At 38 weeks pregnant, your baby is considered early term- not quite at the “full term” mark of

39 weeks, but developmentally very close and capable of thriving outside the womb.

Baby’s Growth & Size

• Weight: Around 6.5-7.5 pounds (3-3.4 kg), the size of a Leek!

• Length: About 19-20 inches (48-51 cm) long.

• Babies continue gaining about ½ ounce (14 g) per day at this stage, mostly in fat.

Development & Features

• Lungs: Almost fully mature and producing enough surfactant to help keep airways open after birth.

• Brain: Still growing quickly; some experts say the brain increases in size by about a third between weeks 35 and 39.

• Skin: Now smooth, soft, and pink; most of the protective vernix caseosa (the creamy coating) is fading, though some may still be present at birth.

• Lanugo: The fine body hair is mostly gone.

• Eyes: Babies can open and close their eyes and even respond to changes in light.

• Grip & reflexes: Strong grasp reflex is present, and rooting and sucking reflexes are well established for feeding.

• Movements: Less room to kick hard, so you’ll feel more rolling, stretching, and shifting, but movement should remain regular.

Position

• Most babies are now head down (cephalic position).

• Some may have “dropped” into the pelvis (lightening), especially if this is your first pregnancy.

Immune System

• Your baby is still receiving antibodies from you via the placenta, helping boost their defenses against infection after birth.

Key Point

At 38 weeks, your baby is essentially ready for life outside the womb but benefits from even a little more time inside for continued brain and lung maturity.