How many months is 38 weeks pregnant?

38 weeks pregnant puts you in month 9 of pregnancy. Month 9 covers weeks 36 to 40. Providers count in weeks; months are approximate.

How big is the baby at 38 weeks?

At 38 weeks, the baby is about the size of a leek, roughly 49.8 cm long and around 3083 g. That is an average; healthy babies vary.

What symptoms should you not ignore at 38 weeks pregnant?

Get help straight away for heavy bleeding that soaks a pad, bleeding with strong tummy pain, or waters that are coloured or smell. Call at once if your baby is moving less than usual. Call too if you have tummy pain that won't go away, a raised temperature (above 37.5°C, or 99.5°F), or a contraction that lasts over 2 minutes. Pre-eclampsia can start late in pregnancy, so don't wait for your next checkup if you feel very unwell or have a severe headache, vision changes or sudden swelling.

Is it normal to have spotting at 38 weeks pregnant?

A small amount of pink, red or brown blood mixed with mucus is often a show, which means the cervix is getting ready for labour. It should be no more than a tablespoon or two. Light spotting can also follow sex or a cervical check, because the cervix bleeds easily now. Still, call your maternity unit or provider about any bleeding, even spotting, as bleeding can also come from the placenta. Get emergency help if it soaks a pad soon after you put it on, or comes with severe pain or feeling faint.

Is diarrhoea at 38 weeks a sign of labour?

Sometimes. Diarrhoea is one of the pre-labour signs that can hint labour will start soon, and in labour your baby's head pressing on your bowel can give you an urge to poo. But it can't tell you when labour will start, and a stomach bug or food poisoning can cause the same thing. Nausea at this stage is often indigestion. Drink plenty of fluids. Labour has begun when contractions become regular and stronger. Call your provider if you can't keep fluids down, have a fever, or see blood in your poo.

Why does my vagina hurt at 38 weeks pregnant?

Sharp, shooting jolts in the vagina or pelvis are often called lightning crotch. They happen when your baby presses on your cervix or the nerves around it, and they are common in the third trimester as the baby gets heavier and moves lower. Each jolt usually lasts no more than 30 to 45 seconds. Moving slowly, changing position, a support belt or a warm bath may help. Call your provider if the pain is constant, comes with cramping, bleeding or leaking fluid, or happens more than a few times a day.

Is a headache at 38 weeks pregnant normal?

Headaches are common in pregnancy. Paracetamol is the first-choice painkiller. In the US it is called acetaminophen (Tylenol). Take it for the shortest time you need it. Rest and plenty of fluids can help too. But this late in pregnancy, a headache may signal pre-eclampsia. Call your maternity unit straight away if it is severe or doesn't go away with simple painkillers, or if it comes with blurred vision or flashing lights, pain just below your ribs, vomiting, or a sudden rise in swelling in your face, hands, feet or ankles.

38 Weeks Pregnant

At 38 weeks pregnant, your baby is around 49.8 cm long, about the length of a leek. The soft body hair called lanugo is mostly gone, and the bowel is storing meconium, the sticky green first poo. Your due date is two weeks away, and many people feel tired, uncomfortable and a little impatient. At your checkup around now, your blood pressure is checked, and your pee may be tested for protein, a sign of pre-eclampsia. This page covers the signs that labour is starting and when to call, whether your baby has dropped, and what spotting, diarrhoea or vaginal pain can mean now. It also lists the headache and other warning signs that need a check straight away.

What trimester is 38 weeks?

Week 38 is in the third trimester, which runs from week 28 until birth. A due date is set at 40 weeks, 2 weeks from now.

Week 38 — third trimester, month 9; 2 weeks to go until your due date.
Baby's size — about a leek, ~49.8 cm.

Not sure it's 38 weeks? Try our due date calculator.

How big is your baby at 38 weeks?

Size of a

leek

Length, head to heel

~49.8 cm

Weight

~3083 g

Up from a winter melon last week to a leek now.

Baby development at week 38

The baby continues to add fat, which will help regulate body temperature after birth. The organs are ready to work on their own, and the baby keeps gaining weight until birth. About the length of a leek.

Signs labour is starting at 38 weeks

The main signs are contractions or tightenings, a show (the mucus plug coming away, often pink from a little blood), backache, an urge to poo as your baby's head presses on your bowel, and your waters breaking. You may notice only some of these, in any order. A show means your cervix is starting to open, but labour may follow quickly or take a few days.

Real contractions come at regular times, get stronger and closer together, and each lasts about 60 to 90 seconds. They keep going when you rest or change position. Practice contractions have no pattern and often fade if you walk, rest or drink water. Some people get false labour that feels regular for hours, even every 5 minutes, but never builds. In the UK, you're asked to call your maternity unit when contractions come every 5 minutes or more often, or whenever you think you're in labour. In the US, ask your provider now for their own rule.

