38 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Baby Development and What to Expect

At 38 weeks pregnant you are nearly 9 months along and early term, with about 2 weeks to go, and Mayo Clinic says your baby might weigh about 6 1/2 pounds.

At 38 weeks pregnant your baby is adding the last layers of fat, you are likely seeing your provider every week, and you may be watching every twinge. Full term starts next week, and Mayo Clinic notes that many people give birth before or after their due date.

This guide covers development, size, symptoms, signs of labor, weekly visits, sleep, newborn prep and when to call. Every clinical detail was read in October 2026 on the primary sources named in the text.

38 Weeks Pregnant at a Glance

How the weeks are counted. Mayo Clinic says your provider sets your due date by counting ahead 40 weeks from the start of your last period, so you are not actually pregnant for the first week or two of that count. That is why Mayo Clinic describes week 38 as 36 weeks after conception. If an early ultrasound changed your due date, go by your adjusted dates.

Early term vs full term. NICHD reports the ACOG and SMFM labels: early term is 37 weeks 0 days through 38 weeks 6 days, full term 39 weeks 0 days through 40 weeks 6 days, late term 41 weeks 0 days through 41 weeks 6 days, and postterm 42 weeks and beyond. NICHD says babies born at 37 and 38 weeks are at higher risk for breathing, feeding and temperature problems than babies born later. Early term babies are not preterm; the labels matter most when a delivery date is being planned.

Your Baby’s Development at 38 Weeks

NICHD says important developmental stages still happen in the 37th and 38th weeks, which is why 38 weeks is called early term rather than full term.

How Big Is Your Baby at 38 Weeks?

Crown to rump runs from the top of the head to the bottom and leaves out the legs, so a newborn’s head-to-heel length is longer. Mayo Clinic stresses that size varies quite a bit.

A 38 week ultrasound? MedlinePlus says that apart from the group B strep test there are no routine lab tests or ultrasounds for every pregnant woman in the third trimester, and extra testing may be needed for slow fetal growth, diabetes, high blood pressure, past pregnancy problems or being pregnant more than 40 weeks.

38 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

• Frequent urination: Nemours KidsHealth says the baby is engaged in your pelvis, so your bladder is very compressed.
• Lightening: Mayo Clinic describes the baby’s head settling deep into the pelvis, from a few weeks to a few hours before labor.
• Braxton Hicks contractions: Mayo Clinic says they come and go without a clear pattern and often stop when you walk, rest or change position.
• Back, hip and nerve pain, heartburn, hemorrhoids, leaking breasts, nesting, difficulty sleeping: all on UPMC’s third trimester list.
• Swelling: UPMC says to seek care right away for sudden or severe swelling of the hands and face, which can be a sign of preeclampsia.

Signs labor may be close. Mayo Clinic says the mucus plug may come out as clear, pink or slightly bloody discharge, several days before labor or at its start, but bleeding as heavy as a period is not normal. As early labor begins the cervix softens, shortens and thins, then opens, sometimes with mild contractions or nothing you can feel. Water breaking can be a trickle or a gush.

More detail: early labor vs active labor and the signs that labor is 24 to 48 hours away.

Your Body and Belly at 38 Weeks

Your belly may sit lower if the baby has dropped. Nemours KidsHealth says your own weight gain may have slowed or stopped by now.

• Movements: your baby has less room, but a decrease in movement is a reason to contact your provider right away (MedlinePlus, CDC). Do not wait for the next visit.
• Due date: Mayo Clinic says it does not predict exactly when your baby will arrive, and many people give birth before or after it. MedlinePlus says pregnancies beyond 40 weeks may need extra monitoring.

Prenatal Care, Tests and Appointments Around Week 38

Cervical checks. Mayo Clinic explains that dilation is measured in centimeters from 0 to 10, that early changes are slow, and that active labor begins at around 6 centimeters. Thinning is called effacement. A number at one visit is a snapshot, not a countdown, so ask your provider what yours means.

