Dates and numbers:
There are 12 days until your due date on October 24, 2008.
You are 268 days pregnant.
You are 8.8 months pregnant.
You are in your 9th month of pregnancy.
Your 1st trimester: January 18, 2008 to April 17, 2008. (0 - 12 weeks)
Your 2nd trimester: April 18, 2008 to July 31, 2008. (13 - 27 weeks)
Your 3rd trimester: August 01, 2008 to October 24, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)
Your baby continues to grow this week and weighs about 6.8 pounds. His crown-to-rump length is still about 14 inches and total length is around 21 inches. Most women do not grow any larger during the last few weeks of their pregnancy. From the top of your uterus to your bellybutton is about 6.5 to 7 inches. You may be very uncomfortable now-you are almost there!
Just before real labor contractions start, you might notice false labor contractions. These should not be confused with Braxton-Hicks contractions. False labor contractions can be as strong as real labor contractions, but do not get closer and may go away if you get up to walk around. Contractions help dilate the cervix and encourage your water to break. Your baby could be born any day now, but only 5% of mothers deliver on their actual due date!
Over the last few weeks of pregnancy, your baby has been building up waste materials in the intestines. This waste material is known as meconium and is greenish-black in color. Meconium is made up of cells that your baby has shed, lanugo and other substances. Meconium is the first waste that your baby will pass after birth. However, sometimes babies pass meconium before delivery and are delivered with greenish-black waste covering their body. Special care must be taken when a baby passes meconium in the womb.
If your baby is a boy, his testes should have descended into his scrotum by this time. When your baby boy is born, both of his testes should be in place. Approximately 1% of babies are born with undescended testes. Because an undescended testis can cause infertility issues and increase the risks of testicular cancer, your baby's doctor will examine both testes after birth.
The baby's skull is not fully solid as the five bony plates, known as fontanels (little fountains), are still separate and can be pushed together. Birth may mold and elongate the fetal head, a safety precaution to reduce the skull's diameter for an easier birth, without damaging the fetal brain. After delivery, the baby's head returns to a rounded shape. Eyes have no tear ducts yet, they appear a few weeks after birth.
Would you like to announce the birth of your new baby? Do so by clicking this link:
I gave birth!
Almost there! Did you know that we also have a month by month calendar for babies? You can find it in the menu under `Babies`:
Month by month
Comments on week 38Comments 1-49 of about 12726 from week 38
55 messages have been added in the last 24 hours.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Show latest comments from all weeksamandaellaangel -
15 minutes ago
its 11:02pm here and i cant sleep. i just asked my husband if he wants to do some cleaning with me! then i ended up putting nappies into the nappy stacker. Joy-S -
1.6 hours ago
Ugh, I don't know how much more of this I can take. It's 5:30 here and I'm awake dealing with heartburn. I seriously hope this baby decides to come soon!!!!amandaellaangel -
3.2 hours ago
Anyone know any pre-labour signs/symptoms? April-W -
4.4 hours ago
morning ladies - week 38! woop woop xxdustyrose001 -
5.2 hours ago
I am so sick of rolling my nipples around trying to stimulate labor but I cant help it. Im so sick of being in pain everyday and waking up every morning and still no baby. Im getting primrose oil tomorrow, maybe thatll do somethingJet -
5.8 hours ago
Yeah - I too am looking for any sign that labour is around the corner. I get tight contractions as well. All the time. But nothing indicating the true start of labour so every night I go to sleep slightly disappointed. But then it does mean that I'm a day closer!bethyned -
6.6 hours ago
ok first day in week 38 it's almost 2am i have heartburn that won't quit and i just cleaned the whole kitchen...can u say nesting!? ha hababy keelin -
7.1 hours ago
darn...not that I am complaining about a lack of pain, but I was hoping this was a sign labor was around the corner. Oh well. More waiting.km-dickson -
7.5 hours ago
Yeah, I would say that until the first 'real' contraction comes, it's hard to know....but now that I've had a child, I know not to sweat it until it's the eye-popping, 'OH MY GOSH, NOW I KNOW WHAT EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT' kind of pain! With my first, I thought the ones at first were painful.......uhhhhhh not so much. lol I'm still waiting for mine, due tomorrow!!t555rm -
7.8 hours ago
I get tightening in my belly pretty often too...but they are painless, so am not sure if they are contractions. I feel like it's my baby stretching inside. Jet -
7.8 hours ago
