Pregnancy - What to Expect During Month 9

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Congratulations - you have made it to the final month of pregnancy! Pregnancy month nine roughly correlates to weeks 35 to 40. Your baby will be full term and ready to be born after 37 weeks, but you will want to get ready for the onset of labor at any moment. Only about 5 percent of babies are born on their due date. According to the March of Times, roughly 12.8 percent of babies are born premature (before 37 weeks of pregnancy.) An estimated 95 percent of babies are born within two weeks of their due date.

During the ninth month of pregnancy, you should start preparing your hospital bag. As a rule of thumb, bring several changes of clothes for yourself, snacks for your birth partner, a coming home outfit for baby, and a few newborn sized diapers.

Pregnancy

If you haven't already, you should have your husband or partner install the infant car seat during month nine of pregnancy. You will not be allowed to leave the hospital without one.

Pregnancy - What to Expect During Month 9

Mom's Changes - Month 9 of Pregnancy

In the ninth month of pregnancy, expect to feel Braxton-Hicks contractions more regularly. You should learn the difference between real labor contractions and Braxton-Hicks contractions. Real labor contractions get closer together as time passes, and they increase in severity. Other signs of labor to be aware of include your water breaking, your mucus plug being dislodged, and your baby dropping into your pelvis.

You are quite large and feeling uncomfortable during the ninth month. Your uterus has filled your pelvis and abdomen, pushing all your organs out of the way. You are running to the bathroom more frequently these days, as your heavy uterus is pressing against your bladder. Once your baby drops into your pelvis - a process called "lightening," you may be feeling quite clumsy and you may waddle.

Your pregnancy weight gain may be anywhere between 25 and 35 pounds for the average-sized woman. However, you may have gained more than this, if you are carrying twins or multiples.

Though sleep is almost impossible in the ninth month of pregnancy, try to rest as often as you can. You want to save all your strength for the labor and delivery process.

Fetal Development - Pregnancy Month 9

During pregnancy month nine, your baby's lungs are almost fully developed and mature. They are usually fully mature and ready by 37 weeks pregnant. Your baby will drop lower in your abdomen this month, and most babies will assume their birthing position - the head-down position. If your baby not turned head-down, your baby is breech and you may need a cesarean section.

Your baby's brain continues to develop and mature. This process will continue after your baby is born. As month nine of pregnancy continues, most of the downy hair (lanugo) that has insulated your baby is disappearing. The vernix (whitish coating) that protected your baby's skin from being too wrinkled, due to the amniotic fluid surround him or her, is also being shed.

As the ninth month of pregnancy continues, your baby gets fatter and plumper. You should feel your baby moving every day. By the time your baby is born, on average, he or she may weigh 7 pounds or more, and may be between 18 and 20 pounds.

Congratulations on your new arrival!

Pregnancy - What to Expect During Month 9

DP Nguyen writes the popular pregnancy and baby blog, Hip Chick's Guide to PMS, Pregnancy and Babies, which answers all your PMS or Pregnancy questions and offers valuable pregnancy and baby information.