Learn what’s happening in week 38 of pregnancy and find out how your baby is developing.
At 38 weeks, you feel and look like a ripe peach and every single pain can seem like the start of labor. It’s common to feel impatient and anxious at this stage, but remember that your baby will arrive when he/she is ready.
Your little one is the size of a winter melon and is producing surfactant, which will help him/her take those first breaths.
What Happens in Your Body in Pregnancy Week 38?
Your due date is only two weeks away and just as your baby is preparing for the outside world, at 38 weeks your body is also getting ready for the big day.
One of the greatest things occurring this week is that the common symptoms of pregnancy like heartburn and indigestion are going away due to the baby dropping lower in your abdomen.
This also allows more space for the lungs to stretch, relieving the symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pain.
But the pressure on your bladder doubles which can lead to frequent urination, one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy at 38 weeks.
Changes in Your Body at 38 Weeks Pregnant
Many expectant mothers find that their breasts begin to leak colostrum in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Colostrum is the thin yellowish liquid known as the first breast milk. Colostrum contains antibodies that protect your baby and has more protein and less sugar and fat than the breast milk that will arrive later.
If you find this leakage uncomfortable, you can wear nursing pads in your bra to protect your clothing. Even though this is one of the normal pregnancy symptoms at 38 weeks, not all women experience leakage of colostrum.
Braxton Hicks contractions can become more frequent and intense in the 38th week of pregnancy. You may experience these false contractions off and on throughout the day and you may notice clear to white vaginal discharge as your cervix begin to thin or stretch (efface).
Your Baby at 38 Week of Pregnancy
Your little one now weighs around seven pounds and is about 21 inches long. Vernix and lanugo continue to shed from the baby’s body into the amniotic fluid.
Baby’s lungs continue to mature and produce more surfactant, the substance that prevents the air sacs in the lungs from sticking together once your little one starts to breathe.
Your baby’s internal organs and systems are fully developed by now and his/her skin tone is getting closer to the color he/she will be at birth. You may find that your baby’s movements may slow down because there isn’t enough room to move around much.
Pregnancy Week 38 Tips
The end of your pregnancy is near which may leave you feeling anxious and exhausted. If you’re feeling tired just listen to your body and get lots of rest.
Avoid spicy foods to reduce heartburn and indigestion. Eat light foods instead of heavy meals to relieve nausea and queasiness. Light exercise can help when it comes to back pain, leg cramps, and abdominal pain.
Don’t forget your pelvic floor exercises. They will improve your bladder control and stop the leakage of urine.