Baby Keelin - I reakon it might just be a tease. Real contractions hurt more and more and more. Are these starting to hurt? Do they go away if you have a big drink of water and a rest? Probably not what you want to hear (and I could be wrong). Even 'take your breath away' tightness isn't real labour - doesn't mean it isn't uncomfortable. Also, it could well be preparing your body slowly. But trust me - when it really starts you won't need any clarification at all!!!!!baby keelin -
8.5 hours ago
I have been having tightening in my stomach every 6 minutes for a couple of hours...is this a tease? Do contractions have to hurt before they are real?KarenVG -
10.3 hours ago
Just popping in to say I went into labout Wdnesday at 2am so my scheduled c-section became a sort of emergency! Had Brylee Maria Ann at 6:57am October 8th weighing 6lbs 15oz 21 inches. I had an awesome c-section this time baby has lost alot of weight so have to go and get her checked on Sunday. I am glad I had the excitement of going into labour and going there in a rush! A few pics are up on my page...just got home so have to go sit on a comfy chair!!! Good luck ladies your time is around the corner!
amandaellaangel -
10.7 hours ago
boy oh boy this nausea is killing me. i feel dreadful. *cries*tish06 -
10.9 hours ago
so im kinda frustrated right now...my b/f keeps getting upset with me cuz i keep cleaning...i have to cuz he wont then i ask him to do 3 simple things...1 bring up the laundry from the basement so i don't have to carry it up the stairs...2 put the food away...and 3 do the garbage...the 3 easiest things in the worked to do and he threw a fit about them...i feel like im gonna be raising 2 kids...his mom used to do everything for him including make a whole diff meal if he didn't like what she made but im not like that if he don't like what i make him for dinner i tell him to make something he does like or eat what i made...he wont let me clean the bedroom cuz hes afraid im gunna throw myself into labor he wont let me touch raw food cuz hes afraid im gunna make myself or the baby sick..the only thing im getting sick from is him not letting me do anything but him refusing to do everything i cant bring a child into this house when its full of dust and i trip over most of the rooms cuz everyone but me refuses to pick stuff up id figure his dad being 56 would be big enough to pick stuff up and him being 20 is old enough as well and the kids being 5 8 and 9 are old enough too but apparently not i end up having to do it all...then when his dad got home today he told me i needed to do my laundry... as if i didn't know that already im the one who doesn't have clean clothes to wear but i was unaware that the washer was fixed... my b/f wont do the laundry either so ive been doing that all day..cooking dinner, and cleaning the bedroom while hes been sitting around playing his guitar and not asking if i need any help just getting mad if i pick something up he thinks is to heavy for me but not even offering to pick it up for me...im sorry just had no where to vent lol...im thinking its my hormones but im not sure whatever it is its really aggravating me and i just wanna yell at him lol...i know that everyone here prob understands what im going through...i cant wait to have this baby but then again i can cuz that's just another hundred things added to my list of things to do...hope everyone is having a better day/night than i am...ttyl and tc
~*lots of love and labor dust to all*~
warsaw1 -
11.3 hours ago
sooo ill be 38 wks in like 5days but anywaay....i am having some weird pains in my lower back..someone said it might be back contractions??? never heard of them...ohh and lately when i have contractions they arent really contractions, its like my tummy tightens up but doesnt release for up to like 15 minutes...should i be concerned??? ders1980 -
11.4 hours ago
well i can't be sure until the morning when midwife comes but i'm leaking water and i have a lower backache please pray this is baby on the way pleasedyamond -
11.8 hours ago
Oh man this whole day today my crotch has been hurting like hell! I went shopping earlier with my mom and was walking around some. Every step I took was painful down there. Even the 'lips' I know (TMI). It feels like I got kneed in the crotch a dozen times. It still hurts even though I m not squatting. IT HURTS When I walk!!! AAAAh. This pain is so terrible.amandaellaangel -
12 hours ago
So.... Had doctors appointment yesterday, bub's head is engaged, they never checked if i was dilating. Step b came back negative. Then i was walking around the shops with my hubby and had some bright red spotting, and i had had diahrea all day, so we went back to the hospital they hooked me up to the moitors, bub was fine. They weren't really sure what the blood was from, said it could be a number of things. (Confused). So i've also been feeling extremely nausea, lower back is aching and i have period like cramping. *sigh* i hope everything is okbritbrit3 -
12.4 hours ago
