Pregnancy Guide

38 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby is the size of a Large Carving Pumpkin. Discover exactly what is happening to your body and your baby this week.

New pregnancy guide: Learn how weeks are counted, what each trimester means, and how to interpret your calculator results for better preparation and planning. Read the full guide

Week 38 in detail

Full term — vernix sheds, nesting is a hormone

Baby this week

Full term. Organs work. Fat is still being added. Vernix and lanugo shed and get swallowed (they help build meconium). The baby is waiting; you are allowed to be bored and terrified in the same hour.

  • “Overdue” is not this week — 40 is the estimate
  • Quiet periods still need to match the usual pattern
  • A messy nursery does not delay labour

Your body this week

Nesting can hit. Irregular tightenings and backache are common. Kick counts still matter — a term baby should not go silent. Partners should know the route at night.

  • Pelvic-floor “wiggles” can ease pressure; they do not start labour on command
  • Write kicks down if you are foggy
  • Emergency contacts on paper beat a dead phone

Get ready

The bag should already be in the car. Partners: park, entrance, phone charger. The checklist above is pressure relief, kicks, and contacts. Use the timer when contractions are regular, not when you are rearranging the linen cupboard.

A general guide, not medical advice. Scan timing and symptoms vary — ask your clinician.

Baby Growth Curve

This chart visualizes the average length of the baby from week 1 to 40. Values are based on standard clinical averages.

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