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This last hurdle is here! Here’s what you and baby are experiencing this final week before your baby’s big day and what to expect in that “fourth trimester.”
How Big is Baby?
By the end of week 40, your baby is around 20 inches long and may weigh 7½ to 8 pounds—give or take. You’ll find out very soon!
What’s New with Baby?
One of the more fascinating, resilient parts of a baby’s little body is their skull. Much like the earth’s tectonic plates, their skull bones overlap, making it possible for baby to squeeze through the narrow birth canal. This may result in having a temporarily cone-shaped head, but not to worry. These skulls bones are malleable, and even after that rude awakening of vaginal birth, the bones settle back into place, typically between 24 hours and two weeks.
After your baby’s head shape evens out, you then may notice flat area on the back of their head, if they spend too much time on their backs during infancy. One in four babies develops this, called positional plagiocephaly, but it likely won’t become permanent if you take a few proactive steps. Prioritizing tummy time, alternating their head position during naps and, if recommended by your pediatrician, helmet therapy, are strategies to minimize and correct this issue.
What’s New with Mom?
Leading up to the big day, it’s an uphill battle to try and stay comfortable while you’re this pregnant. Dr. Thomas Hyslop, an Ob/Gyn at UT Southwestern Medical Center, recommends these tried-and-true habits which can help: elevating your feet and staying hydrated both help reduce swelling. Taking short naps under a fan throughout the day, wearing loose jammies, and using extra pillows to prop yourself up if lying flat proves challenging, can relieve a lot of the discomforts of the last few days.
Thomas Hyslop, M.D., is a clinical associate professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He provides a comprehensive range of obstetrical and gynecological services including both routine and high-risk pregnancy care, as well as well-woman examinations, evaluation and treatment of gynecologic disorders, and gynecological surgery.
When you’re able to move around, try gentle exercises like stretching, prenatal yoga or swimming. Feel the pressure in your pelvis especially? Practice Kegel exercises that strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor.
Toward the end of your pregnancy, it’s common to feel that nesting instinct kick in, but try to resist what you know your doc would shake a kind finger at: no heavy lifting or housework that would cause you to strain yourself. Not finished assembling that crib? Outsource it.
And for the moments in between relaxing and moving around, try as you’re able to keep good posture. We know, we know. That’s tough even when you’re not pregnant, but having relaxed shoulders and a straight back really can help loads with preventing and alleviating back pain.
Fun Fact
Only about 5% of babies are born on their actual due date—and the term “due date” is sort of misleading. It’s not a deadline but an estimated date of arrival, which is calculated based on two things: the first day of your last menstrual period and 40 weeks (the average length of a full-term pregnancy, which is technically between 37 and 42 weeks).
The Fourth Trimester or Postpartum Period: What’s Next?
Soon, after baby is born, you’ll be entering into yet another era, the fourth trimester, which refers to the next three months after birthing the baby. This sounds like an oxymoron, but there’s good reason for this moniker. There’s a lot happening with you, Mom—physically, emotionally, and psychologically—and even more so for new parents who have disabilities, so give yourself some grace.
Healing from tears or incisions, vaginal bleeding, and the beginning of the breastfeeding journey—you’ll have much to discuss with your doctor during your comprehensive postpartum check-up at six weeks, but you need not wait that long. “Many women have their first postpartum check-up within the first two weeks after birth, especially if the pregnancy was complicated by hypertension,” says Hyslop.
Your initial appointment, and every appointment thereafter, with your provider, is the time to speak up about how you’re feeling. It’s not just about baby! “The fourth trimester can be an emotional time for new mothers. Hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and the challenges of caring for a newborn as well as breastfeeding, can contribute to mood swings, baby blues, or more severe postpartum mood disorders like postpartum depression or anxiety,” Hyslop explains. “Emotional support and open communication are crucial during this period.” So speak up, so your doc can screen you for postpartum depression or anxiety.
This postpartum period is when you need the most support, so do not hesitate to call on your support system for reinforcements. No doubt this is easier said than done—not everyone has an on-call support network at their beck and call—but safe and healthy habits are crucial to support baby, who’s undoubtedly going through lots of changes as well.
The learning curve is steep for new moms especially, troubleshooting everything from car seats to breast pumps. When you’re exhausted from fatigue during these newborn days, it’s crucial to be mindful of many things, including how to hold and handle a newborn. When you’re drowsy, you may be tempted to hold baby while dozing on the sofa, for example, but the risk of dropping baby is just too great. It’s advisable to get in the habit early of putting baby in their bassinet or a designated sleeping area so you can both try to get quality sleep—in however short spurts.
“Babies experience rapid physical growth in the fourth trimester. Typically, their sleep patterns are irregular as they wake frequently to feed,” says Hyslop. “Their reflexes and developmental milestones in the fourth trimester are remarkable. This is a time of attachment and bonding, their vision is close range, and primary means of communication is crying.”
You’ll get to know your baby’s cries and what they mean very soon, and for everything you don’t know, consult your pediatrician for guidance. At least three months before your due date is the time to begin looking for a pediatrician, but if you haven’t yet, it’s certainly not too late to nail one down before the big day. Babies typically need six or more well-baby checkups before turning 1 year old, plus any surprise sick visits, so you’ll want to do what you can to find the right doc for you. A few of the biggies: you’ll want one who is board-certified, whose office is in close proximity to you, with flexible hours (Saturday appointments are an inevitable need) and one whose philosophies on big issues, like vaccine schedules, align with your own.
Mom, you and baby will be experiencing many more challenges together but know that you are not alone in this journey. When you need hands-on help, advice or emotional support, don’t hesitate to reach out to your family, friends, and teams of healthcare experts.
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This blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice or professional services. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The above article was written by DFWChild editor Elizabeth Smith with information provided by UT Southwestern Medical Center as part of their sponsored content.
