Week 38 of Pregnancy
Baby's growth
The head represents 25% of the total body length, the chest and abdomen are large enough to accommodate the lungs, liver, pancreas, and stomach, etc.
Weight: 6 3/4 pounds / Size: 19 1/2 inches
Changes in mother
You're probably thinking a lot these days and you're having anxieties and fears about whether your baby will be healthy. Your cervix will begin to soften and shorten in preparation for delivery. You will worry about whether you will notice when labor begins and whether you will have a normal delivery with or without pain.
It's good you know...
The time at which gestation ends and labor begins has no well-defined limit. There are no clear symptoms that indicate when gestation will be interrupted. After this week, you may lose the mucous plug that sealed off your uterus by protecting it from infection and bacteria. The mucus plug may be lost a few weeks, days or hours before delivery and is thick and yellowish and may be mixed with blood. As your cervix dilates in preparation for delivery, your body removes the plug. Your doctor may perform an internal exam to see if the cervix has begun to clear or dilate. Learn about the types of birth that are available so that you can be informed about the modalities and feel more confident when your pregnancy is over.