Week 38 of Your Pregnancy

With bubba popping out anytime soon, you must be feeling much joy, excitement and unfathomable love! This week, most babies will move lower into the abdomen, and get ready for birth. Read on as well for tips on making infant care plans in Singapore.

By week 38, your baby is all plumped up and ready to meet you²! Weighing about 3kg¹, your baby’s lungs are getting ready to transition from taking in amniotic fluid to breathing in air³. 

Your baby would also have shed most of its layer of lanugo hair this week. If you still find small patches of hair on your baby though, Fret not as this will gradually disappear in its first few weeks outside your womb1. 

As your little one moves further down your abdomen – a process known as engagement or lightening – you may notice that your bump seems to have lowered1. While waiting for D-Day though, make the most of your time by getting as much rest as you can!

Packing Tips

Have you packed your delivery bag? Since labour is unpredictable, let’s not leave packing to the last minute! On top of personal and practical items, it’s helpful to pack in a variety of nutritious snacks to choose from – especially if you need an energy boost during labour! Here is a packing checklist to ensure you’re up and ready to roll: 

• Documents: Hospital admission form, your NRIC and marriage certificate, receipts of outpatient visits (to claim Medisave)
• Clothes: Warm socks, comfortable clothes, disposable underwear, nursing bras, nightgowns, robes, slippers
• Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, body wash, maternity pads
• Others: Lip balm, hair tie, cosmetics, eye mask, massage oil, nursing pillow, breast pump

For ideas on healthy, energy-giving snacks, consider: 

• Bananas
• Apricots, raisins and other dried fruit
• Fresh fruits
• Cereal bars
• A handful of nuts

To stay hydrated, don’t forget to pack some bottled drinks for easy drinking! 
You may also wish to prepare a little bag for your newborn’s essentials, which include: 

• Baby clothes
• Mittens
• Blanket
• Diapers
• Baby wipes and cotton balls
• Baby soap or wash
• Infant formula to bottle-feed your baby

Family-Friendly Initiatives in Singapore

Are you worried about making infant care arrangements? Thankfully, the Singapore government has set aside subsidies to help you defray some of your infant and childcare costs! Besides a Basic Subsidy of $300, you can enjoy an Additional Subsidy if you are working, and if your monthly household income does not exceed $7,500. (MSF) 

If this is your 1st or 2nd child, you will receive a whopping $8,000 in cash under the government’s Baby Bonus Scheme. Plus, the more, the merrier! If this is your 3rd or child and beyond, you will receive $10,000 in cash per child. (MSF) 

Can’t bear to part with your child? Contact portals such as Mums@Work, CareerMums or even NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat for flexi-work job opportunities!