Week 38 of Pregnancy

What to Expect This Week

You've made it to Week 38 of your pregnancy — a major victory that calls for a party, a little reflection and just perhaps a lot of deep breathing. Now, each moment abounds with daydreaming, anticipation, excitement, and (let's face it) a whole hell of a lot of fatigue. You're just days from one of life's most profound transformations: meeting your baby in person, face to face. Whether you're feeling calm, anxious, totally over it — or some combination of those — give thanks to all your body and mind has carried you through up until this point. You're not just developing a human being; you're also maneuvering through the massive emotional, physical and logistical strata of preparing to become (or become again) a parent.

It's a week for preparation, patience and presence. At this point your baby is considered full-term, and you may feel like you're on a tightrope between being prepared, and playing the waiting game. You've packed your hospital bag, you've probably read over your birth plan for the fifth time, and each time something twinges, you might wonder, "Is this it?" Whether labor is hours, days or a week or two away, it's the right time for connecting inward, for finding calm in the chaos — and gently tying up any final loose ends wherever you can. This is your time to celebrate the final days of pregnancy and ready yourself for the life-changing arrival now weeks away.

👶 Your Baby at 38 Weeks

Your baby is now fully formed and ready for life outside! Most babies at this point weigh somewhere between 6 to 8 pounds and measure 19 to 21 inches long, give or take. Girls are a little smaller than boys, on average, but all healthy babies can come in many sizes. The most important thing is that your baby's lungs, brain and other major organs are mature because baby's arrival will be any day now (yay!).

Your baby has plumped up so that body temperature is better regulated upon birth. Their immune system is also getting beefed up with antibodies you have passed through your placenta. These will shield them their first few months of life. Their fingernails and toenails have cresented to the ends of the digits; they could potentially scratch themselves in utero or when soon after when born. And they're also honing the art of sucking, swallowing, breathing, blinking, and — yes — even grasping, skills that will definitely come in handy once they're earthside. If you were to lift an edge and look in, you might even witness them turning their head, wrinkling their face, or snuggling into the fetal position to console themselves.

🤰 Your Body at 38 Weeks

You likely feel some bizarre combination of enormous and electric. Several more new sensations may have developed for you this week as your baby has started to descend lower into your pelvis — also known as "lightening" or "engagement." That displacement also can make room for more stuff around your lungs (making breathing a little easier) and even place pressure on your bladder and your pelvic floor. Plenty of women describe sharp, shooting pains in the pelvis, thighs, or even near the vagina. These zaps are usually the result of baby pressing on sensitive nerves, in particular the sciatic nerve.

The Braxton Hicks contractions can start to be felt more regularly and stronger. This "practice" of contractions can muddy the waters between false labor and the real thing. Here's what to look for: contractions that are regular and coming closer together, become more intense and don't ease up through movement and hydration. Other indications that labor might be around the corner include losing your mucus plug (a thick, jelly-like mucus that's tinted pink or brown) and rupture of membranes, also known as your water breaking. If you have any of these signs, especially regular contractions or leaking of fluid, contact your health care provider immediately. And even if it proves to be a false alarm, it is better to be safe than reassured.

🧘 Your Health & Emotional Wellbeing

Yes, you may feel that you're running on fumes — and that's perfectly natural. As the physical demands of late pregnancy collide with the mental load of preparing for labor and parenthood, it's easy to end up feeling drained. Make room this week for both rest and mental practice. Whether that's reviewing favorite labor techniques, talking through your fears with your partner, or just imagining a serene delivery, your state of mind can become a very powerful ally at this late stage.

On the other hand, if you have cracked under the pressure of the deep breathing and the hospital checklist, that's O.K. too. Find something light and pleasurable: curate a birth playlist, watch an old favorite comedy, or sort through baby clothes. Some hospitals will permit you to play your own music while you're in labor and delivery, which can go a long way toward setting a mood. Create playlists for different moods: soft tracks for early labor, upbeat songs to keep you going and soothing melodies for that magical first skin-to-skin connection. You'd be surprised at how useful this tiny act can be when you're having one hell of a time!

📷 Tips & To-Do's: Shooting the Firsts

✨ Tip of the Week: Raise Your Photo Game

Soon your camera roll is going to be flooded with baby photos — and every.single.one of them is going to feel like a work of art. From first stretch to first vision of sleepy smile, these little early moments are fleeting and precious. If you've been itching for a new or better camera, now is when to get it. Someone with a decent camera (or, at the least, a good-quality phone) and the ability to set it for low-light sensitivity, minimal shutter lag, and fast autofocus is going to be your buddy. Babies don't wait for the perfect settings to be found!

Don't just think posed shots. The most cherished moments are most often captured candidly: a tearful smile on a mother's face while she holds her baby for the first time, siblings meeting their new addition for the first time, the sweet, milk-drunk slumber on dad's chest. Articles by review sites such as DPReview or Wirecutter provide great guides, while firsthand testing or the advice of friends can aid in selecting the best fit for your style and budget.

📸 Shots You'll Treasure:

Baby's trip home from the hospital
Meeting cousins or cousins for the first time
First bath at home
Extreme close ups of little toes and fingers
Tired new born baby stretches and yawns
First "smile" (intentional or reflex — either way, it is magic)

🚫 Shots You Might Regret:

Aftermath of an accidental birth (placenta and all)
You, having a contraction and didn't realize there is a camera.
Other form of photo that predates the shower/post-crying jag cycle.

📋 This Week's To-Do List

Get your camera or smartphone ready. So don't forget to pack it in your hospital bag — and the extra memory card and the charger!
Enter your pregnancy journal. Record your thoughts, dreams, and any "aha" moments you'd like to remember.
Load up your music. Make early labor and active labor and recovery time playlists.
Go over signs of labor with your partner. Ensure that they know what to expect and when to call for help.
Start 1 relaxation technique every day. Breathing deeply, stretching, or just lying down with your hands resting on your belly.