Baby Nine Months

Nine Months

All gift wrapped and ready to go ! Make sure to handle me with care.

What you can expect at this month’s checkup: After about the 36th week you will see your doctor weekly. You can expect your doctor to check the following:

Weight ( gains generally slows down or ceases) and blood pressure (it may be slighty higher than it was at mid-pregnancy)

Urine, for sugar and protein

Fetal heartbeat

Height of fundus

Fetal size (you may get a rough weight estimate)

Feet and hands for swelling and legs for varicose veins

Cervix (by internal examination usually sometime after the 38th week) for effacement and dilatation or where appropriate, for repeat cultures of the cervix

Symptoms you have been experiencing, especially unsual ones

Frequency and duration of Braxton Hicks contractions as reported by you

Questions and problems you want to discuss

You can also expect to receive instructions from your doctor as to when to call if you think you are in labor, if you don’t, ask for them

What you may be feeling:

Changes in fetal activity( more squirming and less kicking as the fetus has progressively less room to move around in)

Vaginal discharge becomes heavier and contains more mucus, which may be streaked red with blood or tinged brown more pink after intercourse or a pelvic exam

Constipation

Heartburn, indigestion

Occasional headaches or dizziness

Nasal congestion and occasional nosebleeds, ear stuffiness

Bleeding gums

Leg cramps during sleep

Increased backache and heaviness

Buttock and pelvic dicomfort and achiness

Increased swelling of ankles and feet, and occasionally of hands and face

Itchy abdomen, protruding navel

Varicose veins of the legs

Hemorrhoids

Easier breathing after the baby drops

More frequent urination after the baby drops

Increased difficulty sleeping

More frequent and more intense Braxton Hicks contractions (some may be painful)

Increasing clumsiness and difficulty getting around

Colostrum, either leaking or expressable from breasts (though this premilk substance may not appear until after delivery)

Fatigue or extra energy, or alternate periods of each

Increase in appetite, or loss of appetite

More excitement, more anxiety, more apprehension, more absentmindedness