Baby by Week
Week 38

Your week 38 guide

The baby continues practicing feeding and breathing skills while shedding much of the remaining lanugo.
Trimester

3

Month

9

Weeks left

2

Size at a glance

Comparison
Pumpkin
Length
43–51 cm
Weight
6.5–7.5 lb
Measurements are approximate. Healthy babies grow at different rates.

Baby development

Sucking and swallowing practice supports feeding after birth.
Shed lanugo, skin cells, and swallowed fluid contribute to meconium.
Many babies have settled head-down, but your clinician confirms position.

Your body

Nesting energy and deep fatigue can alternate.
Heartburn, leg cramps, back pain, pelvic pressure, and poor sleep may continue.
Contractions may become more noticeable as labor approaches.

This week's checklist

Keep daily plans flexible and your phone charged.
Review newborn appointments, feeding support, and help at home.
Continue noticing your baby's normal movement pattern.

Call your care team

Contact maternity care immediately for reduced or changed movement, bleeding, leaking fluid, or contractions that fit your labor instructions.
Seek urgent help for severe headache with vision changes, sudden swelling, chest pain, fainting, severe abdominal pain, or significant breathing difficulty.

Medical information, not medical advice

Every pregnancy is different. Use this guide for general education and follow the advice of your own maternity care team. Do not delay urgent care because of something you read here.