I think it's a lie that it happened so fast but I am already in the final stretch of my pregnancy, taking the 35th week of gestation.
The last weeks of pregnancy are a very special stage. The weight of the baby and what we have gained over the months causes the discomfort of the last trimester such as fluid retention and edema to intensify.
At the same time, mothers experience mixed sensations related to the next birth of our baby. A deep desire to know his face and have it in his arms coexist with the nostalgia that the wonderful stage of pregnancy comes to an end.
As for the mother
At the end of pregnancy it is more difficult to control weight gain. Therefore, it is important to continue feeding in a balanced way so as not to fall into a spiral of weight gain without control. Reduce the amount of salt in meals, drink plenty of fluids, avoid fats and exercise moderately, even if it costs more to move, they are still the best recommendation to be in the form of delivery.
In the third trimester, the discomfort of the last stage of pregnancy increases. Leg cramps are more frequent, especially at night, as well as edema due to fluid retention. There are women who suffer from the so-called carpal tunnel syndrome that causes pain and numbness of the hands. Some tips on how to relieve fluid retention can help us cope better these last weeks.
At night we usually rest less than desired due to the sleep problems typical of pregnancy. We reveal ourselves more easily and to this we add that weird dreams become more frequent. Above, the size of the gut makes it difficult for us to achieve a comfortable position to rest. The best sleeping position is on the side, preferably on the left side as it helps relieve swelling and acidity, and with a pillow between the legs.
The mother's breasts also undergo changes in the last stage of pregnancy. They prepare to feed the baby. It is likely that you have slight losses of colostrum because at the end of pregnancy the lactation hormone increases considerably.
As for the baby
The little one grows at an accelerated pace, gaining weight between 200 and 300 grams per week. In the last stage of pregnancy, it only deals with accumulating fat under your delicate skin, which will help you to better regulate your body temperature when you are born.
At the beginning of the week 35 weighs about 2,400 kilos and measures 47 cm, although at this height there can be a large difference in size between one baby and another. It is likely that he has already adopted the position to be born, in most cases he does it face down, however if he has not done so he still has a few weeks ahead to place himself in cephalic position.
Because of this, due to the pressure exerted by the baby's head, the mother feels a slight pressure on the pubic bone that will increase in the last weeks.
The baby's nervous system, as well as fundamental organs such as the liver and kidney have almost completely completed its development. In recent weeks all organs "practice" to function on their own outside the uterus. Swallow and digest amniotic fluid and perfect the sucking instinct.
The lanugo, the thin layer of hair that covers the baby, gradually disappears until almost disappearing at the time of delivery, while its skin is covered by an abundant amount of vernix caseosa, a yellowish unctuous substance whose function is to facilitate the passage of the baby through the birth canal.
In the final stretch of pregnancy we can feel more intensely the movements of the baby within us. Each time it has less space and we can feel more sudden movements, kicks, elbows and fists, as well as we can clearly notice rhythmic beats when our baby has hiccups.
It is wonderful to feel the baby inside. We can stimulate him and communicate with him through caresses in the gut and by playing music or talking to him we will notice how he reacts.
Medical tests
In the ultrasound of the third trimester (usually performed between weeks 32-34) measurements of the cephalic diameter, abdominal diameter and length of the femur are taken to estimate the approximate weight of the baby, fundamental data to verify that it develops properly and not undergoes delayed intrauterine growth (CIR).
Also in recent weeks (between 35 and 37) you will have a test to rule out streptococcal infection (GBS), it is a culture to detect a bacterium that lodges in the vagina and in the rectal area and can pass to Baby at the time of delivery.
As the birth date approaches, the gynecologist will perform a vaginal examination (or vaginal touch) to check the condition of the cervix and if it is erased or dilatation has begun.
Finally, you will surely have to do a complete analysis of the last trimester (blood and urine) to assess your general state of delivery and anesthesia.