I'm so aggravated!! I went to the doctors today only to find out i have to see someone else.. she didn't know anything about me, and i'm high risk so i prefer to talk to my dr.. So she came in while i was on my nst and talked to me really quickly.. I asked her to check me and then she was like 'Uhhh i'll let your dr do it' i was so upset...i wanted to see if i've been making any progress! BAD NEWS THOUGH cause she is the only dr there next week to, so i have to see her..Her bedside manner was lame, and she was in and out....GRR to top things off, i think i'm in this for the long haul....i don't feel any contractions or bh anymore..she just seems soo comfy and is always moving. AHHHHHH! and i want her out cause i am chlostophobic and don't want her to be too big so i have to have a section! i really don't know if i could do one :(kaycie1 -
13.1 hours ago
kelsey- i was hoping that i would be blessed like the rest of my family and not get stretch marks either.i think that if i wouldnt have been so young/tiny and my son wasnt so big the first baby i wouldnt have that many. but... i am covered. my mom didnt get any and my borthers were 9 lbs and she gained like 80 lbs with them. my dads side didnt get them either. so i thought for sure that i wouldnt get them. and i didnt until the last 2 or 3 weeks, then i go them so bad that my skin bled. i have lost elasticity in my stomach from how bad my skin stretched. i did everything, oil, cocoa butter, lotion. i did everything, so there is nothing that is going to help. i wish there was. i really dont care about them anymore, but it was reall yhard for me to deal with at first. that is the only part of my body that u can tell that i have had kids wheni am not pregnant. i still wear the same size clothes as i did before i had kids and i still have a butt and shape. but with my clothes off its another story..lol. good luck, hopfully they will quit coming. oh yeah, dont itch them if u can. the more itching that u do the worse they get i think. so try to no scratch, i know its hard,rockie -
13.8 hours ago
k so i had my doc appt today and she said my cervix is definitly NOT ready even though its at 2 still and the earliest they would even consider inducing me is the 28th so looks like it will be a while still tristy -
13.9 hours ago
Hey Ladies! I gave birth last Sunday (10/05/08) to a healthy baby girl! She weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19 inches long. We named her Ava Analeisia Arlene. We are at home now, but I had to come in and do my timesheet at work, so I'll be off for 5 more weeks. Good luck to all of you, and the patience will pay off! Baby Love to you all, and I'm just glad I'm not counting down now! Bye!baby1@38 -
14.8 hours ago
Had my last Dr. appt today. Baby is still breech and c section is still on for the 19th!! Really I can't believe how fast this whole pregnancy has gone. As I was leaving the Dr's office I thought...it seems like yesterday that I was here getting my first U/S at 7 weeks...now that was my last appt and baby will be here next week!!! He is in my ribs SO bad...I cannot make myself tall enough sometimes to get him out of them..I will be very glad when he gets here and I can maybe breathe a little bit!!tish06 -
14.9 hours ago
WOW!!! only 9 days left till baby is due...the single digits sound so much closer than the double digits...it seems like such a big difference from yesterday to today lol...hope all is going well with everyone...ttyl and tc
labor dust to allBabyEby3 -
15.6 hours ago
Ok I am so tired, I cant sleep and they baby loves my ribs. Sorry I guess I need to vent. My hubby does not understand and I know you all do. I am so SLEEPY!! My doctor refuses to do the c-section before the 24th but then again I cant now because my husbands family is coming from, Washington State for the birth and wont be here until the 23rd so now I cant rush it. Grrr! Oh well I need to enjoy all this it is the last one!! Good luck ladies I hope you all are feeling better than I!!MommyToGirls -
15.7 hours ago
I have 10 days left till my due date as well. Today I'm chowin' down on fresh pineapple and raspberry leaf tea and bouncing on my exercise ball. Just got back from a massage too, she massaged the pressure points that are supposed to trigger labour. Of course I feel nothing so far!!! I have a feeling I won't get my wish of ONE of my babies coming early! :(SaraChristine -
15.8 hours ago
10 days until my due date.. I havent had any signs of labor... I really like that better than having falsies to play with my emotions.. I am really not too uncomfortable..the only thing that is killing me is the anticipation..for all you who are sick of being prego.. just know that your miracle isnt ready to come out yet...Just think they are warm, cozy,they get fed regularly and they are the safest place.. Within a few weeks we will all have our babies !!!!cat4e1221 -
15.9 hours ago
I am totally nesting lol. Hopefully this baby will come soon. I am hoping. Labor dust to all. kashli -
16.2 hours ago
