Hey Mama! In this episode of Pregnancy Unpacked, Trish gets into the final stretch of pregnancy with honest, empowering advice. She addresses the annoyances of constant questions about your due date, celebrates your body's power, and shares practical tips on labor preparation, prenatal visits, and emotional well-being. Whether you're feeling the pressure (literally and figuratively) or just need a boost of confidence, this episode reminds you that you're right on time - and your baby is almost here!

Key Takeaways

• Baby's Growth: Your little one is about the size of a mini watermelon (19.5 inches, ~6.8 pounds), building fat stores, shedding vernix, and maturing their brain and lungs.
• Labor Prep Tips: Prioritize gentle movement like walking, stretching, and birth ball exercises to "grease the gears" for birth.
• Prenatal Insights: Cervical checks are optional and don't predict labor; discuss Group B Strep results thoughtfully; consider membrane sweeps carefully.
• Signs of Labor: Watch for regular contractions (stronger, longer, closer), back pain, bloody show, or your mama intuition.

More from this episode:

• Read the blog: Here's What You Need to Know About GBS (Group B Strep) and 
• Read the blog: Got a Big Baby on Board? What You Need to Know
• Calm Labor Confident Birth Bundle at learn.labornursemama.com/calm for just $297.

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:59 Welcome to Week 38 of Pregnancy
• 02:27 Embracing the Final Weeks
• 02:51 Baby's Development at 38 Weeks
• 03:28 Baby Weight Myths
• 05:05 Labor Prep Essentials
• 05:57 Prenatal Visits and Cervical Checks
• 07:15 Group B Strep Results: Handling positive results without fear
• 08:22 Membrane Sweeps 
• 08:40 Signs of Labor to Watch For
• 09:36 Navigating Emotional Challenges
• 10:18 Positive Birth Affirmations

Resources:

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Join The Calm Labor Confident Birth Course

Connect w/ Trish:

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For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services