Pregnancy
38 Weeks Pregnant
At 38 weeks, your baby is the size of a leek and shedding vernix. Learn about late-term symptoms, cervical changes, and signs labor is approaching.
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This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician or doctor about your child.
Sources: WHO, CDC, AAP and NHS guidance. Recommendations differ between countries — for local advice see the NHS or ACOG.
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At a Glance: Week 38
- Trimester: Third trimester (early term)
- Baby's size: About the size of a leek or a stalk of rhubarb
- Length: Approximately 49–50 cm (about 19.5 inches), crown to heel
- Weight: Around 3,000–3,100 grams (about 6.8 pounds)
At 38 weeks, your baby is essentially finished with major development and is now focused on putting on additional fat, refining the central nervous system, and getting fully prepared for life outside the womb. The vernix and lanugo are being shed and swallowed, contributing to that first meconium bowel movement after birth.
Your Baby's Development This Week
Week 38 is about fine-tuning. Here's what's still developing:
- Brain and nervous system: Brain growth is intense. Myelin (the fatty insulation around nerves) continues to develop, supporting faster, more coordinated nerve signals after birth.
- Lungs: Surfactant production continues. Lungs are essentially ready, though the additional days before 39+ weeks help reduce the risk of respiratory distress.
- Vernix and lanugo: Most has been shed. Some remnants may still be visible at birth, especially in skin folds.
- Skin and fat: Subcutaneous fat continues to accumulate, giving the baby the chubby appearance and helping with temperature regulation after birth.
- Eyes: Eye color at birth is often blue or gray, regardless of genetic predisposition. Final eye color may not be apparent for 6–12 months as melanin production continues postnatally.
- Grip reflex: The baby has a strong grip reflex now, ready to grab your finger after birth.
- Position: Almost all babies are now head-down. Your baby may "engage" deeper into the pelvis this week.
Your Body and Symptoms This Week
Many week-38 symptoms are simply intensified versions of week 37, but some specific signs may emerge:
- Increased Braxton Hicks: These may become more frequent, longer, and harder to distinguish from early labor contractions.
- Cervical changes: Your cervix is softening (ripening), thinning (effacing), and possibly beginning to dilate. You may or may not feel this directly.
- Mucus plug discharge: You may notice an increase in vaginal discharge, possibly with streaks of pink, brown, or red — the "bloody show." This is normal and indicates cervical change.
- Pelvic and hip pain: Relaxin loosens the ligaments around your pelvis to prepare for birth, which can cause aching or shooting pain.
- Back pain: The shifting of pelvic ligaments and the baby's weight can intensify lower back discomfort. Persistent rhythmic back pain may indicate "back labor."
- Edema: Swelling continues. Sudden severe swelling is a red flag for preeclampsia.
- Decreased appetite, nausea, or loose stools: Bodily preparations for labor.
- Fatigue alternating with bursts of energy: The nesting instinct can intensify.
- Difficulty sleeping: Discomfort and frequent urination make full nights rare.
Nutrition: What to Eat & Avoid This Week
Continue the nutrition foundation you've been building. Late pregnancy is not the time for restrictive diets — focus on nutrient-dense foods that support your energy and recovery.
- Iron-rich foods: Particularly important in the final weeks to build stores against blood loss during delivery.
- Calcium: Continued bone mineralization for baby. Aim for 1,000 mg/day from dairy, fortified plant milks, leafy greens.
- Magnesium: Helps with muscle cramps and may improve sleep. Sources: nuts, seeds, whole grains, dark leafy greens.
- Complex carbohydrates: Steady energy for the marathon of labor. Whole grains, sweet potatoes, oats.
- Date fruits: Some research suggests eating 6 dates per day in the final weeks may reduce labor duration and the need for induction. Discuss with your provider.
- Healthy fats: Avocados, nuts, olive oil, fatty fish — for ongoing brain development.
Continue avoiding: raw/undercooked animal products, high-mercury fish, unpasteurized dairy, alcohol, and excessive caffeine (under 200 mg/day).
