🤰 Third trimester
38 weeks pregnant
Your baby is about the size of a leek
By Emma Whitfield · Pregnancy & Baby Writer
Your baby at 38 weeks
The baby's organs are ready for life outside. They're building the last of their fat stores, and their grip is strong. Brain and lung development continues right up to birth.
Your body at 38 weeks
Nesting urges, restlessness and impatience are all common now. Some experience a burst of energy; others just feel ready. Keep monitoring movements.
Common symptoms this week
- Restlessness and impatience
- Nesting urges
- Pelvic pressure
- Sleep in short instalments
Symptom lists are typical, never exhaustive — and having none of them is normal too.
Focus this week
Rest as much as you can and keep your phone charged. Re-read your notes on early labour so you feel prepared rather than anxious.
Week 38 checklist
- Attend your 38-week appointment
- Keep phones charged and the plan visible
- Re-read your early-labour notes so the first hours feel familiar
38 weeks pregnant: common questions
How do I know when to go to hospital in labour?
Call your maternity triage first — the usual guidance for first babies is contractions roughly every 3 minutes lasting about a minute (many units say 3-in-10), or straight away if your waters break, you're bleeding, or the baby's movements change. When in doubt, call: that's what triage is for.
How big is my baby at 38 weeks pregnant?
At 38 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a leek, about 49.8cm and around 3100g. These are approximate averages — every baby grows at its own pace.
What's happening at 38 weeks pregnant?
The baby's organs are ready for life outside. They're building the last of their fat stores, and their grip is strong. Brain and lung development continues right up to birth. For you: nesting urges, restlessness and impatience are all common now. some experience a burst of energy; others just feel ready. keep monitoring movements.
Which trimester is 38 weeks?
38 weeks pregnant is in the third trimester. The first trimester runs to the end of week 12, the second from weeks 13 to 26, and the third from week 27 to birth.
Sources & further reading
This is general information, not medical advice — every pregnancy is different. For anything that worries you, and for all your antenatal care, speak to your midwife or GP. If your baby's movements ever slow down or change, contact your maternity unit immediately, day or night. Reviewed July 2026.