[trustindex no-registration=google]
You have reached the 39th week of pregnancy and are almost there. It can start at any time now and maybe you'll be holding your little miracle in your arms in just a few days. How are you doing, dear mummy-to-be? Can you hardly wait to get rid of that big belly and look your baby in the eye? Or do you get anxious when you think about the impending birth and don't feel ready for it yet? In this part of our pregnancy calendar, you'll find out what you should look out for in this final phase of pregnancy. We look at the complaints that often plague heavily pregnant women and explain everything you need to know about Induction of labour should know.
Your little lodger is now ready to go and is just waiting to be born. A baby in week 39 is around 49 centimetres tall and weighs an average of 3250 grams. All organs are fully developed, the lungs are fully developed and the only thing left to do is to grow and put on more fat pads. You can also recognise that your baby is ready to be born by the fact that the lanugo hair and cheese smear have almost completely disappeared.
As your little one now has hardly any freedom of movement in your belly, you will probably feel it a little less frequently. However, if you don't feel your baby at all for many hours, please contact your midwife or doctor.
Practical help for you:
Emergency service midwife Katharina explains the most important things about the maternity pass online.
"Enjoy it" - do you hear this phrase all the time? Many pregnant women are given the well-intentioned advice to really savour the peace and quiet and togetherness towards the end of their pregnancy. Nights without baby cries, one last trip to the cinema with your loved one - that sounds all well and good. Nevertheless, most heavily pregnant women long for the birth. The ball-shaped belly makes every movement a challenge, it's no longer possible to sleep peacefully because of the belly and the nightly toilet visits and you can hardly wait to look your child in the eye. Try to be patient. It won't be long now, I promise.
You may find sitting and walking for long periods very uncomfortable during this week of pregnancy. This is because the weight of the baby is pressing down heavily. To relieve your pelvic floor, you should therefore take regular rest breaks on the sofa. Even if the baby is putting pressure on your bladder and you feel an increased urge to urinate, don't stop drinking. Around 2.5 litres of water a day is ideal to keep your circulation fit.
Perhaps your nest-building instinct is kicking in this week. Do you have a little burst of energy and would like to clean the whole house spick and span straight away? The nest-building instinct is a common sign that the birth is imminent. But instead of clearing out your wardrobe now, you should save your energy for the upcoming birth. Better use the energy for a long walk with your girlfriend or a relaxing round of yoga.
Symphysis loosening
Do you have pain in the pubic bone area? Symphysis loosening is not uncommon during pregnancy. The symphysis (also known as the pubic symphysis) is the anterior connection between the left and right pelvic bones. This gap is connected by cartilage and ligaments. Due to the pregnancy hormones, the connective tissue loosens and the symphysis gap can widen by three to four millimetres. This widening can cause you pain, as can the pressure of the baby on the ligaments. Sometimes the symphysis pain radiates into the sacrum and thighs.
What can you do to alleviate the discomfort? A stabilising pelvic girdle helps some women. You should also avoid certain movements such as heavy lifting and frequent stair climbing. It is better not to sit cross-legged and place a nursing pillow between your legs when sleeping to relieve the pressure on your pelvis. However, you should not rest completely. Gentle movement is important in any case, otherwise the discomfort can get worse. Fortunately, symphysis pain disappears for most women at the latest four to six weeks after the birth.
Itchy belly
Do you sometimes feel tightness and itching on your stomach? No wonder, your abdominal girth is now about one metre and the taut skin is under a lot of strain. What can you do to alleviate this unpleasant feeling? It's better to avoid soaps and shower gels that cause the skin to dry out further. You can simply wash your tummy with water or choose moisturising wash lotions as an alternative. On the other hand, make sure you regularly moisturise your baby bump with nourishing lotions or treat yourself to a gentle bump massage with a nourishing oil from time to time.
Is the itching particularly annoying? Then try green tea. Simply steep a tea bag in hot water for about five minutes and then apply the tea to your skin with a cotton pad. Witch hazel cream can also soothe the skin on your stomach. You can also relieve severe itching with diluted apple cider vinegar.
