The final stages of week by week pregnancy are here. The long journey that began with anxiety and excitement has finally reached its conclusive stages when in just a few days a lovely child would fill your world with joy. A new chapter would soon begin and if this is your first pregnancy, then be thoroughly prepared to take up the new roles and responsibilities life has to offer. If you thought pregnancy was a tiring time and pregnancy delivery could be difficult, then wait until you undergo the awaited change. Life would soon impart a new perspective for you to see & analyze situations differently.

Are You All Set?

Approximately 36 weeks of week by week pregnancy have passed. With just a few days left, give a final check to all the preparations.

Have you secured an appointment with the doctor?
Has the room been reserved?
Is the bag that must be carried to the hospital ready?
Have you made a final decision regarding the painless pregnancy delivery option?
Is the baby's nursery decorated?
Are all important numbers noted in the phone diary?
Is post pregnancy shopping through? You would soon require breastfeeding pillow, nursing pajamas, nursing gown, breastfeeding tops, nursing tops, breastfeeding cover, breastfeeding pump and 100 more such things.

The Body Prepares For 'D' Day

In these last days of your week-by-week pregnancy, the baby must have occupied a lower slot i.e. the entire mass inside must have shifted to the lower region in the pelvis area. This process is known as lightening and lightens up the situation for the mother. This shifting down imparts much more room to the pregnant woman's internal organs thus facilitating easier breathing movements. First time mothers can expect lightening slightly earlier than those who have already undergone the process before.

Another process that soon follows, while the body prepares for childbirth, is effacement. It entails effacing of cervix, this however, can be noticed only by the health care practitioner. Dilation i.e. opening up of the cervix is next in line. Many of you, during these days or rather just before the final day, might feel highly energetic and active.

To accompany all these processes, are Braxton Hicks contractions. These are the body's signal indicating preparations for labor. These are usually painless contractions that become stronger and more painful as the much awaited due date approaches. However, do not consider the stronger and painful contractions as definite indicator of expected pregnancy birth. They could simply be a false alarm. Nevertheless you must be fully prepared all through these last days of week by week pregnancy.