38th week of pregnancy
What you need to know about the 38th week of pregnancy
You may feel some discomfort and anxiety during these last weeks of pregnancy. But try to stay as calm as possible, get enough rest
Also, the rest of this week’s symptoms will be much the same as before –
- Feeling of sudden abdominal tightness as a result of contractions of the uterine muscles (Braxton-Hicks contraction) ,
Sleep problems - Stretch Marks
- Swelling or bleeding gums,
- Abdominal pain,
- Problems with piles or sudden onset of this problem,
- In some cases mild bleeding from the nose,
- Flatulence and constipation,
- Indigestion,
- Chest pain when pressed,
- Leg pain,
- Feeling uncomfortable or shortness of breath in mild or slightly hot weather,
- Dizziness or headache,
- Watery or swollen limbs,
- Inflammation or infection of the urinary tract ,
- Vaginal infections, and menstrual infections
- Spots on the skin of the face or other parts of the body.
Things to look out for
Complications called ‘pre-eclampsia’ can occur towards the end of pregnancy. The higher the blood pressure during pregnancy, the higher the risk of this complication. You can read our related article to know about this condition .
Find out which symptoms start after labor
pains Consult your doctor or health worker at the nearest health center to know more about labor pains and delivery preparations. Let family members know where and how the delivery will take place. Take care of everything you need during childbirth, such as loose clothing made of thin cotton cloth, healthy dry food, baby clothes, diapers, etc.
How the fetus is growing
By 38 weeks the baby is about 49.6 cm tall and weighs about 3 kg.
In the middle of the pregnancy, the baby’s skin, which was covered by the fur called ‘lanugo’, is already completely gone. However, in some cases, even after birth, some fur can be seen scattered on the baby’s body
During this time some greenish sticky substance builds up inside the baby’s digestive tract, called ‘meconium’. Basically, the meconium is formed by the accumulation of amniotic fluid or fur, etc., which it swallows while inside the womb. It comes out of the body as the first stool after the baby is born However, if the baby defecates for the first time during delivery, it can be a cause for concern and then your newborn may need to be closely monitored.
