38 weeks constipated

Symptoms Not to Ignore, Labor Signs, More

At 38 weeks, the baby is nearly here, but there is no precise way to predict the exact delivery date. It’s best to try to rest while paying attention to possible signs of labor. Call your doctor if you’re concerned.

However you’re feeling at 38 weeks pregnant (exhausted, excited, terrified… did we mention exhausted?), there’s probably one big question on your mind whenever you feel even the slightest twinge in your back or belly: Am I going into labor?

Unlike most other weeks of pregnancy, though, you’re close enough to the big day now — your baby is technically full term at this point! — that the answer could actually be yes.

Diarrhea? It could be a sign of labor! Weird discharge? It could be a sign of labor! Sudden panic that you’re not ready to become a parent after all? It could be a sign of labor!

OK, that last one… not so much. But how you’re feeling at 38 weeks could give you some clues about what to expect for the rest of your pregnancy — like when it’s going to be over and you’ll get to hold that sweet baby in your arms.

Here’s everything you need to know about this oh-so-close-to-the-end week of pregnancy.

We’re going to get to the good stuff in a minute (like whether those twinges are contractions or just indigestion), but first we have to remind you that you could still be pretty far away from giving birth at this point.

Your due date, technically, isn’t for another 2 weeks, and some people don’t even give birth until closer to 42 weeks. Sorry… don’t hate us!

However close (or not) you are to going into labor, there will still be some symptoms you’re dealing with at 38 weeks pregnant, like:

heartburn, nausea, and indigestion
constipation
mood swings
leaky breasts
pelvic pressure
mild backache
frequent urination
Braxton-Hicks contractions
edema (swelling), especially in feet and ankles
increase in vaginal discharge

Around 38 weeks pregnant, you may lose your mucus plug — the glob of mucus (there’s really no better way to describe it, honestly) that protects your cervix from infection.

People usually think this means you’re about to go into labor any day now, but the truth is that your mucus plug can fall out several weeks before labor begins.

In other words, going to the bathroom to pee and finding gelatinous goo in your undies is just another “day in the life” of pregnancy.

As much as late pregnancy symptoms can run the gamut from annoying to uncomfortable to downright strange, there are some things that are outside the bounds of “normal” and should prompt you to call your doctor ASAP.

These symptoms include:

rupture of the amniotic sac (i.e., your water breaks)
dizziness, severe headache, or blurred vision
significant vaginal bleeding
fever
trouble urinating or painful urination
vomiting or severe stomach cramps
sudden swelling in your extremities or face
a marked decrease in or absence of fetal movement

With the exception of your water breaking, these symptoms aren’t usually signs of impending labor, so you should contact your doctor if they happen to you.

Ah, the moment you’ve been waiting for: how to know if you’re going into labor!

To be honest, it can be kind of confusing. You’ve been having noticeable Braxton-Hicks contractions for a few weeks now, which are basically just practice for the real thing — and it’s hard to tell them apart!

But when labor is coming for real, you might notice:

regular, measurable contractions that don’t go away when you lie down
contractions that become more intense — and closer to one another — over time
rupture of the amniotic sac
loss of the mucus plug (again, this can happen weeks away from labor, but if it happens alongside some of these other signs, it’s worth noting)
diarrhea
engagement of the baby’s head into your pelvis, sometimes called lightening or “dropping”

Still not sure if you’re actually going into labor? Call your doctor anyway!

Most pregnant people — especially first-timers — will have at least one false alarm, so don’t be embarrassed if you show up at the hospital convinced you’re in labor, and they send you home with a big ol’ “nope. ” It will put your mind at ease to get checked.

Like we said before, your baby is technically full term, but that doesn’t mean they’re 100 percent done cooking in there yet.

While your baby’s critical organs (think heart, lungs, and brain) are fully developed, they are still growing — so as long as there aren’t complications, it’s best to let your baby stay in there until they’re totally ready to come out.

Meanwhile, your baby is starting to say goodbye to their lanugo, getting their first bowel movement prepped, and continuing to pack on body fat. They’re probably about 6 or 7 pounds and 18 to 20 inches, but at this point in your pregnancy, there can be a lot of variation in baby’s height and weight (just like there is at birth!).

Ideally, your baby has already moved into a birth-ready position, e.g., one facing your back with their head down and engaged in your pelvis.

