38weeks
pregnant

Written by The BabyCenter Editorial Team

IN THIS ARTICLE

Highlights this week

Is your baby in a head down position yet?

Baby development at 38 weeks

Your baby is now ready to greet the world. At this point, the average full term newborn is still building a layer of fat to help control body temperature after birth. Most babies are between 2.7 and 4.3kg/6 and 9 1/2lb at birth and boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls. All your baby's organs are developed and in place though their lungs will be the last to reach full maturity. Read more information on your baby's development this week.

baby with fat accumulating around knees, elbows, and shoulders

Your baby at 38 weeks

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Your baby is as long as a leek

length

49.8

head to toe

weight

Pregnancy symptoms at 38 weeks

You may be feeling huge and uncomfortable during these final weeks. Try to take it easy -- this may be your last opportunity to do so for quite a while. See a movie, read a book that has nothing to do with pregnancy or babies, have your hair or nails done, or just spend time with your partner.

Neither of you will have much time for cooking in the few weeks after your baby's born, but you could prepare some home-made frozen meals to enjoy when you need them. What else can you do? Make sure the car's filled up with gas, and read our fun baby star signs.

Your partner should try to relax too and enjoy some activities there won't be time for after the baby arrives. Suggest some inspirational reading -- they may need it when you go into labour. Are they worried about how they;ll cope with a new baby in the house? Read our new dad's survival guide and debunk five myths of fatherhood.

baby in womb at 38 weeks compressing bladder

Your body at 38 weeks

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Pregnancy Tips

This is a good time to have an in-depth conversation with your doctor or midwife about pain relief in labour. On the practical front, make sure you know where to park and which entrance to use to get to the labour and delivery ward quickly and ask about what happens when you arrive at the hospital, if you don't already know.

Make sure you take plenty of change with you for vending machines and telephone calls (cell phones sometimes have to be switched off in hospitals because they can interfere with medical equipment). If you have other children, make back-up plans for childcare when labour begins.

Consider natural alternatives for pain relief.

Hospital survival kit

Make sure your partner packs a cool bag with snacks to take to hospital. Don't forget your mobile and charger as you'll want to take plenty of photos and videos, plus you can use it for listening to music and podcasts during a long labour.

Don't forget little gifts for siblings from the baby, massage oil, friends and family contact details and something to read to pass the time.

Plus

How to get your body back after the birth. Follow our guidelines for safe postnatal exercise.

Community

Why not visit BabyCenter Canada's community to read first-hand accounts of recent births. Everyone's experience is different -- you'll read what it's really like to have a natural birth, emergency section or instrumental delivery here. It'll help you prepare for any eventuality.

Other hot topics this week

Are you ready to feed your baby? Follow our tips on breastfeeding for beginners and make sure you've got everything you need if you're planning to bottle feed.

At one minute and five minutes after the birth, your newborn's health will be scored according to the Apgar scale -- find out what this means. Read more about the other tests and checks your newborn baby will have.

Tired but you just can't sleep? Take a look at our natural remedies for insomnia during pregnancy.

It's very common to get engorged breasts a few days after the birth, whether you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding.

Visit the BabyCentre Canada Community to read some of our BabyCenter moms's birth stories.