38 weeks pregnant

Delivery room

By now, all the other details relating to the birth of the baby should have been ironed out. For example, who will join the mother inside the delivery room? Who will take care of the other children (if any) and who will house-sit (if there’s no one else staying in the house) during the hospital stay?

What’s Going on with the Baby

Circumference of your baby’s head

Your baby has now reached his or her ideal birth weight, but will continue to gain about 28 grams per day. Interestingly, the circumference of your baby’s head will be about the same size as the circumference of the abdomen. Meconium (the first bowel movement) is stocking up inside your baby’s belly.

What’s Going on with Mommy

Electrical buzzes

You may start feeling electrical buzzes in your legs and even inside your vagina. This is due to the fact that your baby is hitting some of your nerves while settling into your pelvic area. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about this, so you just have to tolerate the funny feeling and wait for the birth of the baby. However, if what you’re feeling aren’t those tingles but shooting pains, this is because your baby is pressing on your sensitive sciatic nerve. Try sitting down and putting your feet up, as this will help a bit.

Feel the contractions regularly

You’ll also feel the contractions regularly now, and some of these can be quite painful. Remember that real labor contractions will start at the top of your uterus, and will gradually spread over your whole uterus. The pain will go through the lower back and into your pelvis. The contractions will become stronger and become more painful.

Now for Daddy

Participation in the process of childbirth

If you haven’t thought about it yet, it’s time to decide on the extent of your participation in the process of childbirth. Some fathers are extremely squeamish around blood, and may negatively affect their wives with their clammy hands and ashen faces. On the other hand, some fathers roaring to get into the whole process, and would love to be the one to cut the umbilical cord or even catch the baby. Whichever you are, talk this over with both your partner and doctor.

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