38 weeks of embarrassment: baby development and changes in women

gestation week: 38 weeks

equals a month: 3rd week of 9th month

Equivalent to the days: 260 to 266 days of gestation

In the 38th week of pregnancy, the baby’s lungs are more prepared for the first breath after birth. The lanugo and the caseous vernix that cover the baby’s skin have practically disappeared and the bones are already formed, but they will continue to grow during childhood and adolescence.

During this week of pregnancy, the woman can continue to have symptoms of Braxton-Hicks contractions or hinchazón in the hands or pies. In addition, she may have frequent urges to urinate or urinary incontinence due to the weight of the uterus on the bladder.

baby development

During the 38th week of pregnancy, the lanugo, which is a thin layer of velvet that covers the skin of the baby, has practically disappeared, just like the vernix caseoso. The lungs are ready for the first breath after birth, and as the child is about to give birth, the baby’s hormonal levels increase, helping to maintain blood pressure and normal glucose levels after birth.

The baby’s muscle tone is already developed and the bones are formed, but they will continue to grow during childhood and adolescence. The eyes of the baby can have a greyish-blue color, however, they can take until a year to take their definitive color.

Baby size and weight

The size of the fetus at 38 weeks of gestation is around 49.3 centimeters measured from the head to the feet and approximately 34.6 centimeters from the head to the buttocks, being equivalent to the size of a rhubarb. The baby’s weight this week is approximately 3.1 kg.

Changes in the woman’s body

In the 38th week of the embarazo, the woman may continue to have symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, insomnia or hinchazón in las piernas or pies.

During this week of pregnancy, the woman can also continue to have Braxton-Hicks contractions, but in case they occur in a certain time period, every 40 or 30 minutes, it is recommended to contact a doctor and go to a hospital, it’s time for the nazca baby to be around. However, if the mother has not experienced any contraction, do not worry, as the baby can be born until week 40.

In addition, the woman may have frequent urges to urinate or, in some cases, urinary incontinence, due to the weight of the uterus on the bladder. However, the loss of urine is normal, but the woman must be careful not to confuse it with the rupture of the source, in which there is a transparent liquid leaking through the vagina, without odor and constantly. See how to identify when the fuente is broken.

Care during the 38th week

In the 38th week of pregnancy, some precautions are important to help alleviate the ailments that may arise, such as:

• Difficulty sleeping or insomnia: sleeping with a pillow or pillow between the legs leaning on the side or in a position where the woman feels comfortable helping to reduce the discomfort that makes it difficult to sleep. In addition, it is important to create a routine for the night, a peaceful and comfortable environment to sleep, and avoid sleeping during the day so as not to make it difficult for the night sweats;
• Braxton-Hicks contractions: drinking a vase of water, doing relaxation or deep breathing exercises, or taking a tibio bath for up to 30 minutes, can help to alleviate the discomfort of the contractions. In addition, it is recommended to move the body, change position, take a walk, take or rest in case the woman was very active when the contractions started. However, in case the contractions are very strong or are accompanied by other symptoms such as pain in the back, vaginal bleeding or fluid flow, you should seek immediate medical help, as you may have entered labor. Know other symptoms that may appear at the end of the embarazo;
• Hinchazón en las piernas or en los pies: don’t stay too long, put your feet at a higher level than the body and support them if you’re sitting, help to improve blood circulation in your legs and avoid the swelling of your legs and feet, in addition, practice exercise regular physical, such as walking or swimming, from following the doctor’s orientation, can help to reduce this disease. However, in the event that the hinchazón does not start suddenly, the hinchazón in the hands and the face begins, you should go to the immediate doctor, which can be a sign of preeclampsia. Learn more about preeclampsia and its treatment.
• Frequent urges to urinate: do not stop las ganas de orinar, as the urinary retention in the bladder can increase the risk of urinary infection. Furthermore, despite the increase in urinary frequency due to the weight of the uterus on the bladder, a woman should not reduce her water intake, since dehydration increases the risk of premature birth.

During the entire pregnancy, it is important to follow the medical recommendations, attend prenatal consultations, take folic acid or supplements and perform physical activity recommended by the obstetrician, which allows for better weight control, better skin heat and muscle strength .

In addition, you should drink at least 8 vases of water a day and take a nutritious and balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables and fresh vegetables to guarantee the availability of essential nutrients for the development of the baby and help to control the weight gain during the embarrassment. See how the diet should be during embarazo.

main exams

In the 38th week of pregnancy, the woman must attend her prenatal consultation so that the obstetrician can assess her blood pressure, weight, uterus height, baby position, heart rate and fetal movements, for example. Find out more about prenatal consultations.

See in which month of the embarazo you find yourself introducing your data a continuation: