38 Weeks Pregnant: Is This It - Let’s Talk Labor Prep, Pressure, & Power | 200

38 Weeks Pregnant: Is This It - Let’s Talk Labor Prep, Pressure, & Power | 200

Author: Trish Ware, RN September 3, 2025 Duration: 12:50

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:


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:

Join our 5 Days to A Fearless Birth Experience and watch 5 Online Birth Classes FOR FREE!!

Join the #1 Birth Course for Confident Birth!

Over 15,000 women have used our classes to prepare for birth with the knowledge and tools provided by a Labor Nurse.

💻 Self-paced and lifetime access

👩🏻‍⚕️ Perfect for all births- hospital, birth center, or home!

🎧 Includes birth meditations and prayers.

🌍 Women all over the world have loved our classes.

✅ Start now

Join The Birthpod ™ course

Join The Calm Labor Confident Birth Course

Connect w/ Trish:

On Instagram

On YouTube

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


Ever find yourself scrolling through endless forums late at night, wondering about the real, unfiltered details of childbirth that no one seems to talk about plainly? The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama is here to change that. Hosted by Trish Ware, RN, this podcast draws directly from her years in the delivery room, where she’s helped bring thousands of newborns into the world. She knows the questions that keep you up at night, from the logistical-like how to effectively push or what Pitocin actually does-to the vulnerable fears about epidurals, VBACs, or those embarrassing but totally normal moments. Trish moves beyond clinical jargon to offer honest, compassionate, and evidence-based insights that feel like a conversation with a trusted friend who’s seen it all. Each episode tackles a specific aspect of pregnancy, labor, and early parenting, like navigating breastfeeding challenges or figuring out newborn care, with the goal of replacing anxiety with practical knowledge. Tuning into this podcast means getting a seasoned labor nurse’s perspective delivered with warmth and a deep understanding of what you’re going through, helping you feel more prepared and empowered for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama
Podcast Episodes
Traveling While Pregnant - What to Know Before You Go | 181 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:32
Trish gets into all things travel during pregnancy - whether you’re dreaming of a babymoon, heading out for work, or visiting family. Traveling while pregnant is a whole different ballgame, but don’t worry, Trish has got…
Pregnancy Unpacked Weeks 22-24: The Juggle Is Real | 180 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:56
Hey Mama! Welcome back to Pregnancy Unpacked with Trish, your pregnancy bestie. We’re diving into weeks 22-24, where your baby’s hitting papaya size and your bump’s stealing the show! Trish breaks down baby’s big develop…
VBAC Myths and Realities: Insightful Tips with Meagan Heaton | 179 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:59
Trish is joined by Megan Heaton from The VBAC Link to discuss the common misconceptions, roadblocks and interventions that women face when attempting a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). They discuss ridiculous claims…
Pregnancy Unpacked Weeks 20-22: Halfway There, But Still In It | 178 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:33
Hey Mama! Welcome to Pregnancy Unpacked with Trish, Labor Nurse Mama. In this episode, we’re diving into weeks 20-22 of pregnancy - the halfway mark! We’re unpacking what’s happening with your baby, your body, and those…