The big day is around the corner!  You are very close to holding your baby in your arms. If you have not yet delivered, your doctor may want to monitor your baby. If you have not gone into labor after week 42, you will be induced.

Your baby's development

Time stops

For most moms-to-be time seems to stop during the last weeks of pregnancy. Days go by very slowly and all your aches and pains will appear to be a lot worse. Try not to obsess about time because then it will really crawl!

It’s a good idea to start on a new project in these last weeks, to avoid frustration. If you like to sew or knit, make some clothes for your baby. You can also concentrate on a jigsaw puzzle. Whatever helps you pass the time.

Alternate rest with leisurely walks, because this will alleviate swelling in your legs, and other aches and pains. Don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated and eat a healthy diet. If you arrive at your due date rested, well-fed and hydrated, the work of labor and delivery will be a lot less exhausting and the recovery will be faster and easier.

Signs of the onset of labor

How will I know if I am in labor? Many first-time moms ask themselves this question. Don’t fret, because the onset of labor is not something that will go by unnoticed. Following are some of the signs that will let you know you are close to being in labor:

• Expelling the mucus plug. When the cervix is preparing for delivery, the mucus plug that has kept it sealed during all these months is expelled.
• Rupture of the amniotic sac. The sac in which your baby has been living all these months breaks and amniotic fluid leaks. You may notice a considerable amount of liquid or you may simply feel a little wetter than usual. Check that the fluid is clear and has no odor, as that would indicate the presence of meconium, or baby’s feces, in the amniotic sac.
• Onset of contractions. Early on you may feel general malaise and discomfort in your back, which then radiates to the lower abdomen. The difference with Braxton-Hicks contractions is that labor contractions do not disappear even if you drink water, shift positions or walk around.

If you aren’t sure of whether you are in labor or not, but would feel better going to the hospital, just go. They will confirm whether you are in labor. Don’t worry, because this is normal, and nobody should tell you otherwise.  

What will the post-partum stage be like?

Your post-partum will depend on the type of delivery you had. The recovery from a C-section is always slower than the recovery from a normal vaginal delivery. And if you got stitches, you may feel some discomfort. Your doctor will prescribe pain-killers for this.

If you got vaginal stitches you may feel relief with a sitz bath with rosemary; that is a healing agent: if you feel discomfort after urinating, wash off the area by pouring a glass of warm water on it every time you go to the bathroom.

You are going to need to recover and rest and get all the help you can. You may not sleep much in the first nights, until your baby falls into an eating and sleeping routine. Besides, newborns need to feed every two or three hours because their stomachs are still very small.

During the first few days you may have the impression that you can’t get much done, and find yourself still in pajamas at 8 pm, not having been able to take a shower. This is normal and it happens to most moms.  It may take you a few weeks to get organized, but as the days go by, everything will become much easier.