So one more step has been taken to bring the most responsible event closer, both in the life of mother and baby, of childbirth. Most likely, at 38 weeks old the woman is already experiencing anxiety and excitement about this. If pregnancy is prolific, then birth can occur from day to day. Even if the mother is not the first birth, then in any case, she is somewhat tense and nervous.
Fetus at 38 weeks of gestation
The weight of the fetus on the 38th week of pregnancy is about 3 - 3.2 kg. The size of the fetus is approximately equal to 50 - 51 cm, the diameter of its head is 91 mm, and the thorax is 95.3 mm.
If the fetus is born in 38 weeks, then it will be considered full, and childbirth - occurred in the due time.
The fetus at 38 weeks is well developed fatty subcutaneous layer, it has skin integuments of pink color, covered in some places by a fluff (lanugo). His nails are dense and already reach the fingertips.
The external genitalia are already well developed.
Externally, the child looks like a normal newborn and is ready to be born. If a child is born at this time, then he has a good muscle tone, all reflexes are developed.
Fetal movements
Femoral changes on week 38 become rarer. If two months ago the baby was pushed about twenty times an hour, now the number of movements decreases several times. And this is quite understandable. After all, the crumbs in the womb of the mother had almost no place for active movements. But at the same time every mom feels very clearly, sometimes even painfully.
If the fetal movements are quite intense, or they are completely absent at week 38, then this is not a very good indicator. This may indicate that the fetus experiences hypoxia, that is, it does not have enough oxygen. This must be reported to the doctor, who, in turn, will appoint a woman at 38 weeks to undergo cardiotocography and ultrasound.
Cardiotocography is a procedure for listening to the fetal heartbeat, which lasts for about 40-60 minutes.
Decoding of the results of CTG of the fetus in 38 weeks is carried out according to five criteria, estimated from 0 to 2 points. The final result is displayed on a 10-point scale. The norm is 8-10 points.
The result of 6-7 points indicates the presence of fetal hypoxia, but without an emergency threat. In this case, a second CTG is scheduled. As a result, less than 6 points indicate intrauterine hypoxia and the need for hospitalization, or urgent labor.