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The home straight has been reached! At the end of the 38th week of pregnancy, there are only three weeks to go until your due date. So you will soon be holding your little darling in your hands. Only very few babies are born exactly on their due date. Most are born between two weeks before and two weeks after the due date. So it can start at practically any moment. In this part of our pregnancy calendar, we'll tell you what the first signs of an imminent birth are and when it's time to go to hospital.
SSW 38 - this means that your baby would no longer be a premature baby if it were born now. You can be proud of what your body has achieved so far. All of the unborn baby's organs are now functional. On average, babies in the 38th week of pregnancy weigh 3100 grams and are 48 centimetres tall. Every day that your child remains in your womb, it will gain around 15 grams.
Haematopoiesis like in adults
In week 38, the baby's liver stops producing blood cells. From now on, blood - as in healthy adults - is only produced in the red bone marrow. The liver now only accounts for around 5 % of your baby's body weight.
The immune system continues to mature
The precursors of the lymphoblasts now develop in the lymph nodes of the foetus. These white blood cells play an important role in fighting infectious diseases. More and more primary follicles also develop, for example in the respiratory and digestive tracts. This is where the so-called B lymphocytes, which are responsible for the production of antibodies, develop. As you can see, your baby's body's own immune defence is becoming increasingly complex, which means that your little one is better and better armed against viruses and bacteria from the outside world. And yet your baby still needs your protection. Its immune system will not be fully mature for many months. With your milk, you can help his immune system to defend itself against viruses and bacteria after birth. With the Online breastfeeding course you can already prepare yourself well for breastfeeding. This is important. Because your baby needs your help with breastfeeding, especially in the first few days after the birth.
Practical help for you:
Emergency service midwife Katharina explains the most important things about the maternity pass online.
Perhaps you are currently having problems getting to sleep at night. Then you are like many pregnant women at the end of their pregnancy. On the one hand, the large baby bump makes it increasingly difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. On the other hand, your thoughts are probably revolving around the upcoming birth and all the unknowns that come afterwards. No wonder you are plagued by fears and insecurities. Quite a few heavily pregnant women experience nightmares and are unable to rest at night.
Think about where exactly this anxiety is coming from. Are you afraid of the pain of childbirth? Are you worried about a possible loss of control? Talk about these worries with close confidants or contact your midwife. A tea in the evening will also give you warmth and relaxation. We recommend passion flower tea, for example. We also recommend our Workshop on the topic of labour pain to your heart. This will help you to cope better with the pain during labour and can give you confidence and trust in your body beforehand.
The mucus plug can loosen
Your cervix was closed by a mucous plug throughout your pregnancy. This has the task of protecting your unborn child from rising germs and pathogens. Now, towards the end of the pregnancy, this mucus plug may loosen. This is a sure sign that the birth is imminent. However, this does not mean that your baby will come immediately. It can still be a few days or even a few weeks before the first contractions start. For some women, the mucous plug only dissolves during the opening phase of labour.
What does the mucus plug look like?
It is a plug that forms from cervical mucus in the cervix. Its colour can vary from transparent to yellowish to pink or brownish. Also, don't be alarmed if it is a little bloody. This is completely normal and is referred to as a spotting. However, if you start bleeding heavily, please contact the clinic where you want to have your baby immediately. It is important to ensure that everything is in order in the event of bleeding.
The clot can either come loose as a thick thread or appear in small pieces. Pregnant women are often surprised by this when going to the toilet. Some women do not even notice that the mucous plug has come out. It does not cause any pain.
Do I have to go to hospital immediately if the mucous plug comes loose?
If you have not yet had any contractions and your waters have not broken, you can sit back and relax for the time being. Although the mucus plug indicates that labour is approaching, it may take some time before it actually starts. Tell your midwife or gynaecologist about your observations at your next antenatal appointment. It is also advisable to Clinic bag to finish packing so that everything is ready when labour finally starts.
