At 38 weeks pregnant, you’re so close to the finish line! Your baby is almost ready to be born, and as many as a quarter of babies at this point have already been delivered!
Your baby could come at any time now – or he could hold out for a few more weeks. If you haven’t discussed with your doctor yet the possibility of going past 40 weeks, it’s a meaningful conversation to have. Many factors, including your baby’s apparent size, your doctor’s views on going past term, and your distance from the hospital or birthing center, may influence whether your provider prefers to wait for you to go into labor or induce after the 40-week mark.
Your doctor will have completed all the routine tests performed during pregnancy and will have a thorough understanding of your situation.
Your Baby’s Development At 38 Weeks Pregnant
At 38 weeks pregnant, the average fetus is about 19.5 inches long, and may weigh around 7lb, give or take an ounce or two.
For the most part, his development is complete. He could be born today and be ready to face the world. However, for as long as he’s in utero, his brain and lungs continue to develop, and he continues to accumulate that layer of protective fat. So, unless your doctor says otherwise, it’s best if he comes when he’s fully ready.
Your baby should still be active, even though he’s now active in a single position (hopefully head-down) instead of practicing his somersaults. Some women will feel a sensation of the baby “dropping” lower into the pelvis before going into labor, and others will not notice a change.
Mother’s Symptoms At 38 Weeks
Are you watching for signs of labor? Your baby could come at any time now, and some of the signs are less intuitive than others. Meanwhile, you may notice that symptoms like fatigue and heartburn become even more severe!
Weight & Breathing
Some women report that back pain and breathing difficulties ease a bit after the baby ‘drops’ into the pelvis. You still may find that you’re fatigued or that you become overheated easily.
The change in your center of gravity from the baby dropping can also confuse your brain all over again, so continue to be cautious if you feel unsteady.
Swelling, Headaches, Vision Changes – (Possible Preeclampsia)
Some swelling is common in pregnancy. Many women, especially those who do work that involves repetitive wrist motion, like typing, working on assembly lines, or using some types of tools, may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend a wrist brace, pain medication, and the use of heat or cold.
However, some swelling has more severe implications. If you experience sudden and severe swelling, it may be a sign of preeclampsia. Swelling that affects the face or chest, or is more prominent on one side of the body, is a warning sign.
Headaches are a common pregnancy symptom, too, but a very severe headache that doesn’t seem to ease no matter what you do can be a sign of high blood pressure, and you should contact your doctor. Vision changes can also be caused by hypertension and warrant immediate medical attention.
Digestion & Cravings
At 38 weeks pregnant, the simple ability to eat food, enjoy it, and not be uncomfortable afterwards may be one of the things you’re really looking forward to post-delivery!
Thanks to the tight space for your stomach, you may feel full long before you feel satisfied. Try splitting meals up into multiple sittings.
If heartburn and indigestion are causing you trouble, splitting meals up may also help, along with avoiding trigger foods, but it’s also okay to take antacids, as long as they don’t contain aspirin, magnesium trisilicate, or sodium bicarbonate. (Your doctor or pharmacist can confirm which are safe if you’re not sure!)
For constipation, stool softeners are generally considered safe, though your doctor may advise you to try increasing fluid and fiber intake first. Avoid laxatives, since they can cause contractions.
Pain, Cramps, & Contractions
You’ve been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions for months. Now, you are watching for the shift from these to genuine labor contractions. Still, the Braxton Hicks continue — take solace in knowing that they’re preparing your uterine muscles for the real thing!
Labor contractions can feel different in every pregnancy, especially in the early stages. They can feel like severe menstrual cramps, like a painful squeeze of your internal organs, like downward pressure, or even like lower back pain.
The most apparent difference between real labor and Braxton Hicks is that the real thing won’t stop if you hydrate, rest, or change positions. You should be able to time them and recognize a pattern, and they become more intense and frequent over time.
In the meantime, other discomforts and pains of pregnancy, like sciatica (pressure on the sciatic nerve at the base of your spine), round ligament pain (a stabbing sensation in the lower abdomen where the round ligament supports the weight of your uterus), and pelvic girdle pain (in the hips, as your ligaments relax and loosen for labor) can continue through the end of pregnancy.
