Week 38: Stuck in a holding pattern

Fetal development in pregnancy week 38

The final details are being rounded off before your rocket-baby's big launch into the world.

For one, your adorable poop-factory's meconium stockpile is growing (are you ready for that historical first tarry black poo?) as their baby fat stores continue to increase.

Most importantly, your wee genius' rapidly developing super-brain is abuzz with new brain cells that'll be growing for years to come.

Woohoo!

Whether you give birth tomorrow (yes!) or next week (aw), your fantastic baby is pretty much 100% ready to face the world outside of your womb.

And by "ready", we mean weak, helpless and unable to do anything other than cry, pee, poop, and eat.

Below is a helpful view into your baby's first year and why they're so radically different from the rest of we walking, talking, thinking humans.

Understanding Your Infant's World

Between your infant's poor vision and inability to speak or comprehend language, as well as their newness to the entire life-on-Earth gig, they'll understand virtually nothing of the world they're born into.

One critical thing your newborn does understand is this:

Mama's warm arms = the happiest safest place in the world.

Abstract concepts such as time, language and object permanence remain far beyond your infant's grasp.

The many ordinary objects and items that surround you will be almost totally incomprehensible to your infant for the first months of their life. Not until they gain the ability to grasp and manipulate objects with their hands, will these things start to become slightly more understandable.

An infant's lack of object permanence causes them to become anxious whenever you disappear from their sight because they're unable to understand that you're going to return.

In your infant's perception, you'll have simply and irrevocably vanished and will cause a clear and obvious distress cry that can be translated as: "Where did mama go?! Come back now!!! I'm afraid to be alone because this world is confusing and overwhelming without you."

As your infant develops, they'll become more comfortable when you disappear from their line of sight, and become slowly aware of the fact you're going to come back again.

Explicit knowledge of your permanence in their life won't be possible until nearer the one year mark, although the more you're there for them, the sooner they'll learn that and the more secure they'll feel.

The best way to ensure your newborn is feeling safe and happy, is simply to keep them near your body as much as you possibly can.

Before you worry about your arms breaking off from all that baby-carrying, you can keep baby snuggled near your body AND have use of your arms by wearing a wrap or baby carrier that supports their newborn bobble-head.

And how's mom doing?

Hey mama, how's week 38 treating you? Wait! Don't tell us: big, awkward and impatient, right?Waiting until your newborn's umbilical cord stops pulsing before clamping allows them 15 - 20% more blood (aka strength and energy) from the placenta than they would receive if the cord were immediately clamped

At this point, if you go into labor, you'd be on track for a normal healthy delivery that'll end with your newborn snuggled sweetly in your arms.

Between now and then though, you've still got to get your mind wrapped around the upcoming labor process, conquer your fears, and square off for the upcoming Breastfeeding Bootcamp.

A Gentle Delivery

Despite the blood, pain and sweat inherent to the process, it is possible to give your newborn a relatively gentle entrance into the world.

SET THE MOOD

Your newborn's sensitive eyes will be used to darkness and very little light. So, close the blinds and dim the lights, or opt for candle light when it's time to push.

Warm your birthing room up to 80+ degrees Fahrenheit. Newborns cannot regulate their own temperature yet and they've been living in a human heater for the past nine months.

PUSH ON YOUR SCHEDULE

The birthing coach urging you to push and breathe is yet another bizarrely invasive and counterproductive practice that's part of the helpless-insane-laboring woman perspective on childbirth.

This well-intended but backward practice is responsible for a great deal of the painful vaginal and perineal tearing women experience during the delivery process, as women bear down before their body is fully ready to push.

You will feel the spontaneous urge to bear down some point after you've hit transition (if you're not numbed by pain-medication), but oftentimes, this urge is usurped or ignored by the birth attendants.

Research indicates that letting a woman bear down according to her own bodily schedule significantly lowers her risk of tearing.

Labor is really your entire body trying to deliver your baby. By this logic: pushing before you feel like it just means you're putting your poor vagina through the wringer before it's been fully prepped.

Listen to your body and don't push before you feel the urge.

WAIT TO CLAMP THE CORD

Waiting until your newborn's umbilical cord stops pulsing before clamping allows them 15 - 20% more blood (aka strength and energy) from the placenta than they would receive if the cord were immediately clamped.

If you're giving birth in the hospital be sure to notify your birthing attendant beforehand as many hospitals are still behind the times regarding optimal delivery practices.

BREASTFEED IMMEDIATELY

Before the cord stops pulsing and before anyone takes your newborn to be cleaned, weighed and tested - IF your baby is breathing, immediately bring your baby to your breast and focus on getting them to latch as you meet for the first time.

A newborn's first instinct is to breastfeed. By meeting this instinct, you trigger both your milk production and a sense of well-being and safety for your infant as your heartbeat and voice are the only familiar sensations in an otherwise cold and confusing world.

Focus on getting a good latch by gently placing the entirety of your nipple into your baby's open mouth (don't forget to take in their tiny-but-perfect newborn beauty) as you watch their infant-suckling reflex kick in.

Don't worry about whether your newborn is getting anything at this first feeding (if they do, great; if not - no biggy).

It's the physical act of breastfeeding that's most important right now, as your milk supply will be stimulated by your baby's suckling.

Not only does immediate breastfeeding increase your chances of a successful latch, but it also helps you deliver the placenta as your newborn's suckling causes your uterus to contract!

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