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38 weeks pregnant: what's happening to you and your baby

You're in your third trimester, around 9 months pregnant. How your baby is growing at 38 weeks, what you might be feeling, and what to sort this week.

Katie Manson
October 11, 2026
A pregnant woman at home by the window
TrimesterThird
BabyAbout 49.8cm from head to heel
Countdown2 weeks to go

Your baby at 38 weeks

Your baby is now full term and could arrive any day.

Most of the downy lanugo hair has gone, and the bowels are filling with meconium, which will be their first poo.

Your body at 38 weeks

Boredom and frustration are completely normal.

Backache, heartburn and swelling may be hanging around.

Mute the 'any news?' messages. You'll tell people when there's news.

Your to-do list at 38 weeks

  • Go to your antenatal appointment for a bump measurement, blood pressure and urine check.
  • Keep up the pelvic floor exercises.

When to call your midwife

Contact your maternity unit straight away, day or night, if your baby's movements slow down, stop or change, if your waters break, if you have bleeding, or if you have a bad headache, vision problems or sudden swelling. Don't wait until the next day.

How big is my baby at 38 weeks pregnant?

At 38 weeks, your baby is about 49.8cm from head to heel.

How many months is 38 weeks pregnant?

38 weeks pregnant is around 9 months, in the third trimester.

What should I do at 38 weeks pregnant?

Go to your antenatal appointment for a bump measurement, blood pressure and urine check.

Keep reading

This guide is general information based on NHS week-by-week guidance, not medical advice. Every pregnancy is different, and baby sizes are averages. If you're worried about anything, contact your midwife, GP or maternity unit. See the NHS week-by-week guide.

If you’re trying to conceive (TTC), you probably know that there are certain foods and nutrients that become especially important once you’re pregnant. But nutrition plays a vital role even when trying to conceive, much like laying a strong foundation before constructing a house.

Certain nutrients create that foundation by supporting egg and sperm health (yes, nutrition matters for both partners), hormone balance and creating a hospitable environment for a fertilized egg to implant. In fact, studies show that certain nutrients can help increase fertility and improve success rates for both natural conception and fertility treatments.

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In other words, nutrition is a key player in the TTC journey, but getting the right nutrients in the right quantities can be tricky. That’s where supplements come in. Just as you’d take a multivitamin to fill in nutritional gaps for optimal health, fertility supplements can give you that extra nutrient boost.

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Choosing supplements for your fertility journey

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When choosing a supplement to support your fertility journey, look for science-backed, high-quality ingredients. Our editors are careful to select and partner with brands that use ingredients that have been clinically studied to support fertility. Eu Natural® (pronounced you) covers all those bases and more. We love knowing that Eu Natural® products contain zero artificial additives, binders, or fillers and are lab-tested to ensure purity and potency.

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Photobook: Luthier. Beeches Lane by &Something

When choosing a supplement to support your fertility journey, look for science-backed, high-quality ingredients. Our editors are careful to select and partner with brands that use ingredients that have been clinically studied to support fertility. Eu Natural® (pronounced you) covers all those bases and more. We love knowing that Eu Natural® products contain zero artificial additives, binders, or fillers and are lab-tested to ensure purity and potency.

Katie Manson