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I'm Ready, Already!

Getting through the
Final Weeks of Pregnancy

By Katherine Bontrager

This is advice that Antoinette Kuritz believes in firmly. She swears by staying active either physically or, if activity is limited by doctor's orders, mentally. "Stay productive," she says. "Producing a baby is a passive activity and thus does not totally fulfill the need for productivity. Finally, enjoy the process. Instead of bemoaning the discomfort, revel in the process. Like smile therapy, it works."

What also worked for Kuritz was staying hydrated, which helped keep her cool and comfortable in those final days. "We tend to ignore the importance of water, but 6 to 8 ounces an hour really does help keep all systems working, including our natural cooling ability," she says. "Loose clothing, putting your hair up and indulging yourself with a relaxing shower a couple of times also help."

But the most important advice Kuritz received about pregnancy came from her first obstetrician who said, "Pregnant people are normal people."

"If you take that to heart from the beginning of your pregnancy, and live your life normally, your expectations of yourself will set you up to go through the process more easily – including the last few weeks," says Kuritz.

Still finding yourself beleaguered and on edge? Debbie Mandel, a stress management specialist and author of Turn on Your Inner Light: Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul (Busy Bee Group, 2003), offers the following list of calming advice that may mean the difference between a smooth final few weeks and countless days of aches and annoyances:

Want to see more?

• Accentuate the Positive: Getting Back to Basics in the Third Trimester
• The Home Stretch: Surviving the Last Trimester with Twins
• Trimester Talk: What Questions to Ask Your Doctor and When to Ask Them
• Talk about it!

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