38 Weeks Pregnant

Baby’s Development

Your baby is now about 49.8 centimeters long, roughly the size of a leek, and weighs around 3,100 grams (about 6.8 pounds) [1]. One remarkable change this week: meconium, your baby’s first stool, is accumulating in the intestines, ready to be passed in those first days after birth. Your baby’s brain and lungs are now fully mature, and the grasp reflex is strong — if you could hold that tiny hand right now, those little fingers would curl right around yours. Your baby also responds to light and sound, quietly taking in the muffled world outside. Body fat now makes up about 15 percent of your baby’s weight, giving the skin a smooth, plump appearance. Most babies have settled into the head-down (cephalic) position by now, getting ready for the journey down. There is less room to move, but you should still feel at least 10 movements within a 2-hour window. The survival rate at 38 weeks is over 99 percent [2].

Body Changes

Your uterus now measures about 38 centimeters in fundal height, and a total weight gain of 30 to 38 pounds by this point is typical. Your bump is large and may have visibly “dropped” as your baby settles lower. You may notice stretch marks, the linea nigra running down your belly, melasma (the so-called “pregnancy mask”), more visible veins, and varicose veins. Your breasts have likely grown two or more cup sizes, and you may notice some colostrum leaking as your body prepares for feeding. Swelling in your feet and ankles is common at this stage. Your cervix is likely effacing and may be dilating 1 to 2 centimeters [2].

Tips for Week 38

• Keep counting your baby’s kicks — aim for at least 10 movements within a 2-hour window each day. If you count fewer than 10, try eating a snack, drinking something cold, and lying on your left side before counting again. A second low count is a reason to call your provider.
• Ease your anxiety about labor — talk to your provider, attend a childbirth class, consider hiring a doula, read evidence-based birth stories, and spend some time visualizing the day going well.
• Finalize your postpartum plan — line up who will be helping, plan meals ahead, arrange dog care, confirm your work leave, and prepare any siblings for the new arrival.
• Relieve pelvic pressure — practice Kegels, sleep on your side, try a support belt, and consider prenatal physical therapy if the pressure is significant.

Things To Do (Checklist)

• Continue kick counting (10 in 2 hrs daily)
• Address labor anxiety
• Finalize postpartum plan
• Address pelvic pressure
• Confirm hospital bag ready, route mapped
• Fetal position; cervix check (if indicated); GBS review

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I’m 38 weeks and have no signs of labor. Is that okay? A: Yes, this is completely normal. First-time mothers often carry their babies to 40 weeks and beyond, sometimes to 40 weeks and 5 days. Signs of labor can appear days beforehand or only once labor is already underway. Try to trust the process [1].

Q: I lost my mucus plug. Does that mean labor is starting? A: Not necessarily. Losing the mucus plug can happen days or even weeks before labor begins. A bloody show — mucus that is tinged with blood — is a more reliable sign that labor is approaching. Either way, it’s a good idea to let your provider know [2].

Q: When should I head to the hospital? A: Follow the 5-1-1 rule: contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, for 1 full hour. You should also call your provider right away if your water breaks, you have severe back pain, you notice bleeding, or your baby’s movements decrease. When in doubt, call your provider first [1].

Sources

1. ACOG — How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy
2. Mayo Clinic — 38 Weeks Pregnant
3. Expecting Better — Emily Oster (Chapters 15-16: Third Trimester to Labor)