38 Weeks....we are nearly there

Development is complete, baby's main job is to gain weight. The body continues laying on the fat stores that will help regulate his body temperature after birth. The amniotic fluid, this is approximately equal to 4 or 5 cups.

Baby may have a full head of hair now, an inch or more long, but some babies are born with only peach fuzz. Speaking of hair, most of the downy coat of lanugo that covered the baby for weeks has disappeared, but you may see some on the upper back and shoulders when he arrives. Almost gone has most of the vernix caseosa, the whitish substance that also covered baby.

The baby will swallow the lanugo and exterior coating, along with other secretions, and store them in their bowels. These will become his first bowel movement, a blackish waste called meconium. The child's intestines are accumulating lots of meconium. About 30% of babies move their bowels before birth. Usually this is a sign that the baby is under some stress and can cause pneumonia if the baby inhales any amniotic fluid with meconium in it. If there are signs of meconium in the amniotic fluid at birth the care provider will make sure that the baby's throat and lungs are suctioned thoroughly.

This week, the baby weighs around seven and a half pounds and measures about 20 inches (51cm) head to toe. until delivery.