Week 38: Almost Full Term

The Longest Week

Week 38 might feel like it lasts a month. You're close enough to your due date that every twinge, cramp, or unusual sensation triggers the question: "Is this it?" The answer, most of the time, is not yet. But the anticipation makes ordinary discomfort feel loaded with significance.

You're still technically "early term" for one more week. Full term begins at 39 weeks 0 days [1]. The difference between 38 weeks and 39 weeks is clinically meaningful: studies consistently show lower rates of respiratory distress, feeding problems, and NICU admission when delivery occurs at or after 39 weeks [1]. Your baby is almost certainly fine if born now, but "almost certainly fine" becomes "even better" with seven more days of development.

Your Baby at Thirty-Eight Weeks

Your baby measures approximately 19.6 inches (49.8 cm) from head to heel and weighs around 6.8 pounds (roughly 3.1 kilograms) [2][4]. The rate of weight gain continues at about half a pound per week, with fat now composing a significant percentage of body mass.

The circulatory system is complete [4]. Your baby's heart has been beating since around week 5, but the full circulatory network, with all its vessels and connections, is now fully formed. After birth, the circulatory system undergoes a dramatic switch: the ductus arteriosus (a fetal blood vessel that bypasses the lungs) closes, blood begins flowing through the lungs for oxygenation, and the umbilical connections are no longer needed.

Organ systems are wrapping up. The liver has been storing iron, which your baby will need for the first several months of life (iron stores from the womb typically last until around 6 months, which is why iron-fortified foods or supplements are introduced around that time). The kidneys are fully functional. The digestive tract is ready, though it won't be tested until the first feeding.

The brain keeps building. Brain development at 38 weeks is focused on the connections between regions rather than the formation of new structures. The neural networks that coordinate breathing, feeding, and temperature regulation grow more robust with each passing day [2].

Meconium is accumulating. Your baby's intestines are filled with meconium, a dark, tarry substance made up of swallowed amniotic fluid, lanugo, skin cells, and bile. Meconium is typically the first bowel movement after birth. In some cases, babies pass meconium before birth (particularly when stressed or post-term), which can be a concern if inhaled.

Cervical Ripening: Your Body's Prep Work

Behind the scenes, your cervix may be undergoing a process called ripening: transitioning from firm, thick, and closed to soft, thin, and slightly dilated. You might not feel it happening, or you might notice increased pelvic pressure, more vaginal discharge, or the loss of the mucus plug (a thick, sometimes blood-tinged discharge that signals the cervix is changing) [3].

The mucus plug doesn't come with a specific timeline. Losing it can happen days or weeks before labor. Some women lose it all at once; others lose it gradually without noticing. Its departure is a sign that changes are happening but doesn't mean labor is imminent.

Braxton Hicks: The Warm-Up Act

By 38 weeks, Braxton Hicks contractions can be frequent and strong enough to stop you in your tracks. They're most common in the evening, after physical activity, or when you're dehydrated.

The critical differences between Braxton Hicks and true labor [3]:

If you're timing contractions and they're coming every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute, and have maintained that pattern for 1 hour (the 5-1-1 guideline), it's time to head to the hospital or call your provider [3].

Week 38 Truths

You have lost your lap. Sitting down means the baby is essentially on your thighs. Bending over to tie shoes is an engineering challenge. Picking things up off the floor involves a wide squat or the kindness of others.

Food is complicated. Your stomach is compressed by the baby, the uterus, and everything in between. Full meals feel impossible. Small, frequent snacks become the strategy by default. Heartburn is a near-constant companion, especially if you eat anything after 6 p.m. and then try to lie down.

Swollen everything. Your feet may be unrecognizable. Rings that used to be loose are now stuck. Your face might look puffier than usual. Mild, gradual swelling is normal. Sudden swelling in the face or hands, especially with headache or visual changes, warrants an immediate call to your provider (this can be a sign of preeclampsia).

The nesting frenzy peaks. You might find yourself washing all the baby clothes for the third time, reorganizing the hospital bag, or standing in the nursery at midnight making sure everything is perfect. Your body's hormonal preparation for birth includes an instinct to prepare the environment. Go with it when you have energy. Rest when you don't.

"What if I don't recognize real labor and something goes wrong?" The fear of misreading your body's signals is one of the most common anxieties in the final weeks. The difference between Braxton Hicks and real contractions is not always immediately obvious, and that uncertainty is normal. Real labor contractions become progressively closer together, longer, and stronger. They do not stop when you change position. Your MomDoc team is available by phone 24/7, and calling to ask "is this it?" is exactly what that line exists for. There is no such thing as calling too early.

Movement changes. Your baby has less room to maneuver, so the kicks and rolls may feel different, more like squirms, pushes, and stretches than the full gymnastics routines of a few weeks ago. The total amount of movement should remain consistent even if the type of movement changes. If you notice a significant decrease, do a kick count and call your provider if you're concerned [2].

What MomDoc Wants You to Know

Week 38 is the final stretch before "full term." Every day your baby stays inside is another day of brain refinement, fat accumulation, and organ maturation. You're giving your baby the best possible start, even when it doesn't feel like you're doing anything other than being uncomfortable.

If your provider hasn't discussed your birth plan, now is the time. Pain management preferences, who will be in the room, preferences about interventions, and what happens after delivery are all conversations worth having before contractions start. MomDoc wants you to walk into labor and delivery feeling informed and supported, not surprised.

One more week to full term. Your baby's circulatory system is complete. Their lungs are nearly ready. And they're spending these last days doing exactly what they should be: growing, practicing, and listening to your heartbeat, the sound that has meant safety and love since the very beginning.