Look out for signs of an impending birth
You're probably thinking a lot about the birth process these days. First-time mums in particular often ask themselves one question: How do I even know when it's about to start? In addition to the loosening of the mucous plug described above, there are other sure signs that your baby is on the way.
1. the contractions become stronger and more regular
You have probably already felt your belly hardening again and again over the last few weeks. These are pre-labour contractions. Your uterus is training for the birth with these irregular contractions. You may also have noticed contractions that cause your baby's head (if it is in a cephalic position) to be pushed into the pelvis.
But how do you know whether you are in pre-labour or false contractions or already in real labour? True labour is when your cervix shortens and your cervix opens. They are a sure sign that labour is beginning. You can recognise them by the fact that they occur regularly and at increasingly shorter intervals. A trick that you can use to distinguish real labour pains from pre-labour pains: Take a warm bath. While training and lowering contractions usually decrease due to the warmth, the intensity of labour pains can even increase. Labour pains cannot be alleviated by changing position or resting. A labour usually lasts between 30 and 60 seconds.
Do I have to go to hospital as soon as I feel the first contractions? No, as long as the intervals between contractions are still long, there is no need to rush. This latency phase usually works best when the pregnant woman is at home in her familiar surroundings. Try to stay relaxed and go for a short walk. Also contact your midwife, she will be able to give you advice and support and make you feel safe. When the intervals are between five and seven minutes and you are sure that you want to be at your place of birth, it is time to go to the hospital. Of course, this also depends on how far you have to travel to the hospital. If you feel unsure, you can also go to the hospital earlier. Take another look at the lesson on the start of labour in the Online birth preparation course on. The many examples in it show you how different the start of labour is and how you can recognise whether your birth has already begun or whether you and your baby are still in the phase in which you are practising how your birth can go best.
2. amniotic fluid leaks
At the end of the pregnancy, your little lodger will be swimming in around one litre of amniotic fluid (23). Around 10 to 15 % of all pregnant women have a rupture of the membranes before labour begins. You will notice this when a warm, clear fluid runs out of your vagina. This can happen in gushes or droplets. Sometimes the expectant mother is not sure whether it is amniotic fluid or urine. The following characteristics can be used to distinguish between the two fluids:
- Amniotic fluid is odourless (sometimes slightly sweet) and transparent, while urine is yellowish and has a typical odour.
- It is not possible to stop the leakage of amniotic fluid, but you can stop the flow of urine by tensing your pelvic floor muscles.
- You can measure the pH value with pH strips available in pharmacies (litmus test). Urine has a pH value of approx. 5 to 6, while amniotic fluid has a pH value of over 6.5.
Do I have to go straight to hospital after the rupture of the membranes?
As soon as you start leaking amniotic fluid, it is best to contact your midwife. They will give you tips on how to proceed. Basically, if your baby's head is already firmly in the pelvis and you are 37 weeks pregnant, you can take your time. In this case, there is no risk of an umbilical cord prolapse and you can relax and wait and see what happens next.
You will probably go into labour within the next few hours and the birth will begin. If there are still no contractions after 12 to 18 hours, the birth is usually induced. Everything about Induction of labour and the various options available to you in our Online workshop.
Caution: If your amniotic fluid is green in colour, go to hospital quickly to be on the safe side. The amniotic fluid turns green if the unborn child has already excreted faeces, also known as child vomit. This means that your baby has been under stress. It is therefore important to check quickly whether this stress is affecting your baby. Green amniotic fluid often occurs when women have bathed too hot or a hot water bottle on the mum's stomach has dilated the vessels of the placenta too much.
Are you afraid of not interpreting the signs of the onset of labour correctly? Are you worried that you won't get to the hospital in time? In our Online birth preparation course you will learn exactly what the harbingers of labour are and which symptoms you should look out for. The course will also teach you about the individual stages of labour. With this knowledge, you are sure to start this very special experience full of confidence.
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