38 Weeks of Pregnancy – Complete Gestation Step By Step

From Body Carre we are going to see two pregnancies of two friends, from two different perspectives and countries, one from Latin America and the other from Spain. I hope you like it and see if you are able to find those little differences.

At 38 weeks gestation, the baby has vernix, it is a layer of fat that covers his body, but now it begins to diminish and he will probably be born with some remains, but much less compared to what he had previously. So little, that you probably don’t even realize they have it when they are born!

The baby’s movements are getting smaller and stronger due to its size in the womb, but it is still normal for you to feel it move around 10 times during the day. If you go a long time without feeling it, see your doctor for verification and a cardiologist will examine the baby’s heartbeat.

Your baby, at 38 weeks pregnant, is about 49 centimeters tall and weighs about 3 kg . The longer you spend in the uterus, the more you will gain weight. Sure, this will happen if the placenta is still healthy and nutritious in the way it should. This fact begins to diminish with the proximity of the birth, when the placenta will come out and stop its function completely.

The internal sensations of the mother in the 38th week of pregnancy

The anxiety is a thousand with the wait for the big day! The pain is intense, the physical fatigue is very great and there are many women who suffer from a lot of swelling in this last stage of pregnancy. Training contractions are common at this time and tightening of the abdomen can be somewhat uncomfortable and scary for new mothers.

If the mother has not been tested for strep during pregnancy, at 38 weeks gestation is a good time to do so, since the treatment for this infection would be a dose of antibiotics the day before delivery to prevent the baby from is infected at birth. Difficulty lying down, urinary frequency, acne, bloating… sorry, all of this won’t go away until the baby is born. The contractions are visible and can be more frequent now, just be careful with the pain and if you notice a white discharge, it is also normal that you feel pain in the lower abdomen. Pay attention, to these pains, the urinary infection is harmful and can occur at any stage of pregnancy.

The kicks and pushes are no longer so frequent and do not worry if the closer the birth is, the less you feel them, this is due to the lack of space inside the uterus. The famous waves in the stomach are much more evident in this fortnight. Enjoy making videos to treasure these moments and show them to your children when they grow up. It is a unique and unforgettable moment!

Sensations and external factors in the 38th week of pregnancy

My God, what anxiety! You start to imagine all sorts of crazy symptoms that could signal that labor is near, don’t you? Worry may not allow you to identify the true moment in which labor begins and you want to go to the maternity ward to every little thing that happens to see if everything is okay, but believe me, when the moment comes you will know, because everything is different from what you have ever lived in this life!

If you feel a sensation similar to lightning that travels up and down your legs (and even your vagina), you have no reason to be scared. At 38 weeks pregnant, your baby will probably feel very low in your pelvis, which means that they are tripping over all kinds of nerves, including some super sensitive ones that you might not know you had. As you try to understand and work around this new discomfort, you are on the lookout for signs of labor in week 38 of pregnancy, including contractions that come with greater force, at more regular intervals, and of course, the “bloody show. It happens any day from now or it may not be for a few weeks. Until then, try to relax a bit.

How big is the baby at 38 weeks pregnant?

At 38 weeks pregnant, the baby is as big as a winter melon. Your baby is about 19.6 inches long, and his head is the same circumference as his abdomen. Average baby weight at 38 weeks is 6.8 pounds. Sounds a lot like a birth weight, doesn’t it?

38 weeks pregnant is how many months?

38 weeks pregnant is eight months and about two weeks. You are about to go through the last leg of your pregnancy.

Symptoms of pregnancy at week 38

Common 38-week pregnancy symptoms intensify at this stage of pregnancy. You are a mom with a big belly, where your baby is practically ready to arrive and your body is preparing for the day of birth (that is the day of delivery). Here are the symptoms that noticeably affect your body in week 38 of gestation:

  • At 38 weeks pregnant, you can expect contractions to start. Although `you may have had them for a few weeks already, or you may be beginning to notice that you have some cramps or tightening of your belly. If your contractions are not very painful and disappear when you change your position, this means that you still have false or practice contractions.
  • Problems for Maybe you have a feeling of anxiety or maybe it’s aches and pains. But for you who are surely too tired, it is quite difficult to get a good night’s rest and relaxation.
  • Increased vaginal secretion Soon you will start to notice some plasmas of a thick mucous substance in this week. This unpleasant vaginal discharge is called a mucus plug and its presence is totally normal. It is released as the cervix dilates in preparation for delivery. Every bit of the mucus plug brings you much closer to the time of delivery.
  • Itching in the belly. Your 38 weeks pregnant tummy practically stretches as far as it can go, so it makes sense to make it more sensitive. Hydration can help you in this regard – at this point in your pregnancy you may want to switch to a sturdy moisturizer like pure shea butter and remember to drink plenty of water. What is not normal is a skin rash, so notify your OB if you have one.
  • Swollen feet and ankles You’re already 38 weeks pregnant, so basically you already have the perfect excuse to put your feet and ankles to rest, as much as possible. Take frequent walks to keep your blood circulating and reduce swelling.
  • The anxiety. It is normal for anxiety to be one of the constant symptoms in this week of pregnancy. This is simply the feeling that you are ready to have your baby. It could be even stronger if you have gained a significant amount of weight in pregnancy, if you have any complications or are 38 weeks pregnant with twins. Try to keep your mind busy with different activities. Enjoy a movie, prepare a special dinner to share with your partner or if you prefer you can share a lunch with some friends. These are their last days or weeks before the newborn fully occupies your attention, so enjoy as much as possible.