Questions to bring: When should I call and when should I come in? What if my water breaks before contractions? What happens if I pass my due date? Is my baby head down? Did my group B strep result come back? If you are having a boy, Nemours KidsHealth suggests talking with your provider about circumcision, including pain relief for the baby.

What to Do This Week: A Simple Checklist

• Keep your hospital bag by the door (UPMC) and your provider’s after-hours number in your phone.
• Check the car seat is installed (UPMC), following the seat and vehicle manuals.
• Confirm your pediatrician; UPMC says the first visit is two to three days after you get home.
• Set up the sleep space. HealthyChildren.org (AAP) says babies sleep on their backs for every sleep, on a firm, flat surface, with a fitted sheet only and nothing else in the crib or bassinet.
• Plan to room share, not bed share, for at least the first 6 months (HealthyChildren.org).
• Stock a few postpartum basics for your own recovery and skim our 4th trimester guide.

Sleep at 38 Weeks Pregnant

Difficulty sleeping is on UPMC’s list, and an engaged baby means frequent bathroom trips (Nemours KidsHealth).

Sleep position. UPMC says that as your belly grows you should avoid sleeping on your back, because the weight of your uterus can compress a blood vessel that supplies blood to the uterus. If you wake on your back, roll over.

• Pillow support: UPMC suggests a body pillow; see how to use a pregnancy pillow.
• Wind down: UPMC suggests deep breathing and walking outside during the day.
• Ask before any sleep aid: check with your provider first, and read can you take melatonin while pregnant.

Thinking ahead. Newborns sleep in short stretches around the clock; our newborn sleep schedule week by week helps you plan night shifts now.

For Partners: How to Help at 38 Weeks

• Learn the call list below and the false vs true labor table.
• Keep the car fueled or charged and the hospital route planned.
• Take over night jobs you can so she sleeps more.
• Ask how she is feeling emotionally. If she mentions thoughts of harming herself or the baby, the CDC says to seek care immediately.

Emotional prep. The waiting can feel long. Agree now on who you will text when labor starts, how you will handle visitors and how you will split nights. If worry or low mood is taking over, tell your provider.

Looking Ahead: What Comes Next

• Week 39: full term begins (NICHD).
• Week 40: your due date. Mayo Clinic gives about 14 inches crown to rump and about 7 1/2 pounds.
• After 40 weeks: MedlinePlus says extra monitoring may be needed.

Looking back? See 36 weeks pregnant, 37 weeks pregnant or our third trimester guide.

Related Betteroo Guides

• 37 Weeks Pregnant
• 36 Weeks Pregnant
• The 4th Trimester
• Signs Labor Is 24 to 48 Hours Away
• Newborn Sleep Schedule Week by Week
• Third Trimester Guide

When to Call Your Provider

Contact your care team right away if:

• Your water breaks, even if you are not sure it is amniotic fluid (Mayo Clinic).
• You have vaginal bleeding as heavy as a typical period (Mayo Clinic).
• Contractions become regular and painful, or your baby moves less (MedlinePlus).
• You have fever or chills, painful urination, headaches, vision changes or significant swelling (MedlinePlus).
• You are not sure whether you are in labor (Mayo Clinic).

Urgent maternal warning signs. The CDC says to seek medical care immediately for these, because they can signal a life-threatening condition:

• A severe headache that will not go away or gets worse, especially with blurred vision or dizziness, or vision changes such as flashes of light or blind spots.
• Fainting, ongoing dizziness, a fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or sudden or extreme swelling of your hands or face.
• Trouble breathing, chest pain, or a racing or irregular heartbeat.
• Severe belly pain that does not go away, or severe nausea and vomiting.
• Your baby’s movements slowing or stopping, heavy vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid or foul-smelling discharge.
• Severe swelling, redness or pain in a leg or arm, overwhelming tiredness, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.

The CDC says to tell whoever you speak to that you are pregnant. If you cannot reach your provider quickly, go to labor and delivery or the nearest emergency room, and call 911 in an emergency such as severe chest pain, severe trouble breathing or heavy bleeding. This article is general education, not medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions