At 38 weeks, the waiting is its own kind of exhaustion. Every ache gets analyzed. Every tightening gets timed. That hyperawareness is completely normal — your brain is preparing you for the sprint ahead. The most useful thing you can do right now is internalize the 5-1-1 rule: contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute, for at least 1 hour — that's when you go. Everything before that threshold: breathe, time it, and stay home.
Rest as much as possible — labor and delivery are physically demanding. Accept all help offered.
Understanding what your body is already doing to prepare — even if you can't feel it — makes the waiting easier.
Babies born at 38 weeks have the same survival rates as those born at 40 weeks, but subtle differences in lung maturity and neurodevelopment persist. Each day in the womb from here is biologically meaningful.
Labor anxiety reaches its peak this week. Reading birth stories (positive ones), practicing breathing, and having a clear birth plan reduces anxiety significantly.
At 38 weeks, labor can begin any day. Knowing the difference between practice contractions and real labor eliminates the most common reason people call their maternity unit unnecessarily — and ensures you don't wait too long.
Braxton Hicks vs. real labor contractions:
The 5-1-1 rule for when to go to hospital: Contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour. This is the general threshold — your provider may give different guidance based on your history or distance from hospital.
Go immediately regardless of contractions:
Read the postpartum guide and recovery week by week now — much easier to read before labor than after.
38-week appointment: cervical check, baby position, blood pressure, discuss what to do when labor begins.
What should you do right now?
ACT NOW = call provider or go to hospital · MONITOR = watch and note · NORMAL = expected, no action needed
At 38 weeks, you're nearly there. Knowing what to expect after birth — physically, mentally, and practically — makes the fourth trimester far less overwhelming. These are the most-read postpartum guides.
At 38 weeks, your baby is approximately 19.6 inches (49.8 cm) long and weighs about 6.8 lbs (3.1 kg) — roughly the size of a leek. Baby is fully developed; the remaining time is primarily for final lung and brain refinement and laying down fat.
38 weeks is classified as early term (37–38 weeks) rather than full term (39–40 weeks). Outcomes are excellent at 38 weeks, but there is a slightly higher rate of respiratory issues and jaundice compared to 39+ weeks. There is no medical reason to electively deliver before 39 weeks in an uncomplicated pregnancy.
Signs labor may be starting: regular contractions following the 5-1-1 pattern (every 5 minutes, 1 minute long, for 1 hour), mucus plug loss (bloody show), water breaking (call your provider immediately), lower back pain that radiates around the abdomen, or an increase in pelvic pressure.
Common symptoms at 38 weeks: intense pelvic pressure, Braxton Hicks contractions becoming more frequent, lower back pain, disrupted sleep, heartburn, swelling, and nesting instinct. Breathing may become easier if the baby has dropped into the pelvis.
Your due date is at 40 weeks — at 38 weeks you still have approximately 2 weeks to your due date. Going past your due date (41–42 weeks) is common and not immediately concerning, though induction is typically offered at 41–42 weeks. Read the week 40 guide for post-dates management.
Interactive guide · 40 weeks · Fruit size visualizations · Personalized tips
Explore Week 38 in the Interactive Guide →