Pulls the lower abdomen at 38 weeks of gestation. 38th week of pregnancy: precursors of labor in multiparous

Pregnancy comes to an end, and periodically women note that they are pulling the lower abdomen at 38 weeks of pregnancy. This may be a harbinger of the approaching long-awaited event. What other symptoms are characteristic of a beginning labor? How is the baby developed and what sensations are the norm and deviation at this time? We will discuss this later in this article.

What happens to mom?

What happens to mom at 38 weeks gestation? Her belly is already too big and causes a lot of inconvenience. It is already located much lower than before. It is impossible to stay on one’s feet for a long time, they swell, and tingling can occur. At night, it’s hard to find a comfortable sleeping position.

The body begins preparing for the birth of the baby. The uterus falls, and therefore the woman finally completely retreats heartburn and discomfort in the stomach. A pregnant woman can enjoy eating, and breathing is also easier. But in addition, this provokes frequent trips to the toilet, the fetus in the uterus strongly presses on the bladder. Therefore, edema at 38 weeks is the norm. Constipation may occur. Because the baby at the same time presses on the rectum and does not allow the feces to leave 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, since after childbirth the breast is still enlarged. In primiparas, a two-fold increase is possible on the second or third day after the birth of the baby.

At a visual examination, the doctor notes a shortening of the cervix. She's getting 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, since he has very little space. But if the mother for a long time does not feel the baby moving, this is an occasion to sound the alarm and go to the hospital. The position occupied by him (upside down or sitting on the ass) remains until the very birth. Therefore, if the presentation of the fetus is incorrect, then already at this time the doctor warns of a possible cesarean section.

Lower abdominal pain

Pain in the lower abdomen at 38 weeks of gestation indicates that the body is preparing for childbirth. The pelvic bones move apart so that the child can safely pass through the pelvic passage. The placenta already practically does not fulfill its function, its aging occurs, the child already receives less necessary substances and oxygen for development. If this is manifested too clearly, then an emergency caesarean section can be prescribed.

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

Stretch marks and weight gain

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

What else happens at 38 weeks gestation? 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 this, perestroika was aimed at preserving pregnancy and carrying a baby, now it is for safe delivery and breastfeeding. Women again become more emotional.

Other changes

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

At this time, there are already training fights, sometimes even a woman who has given birth can not distinguish them from the real ones. If there are unusual discharge at 38 weeks, especially with impurities of blood, then, most likely, this is a traffic jam. That is, it's time to go to the hospital. The bag in the hospital must be collected, and relatives must know where it is, since the birth that has begun often causes panic and the bag is often forgotten at home.

What happens to the baby?

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

The child already arrives slightly, on average - by 30 grams per day. In the intestines of the baby there are already the first feces, which usually go outside after birth. If the process of defecation occurred in the womb, then the bowel movement will begin to poison the child. Therefore, doctors make sure that mothers do not change the due date.

The fetus is 38 weeks pregnant in the womb, head down. And if a woman has no health problems, then delivery will occur naturally. A child makes an average of about 10 movements per day. This is due to the small amount of space in the uterus, and in addition, the child saves forces for delivery. With a smaller number, you should go to the hospital.

At this time, the genitals are fully formed. If at this time the boys will not have the prolapse of the testicles into the scrotum, then after birth this is done in an operational way. The lungs are slightly underdeveloped, but the baby is already able to take the first independent sigh. The heart is fully developed.

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

Why pulls the lower abdomen? Possible reasons

Why pulls the lower abdomen at 38 weeks of pregnancy? During this period, a woman often has unpleasant sensations and pains in this area. This scares many people and gives reason to worry whether everything is in order with the baby. Someone even confuses them with labor and the birth. The following describes what causes pain and when to start worrying.

Causes of pain in the lower abdomen:

• the child at this time already weighs decently (about 3 kg), and the placenta reaches a weight of up to 2 kg. And all this weight presses on the organs located below the uterus. Therefore, pulls the lower abdomen at 38 weeks of gestation;
• the process of diverging the pelvic bones is rather painful. If childbirth proceeds normally, then the body prepares in advance and the pelvic bones move apart gradually, which hurts the woman. Therefore, premature birth is accompanied by more severe pain. The bones should not expand in two weeks, but in two hours;
• also pulls the lower abdomen at 38 weeks of pregnancy due to the fact that the child 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 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 birth came;
• prolapse of the abdomen occurs shortly before childbirth, also causes pain.

But if the pains are accompanied by additional symptoms (worsening of health; spotting; the child has stopped moving and so on), then you need to 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. A significant role is played by vaginal discharge. If they are transparent or slightly white, then there are no deviations. A small appearance of mucus suggests that the body is almost ready for childbirth. If the mucus is pinkish in color and streaked with blood, then most likely this is a cork. If the water does not leak, then the pregnancy can be extended in the hospital.

If the discharge has become similar to 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 time of delivery. Turbid discharge indicates leakage of water. It is necessary to immediately go to the hospital, since without the amniotic fluid the baby will die. If the discharge is blood or dark brown in color, then the placenta most likely has moved away, which means that the child may experience starvation. To save his life, you need to immediately go to the hospital.

