Main content:
A change in the mother's body at 38 weeks of pregnancy
Doctor's advice about 38 week pregnancy
Maternal and fetal health at 38 weeks
The baby is now the size of a leek tree, 45 cm longer from head to toe and weighs nearly 3.2 kg. Your baby's fat is still accumulating, although now the baby's growth is slower. By the 38th week of pregnancy, you may notice that your weight gain or loss has stopped.
Now that your baby has the muscles to suck and swallow amniotic fluid, waste will accumulate in his gut. Cells from the gut, dead skin cells, and down hair are some of the substances that contribute to your baby's dark blue waste.
Because the baby lies in the pelvis and presses against the mother's bladder, it is inevitable that mothers go to the toilet regularly during 38 weeks of pregnancy.
If the baby was a boy, the mother and her partner would wonder whether or not they should be circumcised . Circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin of the penis in a male infant. For some parents, the decision to be circumcised is part of the custom in their country. For others, this choice is not easy. By the time the baby is 38 weeks old, the mother can consult a doctor for an explanation of the problems surrounding circumcision, including the selection of methods to reduce the pain of infants when it is show this trick.
It is very normal for a baby to be born 1–2 weeks before or after the scheduled birth date. In fact, it takes two weeks after the due date of birth that the baby is still not born before the mother's pregnancy is called "buffalo fetus". You may be more likely to give birth late if:
The first day of a mother's last menstrual period is inaccurate, so the date of birth may be wrong
Mother is pregnant for the first time
Mother was pregnant buffalo before
Buffalo pregnancy tends to occur in the mother's family
Baby is a boy.
If the mother is pregnant for too long, she must continue to see the doctor until delivery. The doctor will continue to monitor the health and examine the mother's cervix to see if it has begun to thin and dilate in preparation for delivery. If the mother's pregnancy hasn't been in labor for more than a week since the day she was supposed to be born, the doctor may monitor the baby's heart rate with an electronic monitor or use a fetal ultrasound to see if the baby is born. Watch your baby's movements and measure the mother's amniotic fluid.
The 38-week-old fetus, this stage, the mother may have to see a doctor every week until the baby is born to closely monitor the development of the fetus . Don't be surprised if your doctor performs regular pelvic exams. This test can help the doctor confirm the baby's position: front head, front legs, or bottom of the front torso. Most children are in the front head position. As the mother's date of birth draws closer, the doctor may use technical words like "leakage" and "fetus".
A fetus is the medical term for the closest part of the baby's body in the pelvic region.
Permeability is the distance from the fetus to the pelvis.
During the pelvic exam, your doctor may also examine your mother's cervix to see how much it has softened, stretched, and thinner. And this information will be displayed in numbers and percentages.
1. Medicines that contain alcohol
If you take drugs containing alcohol during pregnancy, don't worry. With such a small dose, the amount of alcohol that mothers consume will not cause serious problems like when mothers drink alcohol regularly.
2. Medicines
Cold medicines and other drugs containing alcohol often contain ingredients that are not recommended for use during pregnancy, so you should consult your doctor when considering taking any medication during pregnancy. especially when the fetus is 38 weeks old.
Prenatal vitamins can worsen nausea, especially on an empty stomach. Learn practical timing and food adjustments, safer options to discuss, and when to call your pregnancy care team.
Nighttime leg cramps are common in pregnancy, but their exact cause is often unclear. Learn likely contributors, safe relief steps, and warning signs that need prompt care.
Pack a small hospital bag with the essentials, protect important medical aids, and check which items your hospital provides or restricts.
Learn when pregnancy swelling can wait for routine discussion, when to call maternity care the same day, and which symptoms need emergency help now.
Ease pregnancy heartburn with smaller meals, smart timing, and pregnancy-aware medication advice—without cutting nutritious foods or skipping prenatal supplements.
Help older children adjust to a new baby with honest, age-appropriate conversations, optional ways to join in, steady routines, and space for mixed feelings.
Try pregnancy-safe pillow positioning and gentle turning strategies for hip pain at night, and learn when persistent pain or other symptoms need medical care.
Morning sickness can ease and return as pregnancy symptoms fluctuate. Learn common triggers, practical steps, and when nausea or vomiting needs medical attention.
Fetal movement can feel different as pregnancy progresses, but a clear change in your baby’s usual pattern needs prompt attention. Learn what may affect what you feel and when to call.
Build a flexible birth plan by comparing pain relief, birth setting, support, and newborn care—and writing backup preferences for an unpredictable labor.
