38 weeks of pregnancy: what happens to the fetus and the expectant mother?

The excitement you feel at 38 weeks of pregnancy intensifies as you approach the birth of your child. Your child is almost completely developed and prepared for birth at this point. The last week before delivery is approaching, and both you and your child are undergoing major changes.

The majority of the fetus’s organs and systems are developed; they are only putting the finishing touches on them. The lungs of your infant are almost fully formed, and it’s possible that they’re even practicing breathing. Their nervous system and brain are maturing, readying them for life beyond the womb.

This week may present both opportunities and difficulties for you. Your body may become more uncomfortable as it gets ready to go into labor. Braxton Hicks contractions, which are your body’s method of preparing for the big event, may become more frequent. Stay in close contact with your healthcare provider and watch for any signs of labor.

In general, week 38 is a period of waiting and preparation. Prior to meeting your new arrival, cherish these final moments and take care of yourself. Your baby is ready for their big debut into the world; the journey is almost over.

Aspect	Description
Fetus development	The baby is around 19-20 inches long and weighs about 6-7 pounds. Most of the body"s systems are fully developed, and the lungs are ready to breathe outside air.
Mother"s body	The mother may feel more pressure in the pelvic area as the baby moves into position for birth. Contractions might become more frequent, and the body is preparing for labor.
Fetus movements	Although there is less room for the baby to move, you may still feel kicks and stretches. Movements should still be regular and strong.
Mother"s symptoms	Fatigue, back pain, and trouble sleeping are common at this stage. Some women experience nesting instincts, feeling the urge to prepare for the baby’s arrival.

How many months is this?

Even the expectant mother herself becomes a little confused when calculating the period during a lengthy pregnancy. She can’t immediately recall how many months it is in the regular calendar because she gets used to the fact that the countdown is based on obstetric standards.

Remember that the obstetric period is the fetus’s actual duration plus an additional two weeks.

As a result, the computation starts on the first day of menstruation before conception.

What the baby has become?

At 38 weeks, the baby is ready to be born. Fully developed, he has gained weight in recent months and, like his mother, is now waiting for the "go-ahead" from her body to start his journey into the outside world.

Size and weight of the fetus

Ultrasonography uses mathematical formulas embedded in the scanning device program to estimate the fetus’s weight. Babies weigh roughly 3 kg on average, with wide variations, at 38 weeks of gestation.

Some newborns weigh as much as 3100 grams, while other small children are barely over 2800 grams in weight. Males are marginally heavier than females. Hereditary features of appearance are already apparent at this point: if the parents are thin and short, the child will not be able to brag of a large weight; if the parents are large, the baby weighs more.

At 38 weeks, the child’s height is getting close to 50 centimeters. This measurement is also average because some children measure 56 centimeters at 38 weeks of age, while other babies are only 48 centimeters tall from the back of their heads to their heels.

At this point, ultrasound will display the following fetometric markers:

• biparietal size of the head on average – 94 mm;
• frontal-occipital size – 118 mm;
• length of the femur – 75 mm;
• chest diameter – 101 mm.

In the event that the baby is not yet born, it will grow, albeit more slowly than in the earlier weeks.

Nervous system

The nervous system is still actively developing at this point. Since the nervous system is the only one in the human body whose development continues after the intrauterine phase, it will not be finished after birth. Although the structure of the brain and spinal cord is fully formed physiologically, new neuromuscular impulses and neural connections form on a daily basis.

The infant already possesses over 70 reflexive reflexes, which are designed by nature to help them survive. The baby’s reflexes for sucking, gripping, and swallowing are at their best.

He will show them off right away after birth.

At this age, the child has also learned to control his limbs; his arms and legs are entirely under the control of his brain, neither moving nor thrashing around involuntarily.

The infant is very sentimental. He can tell the difference between sounds that are familiar and unfamiliar, feel joy, peace, worry, and worry about your mother. For a woman, emotional regulation is crucial during this period.

Movements

The standard for movement at 38 weeks of pregnancy is still exactly the same as it was before: the expectant mother should record at least 10 crumbs in a 12-hour period. Nonetheless, a lot of mothers observe that the infant gets "lazy," clumsy, and moves less frequently.

In fact, because the baby takes up nearly the entire uterus, there is essentially no room left for "maneuvers," so he can no longer move as briskly and joyfully as he did before.

