At the start of the ninth month of pregnancy (37 weeks), the baby is 45 cm tall and weighs 2,4 kg. The placenta weighs 500 g.

During the last days of pregnancy, the baby will gain a lot of weight and gain an average of 200 g per week. In this narrow space that is the uterus, it now has little room to move. His gestures are limited but still perceptible for the mother. He stands upside down, arms crossed over his chest, legs bent.

Its appearance is that of a newborn: the lanugo has fallen, and thanks to the well-filled fat cells, its skin is very smooth. His skull, on the other hand, is not yet ossified: between the bones, fibrous spaces persist. These are the fontanelles, which will allow the skull to modulate its shape to cross the different straits of the pelvis on the day of childbirth.

At 38 WA, the baby is considered to be at term. It can be born harmlessly overnight.

The weight of a term newborn is between 2,6 kg and 4 kg, with an average of 3,4 kg. It measures approximately 50cm, with extreme sizes ranging from 46 to 54cm (1).

Feelings of heaviness, back pain, heavy legs, constipation, sleep disturbances, acid reflux are the prerogative of this end of pregnancy. All of them accentuate fatigue – and sometimes the desire to give birth as soon as possible – quite normal at this stage.

The body is actively preparing for childbirth, with painless contractions. These are physiological contractions at the end of pregnancy, known as Braxton-Hicks.

The cervix begins to soften, which can lead to the crumbling of the mucous plug, this coagulated cervical mucus which throughout pregnancy sealed the cervix tightly. This loss can be done gradually or all at once. In either case, it indicates that the body is preparing for childbirth, but in isolation, it is not a sign of childbirth.

Under the effect of pregnancy hormones, the pelvic joints relax to

open the way for the baby, causing some unpleasant tightness in the process. At the very end of pregnancy, hormones can cause great fatigue and nausea. But sometimes it’s the opposite: the mother suddenly has a cleaning frenzy!

The breasts are preparing for possible breastfeeding: they are strained and colostrum (thick, yellow liquid) sometimes drains from the nipples. The impending childbirth can raise concerns, which can form into nightmares.

All these manifestations are normal at the end of pregnancy. However, only two signs will give the signal to leave the maternity ward: labor contractions and / or loss of water.

• pass the seventh and final compulsory prenatal exam
• organize the return from maternity: do some shopping, fill the freezer.

• At this stage of pregnancy, the baby has little room to move, so it is normal to feel it less. However, in the event of a significant decrease or disappearance of the baby’s movements, it is advisable to go to the maternity ward to check his good vitality.
• it is possible, under certain conditions, to benefit from domestic help at home. Check with your family allowance fund.
• for future mothers wishing to breastfeed, there is no special preparation of the breast. Information, on the other hand, is essential for successful breastfeeding because although it is natural, this act is not always obvious. Take advantage of the last few weeks to get information and contact a breastfeeding support association.
• imminent childbirth can raise fears, and it is good to find a listening ear to share your concerns. However, we will take care to choose the right interlocutors, because the birth stories are not always reassuring.