The birth is just around the corner, and maybe you should also think about the time after the birth? Hopefully, the baby will settle into the pelvis and ensure that the umbilical cord stays in place for the birth.
Ready for birth? And for what comes after?
The birth, which is just around the corner, is a big deal. Regardless of the process, there is often quite a bit of pain involved both before, during, and after.
You can quickly get a misunderstood image of births from TV shows, where the water breaks, and there are gasps, and then a well-formed and clean baby enters the world. This is far from reality, and there really are no two births that are the same.
At the same time, you can also easily be scared off by horror stories that people tend to tell an expectant mother. If you can in any way, try to abstract from film births and others' horror stories. No matter what, it cannot give you the answer to your process, so it's better to spend your energy on other preparations.
Talk to your midwife or check your hospital's website on the internet, and it will be the most telling picture of the reality in which you will give birth. Here you can also read and hear about the discomforts that may come afterward. This includes both shortly after birth, where there may be some physical issues like tears, afterpains, and the like. However, it can also be longer-lasting physical and psychological issues. Here you can consult professionals, as well as the health visitor you will see after the birth.
What happens in the belly?
The baby often settles with its head in the pelvis now that you are so close to the birth. It does this to ensure that the umbilical cord does not get pulled out when the amniotic fluid comes out with a bang. If the umbilical cord gets pinched between the pelvis and the baby's skull, it can potentially become dangerous.
The little child has 300 bones at birth, which is actually more than an adult human. This is because several of the bones fuse together during childhood.
The baby is therefore fully ready to meet the real world, and it is prepared to adjust its own system to be able to manage independently of the mother's systems. Of course, the baby will be very dependent on the parents, especially in the initial period, but then its body will be able to take care of itself.
Size of the fetus
The fetus is now approaching the average birth weight. It is about 49 centimeters long and weighs around 3200 grams.
Advice for the partner
Now everything is just about to happen. The upcoming time is strange because you know that it could potentially happen at any moment, but at the same time, it could also be weeks away.
However, you can benefit from trying to stay calm, as the due date is only a guideline. Very few end up giving birth on the actual day, and impatience is starting to build up now. The earlier, the better, most think, and therefore one can also be disappointed if they go past the due date.
Try to navigate all your and your partner's feelings during this final time, and remember that it will soon end with you holding your child, and you will have expanded your family.