Women have also complained this week about their sons’ or daughters’ painful movements. This is also not unusual; as the amniotic fluid level drops, the body’s natural "shock absorber" also vanishes. As a result, the baby now comes into direct contact with the uterine walls when it moves, which can occasionally give women uncomfortable feelings.

An urgent, unplanned visit to the doctor is warranted if there is no movement for four to five hours or if there are active, painful, sharp movements that essentially do not go away for two to three hours.

The baby can communicate with his mother through his movements when something is wrong, such as not getting enough oxygen or an entangled umbilical cord.

Organs and systems

The accumulation of surfactant, a unique material that keeps the alveoli from adhering to one another, in the lungs of the developing fetus is the primary event of the 38th week of pregnancy. The baby’s lungs won’t adhere to one another when he exhales for the first time because of the surfactant.

The remaining systems and organs are fully prepared to function independently outside of the mother’s body. The mother’s heartbeat is slower than the pumping heart’s, but this is perfectly normal.

The vessels can dilate and widen to accommodate variations in blood flow. Because the baby swallows up to 300 milliliters of amniotic fluid every day, the small stomach functions efficiently.

The first feces, or the original, rich green meconium, are stored in the intestines.

On the first day following delivery, the meconium will pass through the body, causing the intestines to function under novel circumstances. The baby urinates every hour and a half due to the kidneys and bladder functioning like a clockwork system. The pancreas, liver, spleen, and gallbladder all perform their direct functions to the fullest.

Sensory organs

At 38 weeks, the baby’s sensory organs are fully formed. The infant is able to hear and enjoys listening to everything that is put in front of him. He is alert to sharp noises, unpleasant in timbre and volume, like the slamming of a door, and is familiar with the voices of his parents and can distinguish them from a lot of other voices.

The infant has a variety of ways to express his displeasure with what he has heard. Everything in this situation is dependent on the baby’s character, which he can already display. A few people become silent and try to "hide" when they hear unfamiliar noises, while others become very angry and move to express their feelings.

The infant is still blind. To be more exact, he is not able to see as we do. However, he can discriminate between light and dark, day and night, and general contours with perfect clarity.In the initial months following birth, he will also "sharpen" his vision’s focus and clarity. At this age, many babies follow their own daily schedule for when they wake up and go to sleep. Expectant moms typically have a good understanding of their baby’s schedule by the 38th week.

The baby’s taste buds are flawless, but his smells are still unreachable since he does not yet have nasal breathing. He is able to detect the taste of amniotic fluid with ease. When the mother has consumed sweet food, he starts to swallow it more vigorously, and when she has eaten garlic, he swallows it less vigorously and displays adult-style disgust.

At 38 weeks, the baby’s sense of touch has solidified into an "A." During the first few days after birth, the baby’s primary method of learning about the world will be tactile; physical touch, which he has been accustomed to for nine months, will reassure him even in confusing and frightening situations.

Metabolism and immunity

The infant has a quick metabolism and quick metabolic processes. At 38 weeks, the placenta is still the primary organ responsible for providing all necessary nourishment. It hasn’t started to age actively yet.

The placenta typically reaches the third maturity level, but some women’s "baby’s place" stays at the borderline between two and three degrees of maturity.

All of the components required for the baby’s growth and development—vitamins, minerals, oxygen from the mother’s blood—are delivered through the uterine vessels, through the placenta, and back into the mother’s blood through the uterine vessels as metabolic products like carbon dioxide and toxins. The pregnant woman’s liver and kidneys will have to "dispose" of them.

Although the baby’s immune system is developed and functional, its defenses are still quite low. The so-called innate maternal immunity, which the mother passes on to the unborn child through her blood in the final weeks of pregnancy, protects the child for the first few months of life before the infant’s own immunity starts to "learn" from illnesses and immunizations.

Appearance

You can see a cute, plump baby if you use a three-dimensional ultrasound instead of a standard one. Because of the subcutaneous fat buildup over the past few months, his form now has lovely, rounded outlines, and there is no sign of his previous thinness.

The baby’s skin is now pink instead of red and wrinkly because subcutaneous fat has "distanced" the skin’s blood vessel network from the skin. The baby still has wrinkles on its palms and heels.

The baby’s body is no longer covered in the thick white vernix caseosa; instead, it is limited to its natural folds, which are found in the groin and on the limbs. Now, this lubricant serves a defensive purpose by preventing the folds from chafing.

