you're 38 weeks pregnant.
last revised · baby is about 49.8 cm (19.6") · 3080 g (108.6 oz)
At 38 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 49.8 cm and 3080 g — All systems are go — the baby is ready for birth and just adding final touches of fat and brain connections.
about the size of a…
All systems are go — the baby is ready for birth and just adding final touches of fat and brain connections.
this week's highlights
- Final fat layers
- Vernix mostly gone
- Practice breathing strong
- Brain continues growing
how your baby looks
Plump and ready. Most of the vernix is gone except in skin folds. Hair on head varies — from full to none.
body in focus
- head
- Brain growth continues, ready for the outside world.
- body
- Final fat layers fill out the body.
- hands
- Grasp reflex is strong enough to support some body weight at birth.
- feet
- Stretches more than kicks in the tight uterus.
what's happening in your body
You may feel impatient and uncomfortable. Pelvic pressure, lightning crotch (sharp pelvic zings), and Braxton-Hicks are routine.
symptoms at 38 weeks
- Lightning crotch intensifying
- The zaps get more frequent as the head sits deep in the pelvis. Sudden and startling, but brief and harmless — a change of position is the only real remedy.
- Period-like cramping
- Low, dull cramps that come and go reflect early cervical work. If they organise into a regular rhythm and strengthen, that is early labour — start timing and call your unit as advised.
- Increased pressure on the bladder
- With the head fully down, bathroom trips are constant and small leaks common. Keep drinking normally — dehydration causes more problems than the extra trips.
- Emotional restlessness
- Impatience, weepiness, and done-with-this feelings are near universal now. Small daily plans — a walk, a film, a coffee out — keep the wait from swallowing you.
- Swollen feet at their peak
- Late-pregnancy swelling is at maximum. Keep to the elevation-and-compression routine, and remember sudden swelling with headache or vision changes is a same-day call to your midwife or doctor.
- Sleep in fragments
- Two-hour stretches are the honest norm now. Any horizontal rest counts; stop measuring against pre-pregnancy nights.
gentle tips
- Walk daily to encourage labor onset.
- Practice all labor positions one more time.
- Stay close to home and hydrated.
- Trust your body and your team — birth is near.
- Plan small daily activities you'll miss after baby arrives.
your week 38 checklist
- Confirm the car has fuel, the seat is fitted, and the bags plus notes are by the door.
- Plan one small pleasant activity per day to make the waiting period kinder.
- Check your freezer meal stock and top up household basics for the coming month.
- Keep tracking movements daily — call your maternity unit immediately about any reduction, even this close to birth.
what to expect next
Most babies are born between weeks 39 and 41. If labor hasn't started by week 41, your provider may discuss induction.
common questions at week 38
How big is the baby at 38 weeks?
At 38 weeks, the baby measures about 49.8 cm and weighs approximately 3080 g (49.8 cm (19.6") · 3080 g (108.6 oz)).
What is developing at 38 weeks?
Plump and ready. Brain growth continues, ready for the outside world. Key milestones this week include: Final fat layers; Vernix mostly gone; Practice breathing strong; Brain continues growing.
What symptoms are common at 38 weeks pregnant?
You may feel impatient and uncomfortable. Pelvic pressure, lightning crotch (sharp pelvic zings), and Braxton-Hicks are routine.
What should I do at 38 weeks pregnant?
Most babies are born between weeks 39 and 41. Walk daily to encourage labor onset. Practice all labor positions one more time. Stay close to home and hydrated.
Which natural ways to start labour actually work and are safe?
Evidence is modest for all of them: walking, birth ball sitting, and nipple stimulation have some physiological logic, dates and raspberry leaf have weak evidence, and sex is fine if your waters have not broken. None reliably start labour before the body is ready, and some popular methods — castor oil in particular — are not recommended. Run anything beyond walking and patience past your midwife first, especially if your pregnancy has any complications.
Do cervical checks tell me when labour will start?
Not really — you can be two centimetres dilated for weeks or completely closed the day before labour begins. Dilation at a single check is a poor predictor of timing, which is why routine late-pregnancy examinations are optional in many care systems. If you are offered a check or a membrane sweep, ask what the finding would change; declining or accepting are both reasonable choices.
Can I eat and drink during early labour?
Yes — in early labour at home, light carbohydrate-rich snacks and regular fluids help maintain the energy labour demands, so eat when you feel like it. Once in established labour many people naturally stop wanting food, and some units limit intake if certain interventions become likely, which staff will explain at the time. Isotonic drinks and honey sticks in the hospital bag cover the middle ground well.
helpful tools
- Kick Counter
Daily kick counts are an important reassurance in the third trimester.
- Contraction Timer
Time contractions and track frequency when the moment comes.
- Hospital Bag
Curated packing checklist for labor and delivery.
Medically aligned with guidance from WHO, NHS and ACOG. How we write.