OB Appointment Weeks 38 - 39

You have done a great job and you only have a couple more weeks (or less!) to go. In addition to all the physical checks you and your baby have had in the previous weeks, your doctor or midwife palpate your uterus to determine your baby's position, perform an internal exam, and possibly an ultrasound to determine the size and position of your baby. Your doctor or midwife will want to determine how your baby is presenting (head or buttocks first, facing to the front or to the back)and if the presenting part is engaged.

You may begin to dilate at any time and your doctor or midwife will track these changes to help pinpoint when labor may begin. If by this week, you have not begun to show signs of the start of labor, your doctor or midwife may want to see you again before the week is out.

It is a good idea for your partner to attend each prenatal appointment with you from this point on since, depending on what your doctor or midwife finds during your appointment, they may decide to send you straight to the hospital!