The child is primarily affected externally by maternal hormones, particularly estrogens, which are actively produced prior to childbirth and give the body the necessary preparation for this extremely responsible process.

Both male and female babies’ genitals—the scrotum in boys and the labia in girls—swell slightly and their mammary glands enlarge. This will pass quickly once the baby is delivered.

By the time they are 38 weeks pregnant, some babies have funny-looking, thick hair, while others have much less. Both of these are regarded as normal; this is an individual trait.

The child’s nails and hair are still growing. The fluff that covered his body during pregnancy has vanished by the time he is 38 weeks pregnant. Smooth and clean skin replaces the lost lanugo.

The baby’s face is fully formed, and its muscles are well-developed, enabling it to make a wide range of faces and grimaces.

Mom will soon be able to witness them firsthand, as babies continue to grimace while they sleep for the first few months of their independent lives.

What does mom feel?

At 38 weeks, the expectant mother’s emotions cannot be described as pleasant. The baby inside the uterus fills the entire uterine cavity, and the uterus has grown to fill the entire abdominal cavity. The woman experiences bloating and clumsiness as a result, and her big belly makes it difficult for her to move around and go about her daily business. The woman finds it difficult to breathe as a result of the diaphragm being compressed by the uterus.

Hormones cause the mood to "dance"—a brief period of calm is replaced by tears, and the woman feels exposed and vulnerable. Stress and worry are also increased by fear of the impending birth.

This week, a lot of women have been having insomnia, which keeps them up at night. The expectant mother feels weak and sometimes loses her appetite during the day and wants to sleep all the time. In the evening, drowsiness gives way to anxiety, and the cycle repeats itself because complete sleep still eludes them.

Weight loss may be evident at 38 obstetric weeks; this is not to be alarmed as the body goes through significant hormonal changes. Whereas progesterone used to “run” the body during an earlier pregnancy and resulted in elevated body temperature and increased appetite, estrogens now “run” the body and are responsible for preparing women for childbirth. These sex hormones aid in the body’s removal of extra fluid, which causes weight loss.

The sophisticated and aging placenta, which becomes easier to pass through, and the notably decreased amount of amniotic fluid also have an impact on the elderly woman’s body.

Pregnant women have gorgeous, full breasts at this point, and many of them secrete thick colostrum when their nipples are touched. A few days after the baby is born, this colostrum will develop into full-fledged breast milk.

Don’t worry if there isn’t any colostrum—this is also a typical variation, and it will manifest itself postpartum.

Pain

When asked to describe all of her painful sensations, a 38-week-old woman frequently finds it easier to pinpoint the places where she does not feel pain—there are just too many, and they are quite varied.

At this stage of their pregnancy, many expectant mothers complain of headaches, varying in severity. This phenomenon may have numerous causes. A headache is frequently brought on by elevated blood pressure.

A woman who is predisposed to hypertension needs to take care of her blood pressure, taking readings on both arms twice a day. It is advisable to call for an ambulance if the pressure increases.

Late-stage pregnancy headaches are frequently psychogenic in nature; memories, anxieties, and excitement don’t go away. The overall condition also affects the frequency and severity of headaches; for example, headaches during the day are a perfectly normal phenomenon when insomnia is present.

At this point in the pregnancy, nipples can cause pain and itching for expectant mothers. This is just the way the breasts get ready for nursing; there’s nothing strange about it.

The uterus, at 38 weeks, hurts in the lower back, back, and tailbone because it shifts the center of gravity and is now so big that it hardly fits in the abdominal cavity.

The activity of the hormone relaxin is linked to groin pain around the pubic bone. The ligaments get more elastic and the pelvic bones soften. The child should have an easier time passing through the birth canal as a result. Pubic symphysis pain is linked to the heavy and large uterus’s process of softening and concurrent stress on the bones and ligaments.

You just need to have patience for a little while—everything will return to normal after childbirth if the pain is mild and does not limit your movement. You should notify your doctor if you have severe, ongoing perineal pain that interferes with your ability to walk, climb stairs, stand, or turn over in bed in order to rule out symphysitis, which is a pathological divergence of the pubic symphysis.

At 38 weeks, nearly all women experience lower back pain; occasionally, the uterus will tone up; and there will be pain similar to menstruation on both the left and right lower abdomens. These are contractions from training that go by fast if you lie down flat and get enough rest.

