Finally, the moment you’ve been anticipating is here you’re bringing
home the newest member of your family! You’ve set up the crib and nursery, bought and borrowed the cute little outfits, and stocked up on diapers, wipes, blankets and other supplies. You’ve been thinking about all of the changes this new baby will bring to your life and probably alternated between feeling excited and scared.

Now you wonder: Am I ready? Are we ready?
Probably not and that’s perfectly normal. No matter how many pregnancy and baby-care books you’ve read, or how meticulous you’ve been in getting everything in place, nothing can fully prepare you for the first few weeks after your baby’s birth. This time can be exciting and overwhelming.
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When the nurse put my baby boy in my arms for the first time, the chaos of the delivery room disappeared. I was surprised at how natural it felt to hold this new little life. I looked over everything his hands, his feet, his eyes … and his incredible mass of curly black hair! It was such a relief to see for myself the beautiful child I had delivered.

The wait is over. In the last nine months, you’ve spent endless hours in
preparation and anticipation of the day you’d look into your baby’s face. And now that day is here.

Your labor and delivery whether a marathon session or shockingly short is behind you. Now is the time to hold, caress and enjoy that precious little person you’ve been waiting to meet.

Even though you’re probably eager to go home and start your new life, take advantage of your time in the hospital or birthing center. Many mothers are surprised by how much privacy time they want after birth. Although your family and friends will want to hear about your labor and birth and how you and the baby are doing, you might feel that you’ll need to limit calls and visits. It’s OK to turn off the phone, and the nurses can help restrict visitors to ensure your privacy. Good friends especially if they’re parents themselves will understand if you need time to focus on yourself and your baby.
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The last weeks of pregnancy may feel like a time of waiting … and waiting. It may seem as if time is almost standing still as you anticipate the start of labor. Keep in mind, though, that your due date is nothing more than an estimate of when you may deliver. You may deliver before or after that date. In fact, labor may begin as much as three weeks before or two weeks after your due date and still be considered normal.

Making those final preparations
Make the most of the time remaining before your baby arrives. What can you do to be as ready as possible? Here’s a to-do checklist.

Take childbirth classes, if you haven’t already
Childbirth classes help you and your partner fully prepare for labor and
childbirth. They vary in name and are available at most hospitals and
birthing centers, so ask about them as part of your prenatal care.

Typically, classes are offered as one- to two-hour sessions over the course of several months or as full-day sessions that take place over one or two weekends.
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I think nature’s way of making moms-to-be look forward to labor is to make the final month so uncomfortable. I’m ready. After all, I’ve managed nine months of pregnancy. I can handle whatever comes next.

Your baby’s growth during weeks 37 to 40
Week 37
By the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. He or she isn’t quite done growing yet, but the rate of weight gain has slowed to about a half-ounce a day. As fat is being laid down, your baby’s body is slowly becoming rounder.

Sex seems to play some role in determining size at birth. If you have a
boy, he’ll likely weigh a bit more than a baby girl born to you at a similar
length of gestation.
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Your baby’s growth during weeks 25 to 28

Week 25
though. If she or he wants to grasp a Your baby’s hands are now fully
developed, complete with miniature fingernails and the ability to curl his
or her fingers into a tiny fist. Your baby is probably using these hands
this week to discover different body parts. He or she is exploring the
environment and structures inside your uterus, including the umbilical
cord. The nerve connections to your baby’s hands have a long way to go, big toe, it won’t be an easy task.
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