Pulls the lower abdomen at 38 weeks pregnant. 38th week of pregnancy: harbingers of childbirth in multiparous

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Pregnancy is coming to an end, and periodically women note that they are pulling the lower abdomen at 38 weeks of gestation. This may be a harbinger of the upcoming long-awaited event. What other symptoms are typical for incipient labor? How developed is the baby and what sensations are the norm and deviation at this time? We will discuss this further in this article.

What's going on with Mom?

What happens to mom at 38 weeks pregnant? Her belly is already too big and causes a lot of inconvenience. It is already much lower than before. It is impossible to stay on the legs for a long time, they swell, and there is a tingling sensation. At night, it is difficult to find a comfortable position for sleeping.

The body begins to prepare for the birth of a child. The uterus descends, in connection with which the woman finally completely recedes heartburn and discomfort in the stomach. A pregnant woman can enjoy eating, alsoeasier breathing. But in addition, this provokes frequent trips to the toilet, the fetus in the uterus puts a lot of pressure on the bladder. Therefore, swelling at 38 weeks is the norm. Constipation may occur. Because the baby at the same time puts pressure on the rectum and does not allow the stool to pass normally.

Pregnant women notice significant breast enlargement, and many already have colostrum at this time. It is important that the bra does not cause discomfort. You should not buy a lot of them, because after childbirth the breasts still increase. In primiparas, a double increase is possible on the second or third day after the birth of the baby.

During a visual examination, the doctor notes the shortening of the cervix. She becomes softer. If childbirth has not yet begun, then the mucus in the vagina is free of impurities. The pelvic bones at this time actively diverge, and the joints become more mobile.

The child is no longer so active, as there is very little space for him. But if the mother does not feel the baby moving for a long time, this is a reason to sound the alarm and go to the hospital. The position occupied by him (upside down or sitting on the ass) is maintained until the very birth. Therefore, if the presentation of the fetus is incorrect, then already at this time the doctor warns of a possible caesarean section.

Pain in the lower abdomen

Pain in the lower abdomen at 38 weeks of gestation suggests that the body is preparing for childbirth. The pelvic bones are moved apart so that the child can safely pass through the pelvic passage. The placenta practically no longer performs its function, it is aging, the child is alreadyreceives less necessary substances and oxygen for development. If this is too pronounced, then an emergency caesarean section may be ordered.

Expectant mothers note that not only does the stomach hurt at the 38th week of pregnancy, it becomes like a stone. There is even more heaviness in the lower abdomen. This is a normal process of preparing the body for childbirth. The woman gets tired quickly again (as in the first trimester).

Stretches and weight gain

Women note the appearance of stretch marks at this time. They are becoming more and more visible. They are present on the abdomen, thighs and chest. So that after childbirth the body does not decorate the traces of stretch marks, from the beginning of pregnancy, doctors recommend using special creams that improve skin elasticity.

What else happens at 38 weeks pregnant? At this time, a woman may not arrive, but lose weight, this is manifested in almost every woman before childbirth. The hormonal background begins to change again. If before that, perestroika was for maintaining pregnancy and bearing a baby, now it is for a safe delivery and breastfeeding. Women are getting more emotional again.

Other changes

Some women have skin pigmentation, varicose veins may appear. The sense of smell works at full capacity, a woman is more sensitive to all aromas (for some, this may be the cause of late development of toxicosis, it is rarely noted).

At this time there are already training contractions, sometimes they cannot be distinguished from real ones even by a woman who has already given birthwoman. If there is an unusual discharge at week 38, especially with blood impurities, then most likely the plug has come off. So it's time to go to the hospital. The bag to the maternity hospital should be collected, and relatives should definitely know where it is, since the onset of childbirth often causes panic and the bag is often forgotten at home.

What's going on with the baby?

What happens to the baby at 38 weeks pregnant? A child born at this time is already considered full-term both in terms of the development of organs, and in terms of weight and height. On average, a child weighs about 3 kg, and the body length is within 50 cm. The child's skin still has a little vellus hair, in some places (in folds) there is a lubricant. There is subcutaneous fat, muscles are well developed.

The child is already arriving insignificantly, on average - by 30 grams per day. In the intestines of the baby, there are already the first feces, which usually come out after birth. If the process of defecation occurred in the womb, then the bowel movements will poison the child. Therefore, doctors make sure that mothers do not overstay the due date.

Fetus at 38 weeks pregnant is in the womb head down. And if a woman has no he alth problems, then delivery will occur naturally. During the day, the child makes an average of about 10 movements. This is due to the small amount of space in the uterus, and besides, the child saves strength for delivery. If there are fewer, you should go to the hospital.