so went to the doc and still 1 cm 80 effaced so induction is set for tuesday at 8 am! Holy cow im so scared i cant believe in 4 days i will be holding my little guy and officially be a mom. I am so excited but sad he wont be in my belly all safe and sound and i wont feel him moving around anymore :( i hope he comes on his own before tues. Labor dust and good luck everyone :)t555rm -
16.6 hours ago
I was ecstatic when I found out y'day that I'm 2 cm dilated. But now after some reading, I realize that I can stay that way for weeks and still not go into labor. I feel like am in slow labor...ughhh. I get calls everyday from friends and relatives with the same question 'Isn't there any sign of approaching labor...nothing yet ?' And now am getting tired of them asking that...it's not like am overdue or anything. But now, I just want this to be over with...I know that my boy is full term, healthy and ready for this world, so I WANT HIM OUT. * frustrated mom to be*firstaz -
16.8 hours ago
I have had contractions all day everyday for a couple of days now. 10 an hour the doctor said. They are not hard enough and just a little while ago I lost my mucus plug. Not sure what that is for but heard it is progress!! I am 1cm and 50% effaced but that happened overnight so I guess anything is possible....Hang in there everyone!! kelseyispreggo -
16.9 hours ago
Ok so i know that I shouldn't be selfish about my body because having a baby is a blessing...so with that said i'm PISSED! I have been told my whole life that I wouldn't get stretch marks when I'm pregnant because none of the females in my family have gotten them so I thought i was in the clear. well i started getting them on my thighs and butt early on (despite putting lotion on like a crazy woman) and I thought, ok if thats it then I'm fine with it. This whole pregnancy I didn't get a single one on my belly which is really the only place that I really didn't want them. Well now, when I'm being induced in five days, I have them ALL OVER my lower belly. Cmon couldn't they just stay away one more week??? I know i'm being picky but man thats frustrating! If any of you have any tried and true stretch mark removal methods..i'm all ears!mjr7205 -
17 hours ago
my amnio came back matured. yeah! so havn my c-sec in the morning. finaly get 2 c my lil girl. the only sucky thing is they r putting me 2 sleep. feel thats the safer way w my health probs but at least it is getting dun.cherryzz -
17 hours ago
If I had the option For my Dr to strip my membranes I would take it. BUT my Dr does not do that. Im 39 weeks tomorrow. I just can't take this anymore. REALLY!Mommy.D -
17.1 hours ago
I am so depressed right now. I will be 39 weeks tomorrow and there is still no change. I went to the doctors today hoping for some kind of change but nope still 50% and 2 cm dilated. I cried on the way home. I just want him out already. I'm seriously beginning to hate this. taniar82 -
17.2 hours ago
April Ive been in slow unproductive labour for over a week, regular contraction just unproductive so my cervix isnt dilating. Im sooooo fed up. Im 35 weeks doc asked if i wanted him to break my waters, i said no i want him in for abit longerholli1988 -
17.5 hours ago
hello ladies just wanted to let you know I had my son Jayden on 10/06. He was 6 pounds 14 ounces and 19 in.cherryzz -
17.6 hours ago
I just want to have my baby already!! Im getting so antsy so is my husband, actually hes worse then me.. lol. I'm 4cm, and 90% effaced. I dont know I just want it to be over. I mean if baby wasn't ready I wouldn't be dilated this much right? Im so itchy, I just want the itchy and feeling uncomfortable to end!! I also just want to hold my baby!kaycie1 -
17.6 hours ago
april- slow labor is just early labor. it can go on for days, even a week. it just basically annoying and uncomfortable. if u go into the hospital and ur dr is on call they might just rupture ur water and that might make u go into real labor. i was in slow or early labor with my first son for like 3 or 4 days, then i went into the hsopital and my dr broke my watwer, and i had him 3 hours later. its just ur body getting ready and softening everhthing up in there. it really isnt causing dilation though. its just the early stages of labor, hopefully it will speed up for u. good luckdapie898 -
17.7 hours ago
oh and in process of updating my belly pics..apparantly i haven't added any since week 30..oops where did the time go??dapie898 -
17.7 hours ago
i just got back from the grocery store with my 2 year old...and i'm sitting here wondering how i'm going to do anything with a 2 year old and a new baby i guess i don't do anything huh?mommymcclure -
17.7 hours ago
kellyjeanne: it may still just be the mucus plug leaking. My sister and I both had to put up with that for a few days but it quit after about 36 hours with me and I haven't seen any since. BUT, if you're worried, always go in and get checked. You can get an infection if your water breaks and you don't start labor within about 24 hours.
