You’re 38 weeks pregnant, and that means your baby is almost here! You are dealing with a lot of things right now in preparing for the birth. When you’re not busy doing that, you are playing a waiting game that keeps you feeling anxious about every little cramp and twinge. When you are 38 weeks pregnant, there are plenty of symptoms to deal with, too.
What Are the Pregnancy Symptoms at 38 Weeks?
At this point, you are probably feeling very uncomfortable. Your baby is big enough to be delivered any day now, and that means there is very little room for him or her to move around inside you. It also means that those little elbows, knees and head are pushing into your ribs, spine, lungs and everywhere else. Simply getting comfortable for a nap right now is a big challenge!
You are dealing with all the things that have started to plague you over the last several weeks, such as leaking colostrums from your breasts, stretch marks, aches and pains, shortness of breath, and many other things that tell you the baby is on its way very soon.
How Does Your Baby Grow When You're 38 Weeks Pregnant?
Your baby is much bigger now! In fact, he or she is as long as a leek, about 19 inches or so, and weighs an average of six to seven pounds. If your baby were born right now, it would survive outside the womb. That means that the lungs and heart and other organs are developed, the limbs are strong and ready to move, organs have matured and it’s almost time to hear that first sweet cry when the baby is born.
Just about the only thing that isn’t certain yet is the eye color. When your baby is born, those pretty eyes might be brown or blue, but that could change over the coming weeks. By the time your baby is nine months old, you will know the true eye color.
Want to learn more about what your baby looks like right now? This video can help:
How Does Your Life Change When You're 38 Weeks Pregnant?
Life is about to change in too many ways to count. These next few weeks are a waiting game, so take this time to do the last-minute things that you really need to do, such as decorating the nursery or wrapping things up at your workplace. You can also take some time for yourself right now, because it will be in very short supply once the baby is born. Taking time out with your partner is always a good idea; enjoy a movie, have a quiet dinner and just enjoy yourselves!
What About Exercises at 38 Weeks Pregnancy?
Exercise is definitely recommended for most women with a healthy pregnancy, even during the last few weeks. But keep in mind that the shape you are in at the beginning of the pregnancy has a great deal to do with how much you can exercise at the end. Things like running and yoga might have to be modified as you grow heavier.
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Descriptions |
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Walking and gentle stretching |
You might find that your size makes exercise uncomfortable, so many women resort to things like walking and gentle stretching during those last few weeks. |
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The rate of perceived exertion |
Using something called the “rate of perceived exertion” might help. This means that you focus on exercises that are between “somewhat hard” and “rather light”. This means that no exercise is not recommended, and neither are very hard exercises that leave you out of breath and with a pounding heart. |
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Avoid injury |
The most important thing to remember is that you need to stay comfortable, don’t indulge in any exercise that could lead to injury and focus on exercises that can help your body get through labor and delivery, such as long stretches and strength building. |
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Talk to your doctor |
But also keep in mind that your doctor has the final say in what kind of exercises you do. If you are on bed rest, for example, no exercise is going to be recommended. But if you are very healthy, your doctor might be okay with you doing a limited amount of physical exertion during the day. |
More Tips on 38 Weeks Pregnancy
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Tips |
Descriptions |
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Build up your knowledge |
When you are 38 weeks pregnant, work on building up your knowledge. You have read everything there is to know about pregnancy, so now you should be reading about what it is like to have a newborn at home. Learn everything you can from books and brochures, watch videos that help you figure out what to do with that lovely new child, and talk to your partner about all of them. |
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Prepare for breastfeeding |
You can also start to prepare for breastfeeding by joining a local La Leche League, talk to other moms about their experiences, and gather plenty of resources for healthy, easy breastfeeding. Make sure you have a lactation consultant around after the delivery, too. |
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Make a birth plan |
Speaking of delivery, make sure that your plans for labor are made clear. A birth plan should have been filed with your doctor or midwife by now, and you should have taken a tour of the hospital where you will give birth. Now is the time to ask plenty of questions and make informed decisions about what you want the birth experience to be like. |
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Learn the labor process |
Finally, speak with your doctor about what to expect in the labor and delivery. You might be having early labor pains that aren’t really labor at all; what should you do when this happens? You might need some form of fetal monitoring. You might also notice many pre-labor things happening soon, and you need to know how to respond. Talk to your doctor now so that there aren’t as many surprises later. |
