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Your baby's thirty-eight week after birth
your 38-week-old baby tends to go through major life-changing development milestones during this week and perhaps also depends on each baby’s development and growth. You as parents can expect your baby to now start or rather initiate baby steps for walking (quite literally!), or creep, crawl, sit on the stomach, or/and dance.
Not only that, the little one will now remember people they meet now and then and also become fluent in their words as ‘mama,’ ‘papa,’ etc. This is also the week where the little one could show signs of their first teeth and begin to develop new eating habits. This is perhaps a week filled with new habits and excitement, and in order for you to unravel it all, we at Parenthood bliss have curated this article incorporating everything you need to know about your baby’s growth when 9 months old. Read on to know more!
Your 38-week-old baby's development and physical growth
Let us now understand what happens with the little one in their second week after birth in terms of their physical development in the thirty-eighth week after birth.
Your baby’s weight:
- The weight of your 38-week old baby may be anything between 18 to 19 lbs during this week. Anything extremely low or high must be referred to the baby’s doctor for perusal.
Your baby’s sleep:
- Due to the rapid physical growth, mental growth, and increase in activities, it is perhaps normal for the 38 weeks to have comparatively less sleep in both, the day and night.
- It is also noticed in some babies that they would rather prefer a caregiver or their parents to sleep beside their bassinet while the others prefer breastfeeding at least once at night.
Your baby’s diet
- At 9 months the little one has already learned to grasp things, therefore, you can start giving the babies tiny fingers foods, like chunks of soft bread, hard-boiled egg white, boiled potato fingers, etc.
- You can also give them easy-to-melt foods including soft fruit purees, teething biscuits, and dissolving crackers.
Your newborn and 38-week-old baby's health
The baby at 38 weeks or nine months is acquiring major milestones and is would also need a doctor to visit for their:
- Daily doctors check-up to know of the right development of the baby and to make sure of their health and keep them healthy and strong
- The doctor might ask for a diagnostic test
- There are chances that the little one would face difficulties sleeping due to the new tooth this month, the doctor would help with aids to ease the ache
- The health care provider might also even encourage getting the babies vaccinated for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR – 1), third hepatitis B vaccine (HBV), third polio vaccine (IPV), and the flu vaccine given annually
- Baby’s length, weight, head circumference measurement
- Growth measurement against a growth chart
- Complete physical examination
- Development assessment
Postpartum baby tips: Week 38 after birth
A 38-week old baby is still under development and the growing phase with them learning new things at every step, one such important milestone is them learning to walk and getting their first tooth. Here is what parents can expect from their little ones during this week after birth:
Understanding your baby's new-found words
- With the little one learning new words on a daily basis, it might get a little difficult for parents to decipher what the baby really means, therefore, the simplest way is to ask them to point at something relatable, such as, their favorite ball.
- With the growing physical development of your baby at 9 months until late 12 months is perhaps common as they will learn to outstrip their speaking abilities with the development of the mouth, tongue.
- The different combinations of words happen due to the growing cognitive ability while combining words like nouns and verbs, and even baby sign language.
Understanding your baby's health and urgent need of a doctor
With the 38th week, there are a few instances that parents must be quite sure of in order of emergency and the need of the doctor without a second thought. These include:
- Mental and physical development at an expected level
- Improvement in existing health problems or development of any issue
- New health problems
- Emergency illness/injury
Your baby's need of play
A baby may need friends and playtime more than ever this week. This is perhaps important in order to help them increase their cognitive, mental, and physical abilities and skills. You can opt to arrange more playdates for the little one, an evening at the park, outdoor toys, etc.
However, the most important thing that parents must keep ready at all times is a diaper bag that includes changing pad, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, snacks, etc.
The parents after childbirth of a 38-week old baby: What is happening and what to expect in their thirty-eight week after giving birth?
Here are a few tips for our parents to help them simplify their journey with their 38th-week old baby:
Your baby's tiny tooth care
At 9 months, your baby might have a few tiny teeth, most probably two bottom front, four upper, and two incisors on the bottom, the last to follow are the molars and canine. Parents must start brushing the baby’s teeth regularly if not already. Perhaps, you don’t need a baby toothpaste or a tiny toothbrush, but just a damp washcloth, right after the last meal of the day.
On the other hand, avoid baby bottles to bed, as sucking on a bottle or breast milk allows the liquid to pool in the mouth and coat on the teeth that result in the growth of bacterias causing cavities.
Your baby's social development
With the other development of the baby in week 38, they will also:
- Begin to get attached and empathetic to people and things, perhaps the need of a primary caregiver during the night, in need of comfort
- They couldn’t cry for no reason but will have a reason, at times cry along with you too
- If they have siblings, they will most probably end in a conflict
- Will look forwards to praises from you
- Will enhance sharing capabilities
Special care for your baby
As and when the baby starts to move around the house, they will develop curiosity, perhaps, it becomes even more necessary for parents to take care of the surrounding, such as to:
Keep all dangerous and little things out of reach as they will increase mobility
As the little one is hazard-prone, try to prepare beforehand and fall protection like lower beds, strapped seating, monitor their movement, etc
Avoid baby toys that have small parts included that could result in any choking hazard
Take care and be sensitive to the baby’s sentiments
Accept whatever they give as a step towards learning to share
Pay attention to the food and sleeping habits of the baby
To Conclude
With a 38-week old and nearly 12 months, it is important for parents to pay attention to the baby’s needs, emotionally. This is because this is where the little one first learns to share, be emotional and understand things. Make sure to bond as you did when you were pregnant or during your pregnancy.
At the same time, it is important for you to take care of yourselves too. Take breaks, breathe fresh, and get back to the little one! You are all building a beautiful family together and Parenthood bliss is proud!