Movement & Exercise
Stay active in gentle ways. Some movements may also help with optimal fetal positioning and labor preparation:
- Daily walks: 20–30 minutes if comfortable.
- Pelvic tilts and cat-cow: Help relieve back pain and encourage optimal baby positioning.
- Squatting (supported): Opens the pelvis. Hold onto a sturdy surface.
- Birth ball sitting: Sit upright on an exercise ball, gently rocking hips. Encourages baby's head to engage.
- Swimming and water exercise: Relieves joint pressure and reduces swelling.
Avoid: deep backbends, lying flat on your back for extended periods, anything with fall risk, and overheating. If you feel dizzy, short of breath beyond mild exertion, or unusual pain — stop and rest.
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
The closer you get to your due date, the more you may oscillate between excitement and anxiety. Late-pregnancy anxiety is extremely common, and it's not a personality flaw — it's a normal response to a huge upcoming life change.
Helpful strategies:
- Prepare without obsessing. Once your bag is packed and your team knows the plan, try to let go.
- Limit your information intake. Endless googling at 2 AM rarely helps. Stick to trusted sources.
- Lean on your partner and support people. Share fears and hopes honestly.
- Practice labor coping techniques: deep breathing, visualization, and counter-pressure. Practicing now builds muscle memory.
- Address sleep proactively: use multiple pillows, avoid screens before bed, take naps when you can.
- Seek help if anxiety or sadness is severe. Prenatal mental health is treatable and important — for you and your baby.
Common Concerns & When to Call Your Doctor
Contact your provider or go to labor and delivery immediately for any of the following:
- Decreased fetal movement (fewer than 10 movements in 2 hours during baby's active time)
- Vaginal bleeding more than light spotting
- A gush or steady leak of fluid (potential rupture of membranes)
- Regular, painful contractions 5 minutes apart (or per your provider's specific instructions)
- Severe headache that doesn't respond to rest or hydration
- Vision changes (blurriness, spots, flashing lights)
- Severe pain in the upper right abdomen
- Sudden swelling of the face, hands, or one leg
- Fever above 100.4°F (38°C)
- Persistent vomiting
Tests & Appointments This Week
At your 38-week prenatal visit, expect:
- Blood pressure, weight, urine screening
- Fundal height and fetal heart rate
- Discussion of fetal movement patterns
- Possible cervical check (dilation, effacement, station) — optional and not always informative
- Review of birth plan, hospital procedures, and warning signs
- Discussion of induction timeline if applicable (typically not before 39 weeks for elective reasons)
No major screening tests are routinely performed at 38 weeks — most have already been completed. However, additional monitoring (non-stress test, biophysical profile) may be ordered if there are concerns about fetal wellbeing or you have risk factors like gestational diabetes or hypertension.
Tips for Week 38
- Practice your labor breathing. Slow nose-in, mouth-out breathing reduces pain perception and anxiety. Try it now so it's automatic in labor.
- Pre-cook and freeze meals. 2–3 weeks of freezer-ready dinners will be priceless in the first weeks home.
- Set up your postpartum recovery station. Stock the bathroom with pads, peri bottle, witch hazel pads, and Tucks for postpartum comfort.
- Confirm your car seat is correctly installed. Many fire stations offer free inspections.
- Charge everything. Phone, camera, backup batteries — labor can drain devices quickly.
Preparing for What's Next
Labor could begin any day now. Your immediate next-step preparation includes:
- Review the route to the hospital (and a backup route)
- Know what to do if labor starts in the middle of the night — who to call, where to go, what to take
- Make sure your support person can be reached at all hours
- If you have other children, confirm childcare arrangements
- If you have pets, arrange care for them too
- Think about postpartum support: meal trains, family help, postpartum doula, lactation consultant contact info
- Schedule the baby's first pediatrician visit (usually 2–5 days after discharge)
Frequently Asked Questions About Week 38
Is 38 weeks considered full term?
No, 38 weeks is still classified as "early term" by ACOG. Full term begins at 39 weeks 0 days. While most babies born at 38 weeks do very well, ACOG and the CDC recommend waiting until at least 39 weeks for elective deliveries because the final week of development includes important brain growth, lung maturation, and weight gain. If labor begins spontaneously at 38 weeks, that's a different situation — your baby is generally well-prepared.
