At 39 weeks pregnant, your baby averages 20 inches in length and just over 7 lbs, with skin actively renewing itself and eyes well-formed but not yet able to focus. Mothers can expect physical signs of imminent labour including Braxton Hicks contractions, increased vaginal discharge, a bloody mucus "show," and possibly diarrhoea as the body clears the birth canal. Weekly caregiver visits now include abdominal and internal exams to monitor foetal positioning and cervical ripening, with labour typically induced one to two weeks past the due date if it does not begin naturally. Sweet potatoes are highlighted as an outstanding pregnancy food, offering nearly double the fibre of regular potatoes, alongside key nutrients including Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, potassium, manganese, and Vitamins C and E.
- At week 39, the average baby measures 20 inches in length and weighs just over 7 lbs.
- Male babies at 39 weeks tend to weigh more than female babies.
- Regular contractions at 39 weeks occur approximately every 15 minutes and become increasingly intense.
- If labour does not begin naturally, most practitioners induce labour between the one and two-week overdue mark.
- Fetal testing using a sonogram is typically scheduled after the 40-week mark to ensure the pregnancy remains safe for mother and baby.
- A single medium-sized sweet potato provides the total recommended daily amount of Vitamin A.
- Sweet potatoes contain almost 7 grams of fibre, nearly double the amount found in other types of potatoes.
Pregnancy Diary Week 39
Discover your pregnancy journey
Pregnancy Diary Week 39
Congratulations, you have made it to 39 weeks pregnant. At this point, the baby’s eyes are well-formed, but not yet able to focus. In fact, the eyes continue developing for a few weeks after birth
Discover
How your baby is growing
What you can expect at this time
A beneficial food for your pregnancy nutrition
Pregnancy Diary Week 39: How Is Your Baby Growing?
Baby continues with the job of building a fat layer, to control body temperature once outside the womb. At this point, the average baby is 20 inches in length and weighs just over 7 lbs.
Males tend to weigh more than females. Skin is beginning to slough off as new skin is being formed underneath.
What you can expect
Some women may experience diarrhoea as the body prepares for birth. This clearing of the back passage makes the journey through the birth canal easier for the baby. If it continues more than a day, talk with your physician.
Many women experience Braxton Hicks contractions, a sign that the body is getting ready for the big event. While they affect women differently, some describe them as period cramps or as tightening. If at 39 weeks pregnant the cramps become regular, they may be contractions. If so, they will become more intense and occur approximately every 15 minutes.
It is common for there to be an increase in vaginal discharge. A mucus discharge with some blood is the jelly-like plug sealing the cervix and called the “show.”
During each of the weekly visits you now have with a caregiver, he or she will perform an abdominal exam to check for growth and positioning of the baby. The caregiver may also perform an internal exam to determine if the cervix has begun the ripening process of softening, thinning out and dilating.
While this information is useful, the caregiver cannot give an exact prediction of when the baby will enter the world. If you go past the due date, the caregiver will schedule fetal testing, normally using a sonogram after the 40-week mark to ensure continuing the pregnancy is safe for both the baby and the Mum.
If you do not go into labour naturally, most practitioners induce labour between the one and two-week overdue mark. They may induce earlier if they believe the risks associated with waiting are greater than those of delivering the baby without any further delay.
Sweet Potatoes For Pregnancy Nutrition
One of the greatest benefits of sweet potatoes is that they contain nearly double the amount of fibre found in other types of potatoes. These are the perfect starch to add to every meal given the almost seven grams of fibre that these potatoes contain. This high fibre content gives them a quality known as “slow burning”. This means that their caloric energy can be used far more efficiently and much more slowly than caloric energy from carbohydrates with lower fibre contents.
Good For Your Heart
Sweet potatoes are also rich in Vitamin B6. This nutrient is essential for breaking down homocysteine, which causes the blood vessels and arteries to harden. With sufficient Vitamin B6, these passages can stay healthy and flexible, allowing blood to circulate freely.
Sweet potatoes are also rich with potassium. This plays a vital role in reducing blood pressure by regulating fluids and reducing sodium. This essential electrolyte also plays a role in regulating the natural heart rhythms and helps to maintain both the central nervous system and normal brain functioning.
Sweet Potatoes Contain Beta-Carotene
Vitamin A or beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant. You can get the total recommended amount of Vitamin A for the day from a single, medium-sized sweet potato. This nutrient is very helpful in preventing various types of cancer and it is also one of the most powerful antioxidants available.
