THIRTY-EIGHT weeks pregnant?
Oh my, how fast time flies. It feels like it just yesterday that the doctor told you that you are going to be Mummy and Daddy?
Anyway, when you are 38 weeks pregnant, that means you only have two weeks before you meet your little bean.
So, let us see how things go for the rest of the week!
How Big Is My Baby?
At this point, you can compare his size to a bunch of rhubarb. He should weigh about 3.2kg and reach 48-51cm from crown to rump.
He is no longer tiny and he is almost able to make his debut in two weeks or four weeks, the max.
Baby’s Development During 38 Weeks Pregnant
Even though your due date has not yet arrived because there will still be 2 weeks, but there is a chance you will have preterm labour.
When you are expecting twins or more, your body may begin to display signs of preterm labour.
For your information, only 4% of mothers have their babies on the exact day of their due date
So, you should be prepared by now!
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Brain and Liver’s Progress
Since he is about to make his grand entrance, he is extremely busy creating and preparing himself for that ‘event.’
His brain and liver are showing signs of positive development and are almost completely prepared, indicating that he will be a genius soon. His brain is growing in size as well!
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Bowel’s Progress
Once he is born later, the first activity his bowel can do is process a substance known as meconium. When he is in the womb, he is made from waste materials such as dead skin cells and lanugo.
His first poop is normally sticky and greenish-black in colour. This would be your first time changing his diaper.
What Does My Body Look Like?
38 weeks do not represent 9 months and 2 weeks as it would be in a normal calendar. You are probably in your ninth or tenth month of pregnancy right now.
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Weight gain
A pregnant woman can gain 12-15kg on average over the phase of her pregnancy.
Aside from that, your belly is still expanding, which can make it difficult for you to sleep at night because it can be uncomfortable at times.
Normal weight gain is determined by the woman’s BMI at the start of her pregnancy. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9, whereas obesity is defined as a BMI greater than 30.
>Average weight gain in pregnancy for women with normal BMI is 12-15kg.
>While for underweight women, the normal weight gain should be between 12 and 18kg
>Those who are overweight should gain less weight, averaging 7-11kg.
>While for an obese woman, it should be even lower, at about 5-9kg during the pregnancy.
If you are worried about gaining weight, do not push yourself to skip meals; instead, eat a well-balanced diet and engage in some light exercise.
It will not only help you burn calories, but it can also help you lose weight. However, there are some Mummies who have difficulty doing the exercises.
You should then practise breathing techniques. It has many advantages, such as relieving tension and assisting you in handling pain and discomfort when you are in the labour room soon.
Symptoms That You Will Face During 38 Weeks Pregnant
At this moment, the symptoms that have been happening to you in the previous weeks will keep attacking you.
Just bear with them, they are about to end very soon! Hang in there!
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Frequent urination
As we all know, when your pregnancy is nearing its end, your baby is heading down to your pelvic area, putting extra pressure on your bladder. Continue to drink plenty of water, even if it means being a “top fan” of a toilet.
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Pelvic pressure
This is very common, especially towards the end of the third trimester.
Since your body is releasing a hormone called relaxin, which softens your ligaments, muscles, and joints in preparation for childbirth, your pelvic area, including the bladder and hips, will feel pressure.
Avoid standing on your feet for long periods; massages or soaking your feet in warm water can help greatly.
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Swollen ankles and feet
When your body produces extra fluid than normal, your ankles and feet swell, a condition known as oedema.
To minimise this, it is recommended that you drink plenty of water in order to eliminate excess fluid in your body by urination.
Aside from that, wearing loose clothing and comfortable shoes will help you combat this problem.
If you notice swelling on your face or hands, please contact your doctor right away, this could be a symptom of preeclampsia.
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Nausea
Image from Adobe Stock
You may have experienced nausea in the past due to an increase in hormone levels during your early pregnancy, but it is possible that you may feel it again now.
As this symptom reappears in your last trimester, it might be a warning that your baby’s due date is approaching.
Please keep in mind that even if you are nauseated and have no appetite, you should still eat, but in smaller portions.
Foods that are bland, such as bananas and toast, will help you deal with this.
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Contractions
Braxton Hicks contractions will strike you back to back and irregularly as ‘the time’ approaches.
You can be perplexed as to which contractions are genuine. For your information, true contractions occur at regular intervals and have extra intensity and density.
Labour contractions frequently begin from the back and progress to the front of your abdomen.
Ask your doctor or experienced mums for more information about how to tell the difference between the practise and the real thing!
Your Bucket-To-Do List
If you have not packed your hospital bag yet, you can, need, and must do so right now (you are already 38 weeks pregnant!).
Create a list of the essentials for that bag and double-check it. Include a phone charger or power bank, as well as toiletries.
Do not forget to bring a car seat for your little one!!
Additional Tips For 38 Weeks Pregnant
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Do research on pain relief during labour
Pain during labour is indescribable, and you will most likely need pain relievers later. Do you know there are several forms of drugs to choose from? As an example:
- analgesic – lessen the pain
- anaesthetic – stop the pain
- epidural – provide prolonged relief from pain
Even if you conduct research and consider which medications you prefer, there is no place for you to make a decision.
During your appointment, you will discuss this with your doctor, and she will determine what is best for you.
Those taking childbirth classes should be familiar with the Lamaze, Bradley, and Read methods. These are examples of comfort techniques that can help you to manage the pain during your labour.