down his heart and respiratory rate, and more effectively regulates his blood sugar. His skin-to-skin sessions can also be continued at home. They are a real boost for breastfeeding. Of course, the dad can also take his baby skin-to-skin.

The belly has reached a very large volume, the waist is arching more and more, the kidneys are widening. With the weight of the uterus which compresses the venous system but also the blood volume which has increased under the effect of hormones at the end of pregnancy, venous return is difficult, and the future mother often suffers from heavy legs. If the baby has started to descend into the pelvis, she may feel a heaviness in the lower abdomen, sometimes with pain in the pubis.

The cervix gradually softens in preparation for childbirth. These changes can lead to the loss of the mucous plug, this mass of mucus that protected the entrance to the cervix throughout the pregnancy. The contractions are more frequent, especially at the end of the day, with the accumulated fatigue. As long as they are not regular (every 5 minutes) and do not gain in intensity, there is no need to go to the maternity ward. 

The breasts are ready to breastfeed. During the phase of secretory differentiation which began in pregnancy, cells specialized to produce milk under the effect of progesterone. But it is only at birth, with the expulsion of the placenta, that the secretory activation phase will begin, and with it the secretion of milk after 2-3 days, during the flow of milk. In the meantime, the newborn will feed on colostrum, a thick, yellow liquid that is extremely rich in nutrition.

A new test for albumin in the urine is usually prescribed at this stage of pregnancy, in order to rule out any risk of pre-eclampsia.

If you haven’t already done so, it is better to study the instructions for use of the car seat and stroller before the baby arrives.

At this stage of pregnancy, the wait can become a real torture, especially as the fatigue is often very intense. Added to this are all the ailments of late pregnancy: back pain, heaviness in the lower abdomen, sleep disorders, hemorrhoids and sometimes even vulvar varicose veins, acid reflux, etc. But one thing is certain: it is only a matter of days now and there are no other solutions than to take your pain patiently. And also to take advantage of these last moments with her baby in the womb, for which the mother is sometimes nostalgic after the birth.

It can be tempting to be busy doing housework, climbing stairs, walking to speed things up, but if the baby and the cervix aren’t ready for delivery, there’s little chance it will work. And the future mother risks tiring herself unnecessarily, while she must really spare herself for the childbirth which constitutes a real physical and psychological test. 

To give nature a boost, the gynecologist or midwife sometimes suggests detaching the membranes if the cervix is ​​a little open. During vaginal examination, the practitioner slightly detaches the membranes in order to trigger the release of prostaglandins, hormones that will promote labor. This gesture is not always effective, however, and sometimes a little painful.

If the mother-to-be has decided to breastfeed, she has no preparation to do. Nature being well made, the breast prepares itself since the beginning of pregnancy to feed the baby. In case of inverted nipples (the nipples go inside), it is sometimes advisable to prepare them by massaging them delicately. But often the baby’s sucking and breastfeeding hormones are enough to bring them out when the time comes. 

Although natural, breastfeeding is not always easy, and sometimes small obstacles arise during its implementation. It is a good idea to get advice from a breastfeeding professional, such as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).