Some women report that back pain gets a little easier after the baby drops into the pelvis, but it can still stick around until after delivery.
Skin & Breasts
At 38 weeks pregnant, you may leak colostrum before your baby is born. If the leakage is enough to cause dampness and discomfort, consider inserting nursing pads into your bra to protect against thrush and other painful consequences. (You do not want to start your breastfeeding journey with nipples that already hurt!) If you notice any bleeding or cracking of your nipples, speak to your doctor immediately to get medication.
If stretch marks are bothering you, try a mild lotion to increase the elasticity of your skin. This may also reduce any sensation of itching or pulling.
You may notice veins visible under your skin, including spider veins on your arms, legs, chest, or abdomen. These are not usually considered a concern unless there is swelling, pain, or heat. You may also have varicose veins in your legs. Your doctor may recommend elevating your feet, standing for shorter periods of time, or light exercise to treat these.
Mood & Nesting
Not only are you feeling overheated, tired, and sore, but you’re having a rush of all kinds of hormones, and it feels like you’ve been pregnant for such a long time. It’s no wonder you might be a bit moody.
You may feel anxious, irritable, or weepy. You might also be experiencing joy, excitement, and deep abiding love — and you might be swinging back and forth between all these emotions and others!
You might also notice the nesting instinct kicking in. You may suddenly feel like finishing every project you’ve ever started, or getting halfway through a dozen new ones.
If possible, utilize this burst of energy to finish getting ready for baby, but don’t overdo it!
When To Contact Your Doctor
With all of these possible symptoms, how do you know when to call your doctor? You should call anytime that you feel something is wrong, but there are some symptoms you should never ignore.
Labor
When you’re definitely in labor, you’ll call your doctor and head for your hospital or birthing center. However, the big question is, when should you call?
The answer may vary by hospital, doctor, and even your specific pregnancy and conditions, and your travel distance. If you live an hour from the hospital, you’ll want to head out a bit earlier! To obtain a definitive answer, you will need to ask at your next prenatal appointment. However, common recommendations range from heading in once your contractions have been five minutes or less apart for a couple of hours, to once they’re at least every seven minutes for an hour.
However, if your water breaks, it’s time to head for the hospital!
Preeclampsia
There are a few symptoms that can arise between prenatal appointments that may indicate preeclampsia. These include sudden, excessive, or unusual swelling; any swelling that affects the face or chest; severe headaches; and changes in vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, please get in touch with your doctor immediately, as preeclampsia is severe enough to place you in the high-risk pregnancy category.
Decrease In Fetal Movement
If you’re keeping track of kick counts, you may notice when your baby is less active or if their activity seems different. Call your doctor and be prepared to describe how the movements differ from normal. You will likely be asked for a recent kick count, so have your data close!
Other Signs Of Possible Problems
Any signs of infections (UTIs or vaginal), or of thrush or rash or bleeding nipples or breasts merit a quick call. Your doctor may call in meds to your pharmacy rather than scheduling an extra appointment.
Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea should be reported to your doctor. These can be signs of labor, but even if they are from another cause, they can leave you dehydrated and cause your baby distress.
A high fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) can be a sign of an infection or another medical issue, and you should notify your doctor.
Any fainting or loss of consciousness, or any falls, could be serious, and you should contact your doctor.
What Should Mom Be Doing At 38 Weeks Pregnant?
Keep up those kick counts!
If you haven’t discussed with your doctor the point in labor at which you should head to the hospital, you should do so this week. Write down his instructions so you don’t get confused in a moment that can be very overwhelming!
You should also, if you haven’t already, discuss any other specifics for labor, like whether you will be allowed to snack, whether the hospital or birthing center encourages walking during labor, and what your pain management options are.
Finally, if the hospital bag isn’t packed and you haven’t learned to install your car seat in your vehicle, it’s time!
What To Look Forward To
When you’re 38 weeks pregnant, you’re just a few short weeks (if not sooner) away from holding your baby in your arms! You’ll soon be adjusting to postpartum life.