Signs of labor in week 38 of pregnancy

At 38 weeks pregnant, they may start to feel some signs of labor. Some of these early signs that may appear early at work include:

  • Plug of mucus or mucus plug. You may have a discharge that is thick, similar to mucus (the mucous plug), and may have a bit of blood in it. This signals that your cervix is ​​beginning to dilate in preparation for the birth.
  • Diarrhea At 38 weeks pregnant, diarrhea could be caused by a spicy food you ate or it could be a sign that hormones are working in your body, preparing it for the time when your baby arrives.
  • Sickness. During 38 weeks of pregnancy you may have nausea. Although this symptom does not occur in many women around the time of delivery, you may feel a little dizzy before labor begins.
  • Contractions At 38 weeks gestation, contractions may be frequent on a typical day, or you may not have noticed any yet. But you should know that if at 38 weeks pregnant you feel your belly tight at regular intervals and they don’t stop, then most likely you are in the early stage of labor. Painful contractions that are closer together (about five minutes apart), mean you should get to the hospital immediately.
  • Sore back. You can have pain in your back from now or weeks before week 38. But this week back pain is sudden or intense, this can be a sign of labor; so it is time to contact your doctor, if you experience this symptom.
  • Rupture of the source or bag of water. If you feel a trickle of water, it means that the amniotic sac has ruptured and fluid is leaking. Labor usually begins very soon after a woman’s water breaks, so contact your obstetrician if you have this symptom, when you are 38 weeks pregnant.

At 38 weeks pregnant, inducing labor may be medically necessary if you have a complication such as pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes, a uterine infection, or a placental problem. Otherwise, if you are 38 weeks pregnant with twins or if you are experiencing bleeding at 38 weeks pregnant, your doctor might say “It’s time!” This may cause you a bit of panic, since you thought you were still two weeks old, but don’t worry because everything will be fine. We can never be 100% ready (well, maybe you are one of those women who make it to week 42), both you and the baby are in good hands while under the care of your Obstetrician and pediatrician.

Remember that at 38 weeks pregnant, inducing labor naturally is not recommended, the baby generally needs a little more time indoors, and some methods are not considered safe. So if you want to try to stimulate labor yourself, check with your doctor first and wait at least another week for the baby to come “to term.”

Ultrasound at week 38 of pregnancy

Inside your 38 week pregnant belly, the baby may have about an inch or less of hair. Your baby is slowly shedding that white stuff on his skin (remember, that thing called vernix caseosa). But you might see something of her at birth.

You’re looking at your obstetrician’s weekly now, so you’ll have an appointment this week. At these weekly appointments, your doctor will check that the baby is in a head-down position, in addition to seeing if the head has moved down in the pelvic area. You should also prepare for a pelvic exam, which will check for dilation (opening) and removal (thinning) of the cervix, both signs that your body is preparing for delivery. Unfortunately, there is no standard when it comes to predicting work, based on dilation or elimination. If you’ve started, it could be hours or weeks. But even if you’re not dilating at all, you could still go into labor. Ah, the unexpectedness of childbirth!

If your doctor wants a more detailed check-up of the baby, he or she may order a 38 weeks pregnant ultrasound as part of a biophysical profile. As part of the profile, your baby’s breathing, movement, muscle tone, heart rate, and amniotic fluid will be recorded. In some cases, the result of the biophysical profile could lead your doctor to decide to deliver the baby before your due date.

Considerations regarding pregnancy at week 38

  • Schedule your prenatal visit for week 39.
  • Learn a little about breastfeeding.
  • Cook and freeze some foods for the first few days after delivery.
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Kathie Sand always saw the world of beauty as the terrain on which to build her professional career, a goal that was clear to her when she was only 15 years old. Her great concern to expand knowledge led her to settle in Paris where she studied hand in hand with the best beauty professionals and with the most advanced techniques for skin care.

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