At this time, the genitals are fully formed. If at this time the boys do not have omissiontesticles into the scrotum, then after birth this is done by surgery. The lungs are slightly underdeveloped, but the baby is already able to take the first independent breath. The heart is fully developed.

The bones on the head are movably connected so that the baby can easily pass through the birth canal. The newborn already has sucking skills, distinguishes colors and can see his mother during feeding. Can focus his eyes. He already has hair on his head and small nails. If a woman has a second pregnancy, delivery at the 38th week of pregnancy is considered normal. Therefore, you can start preparing for a significant event already on the 37th

Why does the lower abdomen pull? Possible causes

Why pulls the lower abdomen at 38 weeks pregnant? During this period, a woman often has discomfort and pain in this area. This frightens many and gives reason to worry whether everything is in order with the baby. Someone even confuses them with contractions and the onset of labor. Below is a look at what causes pain and when to start worrying.

Causes of pain in the lower abdomen:

• the baby at this time already weighs decently (about 3 kg), and the placenta also reaches a weight of up to 2 kg. And all this weight puts pressure on the organs located below the uterus. Therefore, it pulls the lower abdomen at the 38th week of pregnancy;
• the process of divergence of the pelvic bones is quite painful. If the birth proceeds normally, then the body prepares in advance and the pelvic bones move apart gradually, which causes pain to the woman. Therefore, premature birth is accompanied by more severe pain. The bones should move apart not in two weeks, but in two hours;
• also pulls the lower abdomen at 38 weeks pregnant due to the fact that the baby squeezes the nerve endings and blood vessels, thereby causing pain;
• lack of vitamins in the body can also cause pain;
• it can be false contractions, to make sure that the contractions are false, you need to walk around the apartment, sit, lie down. From this they retreat. But if this did not help and the frequency of pain became more frequent, then the moment of childbirth has come;
• lowering of the abdomen occurs shortly before childbirth, also causes pain.

But if the pain is accompanied by additional symptoms (feeling worse, spotting, the child has stopped moving, and so on), then you should immediately go to the hospital to save the baby's life.

Vaginal discharge

Also, a pregnant woman should pay attention not only to pain symptoms. Vaginal discharge also plays a significant role. If they are transparent or slightly white, then there are no deviations. A slight appearance of mucus indicates that the body is almost ready for childbirth. If the mucus is pinkish in color and streaked with blood, then most likely the cork has come off. If the water does not leak out, then the pregnancy can be extended in the hospital.

If the discharge has become like yogurt with a characteristic odor, then you need to see a doctor and eliminate the infection as soon as possible so that it does not get to the baby at the momentchildbirth. Cloudy discharge indicates water leakage. It is necessary to immediately go to the hospital, because without amniotic fluid, the baby will die. If the discharge is bloody or dark brown, then the placenta has most likely passed, which means that the baby may experience starvation. To save his life, you need to immediately go to the hospital.

If a woman has a second pregnancy, delivery at 38 weeks is faster than primiparas. Therefore, if there are pains similar to contractions, it is better to play it safe and go to the hospital in advance. Otherwise, there is a high chance that the baby will be born in the ambulance or before it arrives.

Harbingers of labor in multiparous at 38 weeks of gestation

Because of the existing false contractions, the expectant mother is afraid to miss the very moment of childbirth. What symptoms are present before labor begins?

1. Fake contractions, they can be both a few weeks before the onset of a happy event, and the day before the birth. Usually they stop if the woman is like. But if they only become more frequent, and the pain syndrome intensified, then it's time to go to the hospital. The main thing at this time is to keep calm, this is no longer a premature birth, the baby is born almost full-term. The uterus is increasingly in good shape.
2. At 38 weeks, the cork starts to come off. This is a kind of mucus with streaks of blood. It can go away gradually, within two weeks. Or it can come out all at once before the birth.
3. Amniotic fluid breaks. This is a clear symptom of the onset of labor.process. If contractions are not present, then the hospital may stimulate them or offer a caesarean section, since the baby will not be able to live long without water. They can also come out gradually. When a woman suspects water leakage, it is necessary to inform the doctor about it. Otherwise, it may end sadly.
4. Weight loss. By the end of pregnancy, a woman is already starting to gain a little weight. Before the birth, the weight even decreases. This happens due to the fact that the body is preparing for childbirth and removes excess fluid from the body. Diarrhea may set in.
5. Friends and the doctor note that the stomach has dropped. Even the pregnant woman herself notices that there is no more strong pressure on the stomach, it has become easier to breathe. The already annoying heartburn passes.
6. Colostrum began to appear from the mammary glands. This is what the baby will eat for the first time days until milk production begins.

