38 WEEKS PREGNANT

• Sometime during the third trimester, your doctor or midwife recommends a test to check your baby's well-being.
• A common indicator of your baby's well-being is a measurement of the amniotic fluid.
• This can also be part of a test called a biophysical profile, which also includes examining the baby's various movements. In this scan, the sonographer is measuring the deepest pocket of fluid in each of the four areas of the uterus.
• As you can see, the baby is getting a bit crowded in there!

• As your baby continues to grow, he/she is slightly bigger than 20 inches now but weighs about the same at two kilograms and a half.
• If the fact that your baby has not put on any weight bothers you, here is something to put your mind at ease. Most babies weigh up to about three kilograms on average when they are born. So, your baby's weight is completely normal if it's still just two kilograms and a half.
• By week 38, your baby must be already sporting an inch of hair on that tiny little head. If your baby has not shed off the layer of vernix caseosa that is covering his/her skin, it may happen this week. However, you may still see fragments of it on his/her body after birth.
• Most babies settle themselves into the upside-down position, which makes it easier for them to maneuver in the birth canal. However, if he/she is not in that position yet, keep in mind that you could still go into labor any minute now, so you have to stay constantly prepared.
• Your baby's lungs continue to develop and produce more surfactant. Do you remember surfactant? It's the substance that keeps the air sacs in your baby's lungs from getting stuck to one another after he/she starts breathing.
• As your little one continues to slowly accumulate more fat in his/her body, their nervous system is maturing as well. The vocal cords are also now all good to go.
• What is still undecided even at week 38, is the color of your baby's eyes. It still looks blueish due to a lack of pigmentation. His/her eyes will take on a definitive color only after birth. If your baby is born with brown eyes, it will most likely stay that way forever.

• Vaginal discharge : Are you spotting blood along with normal white discharge? Don't worry, your cervix is dilating or opening up.
• Edema : This happens when your body has more liquid in the system than it normally does. Basically, you can place the blame for the swelling on water retention. You may notice that with every hour, the swelling probably becomes worse, and you may find evenings difficult to handle. It is supposed to increase in warmer weather. External factors such as weather changes could also impact your body now.
• Braxton Hicks contractions : Braxton-Hicks Contractions are like a tightening sensation happening in your uterus. These contractions are practice sessions to get your uterus in the form to give birth. Do note the frequency and get to the doctor immediately, now that you are 38 weeks.
• More frequent urination : Do you feel every time you go to the washroom, the baby may just pop out? His/her head is pressing your pelvis, making less room in your bladder. Do not cut down on fluids because of this.
• Leaky breasts : Your breasts may be bigger than ever and constantly leaking colostrum. But if they are not leaking don't be concerned. There is no proof that this will have an impact on breastfeeding.
• Itchy belly : By now, you probably know that Vitamin E oils help to soothe an itchy stomach. Stock up on Vitamin E, you may need it while breastfeeding your little one.
• Sleepless nights : We understand that sleep is almost like a distant dream now. Hang in there, just a few more days!
• Diarrhea : Wow! From all that constipation, now you have moved on to diarrhea? Loose bowel movements are a definite sign of labour. Up on your feet, right away!
• Mucous plug : About this time, your mucous plug may fall out though you may not notice it. It just means that the big moment is just around the corner. Hang in there!

Mylo's solution to stretch marks

• Feeling those contractions hitting you up as you continue to read this?
• If you have noticed that these contractions occur at an alarming rate now and last up to at least five minutes, then you could actually be going into labor.
• Don't exactly know what going into labor feels like?
• Keep an eye out for these symptoms.
• There may be a mucus-like discharge from your vagina.
• It may come out in one huge dollop or trickle down little by little.
• You may be wondering what this is; it's the mucus plug that has been protecting your cervix.
• As the cervix dilates, the plug opens.
• Another thing to keep in mind is bouts of vomiting and nausea.
• Most pregnant women start feeling extremely nauseous right before they go into labor.
• Another way to find out if you are going into labor is if you have diarrhea.
• As your hormones prepare your body for delivery, it stimulates your bowels as well.
• The most obvious sign of them all is your water breaking.
• You will have no control over the gushing flow of water (which is the amniotic fluid) coming out of your vagina.
• Most women go into labor after a period of 12 hours or lesser once the water breaks.