There's no sure way to know labour is 24 hours away. The closest thing is your waters: labour usually starts within 24 hours of them breaking, and if it doesn't, you'll be offered an induction because of a small risk of infection. How likely is labour this week? In England, 12.1% of labours that started on their own began during week 38, and about 1 in 4 (24.9%) had begun by the end of it.

Your body at 38 weeks

Strong pelvic pressure
Swelling in the feet and ankles
Trouble sleeping
Possible early signs of labour

Has your baby dropped at 38 weeks?

Dropping, also called lightening, is when your baby's head settles deep into your pelvis. Your bump may sit lower. With less pressure under your ribs, you may feel lighter, breathe more easily and get less heartburn. On the other hand, you may feel more pressure low down, and more backache as the baby presses on your spine.

It can happen anywhere from a few weeks to a few hours before labour, so dropping doesn't mean labour is about to start. If your baby hasn't dropped yet, that is not a problem on its own, since for some it happens only hours before labour. Your midwife or doctor can check your baby's position by feeling your belly.

Tips for week 38

Rest and conserve energy for labour
Report sudden severe swelling, headache, or vision changes
Review your birth preferences with your support person

38 Weeks Pregnant: your questions

What trimester is 38 weeks?: Week 38 is in the third trimester, which runs from week 28 until birth. A due date is set at 40 weeks, 2 weeks from now.
How many months is 38 weeks pregnant?: 38 weeks pregnant puts you in month 9 of pregnancy. Month 9 covers weeks 36 to 40. Providers count in weeks; months are approximate.
How big is the baby at 38 weeks?: At 38 weeks, the baby is about the size of a leek, roughly 49.8 cm long and around 3083 g. That is an average; healthy babies vary.
What symptoms should you not ignore at 38 weeks pregnant?: Get help straight away for heavy bleeding that soaks a pad, bleeding with strong tummy pain, or waters that are coloured or smell. Call at once if your baby is moving less than usual. Call too if you have tummy pain that won't go away, a raised temperature (above 37.5°C, or 99.5°F), or a contraction that lasts over 2 minutes. Pre-eclampsia can start late in pregnancy, so don't wait for your next checkup if you feel very unwell or have a severe headache, vision changes or sudden swelling.
Is it normal to have spotting at 38 weeks pregnant?: A small amount of pink, red or brown blood mixed with mucus is often a show, which means the cervix is getting ready for labour. It should be no more than a tablespoon or two. Light spotting can also follow sex or a cervical check, because the cervix bleeds easily now. Still, call your maternity unit or provider about any bleeding, even spotting, as bleeding can also come from the placenta. Get emergency help if it soaks a pad soon after you put it on, or comes with severe pain or feeling faint.
Is diarrhoea at 38 weeks a sign of labour?: Sometimes. Diarrhoea is one of the pre-labour signs that can hint labour will start soon, and in labour your baby's head pressing on your bowel can give you an urge to poo. But it can't tell you when labour will start, and a stomach bug or food poisoning can cause the same thing. Nausea at this stage is often indigestion. Drink plenty of fluids. Labour has begun when contractions become regular and stronger. Call your provider if you can't keep fluids down, have a fever, or see blood in your poo.
Why does my vagina hurt at 38 weeks pregnant?: Sharp, shooting jolts in the vagina or pelvis are often called lightning crotch. They happen when your baby presses on your cervix or the nerves around it, and they are common in the third trimester as the baby gets heavier and moves lower. Each jolt usually lasts no more than 30 to 45 seconds. Moving slowly, changing position, a support belt or a warm bath may help. Call your provider if the pain is constant, comes with cramping, bleeding or leaking fluid, or happens more than a few times a day.
Is a headache at 38 weeks pregnant normal?: Headaches are common in pregnancy. Paracetamol is the first-choice painkiller. In the US it is called acetaminophen (Tylenol). Take it for the shortest time you need it. Rest and plenty of fluids can help too. But this late in pregnancy, a headache may signal pre-eclampsia. Call your maternity unit straight away if it is severe or doesn't go away with simple painkillers, or if it comes with blurred vision or flashing lights, pain just below your ribs, vomiting, or a sudden rise in swelling in your face, hands, feet or ankles.

Useful at week 38

Is Tylenol safe in pregnancy? — the first-choice painkiller for headaches
Hot baths in pregnancy — why warm, not hot, is the rule for easing aches
Massage in pregnancy — for back and pelvic aches, with a prenatal-trained therapist
Pregnancy discharge by trimester — how a show differs from everyday discharge
Pregnancy due date calculator — check how many days are left

← All weeks: the full pregnancy week-by-week guide

Sources

Checked against the following public guidance on October 2, 2026. Advice can differ between countries; your doctor, nurse or midwife can apply it to you.