Why does my belly feel rock-hard at random times during week 38?
A belly that suddenly tightens and feels hard, then relaxes again, is almost always a Braxton Hicks contraction. They're more frequent and intense in week 38 as your body practices for labor. They're typically irregular, painless or mildly uncomfortable, and ease when you change position, hydrate, or rest. If the hardening becomes regular, painful, and progressive, it may be real labor — start timing.
My provider said I'm 2 cm dilated at 38 weeks. Does that mean labor is soon?
Not necessarily. Cervical dilation in late pregnancy is a poor predictor of when labor will actually start. Some people are 3–4 cm dilated for weeks before labor begins, while others go from zero to active labor in a few hours. Dilation tells you your body is preparing, but it doesn't predict timing. Try not to read too much into a single cervical check — many providers actually skip these in low-risk pregnancies for this reason.
Is it normal to feel constant pressure "down there" at 38 weeks?
Yes. As the baby's head settles deeper into the pelvis (engagement), you'll feel persistent heaviness, pressure, and sometimes sharp twinges in the pelvis, vagina, or rectum. Many people describe feeling like the baby might "fall out," though this is just sensation, not reality. The pressure is uncomfortable but expected. Pelvic support belts, warm baths, and resting with hips elevated can help.
When should I worry about swelling at 38 weeks?
Mild swelling in the feet, ankles, and hands is normal in late pregnancy due to fluid retention and pressure on blood vessels. However, you should call your provider immediately if you notice: sudden severe swelling, especially in the face or around the eyes; swelling accompanied by a severe headache, vision changes, or upper-right abdominal pain; or swelling in just one leg (could indicate a blood clot). These can be signs of preeclampsia or DVT, both of which need immediate evaluation.
Why do I have diarrhea or loose stools at 38 weeks?
Many people experience loose stools or diarrhea in the days leading up to labor. This is caused by prostaglandins, hormones that soften the cervix and also affect the bowels. It's nature's way of "clearing out" before labor. If diarrhea is severe, persistent, or accompanied by fever or vomiting, call your provider — dehydration in late pregnancy is risky.
Can I do anything to encourage labor at 38 weeks?
Most medical organizations recommend waiting until at least 39 weeks for elective induction. That said, gentle, evidence-based activities are unlikely to harm a healthy 38-week pregnancy: walking, prenatal yoga, sitting on a birth ball, sex (if your water hasn't broken and your provider hasn't restricted it), and acupuncture from a licensed practitioner. Avoid castor oil, unsupervised herbal remedies, and aggressive nipple stimulation, which can cause excessively strong contractions. Talk to your provider before trying anything.
Is it safe to fly or take long car trips at 38 weeks?
Most airlines do not permit travel after 36 weeks for domestic flights and earlier for international flights, due to the risk of labor en route. For car trips, short local drives are fine, but extended travel (more than 1–2 hours from your delivery hospital) is generally not recommended at 38 weeks. Labor can begin without warning, and being far from your provider increases risk. If travel is unavoidable, plan rest stops every hour, stay hydrated, and know the location of hospitals along your route.
What does effacement mean?
Effacement refers to the thinning and shortening of the cervix as it prepares for labor. It's measured as a percentage: 0% effaced means the cervix is still thick (about 3–4 cm long), while 100% effaced means it's fully thinned. A cervix typically effaces before it dilates significantly, especially in first-time pregnancies. Like dilation, effacement is a sign your body is preparing but doesn't predict the exact timing of labor.
Should I time every contraction I feel at 38 weeks?
Not every twinge needs to be timed, but it's worth tracking when contractions become noticeable, regular, and progressively stronger. The classic guideline is "5-1-1" or "4-1-1" depending on your provider: contractions 5 (or 4) minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, for 1 hour. At that point, call your provider or head to the hospital. Free apps or even a notebook work well — record start time, duration, and intensity. For more on labor signs, see our guide on signs of labor.
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