38 weeks pregnant
The 38th week of pregnancy is the period when labor can begin at any moment. As practice shows, at 38 weeks, female babies are most often born, but boys remain in the womb longer and are born at 40 weeks.
The chances of giving birth at 38 weeks are especially high if the woman does not give birth for the first time. No more than 5% of all multiparous pregnant women reach the prescribed 40 weeks. However, babies who are born at 38 weeks gestation are not considered premature.
Content:
- How is childbirth at 38 weeks pregnant
- Ultrasound at 38 weeks of gestation
- What happens to the stomach?
- Features of fetal development
- How much does the expectant mother weigh?
- Sensations at 38 weeks pregnant
- Causes of pain at 38 weeks of gestation
- Which discharge is considered the norm, and which pathology?
- Sex
- What dangers can lie in wait for a woman at 38 weeks pregnant
- Recommendations at week 38
How is childbirth at 38 weeks pregnant
The delivery process at 38 weeks is proceeding as expected.
It consists of three main stages:
- First, the woman has contractions. During this time, the cervix becomes thinner and stretches.
- Then it is necessary to make attempts so that the child begins to move along the birth canal and be born.
- The final stage is the exit of the placenta, or the so-called placenta. This is where the birth ends.
Ultrasound at 38 weeks of gestation
If there is no medical indication, then ultrasound is not done for this period. At this time, the woman has already undergone 3 planned examinations. However, an ultrasound scan can be prescribed, for example, if you suspect that the umbilical cord is entwined around the baby's neck or if it is incorrectly located in the uterus.
What happens to the stomach?
The size of the abdomen at this time increases greatly, and it can be difficult for a woman to even move with such a load. Problems also arise when choosing the most comfortable position of the body during a night's rest. The skin on the abdomen is tight, dry, and may itch.
The navel is flattened, and sometimes even turns outward. You should not worry about such an unaesthetic appearance of the navel, after childbirth everything will return to normal.
At 38 weeks, many women notice that the stomach has dropped down. This is a variant of the norm. It's just that the child is preparing to go out into the light, and his head is pressed closer to the pelvic floor.
Features of fetal development
The child at this time is completely ready for life outside the mother's belly. All organ systems are fully functional. If the woman continues to bear the fetus, then no significant changes in its development will occur. The baby will simply continue to grow in length and gain weight. At this time, the baby weighs 3 kg or more, and his height is on average 50 cm. Every day his body weight increases by another 30 g.
The baby's skin is pink and smooth. Lanugo and vernix were almost completely gone.
The first feces (meconium), which are dead skin cells, have formed in the baby's intestines. As a rule, he comes out after the birth of the child. However, there are situations when the baby empties the intestines while still in the womb. In this case, the amniotic fluid becomes greenish, and the baby itself will be covered with green mucus at birth.
If a woman is carrying a male child, then by this time his testicles have already descended into the scrotum. This is a very important point, therefore, after the crumbs are born, the doctor will definitely check this fact.
How much does the expectant mother weigh?
A lot of time has passed since the moment of conception, and the woman has significantly gained weight. The normal increase by this time is 14-15 kg. If the body weight has increased by more than 15 kg, then labor may be more difficult.
Sensations at 38 weeks pregnant
The woman at this time notices that the child has begun to move less compared to the previous weeks. The fact is that there is very little space in the uterus, so the baby can no longer afford too intense shocks. In addition, the head presentation of the fetus affects.
At 38 weeks, the baby can only turn and make light movements. But the woman will definitely feel these movements. Moreover, they need to be carefully tracked. The number of movements in one day should be at least 10. If they are absent for a long time or their number has significantly decreased, then you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible. This often indicates problems in the child and even a possible threat to his life, which can be quickly eliminated if timely surgical intervention is performed.
At 38 weeks gestation, most women are already expecting an early birth. Some of them feel tired, some are obese and limited in movement. Therefore, many pregnant women are looking forward to the onset of labor.
Abdominal prolapse helps to relieve breathing, improve digestion, and relieve belching and heartburn. After all, the uterus is no longer pressing so hard on the diaphragm and stomach.
Causes of pain at 38 weeks of gestation
Unpleasant and even painful sensations that arise at the end of pregnancy are quite natural.
