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Your little one has now reached a major milestone — they are full-term! And since Baby is just about ready for their birthday, now is the time to make sure that you are too.
How’s Baby?
Baby is now ready to be born and just waiting for the right time to arrive. Baby is probably between 19-21 inches (48.3-53.3 cm) tall and 7-8 pounds (3.2-3.6 kg), about the size of a small pumpkin. Baby knows your voice by now, and their brain is still developing every day, as it will continue to do outside the womb. By this time, the protective coating that’s been covering their skin, called vernix caseosa, is coming off. And Baby’s fingernails might even be so long they need a little trim!
When Baby does finally arrive, you’ll want to be extra attentive to their cries because until your little one learns how to talk, crying is your baby’s only way to tell you they need your help. And in these final days when you’re still waiting for Baby to arrive, you’ll want to apply that same sort of care to noticing their movements. Your baby should keep up with their normal movements or kick counts, and if they suddenly start to move less, it could be a sign of a problem. So if you notice this, you should let your healthcare provider know right away.
What’s new with you?
It’s time for you and your home to be ready for Baby’s arrival as best you can because that day will be right around the corner. You’ll definitely want to have your bag packed and ready to go to the hospital or birthing center, know who you want to be there to support you during labor, and be sure you have all of the necessities and care supplies that you’ll need for yourself and baby once you both get home.
Signs of approaching labor will be able to give you a better idea of when Baby is coming, but at the end of the day, birth is unpredictable. Even with a scheduled Cesarean or induction, labor can pop up before you planned! Because of this, you should know signs of labor, and be prepared to make a hospital trip at any time in the coming few weeks. On the flip side, labor may not start by your due date or when you’d hoped. Baby could decide they’re plenty comfortable where they are, so don’t worry if you haven’t had any contractions yet. Mentally and physically, it can be tough to wait for things to happen, but trust us when we say that they’ll happen sometime soon!
As the big day approaches, remember that your little one entering your life is going to be a big change — there will probably be tender moments and tough moments — but you’ll learn as you go, as all parents do, and Baby is already so lucky to have you!
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
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Sources
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Fetal development: The 3rd trimester.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic. June 30, 2020. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/fetal-development/art-20045997.
- Mark A Curran, M.D. “Fetal Development.” Perinatology.com. Perinatology.com. March 31, 2019. https://www.perinatology.com/Reference/Fetal%20development.htm#1.
