9 Months Pregnant

– Getting ready to meet your baby!

When you are 9 months pregnant you might think that your belly can’t possibly get bigger, but reality proves you wrong. The good news is that you will stop gaining weight.

Even though the last few weeks seem to be very difficult, you should keep in mind that in a few days or weeks you will be able to hold your little one in your arms and all the discomfort and symptoms will be behind you.

Until then you just have to relax and prepare for the arrival of the baby. Finish the nursery and decide the name of the baby.

What to Expect When you are Nine Months Pregnant?

The majority of women actually feel the baby drop into the pelvic area, and this is why it is just normal to feel more pressure in this area. Since this month represents the end of your pregnancy, you should make sure that you keep an eye out for the signs of delivery, such as painful contractions or breaking water. You shouldn’t expect the baby to come on the due date.

Nine Months Pregnant Pictures

He or she will come when ready, that might be before or after the due date. If you think that you are in labor, you should call your doctor. In case you are sure, you should head to the hospital.

9th Month of Pregnancy Symptoms

1. Swelling

During this month you might experience some swelling on your extremities, like your hands and legs. This is caused by the pressure that the baby’s weight puts on your body. In case of the legs you should put them up as often as you can to reduce the swelling, and make sure that you don’t do a lot of walking, and even when you walk you should be wearing shoes with flat heels.

2. Hemorrhoids

This is one of the most annoying symptoms during the ninth month of pregnancy. The hemorrhoids appear because of the pressure of the baby. The veins trap some of the blood, and so the hemorrhoids form. They could turn out to be painful and itchy and you could treat them with topical creams. The good news is that they usually disappear after you give birth.

3. Easier Breathing

For sure you have experienced some shortness of breath during the previous month, but this is about to change after the baby drops, because your lungs will have more room to expand. This way it will be easier to go on with your daily activities, but you should make sure that you don’t get too active.

4. Sleeping Problems

When you are 9 months pregnant for sure you are already used to not sleeping enough. This is because the little one keeps kicking your ribs or you frequently have to get up just to go to the toilet. Also there are a lot of women who simply don’t seem to be able to find a comfortable position.

5. Skin Changes

There is a lot that the hormones change regarding your body, and these changes are visible on your skin as well. In some cases women could get skin blotches. Although these don’t happen that often, usually pregnant women have darker nipples and areolas and the veins of the breasts become more visible.

6. Braxton Hicks Contractions

Having Braxton Hicks contractions during the last month isn’t something new, but they are more frequent than in the previous months. You should pay attention to these contractions to recognize when the practice contractions turn into real contractions. Usually the real contractions are more painful than the practice ones.

7. Leaky Breasts

In case you weren’t faced with leaky breasts before, most probably you will experience it as one of the 9 months pregnant symptoms. The substance that is leaking is known as colostrum, and it is the breast milk that the baby will feed on at the beginning. In the majority of the cases the leaking occurs during the night, and it order to avoid waking up soaked, you should get some breast pads.

8. Fatigue or Extra Energy

While some of the women during the 9th month of pregnancy are faced with fatigue, others have more energy than ever before. Regardless of which symptom you experience, you should make sure to have plenty of rest and keep in mind that having a healthy lifestyle will ensure that the little one will be healthy as well.

9. Tingly Hands

You shouldn’t get alarmed if you have a tingling sensation in your hands. This is because the baby has a pressure on the nerves and the veins that in turn make your hands tingle.

9 Months Pregnant and Baby Evolution

During the last month, the skin of the little one will be filled with fat and so it will become less wrinkly. Also it stops being transparent and it gets a pinkish color. The fat cells under the skin are important in that they will keep the little one warm after getting born.

By the time you are nine months pregnant the reflexes of the baby are fully developed, and so he or she will be able to grasp your finger right after getting born.

The baby will also be responsive to different stimulus right after birth, such as reacting to sounds and turning his or her head towards the source of the sound.

Although the lungs are still in the process of development, after getting born they will be entirely functional.

Mother’s Responsibilities in 9 Months Pregnancy

There are some things you have to do in order to make sure that there will be no problems at childbirth or later with the baby.

  • You should see your doctor on a weekly basis, and make sure that you have all the tests that he or she suggests you to have.
  • Prepare your bags for your hospital stay. Make sure that you will have everything that you need and also consider the needs of the baby.
  • Always have at hand the number of your doctor when being 9 months pregnant because you never know when you will need to call him or her.
  • Monitor your body and keep track of any major signs of change in your condition.
  • Be positive and try visualization techniques focusing on the moment you will hold the baby in your arms.

More Resources:

Top 10 Pregnancy Apps for iPhone Loving Mommies

Safe Baby Pregnancy Tips – Visual Instructions For Expecting Parents