Week 38: Take My Breath Away

Welcome to week 38! At this point, your uterus is up to your rib cage, and your baby is taking up a large part of the space in your abdomen. This stage in your pregnancy makes it difficult to catch your breath during activity. Make sure to pace yourself. Avoid activities that are too strenuous. Ensure that you take breaks throughout the day, as your sleep at night will not be as restful as you wish it was. If your baby has engaged into your pelvis, then, depending on your stature, this may afford some relief to your shortness of breath. Continue to practice your breathing exercises. Focus not only on resting your body but also your mind. Prepare your mind for labour through visualization and perhaps even looking into hypnobirthing. Mental stamina is required to focus and breathe through each contraction as it comes. Find music, lyrics, sounds or rhythms that destimulate your mind and help you focus.

Your baby is 38 weeks and continues to grow steadily. Your baby is almost ready for labour to begin. Your baby continues to practice breathing, movements, and swallowing amniotic fluid. Meconium stores build up in the large intestine. The vernix coating on your baby’s skin continues to be absorbed, and the delicate little hairs covering your baby’s body (lanugo) start to shed.