- Lumbar pain is the result of ligaments and joints relaxing. This process helps prepare the birth canal for the upcoming event. In addition, the center of gravity shifts due to the increased body weight of the child. Therefore, back pain can be quite intense.
- The pelvic bones also experience increased stress, because the child at this time is already firmly pressed against the pelvic floor. This provokes the appearance of pain in the area of the pubic articulation.
- Pain localized in the sacrum area is provoked by compression of the femoral nerve, which is located next to the uterus.
- Painful sensations in the calves can occur due to a lack of calcium in the woman's body.
- Sometimes pains are of the type of contractions, but these contractions may not be real, but false (not to be confused with Braxton-Higgs contractions, which are painless). False contractions will be characterized by pain and increased frequency. In order to eliminate them, you need to walk around the apartment or change the position of the body. If the contractions are really false, then they will stop.
Also, at 38 weeks of gestation, a woman may experience slight edema, which is a variant of the norm. At the same time, the woman's well-being should not worsen. If the swelling is severe, and there are also symptoms of malaise such as: headaches, double vision, diarrhea, then you should call an ambulance. As a rule, such signs indicate preeclampsia - this is gestosis, accompanied by impaired cerebral circulation.
Which discharge is considered the norm, and which pathology?
Discharge at 38 weeks gestation is always present. Normally, they have a milky color, a uniform consistency, and a slight sour smell is possible.
Do not panic if mucus is present in the discharge. The fact is that at such a late stage of pregnancy, the uterus becomes soft and can slightly open. This explains the presence of mucus in the secretions.
The early onset of labor is indicated by the passage of the mucous plug. In this case, the discharge becomes stretching and thick streaks of blood are present in them. Sometimes the mucus has a pink tint.
Most often, the plug goes away exactly at 38 weeks of gestation, although this may happen a week earlier or a week later.
A deviation from the norm is the appearance of cheesy discharge. It is necessary to see a doctor immediately if there is pus or flakes in the discharge, or if an unpleasant odor appears. Such discharge indicates the addition of an infection, which requires competent treatment.
Bloody discharge at 38 weeks requires an immediate call to the ambulance. Blood most often indicates placental abruption. Blood can also appear as a result of placenta previa. However, if a woman has been seen by a doctor, then presentation should be excluded. Placental abruption is a serious complication that threatens the life of the fetus. Even minor bloody discharge should not be ignored, because severe bleeding can begin at any time.
Turbid discharge of a liquid consistency indicates the discharge of water. This is a clear signal that you need to go to the hospital. Water flows away before the approaching birth, or due to the thinning of the placenta wall. In any case, a woman needs medical help.
Sex
Having sex at 38 weeks of gestation is a controversial point. Of course, an intimate life will bring pleasure to a woman, and the level of the hormone of joy will increase in the body. Also, sex helps to increase blood circulation in the small pelvis, which means that the placenta will be enriched with oxygen.
However, at such a late date, the uterus becomes very sensitive, and the birth canal opens slightly. Therefore, having sex can damage the cervix and cause minor bleeding.
Having sex at 38 weeks of gestation may end in labor. This is a natural way to provoke childbirth, but you can resort to it only after consulting a doctor.
What dangers can lie in wait for a woman at 38 weeks pregnant
Preeclampsia is one of the most dangerous conditions that requires an immediate ambulance call. Preeclampsia is indicated by severe swelling, dizziness, surges in blood pressure, diarrhea.
If a woman experiences severe pains in the lower abdomen, which resemble electric shocks, then it is worth going to the hospital. As a rule, such sensations are a sure sign of the onset of labor. They arise for the reason that the child began to move along the birth canal, while he touches the nerve endings.
Recommendations at week 38
- Even the same woman cannot have the same course of pregnancy. Therefore, do not worry that the last time was somehow different. Moreover, if the state of health is not disturbed.
- It is important to eat foods fortified with calcium. It can be fish or cottage cheese. After consulting your doctor, you can try to replenish your calcium stores with eggshells.
- Don't stop drinking vitamins.
- A woman should rest as much as possible, but it is not recommended to lie on her back.
- It is important that close relatives help with the household. They must take on some of the responsibilities of a pregnant woman.
- The time remaining before delivery should be devoted to studying information on how to handle a newborn baby, what he needs to purchase, etc.
The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist
Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.
