In this article you will learn the following
In the 38th week of pregnancy ( 38 weeks of pregnancy) the excitement increases because you are on the home straight. This article answers the following questions:
- What happens in the 38th week of pregnancy?
- How big is my baby at 38 weeks?
- What happens to my body at 38 weeks?
- How can I prepare for the day of the birth?
38. SSW: What happens in the 38th week of pregnancy?
Once you have reached the 38th week of pregnancy, there is no longer talk of a premature birth. That's good, because now it's highly likely that your child will be able to breathe on its own.
In addition, due to the now well-developed nervous system, the baby will find it easier to regulate its own body temperature and blood sugar level from the 38th week of pregnancy. Every gram that the fetus gains is a help and serves as an energy reserve. The accumulated body fat is particularly noticeable in the arms and legs during this time. These are looking pretty chubby now. The body fat also protects the baby from injuries to the bones.
At the same time, the child is strengthened from the inside and its immune system is upgraded: the fetus receives antibodies against certain infectious diseases through your blood during pregnancy. These are diseases that you have been vaccinated against or those that you have already recovered from, such as measles or chickenpox.
How big will my baby be at 38 weeks?
At 38 weeks your baby is already the size of a stalk of rhubarb. This corresponds to a length of 50 cm. It now weighs around 3.1 kilos.
What happens to my body in the 38th week of pregnancy?
Your body works at full speed to withstand the high stress test at the end of the third trimester of pregnancy. You will certainly get the well-meant advice from those around you to get some sleep beforehand. Unfortunately it doesn't work that well. Everything is somehow exhausting: walking, standing, sitting and even lying down.
So just before the birth, try to withdraw from all other everyday obligations and sleep whenever you feel like it. It's best to sleep on your side. You can support your stomach with a pillow, which helps against back pain. You can also place your legs slightly elevated on a pillow to avoid excessive water retention. In the breaks when you are not resting, you should motivate yourself to go for a short walk. That stimulates the cycle. Exercise could also encourage your little one to want to be born soon.
How can I prepare for the day of the birth?
Of course, by the 38th week of pregnancy you should have packed your hospital bag long ago. In order to feel optimally prepared for the day of the birth and to face the delivery more relaxed, you should think of the following things:
- Write down all important phone numbers on a piece of paper: the phone number of the midwife, the maternity hospital, your partner's phone number and that of a local taxi company. It is best to put the note in your wallet so that you have it ready to hand on the day of the birth or so that other people can dial the respective numbers for you.
- Check with your partner how long the journey to the clinic takes on average. It is best to ask your partner to check in the weeks before the birth whether new construction sites or detours are being set up on the route that would increase your travel time to the clinic.
- Find out in advance which entrance to your maternity hospital is open and when (day and night) and check the best parking spots on the hospital grounds.
- If there are other children in your household, it should be clarified before the birth who will look after them when you and your partner are in the hospital. The person should expect to have to step in at any time. It is also advisable that the caregiver and the children have a confidential relationship, because the sudden birth of a little sibling could also be associated with excitement or even stress for the older ones.
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Here you will also find an overview of all weeks of pregnancy (1st week of pregnancy to 40th week of pregnancy)