If a woman has a second pregnancy, childbirth at the 38th week is faster than in primiparas. Therefore, if there are pains similar to contractions, it is better to play it safe and consult a hospital in advance. Otherwise, there is a high probability of having a baby in an ambulance or before her arrival.

The precursors of labor in multiparous women at 38 weeks of gestation

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

1. Fake contractions, they can be a few weeks before the onset of a happy event, or the day before childbirth. Usually they stop if the woman is like. But if they only became 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 not a premature birth, the baby is born almost full-term. The uterus is increasingly in good shape.
2. At a period of 38 weeks, the cork begins to recede. This is a kind of mucus with streaks of blood. She can depart gradually, within two weeks. Or maybe all immediately before delivery.
3. Amniotic fluid leaves. This is a striking symptom of the onset of the birth process. If contractions are not present, then the hospital may stimulate them or offer a cesarean section, since the baby will not be able to live long without water. They can leak out and gradually. When a woman suspects that water is leaking, it is necessary to inform the doctor about this. Otherwise, it may end sadly.
4. Weight loss. By the end of pregnancy, a woman is already starting to gain little weight. Before the birth, weight is even reduced. This is due to the fact that the body is preparing for childbirth and removes excess fluid from the body. Diarrhea may begin.
5. Friends and the doctor note that the stomach fell. Even the pregnant woman herself notes that there is no more strong pressure on the stomach, it has become easier to breathe. Passes already bored heartburn.
6. Colostrum began to appear from the mammary glands. It is him and the baby will eat for the first time days until milk production begins.

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

The precursors of labor in multiparous at 38 weeks of gestation do not differ from ordinary ones. The only difference may be that the uterus opens a little faster than in the nulliparous. Also, the birth process itself may take less time. In addition, multiparous babies more often give birth at 38 weeks than primiparous. Therefore, during the second pregnancy, a woman should listen more carefully to her body. Often, the beginning of childbirth (if the pregnancy is second, third, and so on) a woman can understand by the outflow of water.

When is hospitalization necessary?

What happens at 38 weeks gestation such that a woman should be hospitalized earlier? With a normal pregnancy, a woman enters the hospital only at the beginning of contractions or when amniotic fluid is discharged. But not everything goes smoothly.

Under what circumstances can they be hospitalized at 38 weeks:

• if bloody discharge begins, characteristic of placental abruption. This means that the child is no longer receiving the right amount of nutrients, which already began to be received little because of the aged placenta;
• severely increased pressure, swelling and general deterioration of the body. In this case, delivery through cesarean section is necessary;
• if the placenta does not deliver the right amount of oxygen, as well as nutrients, the child begins starvation. This can be detected by ultrasound at 38 weeks of gestation, as well as CTG indicators;
• if the need for stimulation of labor is anticipated, then they are placed in a hospital to prepare for childbirth, they stimulate the process;
• with multiple pregnancy. Usually childbirth occurs during this period, since it is Caesarean section, it is undesirable to wait until the birth process begins;
• incorrect presentation of the fetus or it is large. In this case, artificial delivery is recommended. Therefore, a pregnant woman is placed in advance in a hospital for a period of 38 weeks.

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

Expert Advice

In order to safely reach pregnancy up to 40 weeks, it is necessary 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 accessories for mom and baby should be collected.

At such a time, it is advisable to avoid intimate relationships, as they can cause contractions, and it is also possible to introduce an infection in the process. This will all be accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen.

Doctors recommend:

• carefully monitor your health, do not skip examinations by a doctor, follow all recommendations. Be sure to give the body enough time to relax, but not too lazy. To do evening walks;
• be sure to eat right, as 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 to the previous weight. It is advisable to eat in small portions and more often. Do not overload the stomach. Since overeating can also provoke abdominal pain and can even cause the onset of contractions;
• if constipation occurs, do not fight them yourself, you should not sit for hours in the toilet and push, so you 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 falls ill during this period, then depending on the disease, a decision will be made whether to cure the patient before childbirth or to have a cesarean section until the disease reaches the baby in the womb.
• use tools that improve the elasticity of the skin (to eliminate stretch marks), as well as special ointments for the elasticity of the skin in the vagina to avoid tearing;
• Be sure to get training on how to behave during childbirth. Even the multiparous will not hurt;
• it is necessary 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 during pregnancy a woman used a bandage, then after the 38th week of pregnancy, you need to refuse it, otherwise the abdomen will not be able to fall normally. And the patrimonial process can take place not as it should;
• during childbirth, the main thing is not to be afraid of pain, but to think about the baby’s health, because if a mother is afraid to push, she can harm her baby. Childbirth can result in serious injury, even for a lifetime;
• If not prohibited by a doctor, then visit the pool. This will temporarily relieve the load from the spine. It is necessary to give time to complete relaxation;
• 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 gestation with the baby and mother. We also examined the possible reasons for hospitalizing a woman in a position. Remember that a positive attitude of the mother, following all the recommendations will help to give birth to a healthy baby.