The wonderful finale

If you have not yet given birth, you are probably becoming increasingly tired of waiting and impatient.

Because maternal hormones also circulate in the baby, the scrotum in boys and labia in girls may look larger than usual. There may even be milk discharge from the breasts after birth. This can occur in both boys and girls and resolves on its own within a few days.

This week may seem very long. Try to be patient. Even if you feel no pain, your cervix may be starting to open. As normal labour contractions begin, cervical opening and thinning increase. The first stage of labour ends when the cervix reaches 10 centimetres. The second stage then follows, and your baby greets you and the world. In vaginal delivery, your doctor clears the baby's mouth as soon as the head is born, and the first cry fills the room. Holding your baby before the umbilical cord is cut makes that first contact warmer.

I wish you a happy life with your baby and all your loved ones.