38 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms and What to Expect

38 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms and What to Expect

Your Growing Fetus at 38 Weeks

You’re so close to popping! At week 38 your baby is 19.6 inches that’s roughly the size of a ukelele or a winter melon.

Here’s what your little one has going on this week:

  • Their vocal cords are fully developed, and they are ready to communicate with you.
  • Your baby’s head is about the same size as their abdomen.
Pregnancy Superfood for Week 38

Let’s talk dates. No, not your delivery date. Dates the nutritious fruit that comes from a palm tree, and also our superfood for the week. This tiny fruit is great for your pregnancy as it is a rich source of fiber.

They also serve as the perfect snack as they will give you a boost of energy. They are full of folate which will prevent birth defects. The vitamin K in dates will aid in the development of your baby’s bones and will keep them from being low on vitamin k when born.

Packed with iron, they will reduce your risk of becoming anemic and will boost your immunity as well as your baby’s immunity.

The magnesium is beneficial for the formation of your baby’s teeth and bones. There are a variety of ways to include dates into your diet.

Here are a couple ways to get you started;

Cacao Date Smoothie:

 

choco-cacoa-smoothie-38-weeks-pregnant

Ingredients:

  • 5 dates
  • ½ cup almond milk, unsweetened
  • ¼ tsp vanilla
  • 4 walnut halves
  • 1 Tbsp cacao powder

How to Prepare:

Make sure the dates are pitted. Pour everything into the blender and blend until you reach a smooth creamy consistency. Pour in a glass and add a pinch of cinnamon as garnish.

Not only is it nourishing but it will revitalize your skin. Glow up!

Vegan Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates:

Ingredients:

  • 12 dates, pitted & halved
  • ¼ cup all natural peanut butter
  • ⅓ cup vegan chocolate chips
  • ½ tsp coconut oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt

How to Prepare:

  • Once all the dates are halved and pitted lay them on top of a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Grab a spoon and put ½ a teaspoon of the peanut butter into the center of the dates.
  • Place the baking sheet in the fridge for 5 minutes.
  • While the dates are in the fridge, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a mixing bowl and microwave for thirty seconds.
  • If they are not completely melted add another 10 seconds after stirring.
  • Once the chocolate is melted and the dates are done chilling, drizzle the chocolate over the stuffed dates.
  • Sprinkle sea salt on top and put back in the fridge for twenty minutes. Enjoy!
Top Tip for Week Thirty-Eight

Don’t forget to take some deep breaths. You will meet your baby soon enough.

Inspirational Message of the Week from Already Moms

“There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don’t ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it.” – Sheryl Feldman

Big Efforts from your Co-Creator

Has your lady mentioned remodeling the house? Is she running around organizing closets and cabinets?

If your answer is yes, she is experiencing nesting.

  • Nesting is the overwhelming urge to clean and organize.
  • Typically women experience nesting in the last few weeks of their pregnancy as they are focusing on the baby’s arrival.
  • So here is what we need you to do.
  • If she wants to clean everything and get rid of stuff, let her.
  • Offer to help but don’t take it personally if she says no.
  • Also, don’t constantly remind her that she needs to be resting, she knows and she will.
  • Let her clean and get it out of her system.
This Art of Allowing

Calling all my nesters! Ladies if your partner offers to help clean the house, let him. If you want to remodel every single room and he says no don’t freak out. You are having a baby in two weeks, you do not have the time to remodel every single room. He’s being logical, you will thank him later. Right now just settle for cleaning out the closets and organizing the cabinets.

Pregnancy Symptoms of Week Thirty-Eight

Two weeks away from meeting your mini-me. You’re very very pregnant, your body is getting ready for your baby’s arrival. Here are the symptoms you may face this week.

Hip Pain: Your pelvis continues to loosen to prepare for childbirth which may cause pain in your hips. Try stretching your hips to ease your discomfort.

Headaches: Caused by raging hormones and stress, you may be experiencing pretty intense headaches. Low blood sugar can also result in headaches. Be sure to stay hydrated and don’t skip meals.

Braxton Hicks Contractions: As your date nears, you are probably starting to worry that these contractions may be the real thing. If they aren’t painful and seem to disappear when you change positions, you are still having Braxton Hicks Contractions. Time them to see if they are regular.

Swollen Feet and Ankles: You’re thirty-eight weeks pregnant and carrying around a melon-sized human. Swollen feet and ankles are normal. Sit back and relax. Another great option you can try are socks that help with relieving the tension and pain of swollen feet. You can checks our list of the ten best compression socks for pregnancy.

