You are closing in on your big day, mum! You must be so excited to meet your little bundle of joy. As for week 38 of your pregnancy, expect to really feel your baby move around as he grows rapidly in your belly. Read on to know what more to expect this month.
How Big is Your Baby?
Your baby is now the size of a leek, weighing 3.1 kg and measuring 46.8 cm. They have more fat under their skin and looks plumper now than in the previous weeks.
Your Baby’s Development
In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, you’ll learn that:
- While most of your baby’s organ systems may be fully developed and in place by now, their lungs have yet to reach maturity. In fact, even when born, it will take a while for them to develop a normal breathing pattern.
- Your baby’s nails have been growing and now have reached the ends of their teeny tiny fingers and toes.
- Your baby’s eyes can be light-coloured right now, but they will gain more pigment months after they’re born. Safe to say, you’ll know their real eye colour by the time they turn a year old.
- Lanugo, the fine hair that covers your baby’s skin to keep them warm inside your womb is starting to shed, preparing for life outside the womb.
Pregnancy Symptoms
- Chances are your feet and ankles are swollen. However, if you experience swelling in your hands and face or if you experience puffiness around your eyes, immediately call your doctor.
- You must be wary of preeclampsia symptoms which include severe headaches, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, and intense abdominal pain. Should you experience any of these symptoms, immediately call your doctor or rush to the hospital.
- At week 38 of pregnancy, your breasts may begin leaking colostrum, a thin yellowish liquid that is the precursor to breast milk. Colostrum is packed with antibodies to protect your newborn from infections. It has more protein, less fat, and less sugar than the breast milk that arrives later.
- Your legs and the vaginal area will begin to feel uncomfortable as your baby makes his way down your pelvis and pushes against some of your nerves. It’s also more likely that you are peeing more often than usual. Not to worry, this will just happen for a few week more.
- You may be having heavier vaginal discharge. You can also be leaking amniotic fluid now. Also watch out for a clear, yellow or brown glob of mucus that’s been corking your cervix throughout your pregnancy – that’s your mucus plug and an indication that labour is coming very soon.
- You may or may not be having contractions at this time. This is why it’s really important to learn how to tell real contractions from Braxton Hicks contractions.
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Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist For Week 38 of Pregnancy
- If your breasts are leaking colostrum, place nursing pads in your bra to protect your clothes. On the other hand, even if you do not experience leakage, colostrum is still being produced in your breasts as it is the nutrition that your baby will need when you breastfeed.
- Double-check your list of what your nursery needs. Ensure that you have everything you need before the baby comes.
- Shop for your breast pump if you intend to express milk. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to buy the perfect one. Do also buy breast pads and nursing bras.
- Continuously monitoring your baby’s movement and timing your contractions is vital in knowing your baby’s situation inside and knowing when it’s almost time to give birth.
Your next week: 39 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 37 weeks pregnant
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