While most babies do this by 36 weeks, some babies take their time… but you don’t want to miss that window, so talk to your doctor about encouraging baby to “assume the position” with pregnancy-safe strategies for turning babies in the womb.

Babies move up until birth (and, let’s face it, they keep on squirming around quite a bit after birth, too) but fetal movement definitely changes in the third trimester as your baby starts running out of room to bounce around.

A lot of the movement you feel at this stage is your baby stretching and wiggling in the confines of your uterus. These movements could be more subtle than you’re used to, so you may have to pay more attention during kick count sessions.

Sometimes a baby’s movement decreases slightly right before labor; no one knows why for sure. However, you shouldn’t ignore a complete absence of movement — you should still be able to feel baby move a few times an hour, at least. They just may be more subdued in the day or two before labor begins.

We know, we know: You’ve already done all the things and now you’re just sitting around, impatiently waiting for baby to arrive. Well, guess what? There are still a few things you could do, if you have the energy and motivation to tackle them.

Prep some meals. You can never have too many crock pot dinners, comforting soups, and craving-satisfying pizzas stocked in your freezer during the newborn phase, especially when you’re too tired to even think about cooking. Whip up some freezer-friendly meals now and thank yourself later.
Review your birth plan and anything you learned in a breastfeeding or Lamaze class. It won’t hurt to give yourself a mini-refresher about how you intend to birth and feed your baby.
Catch up with friends. It might be awhile before you feel physically or mentally ready for a chat over coffee with your BFF, so squeeze them in now. (It’s often as good as scheduling an appointment with your therapist… but also, if you have a therapist, maybe do that, too?)
Pamper yourself. Like pretty much every other thing you love in your pre-baby life, self-care will take a backseat after you give birth. Go ahead and check off all those beauty boxes, like getting a haircut, brow wax, and foot massage.
Finalize anything that has to be done. Think packing your hospital bag, installing the baby’s car seat, and deciding who will be with you in the delivery room.

The last few weeks of pregnancy are a total waiting game, and it’s one you might not want to play (I mean, can’t you just meet this kid already?!). But your life is about to change Forever — yes, that’s Forever with a capital F — so this is a good opportunity to prioritize yourself.

If you’re feeling super anxious, talk to your doctor. They may be able to reassure you about specific things stressing you out. If that doesn’t work, find a seasoned parent, in person or in an online parenting group, who can speak from experience and soothe some of your nerves.

If you’re feeling physically uncomfortable, go back to basics: Sleep as much as you can; go for walks or do prenatal yoga; eat small, frequent meals; and put your feet up at night while you binge Netflix.

There will be plenty of time later for staying up half the night googling “what to do if my baby has a fever,” so don’t spend time doing that now. Instead, search “how to relax before baby comes” and then go find some serious chill.

You’re so close! The finish line is literally in sight, but there’s no way to tell just how quickly you’ll get there. It could be tomorrow… or it could be 3 weeks from now.

Stay calm, get as much rest as you can, and try to be patient. Most importantly, pay attention to what your body is doing — it will give you clues when it’s priming itself for labor. And, as always, don’t ignore warning signs; always call your doctor if you’re concerned about anything.

Symptoms Not to Ignore, Labor Signs, More

Unlike most other weeks of pregnancy, though, you’re close enough to the big day now — your baby is technically full term at this point! — that the answer could actually be yes.

Diarrhea? It could be a sign of labor! Weird discharge? It could be a sign of labor! Sudden panic that you’re not ready to become a parent after all? It could be a sign of labor!

Here’s everything you need to know about this oh-so-close-to-the-end week of pregnancy.

Your due date, technically, isn’t for another 2 weeks, and some people don’t even give birth until closer to 42 weeks. Sorry… don’t hate us!

However close (or not) you are to going into labor, there will still be some symptoms you’re dealing with at 38 weeks pregnant, like:

heartburn, nausea, and indigestion
constipation
mood swings
leaky breasts
pelvic pressure
mild backache
frequent urination
Braxton-Hicks contractions
edema (swelling), especially in feet and ankles
increase in vaginal discharge

Around 38 weeks pregnant, you may lose your mucus plug — the glob of mucus (there’s really no better way to describe it, honestly) that protects your cervix from infection.

People usually think this means you’re about to go into labor any day now, but the truth is that your mucus plug can fall out several weeks before labor begins.

In other words, going to the bathroom to pee and finding gelatinous goo in your undies is just another “day in the life” of pregnancy.

