We are not supporting this browser

Pregnancy

      Pregnancy calendar - Week 38

      Toddler and bump

      Your baby is the size of a Pumpkin

      At 38 weeks pregnant your baby is now fully developed and is using these last couple of weeks to lay down fat. At about 49 or 50cm long, they weigh near to 6lb 6oz. Your baby can hear your voice, so make sure to talk and even sing to them – it’ll familiarise them with who you are and remind them that you’re important!

      Fetus week 38

      email-icon-cirle.png

      Baby on board! Explore your pregnancy journey

      Discover something new about your baby's development every week, with exciting emails tailored to every stage of your pregnancy

      Baby size pumpkin

      You & your body

      You might be finding it increasingly difficult to get proper sleep during late pregnancy, especially at night, so getting the maximum amount of rest during the day time, with your feet up, can compensate a little.

      Although your weight gain has almost come to an end, you may be feeling worried or scared  in other ways as you feel increasingly apprehensive about labour. Go over your birth plan to make sure it’s clear in your head and talk to your birth partner about it too.

      As this can be a confusing time for any other young children in your family, involve them in the excitement to help manage their natural feelings of jealousy.

      Did you know?

      A common sign that your pregnancy is nearing its end is a ‘show’ - this is when the mucus plug that seals the womb comes away (you may notice it when you go to the loo).  This doesn’t necessarily mean that labour is about to start, but usually means it will happen soon.

      Any more questions?

      Our specialist baby advisors and experienced mums are here to talk and ready to help whenever you need them. You can call us or reach us on Live Chat 8.30am-5.30pm Monday-Friday.

      More from pregnancy

      Baby on board! Explore your pregnancy journey

      Discover something new about your baby's development every week, with exciting emails tailored to every stage of your pregnancy

      Join now for free

      Your privacy is important to us and therefore we would like to explain how we use cookies on this website. With your consent, we will use cookies to measure and analyse how our website is used (analytical cookies), to tailor it to your interests (personalisation cookies), and to show you relevant advertising and information (targeting cookies) we think you will like. For more information please read the cookie statement.

      Privacy Settings

      You can choose your preferences anytime for cookies and tracking. For more information please read our cookie policy

      • Strictly necessary

        They are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services (setting your privacy preferences, logging in, filling in forms, etc.). You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.

      • Analytical cookies

        They allow us to count visits and traffic sources, to measure and improve the performance of our site. They show us which pages are the most and least popular and how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.

      • Personalisation cookies

        They enable website’s enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third parties whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

      • Targeting cookies

        They may be set through our site by our advertising partners, to build a profile of your interests and to show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.