Fetal development 38 weeks of pregnancy • hello healthy

Embryo growth

Quoting from the Baby Center, entering the 38th week of pregnancy, the development of your fetal body is 45 cm from head to toe with a weight of 3.2 kilograms. Your little one will still gain weight until it's time to give birth.

The baby's mouth muscles are working well

By this time, the baby's mouth already has the muscles to suck and swallow the amniotic fluid. As a result, the digestion of the fetus has begun to produce meconium, which is also known as the fetus's first feces.

Meanwhile, fetal lung development is still in the stage of improving function at 38 weeks of gestation. The lungs will still produce a lot of surfactant.

Quoting from What to Expect, a surfactant is a substance that prevents the air sacs in the fetal lungs from sticking together as soon as it starts breathing at birth.

Fat increases in the fetus

Another development that can be observed at week 38 of pregnancy is the increase in fat in the fetal body.

In addition, the fetus will still perfect its brain and nervous system so that it can respond to stimuli when it is born.

Changes in the Body

How will my body change at 38 weeks of pregnancy?

Following the development of the fetus at 38 weeks, the mother's pregnancy will be characterized by the following symptoms:

Fake or Braxton Hicks contractions

As the time of birth approaches, the mother's day will likely be adorned with false contractions.

False contractions are thought to be your body's way of training you to deal with the original contractions that will occur later in labor.

Symptoms of false contractions that you can feel include abdominal cramps and feeling tight. If your contractions are painless and go away when you change positions, they are likely a symptom of Braxton Hicks.

Large amounts of vaginal discharge

As the fetus develops into the age of 38 weeks, you may also experience excessive vaginal discharge during this late pregnancy.

The discharge can be a thick white lump or mucus. This excess vaginal discharge is generally normal as long as it is not red, black, greenish, and odorless.

This discharge is a sign that the cervix (cervix) is preparing to open up for the birth process that will happen soon.

This condition is normal during fetal development at 38 weeks of gestation.

Itchy stomach

In the final trimester of pregnancy, the skin on the mother's stomach can become more sensitive so that it often feels itchy.

To fix this, pregnant women can try to drink lots of water to keep the skin moisturized and not cause itching.

Pregnant women can also use moisturizing creams with safe ingredients to prevent dry skin.

If itching in the stomach or on any other part of the body turns into a reddish rash, immediately consult a gynecologist.

Swollen foot

Near the time of delivery, the feet and calves can swell. This swelling is not without reason.

The lower part of the body appears to be swollen due to the increased volume of blood from the mother before childbirth.

In addition, the increased fluid in the body eventually accumulates in the lower part of the body.

The good news is, there are a number of simple ways you can treat swollen feet during pregnancy.

Diligent walking, for example, is highly recommended to keep the blood and fluids in the body flowing smoothly.

What do I need to pay attention to at the development of the fetus 38 weeks of pregnancy?

It is normal to give birth before or after the due date (hpl) which has been determined by the doctor from the beginning.

If your pregnancy must continue for two weeks after passing the predetermined due date, this is called overdue pregnancy.

You may run into overdue pregnancy if:

The exact date of your last period is unknown
This is your first pregnancy
Ever experienced overdue pregnancy previous
Often occur overdue pregnancy in your family
Your baby is male

Immediately consult a doctor for further treatment.

Visit to Doctor / Midwife

What should I discuss with my doctor about fetal development at 38 weeks of gestation?

Pregnancy care and fetal development monitoring will be continued even when her HPL (due date) is past week 38.

The doctor will monitor the health and condition of your cervix to see if it is starting to thin and dilate in preparation for childbirth.

If you have passed one week of the deadline, the doctor will check your baby's heart rate using an electronic fetal monitor or ultrasound.

Apart from that, ultrasound is also used to observe your baby's movements and measure the amount of amniotic fluid.

What tests do I need to know at this gestational age?

As you get closer to your due date, your doctor may check your pelvis regularly to confirm the position of the fetus in the uterus.

This examination can help the doctor to determine the position of your baby in labor later. Is the head first, the feet first, or the fetal buttocks first than your womb.

Most babies are in the head-first position at the end of pregnancy. In this position the baby's head rests snugly against your pelvis.

During a pelvic exam, your doctor will also check if your cervix has begun to open, soften, or thin.

This information will be shown through numbers and percentages which will be explained further by the doctor.

Health and Safety

What do I need to know to maintain the health and safety of pregnant women?

As the day of delivery approaches, there are a number of things that need to be known to maintain the health and safety of the mother as well as the fetus. The following include:

Avoid consumption of certain drugs

Aspirin and drugs that contain alcohol usually contain ingredients that are not recommended for consumption by pregnant women.

You should first check with your obstetrician before taking any medications during pregnancy.

Walk more

While waiting for your little one to be born, you can walk for exercise during pregnancy. To trigger contractions, you can walk while wiggling your hips so that the fetus's head enters the pelvis.

So after week 38 of pregnancy, how will the fetus develop in the following weeks?

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis and treatment.