Brown mucus discharge at 39 weeks pregnant

Week 39 – your 3rd trimester

Pregnancy normally lasts around 40 weeks and most women will go into labour a week either side of their due date. That means any day now.

What's happening in my body?

You might be getting a lot more discharge in your pants than usual. This should be thin, white and not smell of very much. If you spot a slimy blob of mucus that's yellow or bloody, then that's called a "show". This sticky stuff used to plug up your cervix and when it comes out, it can be one of the first signs that your baby's on the way. However don't grab your hospital bag just yet, as you could still have days to wait.

You may be getting back pain as your baby moves down your pelvis and starts head butting your spine. You'll probably feel increased pressure at the bottom of your bump now.

You could also be getting sudden bursts of energy and urgently want to fold baby clothes or tidy drawers that you haven't opened for years. That's your nesting instinct kicking in.

9 signs you shouldn't ignore

If you get any of the following signs, then treat it as an emergency and call your midwife, doctor or NHS 111:

• bleeding from your vagina
• brown or pink discharge
• severe itching, particularly at night
• a terrible headache that won't go away
• vision problems (blurring, light sensitivity, seeing spots or flashing lights)
• pain just below the ribs
• extreme swelling of the feet, ankles, hands and face
• persistent stomach pains
• a high temperature (above 37.5 degrees C) with no other flu or cold symptoms

7 things you might not expect when your baby's born

1. Babies don't usually come out wailing, like they do in the films. It could take a few seconds before they cry or splutter to clear their airways.

2. Your baby will be checked out within a minute of being born. You might not be aware of it, as you'll be meeting your baby at the same time. Your baby will be rated on the Apgar scale for their heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, responsiveness and skin colour. This will be rechecked at 5 minutes.

3. Your baby's hands and feet might be blue, as their circulation is still a work in progress. The rest of their skin will be dark red or purple, then turn a brighter red when they take their first breath. It can take weeks before their true skin colour is revealed. If your baby's rubbed vigorously with a towel, this doesn't mean that there's a problem, it's probably just to help the blood flow.

4. It can take a few minutes before your baby's breathing regularly. They tend to do lots of fast breaths, then lots of slow breaths. The gap between breaths can be as long as 5 seconds. They're just learning to breathe, so this is normal.

5. Boys can be born with large testicles – that's just temporary, caused by hormones and water retention. They will settle down and look more in proportion soon.

6. It's not always love at first sight. Give yourself time to bond with your baby and ask for help if you need it.

7. It can take 6 weeks for your womb to go back to the size it was. Breastfeeding can speed this process up as it makes your womb contract. Find out more about your body after the birth on the NHS website.

Find out more about what happens when your baby is born on the NHS website.

3rd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 39 weeks)

You could be getting a lot of practice contractions, but if they start getting painful, then they could be the real deal. Read 5 signs that baby's on the way on week 37's page.

Phone your hospital or midwife when your contractions last for at least 60 seconds and come every 5 minutes – or call any time if you're worried that something is wrong, such as if your baby stops moving or if you're losing blood.

Your signs of pregnancy could also include:

• painless contractions around your bump, known as Braxton Hicks contractions
• sleeping problems (week 19 has information about feeling tired)
• stretch marks (read about stretch marks on week 17's page)
• swollen and bleeding gums (week 13 has information about gum health during pregnancy)
• pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
• piles (read about piles on week 22's page)
• headaches
• backache
• indigestion and heartburn (week 25 talks about digestive problems)
• bloating and constipation (read about bloating on week 16's page)
• leg cramps (week 20 explains how to deal with cramp)
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections (see week 15 for vaginal health)
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair

You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:

• mood swings (week 8's page has information on mood swings)
• morning sickness (read about dealing with morning sickness on week 6's page)
• weird pregnancy cravings (read about pregnancy cravings on week 5's page)
• a heightened sense of smell
• sore or leaky breasts (read about breast pain on week 14's page)
• a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Read Tommy's guide to common pregnancy symptoms.

What does my baby look like?

Your baby, or foetus, is around 50.7cm long from head to heel, and weighs about 3.3kg. That's approximately the length of 5 courgettes and the weight of a mini watermelon.

A few weeks ago, your baby's skin was almost transparent but now they're growing a tougher new layer that's looks more solid. This is better at protecting their internal organs and helping with temperature control.

The skin will be coated in a white, waxy substance called "vernix", which means varnish in Latin. This creamy layer helps to protect their skin and eases your baby down the birth canal. Your baby might be covered in it when they are born, or it could be mostly gone.

Action stations

Be on full alert in case your waters break, as this could happen at any time. Don't expect a tidal wave, as it could be just a trickle. If you think it's started, then call your midwife or doctor and ask for advice. You might have just wet yourself, but if your waters have broken, then your labour may need to be induced as your baby will be at a greater risk of infection.

This week you could also...

It's a good time to tone up your pelvic floor muscles. Gentle pelvic floor exercises can help to prevent leakage when you laugh, sneeze or cough. Get the muscles going by pretending that you're having a wee and then stopping midflow.

To keep bones and muscles healthy, we need vitamin D. From late March/early April to the end of September, most people make enough vitamin D from sunlight on their skin. However, between October and early March, you should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement because we cannot make enough from sunlight.

Some people should take a vitamin D supplement all year round, find out if this applies to you on the NHS website. You just need 10 micrograms (it's the same for grown-ups and kids). Check if you're entitled to free vitamins.

There's no need to eat for 2. Now you're in the 3rd trimester, you may need an extra 200 calories a day, but that's not much. It's about the same as 2 slices of wholemeal toast and margarine.

Try to eat healthily, with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, and avoid processed, fatty and salty foods. You may be able to get free milk, fruit and veg through the Healthy Start scheme.

How are you today? If you're feeling anxious or low, then talk to your midwife or doctor who can point you in the right direction to get all the support that you need. You could also discuss your worries with your partner, friends and family.

You may be worried about your relationship, or money, or having somewhere permanent to live. Don't keep it to yourself. It's important that you ask for help if you need it.

Having another baby is probably the last thing on your mind. However now is a good time to start planning what type of contraception you would like to use after your baby is born.

Getting pregnant again could happen sooner than you realise and too short a gap between babies is known to cause problems. Talk to your GP or midwife to help you decide.

This week's treat

Spend some time in nature. Go and kick leaves in the park, walk in the woods, water your garden or plant some seeds (use gloves to avoid the risk of infection). This is good exercise and will encourage your brain to release 'feel good' chemicals.

Go back to week 38

Go to week 40

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