With 38 weeks in the books, month 9 of pregnancy is about halfway done.
Your baby's lungs are stronger and she's getting ready to announce her entrance into the world.
It may come sooner than you think, especially if you experience a heads-up in the form of your mucus plug or bloody show. If you're 38 weeks pregnant, you're in month 9 of your pregnancy. Only a few weeks left to go! Still have questions? Here's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy. Your little one isn't quite so little anymore, weighing about 7 pounds and measuring 20 inches in length, give or take an inch or two. Only two more weeks — four max — before your baby makes her appearance! At 38 weeks pregnant, all systems are almost go! As you prepare for baby's ETA, she's getting ready too, big-time, and continues to shed vernix and lanugo. Your baby is also swallowing amniotic fluid, some of which winds up in her intestines, where it — along with other shed cells, bile and waste products — will turn into your baby's first bowel movement (meconium) and perhaps your first diaper change. Her lungs are still maturing and producing more and more surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs in the lungs from sticking to each other once she starts to breathe. Most other changes this week are small but important: She's continuing to add fat and fine-tune her brain and nervous system — that way, she can deal with all the stimulation that awaits her once she makes her entrance into the world. Two weeks and counting — unless, of course, your little bean decides to make a late entrance. Just as your baby is preparing for life outside the womb, at 38 weeks pregnant, your body is tending to its own final touches before the big day. Some you're aware of, like your baby dropping into your pelvis — easier breathing, more pelvic pressure — and others you're probably not, like cervical dilation and effacement. While you're waiting for your baby to arrive, think of these last weeks as a dress rehearsal for life with your new arrival. Sleepless nights, a little anxiety and leaky breasts. Huh? Leaky breasts? Yes, it's true: Many pregnant women find that they start leaking colostrum — a thin, yellowish liquid that's the precursor to breast milk — sometime in the third trimester. Full of antibodies that protect your newborn, it has more protein and less fat and sugar, which is better for baby's digestive system than the milk that arrives later. If you are leaking colostrum, you may want to consider wearing nursing pads in your bra to protect your clothes — and get used to it, since this is just foreshadowing of what's to come. Not all women experience it, though. If not, no need to fret — your breasts are still producing colostrum for your baby when the time comes if you plan to breastfeed. Have visions of yourself whipping up easy and delicious meals in those postpartum weeks? Dream on. Cooking will be the last thing on your mind or your to-do list during those first few weeks — or even months — after delivery. With the help of a partner, loved one or friend, try stocking your freezer with individually packaged, simple heat-and-serve options. Label everything carefully, so you won't be left with UFOs (unidentified frozen objects). Good candidates for the freezer include hearty soups, stews, casseroles and mini meatloafs. Or stash away several trays of bran muffins — they'll come in handy. Now’s also the time to find some good takeout spots, if you haven’t already. Make sure all the items you stashed in your hospital bag still fit you. The PJs you bought at 30 weeks may now be too snug. If you’re bringing snacks, just know that some practitioners give a thumbs-down to eating during labor. If you do get the green light to eat, opt for light foods like small granola bars, plain saltine or club crackers, or little packets of applesauce. Walking is easy on your knees and ankles, which makes it one of the best exercises during pregnancy. And there's another benefit to walking — though at this point, it might be better termed "waddling." The side-to-side sway of your hips during walking … or waddling … may ease your baby's head into your pelvis, giving you a leg up on labor. Speaking of labor, there are those who swear that a long walk can actually bring on contractions. So keep your sneaks handy as you near your due date — or round the corner past it. Childbirth education programs generally teach you to cope with labor discomfort by using distraction techniques. Relaxation, meditation and visualization — like imagining your cervix is blooming like a flower (dilating, that is) — are often useful between contractions, whereas breathing exercises can help during them. Some people are relaxed and preoccupied by music — anything from opera to hard rock, or whatever gets your groove on and your mind off the pain — and others by watching TV or a movie, or playing a game on their phone. Staying rested, relaxed and positive will help you stay more comfortable. Tell yourself that the pain of a contraction is actually accomplishing something, as each one gets you closer to your baby. And remember, it won’t last forever! Perpetually damp these days? Here come those hormones again. Their effects, along with increased blood flow to the skin and increased metabolism during pregnancy, can make you sweat like a linebacker, even in colder weather. To stay cool, wear loose, light clothing or dress in layers (a lightweight cardigan can be worn post-baby and be surprisingly nursing-friendly, if you plan on breastfeeding). Be sure to also drink plenty of water and crack some windows or crank up the AC. Lastly, use a sprinkle of talc-free powder to absorb some moisture — and help prevent a heat rash that could crop up underneath all that sweat. Gotta go (and go, and go, and go …)? Now that you’re at the end of the third trimester, your baby has likely dropped into your pelvis, pressing squarely on that bladder. The next time you take a trip to the toilet, try to empty your bladder completely by leaning forward as you urinate. Wondering if cutting back on salt will help ease the puff? That depends on how much salt you're eating in the first place. Doctors used to recommend a low-sodium diet during pregnancy — which made it hard to satisfy those pickles-and-ice-cream cravings — but thankfully they no longer do. A moderate amount of salt — for example, adding iodized table salt to your meals and eating lightly salted foods— actually helps your body regulate fluids. Plus, dramatically cutting back on sodium isn't good for the baby. But before you polish off that pickle jar, keep in mind that too much salt isn't healthy for anyone, pregnant or not, and can even pump up the puffing. The bottom line? Salt, but don't oversalt, your food. Give yourself a one- or two-pickle-per-sitting limit, skip the heavily salted snacks and get into the habit of tasting before sprinkling.Your Baby at Week 38
At a Glance
38 weeks pregnant is how many months?
How big is my baby at 38 weeks?
Baby's preparing for birth
Your Body at Week 38
The final countdown
Colostrum
Pregnancy Symptoms Week 38
Tips for You This Week
Reviewed October 5, 2023 From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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