These symptoms include:

rupture of the amniotic sac (i.e., your water breaks)
dizziness, severe headache, or blurred vision
significant vaginal bleeding
fever
trouble urinating or painful urination
vomiting or severe stomach cramps
sudden swelling in your extremities or face
a marked decrease in or absence of fetal movement

With the exception of your water breaking, these symptoms aren’t usually signs of impending labor, so you should contact your doctor if they happen to you.

Ah, the moment you’ve been waiting for: how to know if you’re going into labor!

But when labor is coming for real, you might notice:

regular, measurable contractions that don’t go away when you lie down
contractions that become more intense — and closer to one another — over time
rupture of the amniotic sac
loss of the mucus plug (again, this can happen weeks away from labor, but if it happens alongside some of these other signs, it’s worth noting)
diarrhea
engagement of the baby’s head into your pelvis, sometimes called lightening or “dropping”

Still not sure if you’re actually going into labor? Call your doctor anyway!

Like we said before, your baby is technically full term, but that doesn’t mean they’re 100 percent done cooking in there yet.

Ideally, your baby has already moved into a birth-ready position, e.g., one facing your back with their head down and engaged in your pelvis.

Prep some meals. You can never have too many crock pot dinners, comforting soups, and craving-satisfying pizzas stocked in your freezer during the newborn phase, especially when you’re too tired to even think about cooking. Whip up some freezer-friendly meals now and thank yourself later.
Review your birth plan and anything you learned in a breastfeeding or Lamaze class. It won’t hurt to give yourself a mini-refresher about how you intend to birth and feed your baby.
Catch up with friends. It might be awhile before you feel physically or mentally ready for a chat over coffee with your BFF, so squeeze them in now. (It’s often as good as scheduling an appointment with your therapist… but also, if you have a therapist, maybe do that, too?)
Pamper yourself. Like pretty much every other thing you love in your pre-baby life, self-care will take a backseat after you give birth. Go ahead and check off all those beauty boxes, like getting a haircut, brow wax, and foot massage.
Finalize anything that has to be done. Think packing your hospital bag, installing the baby’s car seat, and deciding who will be with you in the delivery room.

You’re so close! The finish line is literally in sight, but there’s no way to tell just how quickly you’ll get there. It could be tomorrow… or it could be 3 weeks from now.

Constipation in pregnant women - what to do? Obstetrician-gynecologist consults: articles of the Oxford Medical Medical Center Ivano-Frankivsk

Deba Victoria Tarasovna - obstetrician-gynecologist of the Oxford Medical Medical Center.

Pregnancy is a special condition during which a woman needs attention, care and safety. When you carry a separate life under your heart, you feel a special responsibility, you try to pay more attention to your health, you create optimal conditions for your environment. This condition is difficult to describe in words, therefore, I think that every pregnant woman will simply understand me.

Unfortunately, during pregnancy, our body also throws out not very pleasant things: toxicosis, swelling, mood variability. Did you know that the most common problem during pregnancy is constipation?

Why does pregnancy get constipated?

Normally, defecation should be 1 time per day. According to statistics, eight out of ten women go to the doctor with complaints of constipation. So what is the connection between pregnancy and a tendency to constipation?

It so happened that anatomically, the uterus and intestines in women have a common innervation. Accordingly, during pregnancy, the woman's body mobilizes all the forces to ensure that the uterus is relaxed. And next to the uterus, the intestines relax. This process is activated by the pregnancy hormone, progesterone.

Therefore, a pregnant woman can, at best, once every 1-2 weeks go to the stool. Of course, this is accompanied by discomfort, flatulence, abdominal pain. This process is also facilitated by a decrease in physical activity, reduced water intake due to fear of edema, compression of the intestines by the uterus.

It is worth noting that taking certain drugs, such as iron and calcium supplements, which are recommended for pregnant women, also causes constipation.

What can complicate constipation?

As stool stagnates in the intestines, it becomes hard due to the constant absorption of fluid in the large intestine. The exit of solid feces from the rectum is accompanied by constant attempts in a woman, and this can very soon lead to the appearance of hemorrhoids. Also, hard feces irritate the walls of the anus, which creates a risk of anal fissures.

Tips for pregnancy nutrition

In order to eliminate the problem of constipation and prevent the occurrence of complications, it is worth reviewing your diet and making certain adjustments. Let's start with drinking water: it is worth drinking at least 1.5 liters of water. If this amount causes swelling, it is worth consulting with a leading ob-gyn to eliminate this problem.

