Our pregnancy calendar

Explore information for each week of pregnancy.

38

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38
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you are in week

38.

of your pregnancy

Size

ca. 49 cm

groß

Weight

ca. 3100 g

From now on, 'born mature' applies

How is your baby growing? 

At 38 weeks of pregnancy, all organs and lungs are fully functional and ready for use. If labor started now, your baby would be 'mature.' To enable your baby to breathe independently outside the womb, it produces the hormone cortisol. Scheduled C-sections are often performed at 38 weeks of pregnancy, as the baby's development is now complete.  

As soon as your baby is born and says 'hello,' it will be time for the first diaper change.  
Usually 12 to 48 hours after birth, your baby will have its first bowel movement, called meconium. As your baby swallows amniotic fluid in the womb, the lanugo hair that has fallen out and a little curd also end up in the intestine. Together with nutrients from the amniotic fluid, they form a usually thick, odorless, greenish or brownish stool.

How is your belly growing?

As your baby is probably already firmly positioned in the pelvis at 38 weeks of pregnancy, uterine contractions are less frequent. However, the discharge that many expectant mothers experience during pregnancy may become more intense, as the vaginal area now has greater blood flow. In addition, intense discharge may be a sign of impending labor.  

Your large belly is probably making your life difficult. It limits your mobility and simply causes difficulties. Perhaps you are thinking, like many other expectant mothers, that you hope it will end soon. And so it will.  

What makes you grow as a family?

Are you slowly reaching your limit? You are not alone. Many pregnant women, towards the end of their pregnancy, are eager for their baby to be born. Now your nerves may be a little on edge. This is perfectly normal, and the only thing that helps is loving patience towards yourself and your partner.

A tip from mom Viola, when your little treasure comes into the world:

It's your child, it doesn't matter if you do everything right, what matters is that you act in a way that you and your partner believe is right for your child at that moment. You can't see the future and know that this behavior will lead to a certain behavior in the future. 

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