38th Week of Pregnancy: What to Expect from an Expecting Mother and the Baby

The moment you enter the 38^th Week of pregnancy, the ninth month of your pregnancy is halfway done.

Your baby is gradually going down the womb and is getting ready to meet you within a week or two. Or, you may deliver your baby at any time now. But at this stage, you might undergo several physical and emotional changes with your baby.

See the Changes in Your Baby 

At this stage, your baby is considered “full-term.” All their organs and physical features are fully developed by now. See the developments in your baby with clarity via a few tests and scans. 

• Your baby will weigh around 3.2 kg, and the length will be between 48cm and 52cm from head to toe. The more your baby remains inside your womb, the will continue to grow and build up a layer of fat to keep them warm inside.
  
• The “lanugo”, the fine hair covering the baby’s body, has largely fallen out by this time. If you happen to give birth to your baby now, your baby may be born with a head full of hair or maybe bald.
  
• The “vernix” is a white and creamy substance on the baby’s body that can keep the baby’s skin safe from the amniotic fluid. When it’s time for the baby to be born, they will leave the womb with some patches on their skin, as vernix will still be there.
  
• The baby’s intestine will improve by now. They will swallow the amniotic fluid; which will get accumulated in the intestine. Along with the amniotic fluid, the intestine will also have shed cells, bile, and the baby’s waste products in it. Ultimately, these will turn out to be the first poo (meconium), when you need to change your baby’s diaper for the first time.
  
• The baby’s eye colour will be blue grey or brown.
  
• The hands will have a firm grasp.
  
• The nervous system and brain will be fine-tuned by now.
  
• The vocal cords are strong at this point. That means, afterbirth, they are ready to wail and cry.
  
• Your baby’s lungs are stronger at this stage. They are producing more surfactants this week. The surfactants can keep the air sacs in the lungs safe from sticking to each other when your baby starts breathing.

See Your Body Changing  

As your baby gradually develops and prepares to leave the womb, your body is also making its final preparations at the 38th week of pregnancy.

• When you visit the doctor this week, the doctor will check whether your baby has taken the head-down position and has dropped into the pelvis region. You’ll get a “baby-dropping” feeling in the pelvis, at this stage. The increased pressure of the baby can make you feel uncomfortable and painful too. You’ll also feel the need to visit the bathroom more often.
  
• Getting signs of labour will be common at this stage. Painful contractions (Braxton Hicks Contractions) will be intense by now. The uncomfortable false contractions can keep the cervix dilated and ripened for labour and the delivery of the baby.
  
• As the cervix dilates or ripens, you may be experiencing more vaginal discharge with a tinge of pink or brown colour blood in it.
  
• If you notice signs of water breaking, you might have to go to the hospital immediately. Water breaking is almost like a large gush of water trickling out. This may also make you feel like urine leakage. Once your water has broken, your baby may be less protected from infections, and you may have to visit the hospital immediately. You may be delivering your baby very soon.
  
• You’ll feel swollen in the feet, ankles, hands and face. Swelling is a common instance in the last few weeks of pregnancy.
  
• At this stage, your breasts are getting prepared to feed your baby the moment you meet the child. You feel the breasts to be leaky as they are producing colostrum.
  
• Your evolved belly can leave you with stretch marks and some itchiness, at this stage.
  
• You will be able to feel a change in energy level, to make you want to clean up everything around you.
  
• You’ll feel tired in the body and mind dealing with so many things going around in your body, and thinking about the baby’s healthy birth. 

How Will You Deal With the Pregnancy Symptoms of the 38^th Week? 

It’s almost time! You’re getting ready to deliver your baby. Though dealing with so many ups and downs hasn’t been easy for you, there’s a lot that you can do for yourself.

• Show some love to your stretch-marked and itchy belly, by rubbing medically prescribed moisturising lotion or coconut oil over it.
  
• Since you’re feeling swollen, ensure that you wear maternity clothes that are not very tight. You can also get your medically checked for preeclampsia for your swelling.
  
• Wear supportive inners for your leaky breasts.
  
• Your anxiety and other pregnancy symptoms this week won’t let you sleep. Try not to worsen this condition by increasing your screen time. Instead, you can read a book, or listen to soft music to slowly doze off.
  
• It’s good to clean up before your baby’s arrival, but make sure you don’t wear yourself out. Save your energy after childbirth, and take some time out to organise your closet.
  
• Stay active to deal with this week’s pregnancy symptoms. Walk as much as you can and perform Kegels to keep the labour pain reduced. Eat in balance. Drink plenty of water. Get rest as and when you can.
  
• Keep your hospital bags packed and ready. Put your cord blood collection kit inside it.
  
• Don’t miss out on your doctor’s appointment.

Last few weeks and that’s it! You’re ready to go! Just take it easy. 

Hope you’ve enjoyed your pregnancy journey and you will deliver a healthy baby very soon. 

Happy labour and delivery to you!