Your Pregnancy: Week 39 for Mom
By: ePregnancy
Week 39 means that labor could start at any moment, so be on the lookout for the signals. There are the obvious ones, like your water breaking and contractions. But there are also some that are a little less obvious: you may, unfortunately, develop diarrhea, thanks to your body’s release of the chemical prostaglandins; or you may start shivering or trembling, due to the release of stress hormones. Keep your doctor or midwife’s cell number handy. In fact, go ahead and create a quick reference sheet with all the numbers you’ll need -- between waking up at 2 am and your raging pregnancy hormones, you might not want to rely on your brain alone to remember all those important digits.
The prospect of your water breaking can be especially frightening … and embarrassing if it happens while you are browsing strollers at Target! This is a situation where the anticipation is worse than the actual event. In fact, in most cases, the amniotic sac doesn’t even rupture until the mom is well into labor, sometimes not even until she’s more than 9 cm dilated. And if you are one of the very rare women whose water breaks in public -- at least you’ll have one fantastic story to pass on!
Last week we started talking to the dads about what to expect in terms of post-partum sex. You are probably wondering how that's all going to work, even if you aren't very anxious to do the deed! Here's what you need to know:
1. It doesn't matter whether you had a vaginal birth or c-section, your body is going to need some time to heal. Physically speaking, doctors have traditionally recommended waiting six weeks to have sex, which gives the cervix time to close, any tears time to heal and post-partum bleeding time to stop. If you've had a cesarean, it may take much longer. Many physicians now agree that most healing has occurred after two or three weeks, but it's still very important to wait until all bleeding has stopped before resuming intercourse.
2. Even if you are completely healed in two weeks, emotionally you may not feel ready for sex. And that's okay! You have been through a lot over the past 9 months, culminating in the birth of a perfect little baby -- and you are exhausted. Body image issues abound (stretch marks, baby weight, oi vey!) and you may find yourself battling a touch of the baby blues as well. This is all completely understandable and normal. Rememer: you can have intimacy without sex, so give yourself some time to breathe, take in the experience and recover on your own schedule.
3. It's going to feel different for a little while. You may have some dryness, due to the breastfeeding hormones you're producing, so some extra lubrication isn't a bad thing to have on hand (water-based is best). You may experience a touch of pain as well. If this is the case, slow down and be gentle with yourself. If it hurts too much, wait a little longer and try again.
4. Unless you are ready for an immediate encore of the last nine months, you are going to need contraception. There's a common myth that women who are breastfeeding can't conceive -- and if you believe that, we've got a bridge to sell you. Whether you feed by breast or bottle, you can ovulate at any time. Since hormonal birth control isn't recommended for breastfeeding moms, your doctor may recommend condoms or other forms of contraception.
Remember, consult your doctor -- she will give you the most accurate and up-to-date information available.