Women frequently refer to the pain they experience as "shooting in the groin" and sometimes experience an electric shock in addition to pain when the fetus moves. Squeezing the nerve nodes by the baby can cause such an odd feeling.

Teeth often begin to hurt suddenly about 38 weeks.

The baby received a lot of calcium from the mother’s blood during pregnancy, which could have harmed the tooth enamel.

Gum bleeding may start as a result of hormones released prior to childbirth. In these situations, a trip to the dentist is required to address the problematic tooth. Pregnant patients are permitted to receive modern dentistry pain relief techniques.

Discharge

Typically, at 38 weeks, the discharge may slightly increase, but it should still be clear or light, free of blood impurities, and exhibit no color or odor changes. Because it is so easy to monitor changes in the type of discharge, a daily pad is a great way to monitor the health of the reproductive organs.

The passage of the plug may be indicated if the discharge turns pink, brown, smearing, or contains mucus. It resembles a clot of mucus with blood streaks if the plug has fallen out entirely. The mucous pinkish daub will be observed for several days if the plug comes off in pieces, which is also considered normal. Occasionally, the plug slips out entirely undetected when a woman passes gas in her bladder or when amniotic fluid is released.

The plug, which seals the cervix’s opening to the cervical canal, is a mass of mucus. This kind of protection was necessary from the very beginning of the pregnancy to stop bacteria, viruses, and foreign objects from entering the uterus through the cervical canal.

The internal and subsequently the external orifices gradually open when the cervix is prepared for labor. When the internal os dilates to this point, the plug comes off because it is no longer needed.

At 38 weeks, a greenish-gray discharge with an unpleasant fishy odor is not thought to be normal and is not a sign of impending labor. Instead, this kind of discharge could be a sign of a genital tract infection. Prior to labor, the infection needs to be treated. If this is not done, the woman will be admitted to the maternity hospital’s observation department, and there will be a significant risk of fetal infection during childbirth.

A white, cheesy discharge that smells like sour milk and yeast could be a sign that thrush has started. This is a typical late-pregnancy event.

Hormonal fluctuations or inadequate hygiene can both contribute to the development of thrush.

It’s also a good idea to treat thrush symptoms in advance of childbirth. The physician’s job is to select a treatment.

The appearance of a discharge that looks like odorless, colorless water could be a sign that amniotic fluid is leaking. Rapid water flow is hard to mistake for anything else; the leak is usually the source of confusion. In doubtful cases, a gynecologist’s examination and a pharmacy test for amniotic fluid will help determine it. Watery discharge should prompt a visit to the physician.

Digestion

The expectant mother’s appetite may drastically change at 38 weeks. If you used to be constantly hungry, you might suddenly lose all interest in food, or your hunger might "cut through." However, a woman would be better off avoiding heavy lunches and dinners at this point because digestive issues are fairly common.

Due to the intestinal loops being compressed by the enlarged uterus, the expectant mother experiences nausea, constipation, and diarrhea, which can alternate and replace one another.

There is a displacement and compression of the intestinal loops, disruption of peristalsis, and an increase in gas formation. "I go to the toilet for a big one with tears in my eyes" is a common complaint. This stage of defecation is really problematic. Constipation and diarrhea are equally painful conditions. If a woman has loose stools, she might be dehydrated.

Also compressed from below is the stomach. As a result, it aches and heartburn is seen. Many expectant mothers think that the baby’s hair grows during this period. The mechanical compression of the stomach, which causes the stomach’s contents to be thrown back into the esophagus, is actually the hidden cause of heartburn. Belching, nausea, and vomiting with bile impurities are caused by the woman’s gallbladder being compressed, which makes it difficult for bile to exit the body.

At 38 weeks of pregnancy, meals should consist of tiny, fractional portions rather than large ones. You should avoid eating a lot of meat, fish, or dairy products, as well as fatty and salty foods. Instead, you should prioritize eating vegetables, fruits, and light, thin porridges.

This will lessen nausea and heartburn, facilitate digestion, and help with constipation.

Possible problems

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a risky and erratic consequence of late-stage pregnancy. It is linked to the third full-term baby’s death in the final weeks of pregnancy. 15% of maternal deaths that occur during childbirth and at the very end of a woman’s pregnancy are also linked to its development. Preeclampsia frequently has a monosymptomatic course.

