The last weeks before giving birth.

What checks must be made, how many visits in the last weeks before the birth? And what movements should the child make?

The last weeks before giving birth are a delicate period , during which women spontaneously pay more attention to their body and the movements of the fetus. The secret to feeling good is to follow a regular lifestyle without upsetting your habits: when the time of childbirth approaches, the c ontrations will show it unequivocally.

When does the term phase start?

"Every mother during pregnancy is informed about the expected date of birth. Being presumed, it is not an" due "date, but a rough indication that helps us to identify a period of 5 weeks, from the 37th to the 42nd of pregnancy. , defined precisely at term. In these 5 weeks, every moment is good for the birth process to be triggered. For this reason, in this period the hospital of reference takes place, which the woman has chosen as the place of birth " .

The last weeks before giving birth: what tests and checks should be done?

"At the end of pregnancy, the woman is normally taken care of from the birth point that she has chosen as the place of birth. The first check-up is scheduled between the 38th and 39th week of pregnancy. The woman goes to the dedicated clinic carrying all the documentation relating to pregnancy and during the appointment a personalized path is set with all subsequent checks ".

When should I go to the hospital outside the scheduled checks?

"In the last weeks of pregnancy, the woman must pay particular attention to the movement of the baby. During the day there should be at least 10 movements of the fetus, but the advice is to refer to what has been learned in the previous months in order to notice any anomalies. . In the presence of signs that change the normal habits of the child, it is good to go to the hospital. For example, less frequent or less intense movements. We must then pay attention to all the symptoms that the body shows us: the pressure must be normal, obviously also the temperature, and so on. In case of general malaise it is better to go to the hospital, unless it is mild symptoms for which you can safely contact the general practitioner. As for leaks, in the presence of loss of blood or fluids it is good to get checked ".

What movements should the baby make in the last few weeks before delivery?

"There are no particular indications. The fetus does not appear to the mother more agitated than usual. Assuming that everything is fine, the head will already be pointing downwards. The babies continue to move regularly even in the last few weeks. During labor they make many movements to adapt to the space, but they are not perceived by the mother in a distinct way from normal fetal movements ".

What are the symptoms of approaching childbirth?

Small changes like:

Slowing of digestion

· Decrease in the sense of hunger

Disruption of sleep

Lumbar pain or weight, back, belly, lower limbs.

Most obvious symptom? The contractions.

"The most obvious symptom are the c ontrations . The onset of contractions will be accompanied by many other small changes, such as slowing digestion, a decrease in the sense of hunger, sleep interruptions, lumbar pain or weight, in the back, to the belly, to the lower limbs. However, what most of all arouses the mother's attention are precisely the contractions. You cannot go wrong: it is not a sudden symptom, they are small signals that add up and increase giving time to mother to realize that the pregnancy is coming to an end ".

The last weeks before giving birth: tips for psycho-physical well-being

"We start from the assumption that childbirth is a normal physiological event. The woman must continue her lifestyle, with an eye to health and enhancing positive behaviors. The regularity of the rhythms is important. There is scientific evidence that a state of emotional well-being is physically correlated to a more stable and better hormonal balance. A good emotional balance at the end of pregnancy certainly has a positive influence. Therefore, everything that helps to enhance a woman's well-being is certainly helpful . For example, practicing yoga, meditating, listening to music, enjoying a massage. Every woman will know how to choose what resonates best, and which can contribute to the relaxation of the mind and body ".

Does a woman need a lot of sleep before giving birth?

"No more than normal. The woman must maintain her regular rhythms, follow a healthy lifestyle, listen to her body. But it is not necessary for her to sleep more hours, unless she feels a specific need".

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