Pregnancy Week 38: The Final Countdown — Your Body Preparing for Labour

Quick answer: At 38 weeks your baby is fully term and ready to be born at any point, measuring around 49.8cm and weighing about 3.1 kilograms. Your cervix is softening, thinning and starting to open, which may cause irregular cramping or a show. Early labour can last hours or days, so rest at home and contact your maternity unit with any concerns.

What parents need to know

At 38 weeks, your body is working hard behind the scenes to prepare for labour and birth. Your cervix is softening, thinning, and beginning to open in a process called ripening. Meanwhile, your baby is continuing to gain a small amount of weight each day and is fully ready to greet the world. The waiting can feel intense, but labour will begin when both your body and your baby are ready.

How big is your baby at 38 weeks?

Your baby now measures approximately 49.8cm from crown to heel and weighs around 3.1 kilograms — roughly the weight of a small pumpkin. They are considered fully term and ready for birth at any point from now.

What's happening with your baby?

Your baby is continuing to build up their fat stores, which will help regulate their body temperature after birth. They're also swallowing amniotic fluid and producing meconium in their intestines — the dark, sticky first bowel movement they'll pass in the first day or two of life. Your baby's immune system has received a significant boost from the antibodies you've passed through the placenta, and if you're breastfeeding, they'll receive further immune protection through colostrum and then breast milk after birth.

Understanding cervical ripening and early labour

Labour doesn't happen all at once. In the days and weeks before active labour begins, the cervix undergoes significant changes. It softens (a process described as 'ripening'), becomes thinner (effacement), and begins to open (dilation). These changes happen gradually and may not produce any noticeable symptoms, or they may cause irregular cramping or a show. By the time you are in established labour, the cervix will be fully effaced and dilated to at least 4cm.

Early or 'latent' labour can last for hours or even days, with irregular contractions that don't yet fall into a regular pattern. This can be exhausting. During this phase, it's advisable to stay at home, rest as much as possible, stay hydrated, eat light snacks, and use a TENS machine or warm bath for comfort. Contact your maternity unit if you're unsure, have any concerns about your baby's movements, your waters break, or you have heavy bleeding.

Your 38-week appointment

At your 38-week appointment, your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine, measure your fundal height, check your baby's heartbeat, and discuss any concerns. They may also discuss what happens if your pregnancy goes beyond 41 weeks, including the option of a membrane sweep or induction of labour.

Caring for yourself in the final stretch

These last weeks can feel physically and emotionally demanding. Rest whenever you can, as you'll need your energy for labour. Eat nutritious, easily digestible foods. Accept help from family and friends with practical tasks. Try to do something enjoyable each day, whether that's watching a film, taking a gentle walk, or meeting a friend for a decaffeinated coffee.

Your week 38 checklist

This week:

• Attend your 38-week midwife appointment.
• Discuss your options if pregnancy goes past 41 weeks.
• Rest and preserve your energy.
• Stay hydrated.
• Contact your maternity unit immediately if you have any concerns.