Elevated blood pressure, protein in the urine, and edema are signs of preeclampsia.

It is not always possible to identify the symptoms of this pregnancy complication because edema is not always obvious to the naked eye; occasionally, it is internal and connected to fluid buildup in the tissues. However, a skilled physician will be able to maneuver.

When preeclampsia is discovered at 38 weeks, the mother is admitted to the hospital and, typically, the decision regarding delivery is made in order to protect the mother’s and the fetus’s health.

Fetal position

At 38 weeks, there is almost no chance that a child in the incorrect position in the uterus will switch to the cephalic position. Though it does happen occasionally, the baby cannot turn over because they are too big and the uterus is too constricted.

A planned cesarean section is carried out at 39–40 weeks of pregnancy if the baby still remains in a sitting position or lies across or obliquely in the uterine cavity. A control ultrasound for a breech, transverse, or oblique position is typically performed at 38 weeks of pregnancy.

In reference to the uterine exit, the majority of babies at this stage are cephalic, meaning that their heads are pressed firmly against the small pelvic exit. This is the best position for a natural birth.

At this point, the pressure of the fetal head can be felt by the woman herself; these are unpleasant, sporadic sensations. A woman experiences a strong urge to urinate when the head presses.

Placenta, amniotic fluid

While it still serves its purposes, the "baby’s place" does so less effectively than it did in the past. Ageing of the placenta has started. At 38 weeks, its thickness averages 34.07 mm, with a range of 27.5 to 45.5 mm. Additionally, less amniotic fluid is produced. The average amniotic fluid index for this time period is 132 mm, with a normal range of 65-269 mm.

When there is severe oligohydramniosis and there is suspended matter in the water, Doppler ultrasonography and CTG are used to evaluate the fetus’s health. An emergency cesarean section is carried out if there are indications of persistent fetal hypoxia.

Hemorrhoids

Seven out of ten women experience an unpleasant and excruciating condition in which blood flow in the hemorrhoidal veins is disrupted during the later stages of the condition. This results in a breach of the vessel’s internal pressure and is caused by the uterus’s pressure on the lower veins.

There are various forms of hemorrhoids in pregnant women, including internal or external hemorrhoids, node prolapse with or without prolapse, and anal bleeding with or without bleeding.

A woman should definitely see a doctor if symptoms such as itching and pain in the anal area, constipation, impaired defecation, blood discharge during defecation, and pain in the anus when walking and sitting occur.

These days, there are a lot of drugs that can stop bleeding and promptly reduce rectum pain and inflammation. It is best to do this well in advance of the delivery date.

Cystitis

By week 38 of pregnancy, many expectant mothers report frequent, little-dribble urination and pain when urinating. The uterus’s pressure on the bladder may be the cause of this phenomenon alone, but it is impossible to ignore the appearance of a sharp, stabbing pain.

The causes of cystitis at this late stage of pregnancy can be linked to physiology as well as a cold, which lowers immunity and makes the bladder’s mucous membranes more vulnerable to infections.

Cystitis is a condition that you have to disclose to your doctor at 38 weeks of pregnancy. In addition, he will recommend bacterial culture and Nechiporenko analysis for urine testing. In order to rule out the phenomenon’s infectious nature, this is crucial. The required treatment will be prescribed by the physician.

Both the expectant mother and the unborn child are getting ready for delivery at 38 weeks of pregnancy. The mother may feel more discomfort, such as weariness and Braxton Hicks contractions, while the baby is fully developed, gaining weight, and positioning for delivery. Signs of labor can start at any time, and hormonal fluctuations and emotional anticipation are common. The last stages are filled with anticipation and physical difficulties as the body prepares for the baby’s arrival.

Signs of labor

Even though there is still time before the anticipated birth date, women at this point are already on the lookout for potential "harbingers" because it is not unusual for labor to begin this week and only 7% of babies are delivered on the scheduled day.

While labor is less likely to occur in a singleton pregnancy, it can still happen in a twin pregnancy.

First-time laborers experience confusion because they are not familiar with the signs of labor, and experienced laborers sometimes lack the time to orient themselves because every birth is unique, even down to the specifics of the first symptoms.

Let’s talk about the symptoms and indicators that call for a visit to the maternity hospital.

