Your Pregnancy: The Ninth and Tenth Months

THE NINTH AND TENTH MONTHS (Weeks 33-40)

While pregnancy is said to be nine months long, a full term baby is actually 38-40 weeks old. By this time, you probably can’t wait for your baby to be born. Hold on, you only have a little longer to wait!

Your Baby

Your baby is now fully formed and is getting ready for life outside the womb. She is gaining weight and her brain is continuing to grow and develop. With the exception of her skull, which stays soft so that she can make it through the birth canal, her bones have hardened. Her reflexes are coordinated and she can blink, grasp, and turn her head. There is less vernix on her body now and the downy lanugo has probably completely disappeared. Your baby may have “dropped” which means she is sitting lower in your pelvis. Your baby is nearly ready to be born. As you approach the end of the third trimester, your baby is probably around 20 inches long and weighs between six and seven and eight pounds.

Your Body

Everything seems like a chore now, from getting up out of a chair to trying to get to sleep at night. You are probably uncomfortable a lot of the time. Vaginal discharge may be heavier now and may be mixed with pink or brown streaks – especially after intercourse or a pelvic exam.  Your breasts may be getting tenderer and may leak colostrum. Braxton Hicks contractions may be common, though irregular, and sometimes painful. Some women also report having strange dreams during these last few weeks. You have probably gained between 25 and 35 pounds. During the last few days of your pregnancy you may find yourself “nesting”. Often this means you suddenly have a lot of energy and are feeling a strong compulsion to clean your house. Cleaning is fine, just don’t overdo it!

What You Need to Know

Eating healthy and staying hydrated is still important. Stock up on those prenatal supplements, as you will want to continue taking them if you are planning on breastfeeding. Try and get as much rest as you can, because you won’t get much once your baby is here!

Your doctor will want to confirm that your baby is positioned head-down. She will probably also do a pelvic exam to check your cervix for effacement and dilation.

Baby can come anytime now. You know you are getting close when:

• You notice bloody streaks indicating the release of your mucus plug or “bloody show”
• You are nesting
• You have a constant backache
• Your cervix is thinning and dilating
• Your water breaks
• Your contractions are stronger, longer, and getting closer together.

Read More About the Different Months in Pregnancy:

• First Month
• Second Month
• Third Month
• Fourth Month
• Fifth Month
• Sixth Month
• Seventh Month
• Eighth Month
• Ninth Month

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