In the future, completely avoid during pregnancy such foods as:

chocolate;
mushrooms;
legumes;
sweets;
strong tea and strong coffee;
hard cheeses;
smoked sausages;
spices;
animal fats;
white bread, etc.

It is easy to understand that everyone who sees this list will at least want to cry, because how can one refuse this yummy? And we will provide options for wonderful alternatives that will be both tasty and healthy for a pregnant woman:

fiber-rich foods: greens, apples (raw and baked), green beans, whole grain bread;
baked pumpkin, pumpkin cream soup;
dried fruits;
sweet fruits: kiwi, bananas;
fermented milk products (preferably in the first and second trimester, not recommended in the third)
boiled rabbit meat, chicken;
obligatory ratio of meat to vegetables - 1: 2 (zucchini, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, etc. ).

And the main warning for pregnant women - do not prescribe laxatives yourself! After all, most of them are contraindicated during pregnancy. In case of constipation, consult a doctor!

I wish you only pleasure from pregnancy! Be healthy!

Published: 03/20/2020

Updated: 03/20/20200001

What happens to the baby during this period?

Now the weight of the child is 3000-3200 g. Sometimes the mother can feel in the abdomen not only the movement of the fetus, but also rhythmic jolts - this is the child hiccups, swallowing amniotic fluid. It is believed that hiccups are a kind of training before the start of spontaneous breathing. By this time, the baby has already taken its final position in the uterine cavity - head down, towards the exit from the uterus. The obstetrician determines the presentation of the fetus by probing the abdomen of the expectant mother. But sometimes doctors detect breech presentation, in this case, an examination is performed, ultrasound is performed and the tactics of childbirth are determined.

Indicator

Norm

Weight gain of the mother

From 8.6 (with initial excess weight) to 14.5 kg (with initial weight deficit), average weight gain 10-12 kg

Fundal height05

35-38 cm

Fetal weight

3000-3200 g

Fetal height

48-52 cm

Important!

During the 38th week of pregnancy, the body of the expectant mother is actively preparing for the upcoming birth. It is important to know in advance, read the necessary information about this process (if you have not already done so) in order to clarify how to behave with the onset of contractions.

The first harbingers of childbirth appear in multiparous and primiparas. These are body changes, certain processes that set up the body and reproductive system for the birth of a child. The signs differ slightly depending on whether the mother is expecting her first baby or if this is her second and subsequent pregnancies.

Many mothers are afraid to miss or not recognize these important "calls". Don't worry about that - we've put together a handy labor checklist to help you figure out when it's time to go to the hospital.

During this period, drops of a yellowish-whitish liquid - colostrum - can periodically be released from the nipples of the breast. So the mammary glands prepare for childbirth and subsequent feeding of the baby. In order not to stain the linen, you can use special absorbent pads for the chest. They are sold in pharmacies and children's stores, they are a small circle of absorbent materials that is inserted into a bra. If colostrum is absent, this is not a sign of pathology. In some women, the work of the mammary glands starts only after the birth of the crumbs.

Harbingers of childbirth in women who are expecting their first child

One of the first signs that labor is imminent is breathing easier due to the fact that the stomach has dropped. This feeling is not always so vivid that the pregnant woman herself notices it, sometimes others focus on it. Although the child is also actively moving, the mother's shortness of breath decreases, breathing becomes easier, heartburn and mild nausea after eating less often occur or completely disappear. But due to the fact that the fetal head sank lower into the small pelvis, the uterus is increasingly in good shape, urination becomes more frequent due to pressure on the bladder.

Sometimes the mother-to-be suddenly notices that the child is not moving much, his movements are not so sharp and active, he seems to calm down. This is a completely natural process, since every day there is less and less space inside the uterine cavity, the walls of its temporary “house” put more and more pressure on the arms and legs, tightly cover, and the amniotic fluid becomes a little less.

If the baby began to move less, he is also preparing for childbirth, gaining strength, but if for 10-12 hours you did not feel a single push or movement, it is better to consult a doctor. He will check if everything is fine with the baby.

Important!

If the mother feels the fetal movement is too active, a doctor's consultation is necessary. This is necessary to make sure that the baby does not have oxygen starvation, and the volume of amniotic fluid is normal.

