WeMoms
2 Apr 2024

Your Baby’s Final Preparations

Pregnancy
Baby's growth during pregnancy
Your Baby’s Final Preparations
Hold on tight because your baby is going through an amazing growth spurt in the last month of pregnancy! During this time, your little one's weight might almost double, as they reach an average weight of about 6 to 9 pounds. How is this happening?
  • Fatty deposits: These are accumulating beneath the skin, giving your baby those adorable, pinchable cheeks.
  • Nutrients: Your baby is absorbing a cocktail of essential nutrients from the placenta, including calcium and iron.
  • Lung maturation: The lungs are among the last to mature, with cells producing surfactant, a substance that will help them inflate and deflate after birth.
Your baby’s physical development isn't just superficial—it's complex and calculated, preparing them for the world that awaits.
Locking in the "Going Home" Position
The next exciting thing happening is that your baby is assuming the fetal position for birth. This usually means their head will be pointing downward, towards the birth canal. Here's how it goes down:
  • Lightening: Ever heard of the term? It's when your baby drops lower into your pelvis, which might make it easier for you to breathe but harder to waddle. 🦆
  • Cervical effacement and dilation: These are the fancy terms for the thinning and opening of the cervix, all prepping for your baby's grand entrance.
  • Engagement: The baby’s head will engage in the pelvis, a phenomenon also known as "fixing." This is essentially a rehearsal for the trip through the birth canal.
These steps are crucial, as they ensure your baby is properly aligned for a safe and efficient delivery. So when you feel a shift, know it's your little one getting into their launch position!
Practicing for the Outside World
Believe it or not, your baby is already practicing essential life skills right in your womb! From swallowing and breathing to hiccuping, these activities are the baby’s way of gearing up for life outside.
  • Breathing motions: Though your baby's lungs are not yet functional, they're making practice breaths to prepare for the real thing.
  • Sucking and swallowing: These are especially important as they help your baby take in colostrum, the first form of breast milk, during the early days of life.
  • Sleep cycles: Your little one is even going through REM sleep, which suggests that they might be dreaming!
These might seem like tiny details, but they're gigantic steps toward ensuring your baby is prepared for what comes next.
Finalizing Internal Systems
Let’s not forget, your baby’s internal organs are making their final adjustments. These are not visible changes but are absolutely vital for survival in the external world.
  • Immune system: Your baby is receiving antibodies from you through the placenta, giving them the kickstart they need to fight off infections.
  • Digestive system: The intestines are accumulating meconium, your baby’s first bowel movement, which is a combo of amniotic fluid, mucus, and skin cells.
  • Hormone production: The baby’s own endocrine system is taking charge of hormone production, which will play a key role in regulating body functions post-birth.
It's astounding how much development is occurring in such a compact timeframe.
So, as you count down the days, know that your baby is diligently working on their final preparations, just as you are.
💕
💕DonDon💕
15 Dec 2023

A tip for breastfeeding moms with low supply or moms who want to make sure you have enough supply when time comes, while you are doing your preparations for baby add these things to your list *Body armor drinks *Organic coconut oil or water if you use the oil just add one teaspoon *Upspringmilkflow(cheapest on Amazon

Pregnancy Baby's growth during pregnancy
14 comments
B
Bethany Hernandez
I keep seeing coconut oil, are we supposed to eat it?
27 Mar 2024

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💕
💕DonDon💕
You can take the teaspoon str8 or add it into the drink I usually add all of them to 1 bottle or cup
27 Mar 2024

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J
Jesika
18 Aug 2023

Welcome my final baby Alaina born 30 weeks. 8/9/23. She weight 2 pounds 2 ounces when she was born. Baby girl doing great I'm in love all over again

Pregnancy Baby's growth during pregnancy
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A
Amber
💗💗💗
27 Mar 2024

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Erin
CONGRATULATIONS 🥰😍🥰🩷🩷🩷🎉🎉🎉
27 Mar 2024

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April
4 Jul 2023

29 wks today! Only 8 more wks until my c-section and we get to meet our 3rd and final baby.

Pregnancy Baby's growth during pregnancy
3 comments
D
Danielle (Dani)
Yay!! Congrats
27 Mar 2024

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A
April
another little boy 💙
27 Mar 2024

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R
Rodricka
16 Jun 2023

I have 4 weeks left for my final baby boy and I got to go through getting another c-section I change my mind I ain't ready 🤣🤣🤣🤰🙏🤱

Pregnancy Baby's growth during pregnancy
4 comments
M
Maw Sylvester
July what I’m July 19th
27 Mar 2024

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T
Teri
Right there with you girl 😂
27 Mar 2024

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B
Brittany
10 Jun 2023

It's the final countdown! 10 weeks before babygirls due date! So ready to meet her ❤️

Pregnancy Baby's growth during pregnancy
1 comments
T
Tia
18 May 2023

Start of the final prep before welcoming my little one 💕🫶🏾🥳 Baby you been doing soo good 💪🏾 almost out the oven

Pregnancy Baby's growth during pregnancy
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J
Joy
Have you decided on the birth you're going to have? Hospital or home?
27 Mar 2024

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Mika
29 Apr 2023

24 weeks with my 3rd boy. This baby boy is my rainbow baby and our final child. #boymom #boy #mommy #strong #happy

Pregnancy Baby's growth during pregnancy
3 comments
A
Amanda
Girl STOPPPPP. You seriously look amazing! Loving the bump and curves 😉 sexy
27 Mar 2024

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Mika
Awww thank you girlll I feel huge. But my butt got bigger lmao. Hubby loves it.
27 Mar 2024

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K
Kai’s.mommy
23 Sep 2022

Slowly but surely getting everything together for my nursery . The final result is going to be perfect 🤩 & I’m excited 😮‍💨

Pregnancy Baby's growth during pregnancy
1 comments
r
reshawn
17 Aug 2022

I got to see my little baby yesterday. 🙂 My last and final baby I will be getting my tube tied after this baby. I’m definitely gonna enjoy it

Pregnancy Baby's growth during pregnancy
1 comments
S
Savannah
12 Jun 2022

Baby girl is 1 month old today 🥺 how this beautiful baby is my last and final baby I have my 6week check up on the 15th and we are talking about surgery

Pregnancy Baby's growth during pregnancy
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L
Linette
She's beautiful
27 Mar 2024

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Savannah
thank you
27 Mar 2024

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