🤱 Week 38 of Pregnancy: Baby on Board and Almost Home!

👶 Baby at Week 38: Perfectly Plump and Powerful

Your baby is now around 49–50 cm long and weighs approximately 3–3.2 kg—about the size of a leek or a mini watermelon.

What’s happening inside:

• 🫁 Lungs are ready for life outside the womb
• 🤱 Baby’s body fat increases, giving chubby cheeks
• 💩 Baby has built up meconium, the first poop
• 💤 Still sleeping a lot—but alert more often!

💡 Fun Fact: Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, but some may be born bald—both are totally normal!

🤰 Your Body at Week 38: On High Alert

You’re at the tail end of the third trimester, and your body is working overtime to prepare for delivery.

What you might feel:

• 🪨 Increased Braxton Hicks (tight, irregular contractions)
• ⚖️ Pelvic pressure from baby moving lower
• 🥵 Back pain and heaviness
• 🩸 Increased vaginal discharge or spotting (common as cervix softens)
• 💦 Possible water breaking anytime

⚠️ If your water breaks or contractions become regular and painful, call your doctor or head to the hospital.

🍼 Baby’s Position: Is It Go Time?

By now, your baby is likely:

• 🧍 Head-down (vertex position)
• 🧘 Settling into the birth canal
• 🫂 Facing your back (ideal for smooth labour)

If your baby is breech (feet or butt first), your OB may suggest:

• External cephalic version (manual turning)
• Scheduled C-section if turning isn’t possible

📋 Signs Labour Is Coming Soon

Here’s how to distinguish false labour from true labour:

Sign	False Labour (Braxton Hicks)	True Labour
Timing	Irregular	Regular & increasing
Pain Location	Front only	Starts in back, moves front
Intensity	Mild, doesn’t progress	Stronger over time
Relief with rest/walk	Yes	No
Water breaks	No	YES!

💡 Final Prep Checklist: Almost There!

✅ Pack an extra outfit and phone charger
✅ Install car seat securely
✅ Wash baby clothes and crib bedding
✅ Stock up on postpartum supplies (pads, nursing bras, etc.)
✅ Reconfirm your birth plan with your doctor

🧺 Comfort Tip: Elevate Those Legs

Many mamas feel swelling in feet and ankles at this stage.
Try:

• Putting your feet up for 20 minutes
• Wearing compression socks
• Staying hydrated (yes, more water helps!)

🧘‍♀️ Light Exercise Can Help

At this stage, gentle movement can reduce discomfort and help baby drop lower.

🛒 Helpful Product Highlight

🍽️ Eating for Labour and Energy

Focus on light, energizing, and fibre-rich foods. You’ll need strength for labour soon.

Eat:

• 🥑 Avocados for healthy fats
• 🍌 Bananas for potassium and energy
• 🥬 Spinach, dals, and whole grains for iron
• 🥣 Porridge, poha, or khichdi for digestion
• 🧉 Herbal teas (raspberry leaf tea with OB’s consent)

📖 Also read: Pregnancy Superfoods You Didn’t Know About »

🧠 Mental and Emotional Wellness

You’re excited. You’re anxious. You’re nesting. You might even cry watching laundry spin. All of it is normal.

🧘‍♀️ Try:

• 5-minute guided breathing
• Journaling about your birth hopes
• Talking through any fears with your partner or doula
• Limiting overstimulating content (no scary birth stories!)

👩‍⚕️ OB Check-in: What Happens This Week

Expect:

• Internal cervical checks (dilation, effacement)
• Belly measurement & baby’s position check
• Heartbeat monitoring
• Review of labour signs and next steps
• Discussion of induction plans, especially if baby doesn’t arrive by Week 40

📝 Final Affirmation

“I trust my body. I trust my baby. I am ready to bring life into this world with strength and grace.”

📅 What’s Next?

👉 Week 39 is your final week before due date—though baby may come anytime now!