Beta-carotene also serves as a very effective, internal form of protection against sun damage to the skin by deflecting harmful UV rays and repairing the damage to skin cells that prolonged UV ray exposure can cause. Beta-carotene is also great for promoting eye health and is believed to prevent both macular degeneration and vision loss.
Sweet Potatoes Are A Rich Source Of Manganese
Although it is not frequently mentioned, manganese is a trace mineral with optimal benefits. It is a vital part in the processing of carbohydrates, which in turn helps to regulate blood sugars. It can promote a stable appetite for several hours, as compared to other carbohydrates which only temporarily sate hunger and food cravings.
Manganese is additionally a co-factor in enzymes that play a major role in energy generation and which help the body to use antioxidants efficiently. This is commonly used to treat anaemia and is also known for being an effective treatment for a number of female premenstrual symptoms.
Rich in Vitamins E And C
Not only are these one of the best vegetable sources for Vitamin A, but these potatoes are also rich with Vitamins E and C. These vitamins are potent antioxidants that promote longevity and prevent disease.
Vitamins E and C are additionally important for maintaining the beauty and health of the hair and skin, placing them among the most popular dietary additions. The presence of these two vitamins along with beta-carotene makes sweet potatoes a very effective food for beauty. Each one of these nutrients helps to create a bright, glowing complexion and strong, healthy hair.
Pregnancy Diary Week 39
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DISCLAIMER
All articles on the blog and website are intended as information only. Please do not consider any of the information provided here as a substitute for medical advice. At all times seek medical advice directly with your own doctor and medical team.
ANNOUNCEMENT
This website was formerly Merrion Fetal Health. The clinic has undergone a rebrand and is now known as Merrion Ultrasound.
What does a baby look like at 39 weeks pregnant?
At 39 weeks, the average baby is 20 inches in length and weighs just over 7 lbs, with males tending to weigh more than females. The baby's eyes are well-formed but not yet able to focus, as eye development continues for a few weeks after birth. The skin is beginning to slough off as new skin forms underneath.
What physical changes can a mother expect at 39 weeks pregnant?
At 39 weeks, common experiences include diarrhoea as the body prepares for birth, an increase in vaginal discharge, and Braxton Hicks contractions that some describe as period cramps or tightening. A mucus discharge with some blood, known as the "show," is the jelly-like plug sealing the cervix being released. If cramps become regular and increasingly intense, occurring approximately every 15 minutes, they may be true contractions.
What is the "show" in pregnancy?
The "show" is a mucus discharge with some blood that appears as the body prepares for labour. It is the jelly-like plug that has been sealing the cervix throughout pregnancy. Its appearance is a sign that the cervix is beginning to change in preparation for birth.
What checks does a caregiver perform at 39 weeks pregnant?
During weekly visits at 39 weeks, a caregiver performs an abdominal exam to check the growth and positioning of the baby. They may also carry out an internal exam to determine whether the cervix has begun softening, thinning, and dilating. However, a caregiver cannot give an exact prediction of when labour will begin.
What happens if you go past your due date?
If a pregnancy goes past the due date, the caregiver will schedule fetal testing, normally using a sonogram after the 40-week mark to ensure the pregnancy remains safe for both baby and mother. If labour does not begin naturally, most practitioners induce labour between one and two weeks overdue. They may induce earlier if the risks of waiting are considered greater than those of early delivery.
Why are sweet potatoes recommended during pregnancy?
Sweet potatoes are recommended during pregnancy because they contain nearly double the fibre of other potatoes, with almost seven grams of fibre per serving, supporting digestive health. They are rich in Vitamin B6, potassium, Vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene, which together support heart health, blood pressure regulation, and immune function. A single medium-sized sweet potato can provide the total recommended daily amount of Vitamin A.
What is beta-carotene and why is it beneficial in pregnancy?
Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant and the plant-based form of Vitamin A, found in high quantities in sweet potatoes. It is believed to help prevent certain types of cancer, promote eye health, and may help prevent macular degeneration and vision loss. It also acts as an internal protection against UV sun damage by deflecting harmful rays and helping to repair damaged skin cells.
How do sweet potatoes support heart health during pregnancy?
Sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamin B6, which helps break down homocysteine, a substance that causes blood vessels and arteries to harden, keeping passages healthy and flexible. They also contain potassium, an essential electrolyte that helps reduce blood pressure by regulating fluids and reducing sodium. Potassium additionally helps regulate natural heart rhythms and supports both the central nervous system and normal brain functioning.