Itchy Baby Bump: As your belly grows, your skin stretches thinner which causes it to become more sensitive. Extra hot showers may make your skin drier. Staying hydrated and applying lotion will help ease that itchy feeling.

Increased Vaginal Discharge: If you’re experiencing globs of a thick mucus-like substance, say hello to the mucus plug! As your cervix begins to dilate, the mucus plug will begin to fall out.

Sleepless Nights: The closer you get to your delivery date the harder it may be to get a good night’s rest. A body pillow and a few light exercises before bed may help you doze off easier.

Constipation: Staying hydrated and having plenty of fiber in your diet will prevent you from being constipated. Preventing constipation will also prevent hemorrhoids.

Anxiety: At 38 weeks you are probably super ready to be done with being pregnant. You may be experiencing some anxiety and nerves, it’s totally natural. Try to keep your mind busy!

Your Body will Change and It’s Necessary

Your body has constantly been changing throughout your pregnancy. As your body prepares for labor some of the changes will be reversed. For instance, remember early on in your pregnancy when your body started to create the mucus plug. Now your body is working to discharge it. Your baby’s development is complete so they will just be gaining weight the next couple of weeks, which means you will also gain more weight.

Our Recommended Remedy for Week Thirty-Eight

With two weeks left in your pregnancy, you are probably a pro in all things labor and delivery. You’ve spent the last eight months reading pregnancy guides and are ready for the big day. Have you thought about what comes after? Wait, don’t freak out. Our recommendation this week is to get familiar with what happens after you deliver. Here we’ll get you started

Once your baby is completely out of you, the doctors will place them on your chest. They can immediately start breastfeeding. However, in the first couple of days, your baby will only be eating the colostrum, the real milk will come later. If you get worried, talk to the lactation consultants at the hospital. Before you leave the hospital, your newbie will be given a few tests with the most important being the following

Blood Test
Doctors will prick your child’s heel to retrieve blood to test for rare conditions. The prick will be so small you may not even be able to see it. Every state is different, so check your state screening list online.

Hearing Test
Your baby will be taken into a separate room to undergo a hearing test. In most cases, the parents can watch and occasionally join in.

Heart Defects
Your baby can remain in your recovery room for this test. They will be hooked up to a pulse oximetry and screened for heart defects.

  • You will also have to decide on a name because you can’t leave the hospital until your baby has a birth certificate and social security card.
  • If you are having a boy, they will need to be circumcised before you leave as well. Typically with a vaginal delivery, you will be able to leave the hospital within 48 hours if you and your baby are doing well.
  • If you have a C Section, you usually stay in the hospital for three to four days.
  • Doctors will want to make sure you are recovering well.
  • Once you get home, you will spend most of your time changing and feeding your baby.
  • Newborns typically eat eight to twelve times a day, which equals out to about 10 diaper changes a day.
  • If these first few days cause a lot of questions to arise in your mind.
  • Write them down, because on day three or four you will need to visit your child’s pediatrician.
  • This will be the first well baby visit. Your little one will be weighed to make sure their growth is right on track.
Our Best Advice to Soothe The Uncomfortable

Pregnancy breast are such a bittersweet symptom. We’ve talked about how to ease your sore breasts during your pregnancy but haven’t discussed post-delivery care. With two weeks left, we figured there’s no better time than now.

Cleaning

When you’re showering don’t forget that your baby will be putting their mouth on your nipples. Their noses are extra sensitive so choose a soap that doesn’t have a strong perfumey smell. Many women only use warm water on their nipples for the first few weeks after delivery. Be gentle when cleaning, as you will be sore.

Keep them Active

Going without nursing and pumping for long periods of time is not good and will be painful to you. In fact, the more you nurse the more supply you will create. Waiting can lead to clogged ducts.

Eat Right

The foods you eat do play a role in the milk you produce. Veggies and breast milk supplements are both great for giving your little one healthy whole milk.

Keep them high and dry

Invest in a good nursing bra and nursing sleep bra. Both are lightweight and will keep your breasts comfortable as they do not pinch or apply extra pressure. Too much pressure on your breasts can lead to breastfeeding problems. It may be a good idea to buy a cup size bigger so you can slide in nursing pads. The nursing pads will keep your shirt dry from when you leak breast milk. Also, you will want to buy nipple cream for the times when your nipples feel sore and dry.

Preparation for Motherhood
  • Keep your mind busy by cleaning the house. Cleaning it will also give you one less thing to do after the baby is born.
  • Get a haircut but nothing fancy. Trust us, you won’t have time to deal with the upkeep of a fancy hairdo once your baby is here.
  • Review and finalize your childcare plan and transition timeline

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