Signs in primiparous women

The lowering of the abdomen is the most talked about sign. When a woman is about to give birth, her abdomen does in fact drop because the baby is in the "starting" position, pressing its head against the small pelvic entrance. However, since expectant mothers’ tummies drop well in advance of the due date, such a sign cannot be regarded as reliable in primiparous women. The belly may have already lowered or may continue to drop daily if it is 38 weeks along.

False contractions, or practice contractions, are thought to be a more reliable indicator of impending labor. However, it is also untrue that labor will start soon given their onset. In rare instances, practice contractions may start as early as two to three weeks before labor actually starts.

Such contractions lack a set period of time, periodicity, or rhythm. If a woman experiences nagging pains or feels as though her uterus has toned up (pregnant women frequently refer to this condition as an indication that "the stomach is turning to stone"), she should lie down and take some time to rest.

After 30 minutes of rest, practice contractions stop, and actual contractions only get worse.

Additionally, the passage of the plug is not a consistent indicator of the start of labor. Occasionally, the plug comes out 10–14 days before labor starts.

Amniotic fluid leakage can be regarded as the undeniable start of labor. Prepare to visit the maternity hospital if there is a bloody or watery discharge.

In the event that contractions precede the appearance of water, you should ensure that they are not training. Once you have documented the cyclicity of the contractions—for instance, that they last 30 seconds and repeat every 10-15–20 minutes or more frequently—you should also take the prepared materials and documents to the maternity hospital.

The so-called "nesting instinct" is an indirect indicator that labor is about to start when, a few days prior to the start of labor, a woman feels the overwhelming need to tidy up, put everything back where it belongs, iron and reorganize all the rompers and diapers, and make sure to move the piano in the living room to a new location.

It does not at all follow that labor is delayed if such an instinct has not been aroused.

An additional non-direct indicator is the emergence of loose stools. The body works hard to eliminate anything superfluous and unnecessary prior to childbirth. Additionally, during the process of emptying the intestines, unique hormones called prostaglandins are created, which encourage the start of labor and soften the cervix.

Signs in women giving birth for the second time

The symptoms may be the same in women giving birth for the third time or during their second pregnancy, but with some significant differences. Usually, training contractions start a few days or even sooner before labor in women who have already given birth.

The expectant mother’s reproductive organs "remember" the prior experience, and all of the labor preparation processes move considerably more quickly. When a woman gives birth for the first time, the internal cervix opens first, followed by the external one, and sometimes it takes several hours for these two processes to happen. The internal and external os may open within minutes of each other in women giving birth for the second time; in certain cases, they may open nearly simultaneously.

A woman who is not giving birth for the first time should not wait until the frequency of these contractions is intense because the process can happen too quickly if real contractions, not training ones, have started. If labor progresses quickly, it is best to go to the maternity hospital right away to be under medical supervision.

Many expectant mothers report that a few hours before labor begins, they are thrown into heat, then cold, chills, and slight dizziness. These are examples of indirect symptoms that indicate the impending start of the second or third labor.

Tests and examinations

A woman will schedule a visit with her obstetrician-gynecologist at 38 weeks of pregnancy. The expectant mother will have her blood pressure taken, her arms and legs will be checked for potential edema, and she will be weighed to determine whether she has gained or lost weight. This is the time for CTG. Cardiotocography can be used to determine the baby’s emotional state on the eve of labor. An ultrasound scan with Doppler (USDG) will be conducted if there are any questions or if the device produces results that show anomalies in the fetus’s condition.

This examination will demonstrate how the uteroplacental blood flow occurs, as well as whether the infant is receiving enough oxygen and nutrients and whether the placenta’s structure has changed pathologically or entangled the umbilical cord.

Every single woman is prescribed a clinical blood test at 38 weeks along with a general urine test. During a routine visit, the gynecologist on the chair will manually examine and inspect the cervix to determine whether it is ready for labor if the woman experiences "harbingers" of labor. A small opening of one or two fingers may be seen in a mature, shortened cervix.

Sex – is it possible or not?

Sex at 38 weeks of pregnancy is both permissible and required if the attending physician does not prohibit it and the woman has no objective difficulties carrying the pregnancy to term. A sexual relationship that is enjoyable for both parties can only be advantageous to the expectant mother. An orgasm increases the elasticity of the uterine muscles, "trains" the cervix, and encourages the release of the hormone oxytocin, which in certain amounts induces labor.

