What is going
on with your baby during week 39?
The fetus is now considered
full term - its skin is plump, the lungs are mature,
the mammary glands and external genital structures
are visible. There is some lanugo on the shoulders
and back; some of the vernix remains in the folds
of the skin, especially around the groin and armpits.
There are creases on the soles of the feet. Baby
now fills most of the uterus and it moves into
the birth position. The head points down toward
the birth canal while the arms and legs are pulled
close to the chest. Like the newborn, the fetus
spends most of its time sleeping but its body
rhythms, responses and activity patterns are established.
Its intestines are filled with meconium - a sticky
greenish black substance that is made up of alimentary
gland secretions, lanugo, pigment and cells from
the wall of your bowel; this will be passed during
baby's bowel movements after its birth. Baby now
weighs a little over 7lb (3.25kg) and the full
length is almost 21.5in (48cm) while from crown
to rump baby is 36cm or 14½ in.
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