What you should know about artificial induction of labour
The Clinic bage is all packed up next to the door, you feel mentally ready for the delivery and can hardly wait to hold your little miracle in your arms - but nothing happens. It's completely normal if your baby doesn't arrive exactly on time. Calculated date of birth comes. If the baby does not make its way in the days that follow, the birth is often induced with medication or mechanically. This is now the case in one in five births in Germany. There are other reasons for an artificial induction of labour in addition to a transfer.
When may an induction be necessary?
- The baby is already one to two weeks past the due date.
- The baby is very large and should not gain any more weight, as this could lead to problems during labour.
- It is determined that the unborn child no longer optimally supplied becomes.
- You had a premature rupture of the membranes, but no labour pains set in.
- The expectant mum suffers from pre-eclampsia. This is often referred to as Pregnancy poisoning is the term used. Other illnesses of the mum can also be reasons for premature termination of the pregnancy.
- The mother is suffering from severe physical or mental exhaustion (and the 37th week of pregnancy has already been completed).
What methods of inducing labour with medication are available?
The type of induction of labour chosen depends on the state of health of the mother and child as well as the findings of the cervix.
Drug induction of labour
If the cervix is already soft and slightly open, an induction with an oxytocin infusion is usually chosen. This is also known as a labour drip. Oxytocin is a hormone that is also naturally produced by the body during and after labour. It leads to contractions of the uterus, promotes bonding between mother and child and also stimulates milk production. The artificially administered oxytocin is given until the contractions are regular. The baby's heartbeat is continuously monitored by CTG.
If it is determined before induction that the cervix is still immature, i.e. hard and closed, prostaglandins are used. These drugs are administered as a gel or tablet and cause the cervix to soften and open.
The hormone misoprostol is one of the prostaglandins. This is used, among other things, in the product Cytotec a drug that was actually developed for the treatment of stomach ulcers. In off-label use, Cytotec can also be used to induce labour. However, its use is not without risk. In general, the problem with prostaglandins is that correct dosing is not easy. You should therefore inform yourself about the advantages and disadvantages of this drug-based induction of labour before taking it. You can find all the information you need for this in our Online workshop "Induction of labour". You can also find this in the Birth preparation course.
What are the risks of drug induction?
Sometimes it is necessary to accelerate labour with medication in order to protect the health of mother and child. At the same time, induction can also have some undesirable consequences. It often entails further medical interventions.
Many women experience a frightening loss of control during induction. If labour begins naturally, the contractions increase very gradually, allowing the woman to gradually feel her way into the birth experience. This can also be the case with an artificial induction. In some cases, however, the medication has no effect at all. Sometimes, however, a so-called labour storm occurs. This means that the contractions start immediately and are very strong and painful right from the start. They overrun the expectant mother without pause, causing her to tense up. This in turn makes it more difficult for the cervix to open and the birth can come to a standstill. This often means that significantly more painkillers are required. An emergency caesarean section may also have to be performed or aids such as forceps or a suction cup may be used. However, you can minimise these risks by using good breathing techniques and birth positions. You can actively improve the birth for you and your child, especially in the case of an induction with medication. You don't have to feel at the mercy of your baby.
Mechanical induction of labour
It is also possible to induce labour without medication. One option for mechanical induction of labour is ovum detachment. The doctor or midwife uses a finger to carefully detach the outer covering of the amniotic sac from the uterine wall in the area of the cervix. However, this only works if the cervix is already slightly open. If slight bleeding occurs afterwards, this is not usually a cause for concern. If the cervix is already wide open, the amniotic sac can also be opened manually to drain the amniotic fluid. This procedure usually results in the onset of labour, but is usually only used when the birth is already underway.
The production of prostaglandins can also be supported mechanically. A so-called balloon catheter is inserted into the cervix for this purpose. The small balloon stretches the cervix. This stimulates your body to produce the important hormone prostaglandin. The balloon catheter falls out on its own during labour when the cervix has opened so much that the small ball can no longer find a hold.
Copyright 2024 NotdienstHebamme // Website by AAD