If the woman’s sexual partner is completely healthy and free of any STDs, including hidden ones, then unprotected sex is doubly beneficial. Prostaglandin hormones found in sperm relax the cervix’s muscles and aid in its rapid preparation for labor. Future parents’ relationship is positively impacted by sex, which also fosters family understanding, brings calm, and uplifts the spirits.

Childbirth at 38 weeks

Given that the baby is fully developed and prepared for an independent life outside of the mother’s womb, giving birth at this time is not regarded as premature. Based on statistical data, approximately 35% of pregnant women go into labor during this week, meaning that one in three of them end up at the maternity hospital.

Normal natural childbirth doesn’t include any unique characteristics.

There are certain situations this week where it is necessary to induce labor. If there are signs of childbirth and no contraindications to natural childbirth, this is required when a woman’s water has broken but her contractions have not started. The doctor makes all of these decisions.

In the event that inducing labor is deemed necessary, both hormonal and amniotomy (puncture of the amniotic sac) medications are used. At this point, women who have indications for one undergo a planned cesarean section. The doctor decides on this matter after a pre-discussion in each individual case.

Recommendations for expectant mothers

You should never rush a baby who isn’t ready to be born from the outside in any situation. As a result, you shouldn’t attempt to induce labor using folk or grandmother’s remedies, such as taking horse doses of castor oil, squatting until your pulse stops, or strenuous "walks" up the stairs to the ninth floor. The term still permits him to remain in the mother’s womb for at least two to three weeks.

It is worth it to be patient a little while longer, despite the mother’s exhaustion following 8.5 months of pregnancy. It is better for the baby this way if he is not in a hurry.

You should prepare a bag for the woman to bring to the maternity hospital when she reaches 38 weeks pregnant. This is the ideal time to do this if you haven’t done it before. It needs to contain items like baby and mother clothing, hygiene supplies, disposable diapers, and special pajamas for moms. Remember to combine all required paperwork into one folder, including your birth certificate, passport, health insurance policy, and exchange card.

A pregnant woman can benefit from and needs to take walks outside.

However, as labor can start at any time, you should walk this week without becoming obsessed, without going on lengthy "marathons," and without leaving your house.

If you must travel farther than the next block, pack a bag with any documents you might need when admitted to the maternity hospital (the list is above). Leave the bag in a visible location so that friends or family can bring it to you whenever you need it at the hospital.

As directed by a physician, you can take mild herbal sedatives for insomnia at this stage in stressful situations. You shouldn’t refuse to take antibiotics if one is prescribed and an infection is found. Antibacterial medications are harmful when organs and systems are still forming, which is why they cannot harm a baby at this late stage, when everything in the child’s body has already formed and is working. Antibiotics are not as dangerous as infection.

If a woman has a large belly and is unwilling to move, she should not live a "couch" lifestyle. It has long been known that a mother’s labor process will be easier and her recovery from childbirth will happen more quickly if she is more active prior to giving birth. But you shouldn’t become too enthused. A woman today requires minimal physical activity and total avoidance of stressful circumstances.

Pregnant women should be particularly mindful of their own health, particularly if their pregnancy ends during the winter, when they are more susceptible to infections such as the flu or seasonal acute respiratory viral infections. The final weeks of pregnancy can be extremely complicated by these illnesses.

They will probably not injure the baby directly, but they will seriously compromise the woman’s immunity in the days leading up to delivery. Furthermore, if a woman is admitted to the maternity hospital with symptoms or illnesses like a runny nose, cough, sinusitis, otitis, sore throat, etc., she is never placed in the general department for laboring women; instead, she is placed in the observation department, where patients are not checked and those with infections are not evaluated.

By the time your pregnancy reaches 38 weeks, your unborn child is almost fully developed and preparing for life outside the womb. They’re probably head-down by now, getting ready to pass through the birth canal. They are still gaining weight and their organs are maturing, which will help them control their body temperature and adjust to life beyond birth.

The last stages of pregnancy can cause a pregnant woman to experience both physical discomfort and excitement. As your body gets ready for labor, you might notice an increase in the frequency of Braxton Hicks contractions. It’s critical to pay attention to these indicators and share any changes or worries you may have with your healthcare provider.

It’s critical to maintain composure and concentrate on your health as the deadline draws near. It’s the time to make last-minute arrangements and make sure everything is ready for when labor starts. Accept the help that comes from friends and family, and never forget that the arrival of your child is the ultimate goal of your pregnancy.

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