Baby keelin: I understand what you're saying. I do think it's best to go ahead and let things progress as unassisted as possible if there are no complications. In my specific situation, I do have gestational diabetes and they are expecting a bigger baby but my dr still waited until I'm 39 wks to induce to make sure his lungs and body were mature enough to be born, however, if a dr thinks the baby is mature and a woman is as uncomfortable as I am right now, I sure don't blame her for begging for that induction!!! ;-)joje -
19.9 hours ago
well girls- just had my 'last' dr appt. C sect is ON for next friday (due to breech). I am so excited but yet a little scared as it hits me that I am going to be someone's mommy next week! happy friday to all :)courtenay -
20 hours ago
well i sure had a long day yesterday, went to the doctor, nothing going on still thick and a tight 1/2 cm lol but the baby's heart rate was realy high and so was my blood pressure, which has been elevating over the last few weeks, i had a NST after that and it was still high so they had me come back a few hours later to redo it and thankfully everything was okay later that night but it was a long day in the hospital and kind of scary. i have a week left until my section unless they do it sooner or something happens on its own.soon2bmommyof3! -
20.2 hours ago
So I went to maternity last nite, baby wasn't moving at all last nite,and she's usually REALLY active. they hooked me up to a monitor and said she was doing good, wwhheeww. then they said i was contracting every ten minutes and that i might be back in there sooner then later....but...so far nothing, im still having contractions, but nothing like labour contractions( this is my third baby) but hopefully something will start up soon here, since im getting pretty sore from all this tightening :(britbrit3 -
20.5 hours ago
I'm one of those few lucky women who have has morning sickness through this whole thing.. it sucks too because today was really realy bad:( good thing i have a NST, AFI, dialation check/dr apt today...lol. Arghhh i spend more time at the dr.s than anywhere else....good luck ladies i'll let you know whats up after the apt:)KateyBaby -
20.7 hours ago
I just got back from my midwife appointment and she says I'll have my little one in my arms by the end of next week/beginning of the following week :D I AM SO EXCITED! Babies heart beat was 144bpm and everything is going GREAT! I have my next appointment already next Tuesday so Im looking forward to that appointment already. She didn't check my dilation becasue I will be back there so soon for my next appointment but that doesn't bother me one bit. The news she gave me today was enough to send me over the moon :)kellyjeanne -
20.8 hours ago
Good morning ladies, so the other nite i woke up to a wet warm feeling coming down my leg. I looked and there was 2 pools of water. not a huge amount but enough where i thought my water broke.. I went to the hospital, I was having contractions but the doc said it wasnt my water that had broke, it was the fluid around my mucous plug.. HE sent me home.. This morning since 3 am, i have been feeling trickles, wetting my pad that i had shoved in there and around 330 am, i noticed, blood on the pad and ever since then i have had spotting.. Do any of you know what this means or have experienced this, I would hate to go back to the hospital and look like an idiot.....thank you..April-W -
21.6 hours ago
could someone please explain slow labour as this is what ive been told I am 'IN' .. thanks ladies .. xx