Day 279 of 280, third trimester
You are 39 weeks and 6 days
Your newborn's stomach will be fully developed, but low acid levels mean she can only have milk for the first few months.
1 day until your due date
Unlike an adult, your baby produces little stomach acid and keeps amniotic fluid in her stomach for longer, which helps keep its acidity low. While she's hiccuping, turning upside down, and learning to coordinate breathing with swallowing in the uterus, having little hydrochloric acid in her stomach is a good thing.
After birth, stomach acid rises quickly in the first 24 hours but doesn't reach adult levels until three months. That's why solids aren't introduced until at least four months, and current advice is to start weaning at six months. Babies have a reflex to spit out solid food offered too early, and their stomach is full after only about 20–25 ml of food, so it's easily overloaded, leading to spitting up, when the baby brings back some food and milk.
Good to know
Raspberry leaf tea
Raspberry leaf tea is a traditional European remedy. European studies found that drinking it in the months before delivery (not before week 30) helps shorten the second stage of labor by helping the uterine muscles contract more efficiently. It's also said to reduce the risk of an assisted delivery, such as an emergency cesarean or vacuum delivery, to help the uterus return to its normal size after the birth, and to encourage milk flow. As always, talk to your doctor before drinking herbal teas or taking any herbal remedy.
The lowdown
Take a break
Getting to know your newborn can be hard with a constant stream of visitors bearing gifts and good wishes. Why not shut out the world and spend a few days at home alone? Your baby will sleep a lot, so do the same; there'll be plenty of time for people to meet the new family member. Your hormones will be all over the place, so expect lows as well as highs, especially when your milk comes in. Your partner also needs time to bond with the baby, look after you both, and get to grips with diaper changing. So put a note on the front door, switch on voicemail, and snuggle up with your new family.
Ask a Doctor
What exactly is a "bloody show"?
During pregnancy, a plug of jelly-like mucus seals the lower end of your cervix, keeping infection out of the uterus. It comes away toward the end of pregnancy, which is known as a "bloody show." It can mean labor will start soon, but it can also come away up to six weeks before labor begins.
Appointments and key dates around now
- RSV vaccineFrom 28 weeks
Read the full 39 weeks pregnant guide
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.