Your Baby in week 38
Your Baby in week 38:
Your baby weighs about 6 pounds, 6 ounces
(2,900 grams) by now and measures about 13.4
inches (34 cm) in length from crown to rump.
Fat is still accumulating, although growth
is slower now. You may notice that your
weight gain has decreased or ceased.
Since your baby has had the muscles to
suck and swallow amniotic fluid, waste
material has been accumulating in his or
her intestines. Cells shed from the intestines,
dead skin cells, and lanugo hair are some of
the waste products that contribute to meconium,
a greenish-black substance that constitutes
your baby's first bowel movement.
If you're having a boy, his testicles have
descended into the scrotum, unless he has a
condition called undescended testicle. If you're
having a girl, the labia are now completely developed.
What's going on with You:
Because your baby is engaged in your pelvis,
your bladder is extremely compressed, making
frequent bathroom trips a necessity.
Have you and your partner made a decision
about circumcision? Circumcision is a
surgical procedure to remove the foreskin
of the penis in male babies. For some
parents the decision to circumcise is
a religious one. For others, the choice
is not as easily made. Talk to your health
care provider about the issues surrounding
circumcision, including pain relief options
for the baby.
next week 39
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