Third Trimester
Week 38: Baby is putting on 0.5 oz of fat every day — building cold weather reserves.
Here's everything happening with your baby and your body this week.
Your baby is the size of a
Pumpkin
Length
19.6 in
Weight
3.1 kg
Week
38 / 40
💡 Expert tip
Rest as much as possible — labor and delivery are physically demanding. Accept all help offered.
🌱 Baby's development this week
- Lanugo mostly gone
- Vocal cords fully formed for that first cry
- Organs ready for independent life
- Brain and nervous system continue developing (will continue for years)
Science fact
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.
🤰 Your symptoms this week
Intense Braxton Hicks
some women experience these hourly by week 38
Practice contractions — normal from mid-pregnancy. Stay hydrated, change position, rest.
Loss of mucus plug
can happen any time from now; normal
Insomnia intensifying
racing thoughts and physical discomfort make sleep difficult
Sleep on your left side with a pillow between knees. Limit screens before bed. Magnesium-rich foods help.
💛 Changes in your body
- Cervix continuing to ripen and dilate
- Pelvic floor pressure may make walking uncomfortable
- Strong nesting urge
- Colostrum may be leaking regularly
💙 Mental health this week
Labor anxiety reaches its peak this week. Reading birth stories (positive ones), practicing breathing, and having a clear birth plan reduces anxiety significantly.
🥗 Nutrition focus
- Energy-dense foods — this is not the time to restrict calories; you need reserves for labor
- Continue iron — blood loss at delivery averages 500ml, and your iron reserves matter for recovery
- Ginger tea soothes nausea that often accompanies late-term pregnancy
📅 Appointment / test
38-week appointment: cervical check, baby position, blood pressure, discuss what to do when labor begins.
✅ This week's checklist
Confirm hospital route and backup routes in case of traffic
Charge all electronics and ensure hospital bag is accessible
Write down your most important birth preferences in one page for your care team
Track your pregnancy week by week
Interactive guide · 40 weeks · Fruit size visualizations · Personalized tips
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