Third trimester
38 weeks pregnant
The fetus is around the size of a leek and essentially ready. Most development is complete, and the remaining time is about weight gain and final brain maturation.
Size of
leek
Length
49 cm
Weight
3080 g
Your baby at 38 weeks
The fetus has a firm grasp and the brain continues developing rapidly. Organs are mature and ready to function independently.
Meconium has accumulated in the bowel and is usually passed after birth, though occasionally before, which is why green or brown amniotic fluid needs assessing.
Weight gain continues at roughly 200g a week.
How you may be feeling
Waiting is the main activity now, and it can be psychologically harder than the physical symptoms. The due date is a midpoint, not a deadline.
Many people experience increased pelvic pressure, more frequent Braxton Hicks, and difficulty sleeping.
Common symptoms around week 38
- Intense pelvic pressure
- Frequent, strong Braxton Hicks
- Difficulty sleeping
- Swelling
- Impatience, which is entirely reasonable
Appointments and tests around now
Weekly appointments continue. Conversations about induction usually begin if the pregnancy continues past 41 weeks, and the reasoning is explained in detail.
What is normal, and what varies
Only about one birth in twenty happens on the estimated due date. Arriving in the two weeks either side is the norm, and a first pregnancy often runs slightly longer.
Worth doing this week
Treat the due date as a due month
It is the centre of a range. Expecting a specific day makes the final fortnight considerably harder than it needs to be.
Keep monitoring movement
Movements should not reduce as labour approaches. That is a persistent myth and a dangerous one.
Rest rather than trying to start labour
Most methods for bringing on labour are unevidenced. Arriving rested matters more.
Looking ahead
Next week is full term, when the pregnancy is considered complete.
Nearby weeks
Not sure which week you are in? The week tracker works it out from the first day of your last period, and the due date calculator gives you an estimated due date.