Week Thirty-eight Pregnancy

The Baby –

• Is around 19 ½ inches long and weighs around 6 pounds 
• Is officially ‘full term’ 
• Practicing fetal breathing for life out of the womb and making fists 

You –

• Joint aches, backaches, indigestion, heartburn, Braxton Hicks contractions, constipation, bladder pressure, painful kicks, itchy skin, stretch marks, fatigue, swollen ankle, mood swings, and dry mouth and what not? You have been through all odds just for this moment. Time for celebration is not too far. 
• Finally you are going to meet your baby and take it home. You might be full of excitement and anxiety. 

If your baby is gaining around 1-2 ounces a day, it means s/he is healthy. If s/he measures too large at that point, the doctor may induce labor to protect both your baby and you. 

Meconium also develops in her/his bowel and it should be clear when the water bag breaks. If meconium occurs in amniotic fluid, your doctors will monitor you closely and control the labor as quickly as possible. Usually, multiples are born 38th week, if pregnancy is yet to be ended by now. Everything is going as usual in your baby but your body might be preparing for labor.