If the mother has doubts, then it is already possible to accurately determine whether labor has begun or this is again a false alarm, only a doctor can use a visual examination, if necessary, they can prescribe an ultrasound.

Harbingers of childbirth in multiparous women at 38 weeks of gestation do not differ from the usual ones. The only difference may be that the uterus opens a little faster than in primiparas. Also, the process of childbirth may take less time. In addition, multiparous women are more likely to give birth at 38 weeks than primiparas. Therefore, during the second pregnancy, a woman should carefully listen to her body. Often about the onset of labor (if the pregnancy is the second, third, and so on)a woman can understand by the outpouring of waters.

When is hospitalization necessary?

What happens at 38 weeks of pregnancy such that a woman should be hospitalized earlier? With a normal pregnancy, a woman enters the maternity hospital only at the onset of contractions or when amniotic fluid is poured out. But things don't always go smoothly.

Under what circumstances can they be admitted to the hospital at 38 weeks:

• if spotting began, characteristic of placental abruption. This means that the child no longer receives the right amount of nutrients, which are already scarce due to the aged placenta;
• high blood pressure, swelling and general deterioration of the body. In this case, delivery via caesarean section is necessary;
• if the placenta does not deliver the right amount of oxygen, as well as nutrients, the baby begins starvation. This can be detected by ultrasound at 38 weeks of gestation, as well as by CTG indicators;
• if the need to stimulate labor is foreseen, then they are put in the hospital to prepare for childbirth, stimulate the process;
• with multiple pregnancy. Usually, childbirth occurs at this time, since delivery is by caesarean section, it is undesirable to wait for the start of the birth process;
• mal presentation of the fetus or it is large. In this case, artificial delivery is recommended. Therefore, the pregnant woman is admitted to the hospital in advance, for a period of 38 weeks.

If the doctor advises to be hospitalized in advance, then it is betterheed his advice. This way you can avoid the risk of unforeseen situations during childbirth.

Expert Tips

To safely reach pregnancy until 40 weeks, you need to carefully monitor all changes, especially from the 38th week. Since at this time the body is already ready for childbirth. A bag with the necessary documents and supplies for mom and baby should be packed.

At this time, it is advisable to avoid intimate relationships, as they can cause contractions, and you can also introduce an infection in the process. All this will be accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen.

Doctors recommend:

• carefully monitor your he alth, do not miss doctor's check-ups, follow all recommendations. Be sure to give the body enough time to rest, but not too lazy. Take evening walks;
• be sure to eat right, since appetite improves at this time, it is important not to gain extra pounds, they will interfere with childbirth, and it will be more difficult to return the previous weight. It is advisable to eat smaller portions and more often. Do not overload your stomach. Since overeating can also provoke abdominal pain and can even cause contractions;
• if constipation appears, do not fight it yourself, do not sit for hours in the toilet and push, this can cause premature birth. It is better to consult a doctor and take laxatives (not everything can be used by pregnant women);
• if a woman is on this termfalls ill, then, depending on the disease, a decision will be made whether to cure the patient before delivery or to perform a caesarean section before the disease reaches the child in the womb.
• use products that improve skin elasticity (to eliminate stretch marks), as well as special ointments for the elasticity of the skin in the vagina to avoid tears;
• be sure to get training on how to behave during childbirth. Will not hurt even multiparous;
• you definitely need to properly tune in to the upcoming event, be calm, listen to all the doctor's advice during childbirth, then the birth will end successfully;
• if a woman used a bandage during pregnancy, then after the 38th week of pregnancy, it must be abandoned, otherwise the stomach will not be able to descend normally. And the birth process may not go as expected;
• during childbirth, the main thing is not to be afraid of pain, but to think about the he alth of the baby, because if a mother is afraid to push, it can harm her child. Childbirth can end in serious injury, even for life;
• if not forbidden by a doctor, then visit the pool. This will temporarily remove the load from the spine. It is necessary to give time to complete relaxation;
• to be alone with the baby and already communicate with him. He feels and hears everything.

Conclusion

Now you know what happens at 38 weeks of pregnancy with the baby and mother. We also considered the possible reasons for the hospitalization of a woman in position. Remember that mom's positive attitude, compliance with allrecommendations will help to have a he althy baby.