If at earlier times the fetal movements were felt as various movements, pushes, kicks and even somersaults, then by this time it is more and more often pandiculation or slight movements. The baby already has little space, sometimes his movements are very noticeable - the woman notes that she is pulling her stomach in the area where the fetal activity is felt.

Preparing the body for childbirth

The 38th week of pregnancy is a period of active restructuring of the body. Under the influence of hormones, the body prepares for hard work: there is pain in the lower back, pulling the lower abdomen, there is an ache in the area of the pubic joint (the place where the pelvic bones are closed). The lower abdomen hurts due to the descent of the fetal head and its tight fit to the pelvic bones, the occurrence of more and more frequent training uterine contractions and the gradual loosening of the ligaments. Sometimes there is a feeling that the stomach is turning to stone - this is the tone of the uterus, muscle training for subsequent contractions. If these contractions are irregular, occur occasionally, they are not intense, you just need to lie on your side, rest, and they pass. If the same time passes between contractions, they become more and more sensitive, the interval is reduced - this is the beginning of labor, it's time to go to the maternity hospital.

There is one easy way to tell if contractions are false or true. You just need to count the number of contractions and the interval between them. Use a stopwatch on your smartphone, noting how long the contraction of the uterus lasts and how long the period of relaxation, rest, will then be. If the contractions of the uterus gradually increase, intensify, and the time intervals between them gradually decrease, this is a sign of the onset of labor. Then it was time to go to the maternity hospital.

Mucus discharge from the genital tract may occur during the 38th week. By the nature of the discharge, they look like lumps of dense transparent or whitish mucus with streaks of blood without any smell. This is the discharge of the mucous plug, which closed the cervix and prevented the penetration of pathogenic bacteria to the fetal membranes. The cervix gradually softens, opens slightly and the mucus gradually leaves.

Good to know

In nulliparous women, harbingers of imminent labor may appear approximately one to two weeks before the onset of labor. It's about 38 or 39th weeks of pregnancy.

In some cases, the mother-to-be may have loose stools at 38 weeks of gestation, although no changes in the woman's diet have occurred. This is an acceptable bowel reaction to changing hormone levels and preparing the body for childbirth. The intestines are gradually cleared of the contents. However, not always different sensations and changes in the work of digestion are explained precisely by prenatal changes. Diarrhea at this gestational age may also be the result of dietary errors, food poisoning, or other influences.

A particularly alarming situation is when nausea and even vomiting occur against the background of diarrhea. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Harbingers of childbirth when expecting a second and subsequent children

If this is not the first pregnancy and childbirth for a woman, and the family is expecting a second, third baby, then the birth may come a little earlier. The body already knows what will happen and it takes less time for the preparatory phase. Thus, the appearance of the crumbs into the world can be expected in the period from the beginning of the 38th week of pregnancy. The processes themselves, which are associated with the preparation for childbirth, may not be so pronounced, sometimes they are absent or appear just a couple of days before the baby is born.

So, with repeated pregnancy, there may not be a pronounced and significant lowering of the abdomen. Often, the baby is initially located lower than during the first pregnancy, or the cervix relaxes just before the onset of childbirth. Then the woman feels that it has become easier to breathe, the pressure on the bladder has increased.

Important!

It is worth emphasizing that in multiparous mothers, the harbingers of childbirth may be completely absent. The birth process can begin suddenly, and the contractions will be stronger, the duration of labor will be shorter. Therefore, by the time of 38 weeks, you need to collect everything you need to go to the maternity hospital, all the necessary things and documents should be in an accessible place.

Childbirth is unique, it takes place differently in women, and even in the same woman childbirth is different. If this is the third birth or the fourth, often the precursors can be barely perceptible or completely absent. And the birth act itself proceeds quite quickly and sometimes even a little earlier than the date of birth, which is determined by the doctor. But, as for the second birth, this fact is not a strict pattern, childbirth is possible almost the same day with a pre-calculated date.

In any case, by the 38th week of pregnancy, it is necessary to collect everything necessary for a trip to the maternity hospital and immediately seek medical help at the first contractions.

Is it worth it to speed up labor at this time?

Many women feel tired towards the end of their pregnancy and want to have a baby as soon as possible. Therefore, they ask one question - how to speed up the onset of childbirth, is it possible to stimulate this process in order to meet the baby faster and return home, accept congratulations and raise the baby. But you don't need to think about inducing labor before the full term of 40 weeks. Although by the 38th week the baby is already full-term, he is still gaining weight, continues to develop, and nature knows better when he needs to be born.