At 38 weeks pregnant your baby is about 6.8 pounds and at least 19 ½ inches long. The organs are mature and the baby can grasp. An interesting fact about your baby’s eyes is the changing color. If your baby is born with brown eyes they will probably remain brown. However, if the baby has grey or blue eyes the color can remain the same or can change. By the time the baby is nine months old her eyes can be blue, green, hazel, or brown. The irises will increase in pigment after birth. Now let’s review some of the changes in the mother’s body.
You are waiting for the birth of your child which will occur within the next few days or weeks. You may experience some nesting behavior and use those bursts of energy to finish up last minute nursery preparations. You may take a nap and rest frequently. If your feet begin to swell a little, this is normal at this stage of pregnancy. If you notice sudden swelling or excessive swelling you should contact your health care provider immediately. Puffiness around your eyes and sudden weight gain may signal the onset of preeclampsia. This is a condition that is caused by the sudden rise of blood pressure in the mother that can be life threatening. Only the birth of the baby will allow the blood pressure to return to normal.
If you have severe headaches or changes in your vision, if you have abdominal pain and tenderness or nausea and vomiting you should notify your health care provider. These are not normal signs of pregnancy at this stage of gestation. It is a signal that something may be wrong. If the physician feels that your life or that of your unborn child is in danger he may suggest inducing labor. This is relatively safe at this stage of gestation for the baby. The baby has matured enough to have few complications from an early delivery.
You may start to notice some changes in your body that signal labor will begin. You may pass a mucus plug or your water may break. The mucus plug signals that labor should begin within the week. When your water breaks if you have not started labor within 24 hours the doctor will induce your labor. Without the protective amniotic fluid the baby will be exposed to infection. Your baby should already be in the birthing position and you should feel the change in gravity as the baby drops into place. You will urinate frequently as the baby puts more pressure on your bladder. More than four contractions in a one hour period should be discussed with your physician.
At 38 weeks pregnant you and your baby are just a few days away from the birthing process.
