Pregnancy ~ week 38

Wow, I can’t believe week 38 is here. I feel like my due date is never going to get here and I am going to be pregnant forever. That may be because I don’t feel like he is coming any time soon. I’m having less BH contractions than I was weeks ago and just don’t feel like labor is coming any time soon.

But what do I know, this is my first pregnancy.

I am some what worried about my maternity leave, even though I really shouldn’t care. Both of our casuals had taken full time positions so there was no one to cover me when I’m off. So they transferred a girl from another department who’s position had been eliminated. She would cover my time off and then decide to either stay on as our casual our leave.

She trained for 3 days and quit.

Apparently my job is hard. I mean I know it’s hard, I’ve been doing it for 3 years. From the outside it looks like an easy job, and that is what people think when they walk in here. But then they sit down to do it and see everything that goes on behind the curtain and decide it’s way to much work for one person, which it is.

So, my due date is in 2 weeks and they have no one to work for me. Which, even though it’s not a super important position, our clinic can’t be open with out me there. Well with out me or my partner, but she can’t work 12hr days 7 days a week. Nor would she.

But I know John is coming when he wants, and there is nothing I can do about it. So I really shouldn’t worry about it. But I do plan on returning to work after maternity leave so I’d like my job to be secure.

Hopefully everything falls into place.

Here is my weekly update from similac.com:

Baby's Growth and Development When You're 38 Weeks Pregnant

During the 38th week of pregnancy, your baby's systems and functions continue to increase. These include:

• Your baby's organ functions refine when you are 38 weeks pregnant.
• His nervous system functions increase.
• His brain helps him refine breathing, improve digestion, regulate his heart rate, and prepare for eating during the 38th week of pregnancy.
• Your baby might pass solid waste, called meconium, prior to delivery. If your water breaks or leaks and it is greenish-brown in color, this might indicate meconium spotting in your amniotic fluid. Call your doctor right away if this happens.
• He has reached what will likely be his birth length.

Your Changing Body When You're 38 Weeks Pregnant

Sometime between the 38th and 40th weeks of pregnancy, your body reaches its desired pregnant state.

• Your uterus stretches from the pubic area all the way to the rib cage.
• You experience engagement (also known as lightening). This means baby starts moving down into your pelvis area.
• Gotta go? As your baby’s head settles into your pelvis, you feel added pressure on your bladder. This might lead to even more frequent urination.
• Due to back pain, you might have a hard time finding a comfortable position to sleep, sit, or even stand for very long.
• You might try to take your mind off these discomforts by:
  • Reading a book
  • Spending time with a friend
  • Visiting with family
  • Practicing relaxation techniques learned in childbirth classes
• Is it really labor? You might experience some or all of these symptoms as labor begins:
  • Cervical changes, including thinning (effacement), softening, and opening (dilation) of the cervix
  • Water breaking (though the percentage of women whose water breaks "on its own" is small)
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Regularly spaced uterine contractions that do not stop

Wellness and Nutrition When You're 38 Weeks Pregnant

While there is no perfect formula for determining when labor will start, your doctor can measure how close you are at your weekly appointments. These measurements and observations include:

• Presenting or your baby's presentation. This describes the part of your baby's body that is farthest down in your pelvis. Ideally, this is your baby's head.
• Station. This refers to how far your baby's head has moved into your pelvic cavity. Each station is 1 centimeter.
  • Your baby, high in your pelvic cavity, begins at -5 station.
  • Your baby at 0 station is midway through the pelvis and is engaged in your pelvis. Your baby probably will be at 0 station at the beginning of labor if this is your first pregnancy.
  • Once actual labor begins your baby's head continues through the pelvis to +1, +2, and +3 stations.
  • At +5 station, your baby's head is crowning (appearing) during birth.
• Dilated or dilation. This refers to how much your cervix has opened. It is measured in centimeters. Some women begin to dilate several weeks before labor. At 10 centimeters, you are ready to start pushing out your baby.
• Effaced or effacement. This refers to how much your cervix has thinned in preparation for birth. This is often measured by percentage. If this is your first pregnancy, effacement usually begins before dilation. At 100% effaced, you are ready to deliver your baby.

Exercises to Help Prepare for the Ultimate Workout
Strengthening the muscles you might use during labor right now can leave you with more flexibility and options for labor positions when the big day arrives. Try tailor sitting, Kegels, and the Pelvic Tilt.