38 weeks pregnant
Your baby is about 49 cm and 3.1 kg and ready to be born.
At week 38, your baby’s organs are ready for life outside the womb. Labour could start at any time.
This week’s ultrasound image
Expected ultrasound appearance and measurements at week 38 (illustrative, to-scale drawing).
Abbreviations on the screen
- GS
- Gestational sac diameter
- YS
- Yolk sac
- CRL
- Crown–rump length
- NT
- Nuchal translucency
- BPD
- Biparietal diameter (head width)
- HC
- Head circumference
- AC
- Abdominal circumference
- FL
- Femur (thigh bone) length
- EFW
- Estimated fetal weight
- FHR
- Fetal heart rate (beats per minute)
- GA
- Gestational age (weeks + days)
- UA PI
- Umbilical artery Doppler resistance (PI)
Length (head to heel)
49 cm
Head diameter
93 mm
Head circumference
332 mm
Femur length
72 mm
Estimated weight
3083 g
Heart rate
133 bpm
UA PI
0.78
How big is your baby this week?
About the size of a pumpkin
What can be seen on the ultrasound?
BPD is about 93 mm, HC about 332 mm, AC about 336 mm and FL about 72 mm. The estimated weight is around 3,100 grams.
Your baby’s development
Your baby is about the size of a small pumpkin. The first stool (meconium) builds up in the bowel. Your baby can recognise voices and grasp firmly.
Changes in your body
Swollen legs, pelvic pressure and difficulty sleeping increase. Irregular tightenings may become more frequent.
Check-ups at this stage
- Weekly check: blood pressure, weight, urine
- Assessing the cervix and your baby’s position
- NST if needed
Tips for this week
- Decide who you will call when labour starts and how you will get to the hospital
- Keep your energy up with light, frequent meals
- Relax with a warm shower and breathing exercises
When should you see your doctor?
Go to the hospital if your waters break, or if you have bleeding, regular contractions, reduced baby movements, a fever, a severe headache or blurred vision.
Growth by week
Values are averages; differences of a few days or a few millimetres between babies are normal.
| Pregnancy weeks | Crown–rump length (cm) | Weight (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Week 4 | — | — |
| Week 5 | — | — |
| Week 6 | 4 mm | — |
| Week 7 | 10 mm | — |
| Week 8 | 16 mm | 1 g |
| Week 9 | 23 mm | 2 g |
| Week 10 | 32 mm | 4 g |
| Week 11 | 43 mm | 8 g |
| Week 12 | 55 mm | 14 g |
| Week 13 | 68 mm | 23 g |
| Week 14 | 85 mm | 43 g |
| Week 15 | 100 mm | 70 g |
| Week 16 | 115 mm | 100 g |
| Week 17 | 128 mm | 140 g |
| Week 18 | 140 mm | 190 g |
| Week 19 | 152 mm | 240 g |
| Week 20 | 25.6 cm | 300 g |
| Week 21 | 26.7 cm | 360 g |
| Week 22 | 27.8 cm | 430 g |
| Week 23 | 28.9 cm | 501 g |
| Week 24 | 30 cm | 600 g |
| Week 25 | 31.9 cm | 660 g |
| Week 26 | 33.8 cm | 760 g |
| Week 27 | 35.6 cm | 875 g |
| Week 28 | 37.5 cm | 1005 g |
| Week 29 | 38.8 cm | 1153 g |
| Week 30 | 40 cm | 1319 g |
| Week 31 | 41.3 cm | 1502 g |
| Week 32 | 42.5 cm | 1702 g |
| Week 33 | 43.6 cm | 1918 g |
| Week 34 | 44.8 cm | 2146 g |
| Week 35 | 45.9 cm | 2383 g |
| Week 36 | 47 cm | 2622 g |
| Week 37 | 48 cm | 2859 g |
| Week 38 | 49 cm | 3083 g |
| Week 39 | 50 cm | 3288 g |
| Week 40 | 51 cm | 3462 g |
Frequently asked questions
When should I go to the hospital?
Usually when contractions come every 5 minutes, each lasting a minute, for at least an hour, or if your waters break, you have bleeding or your baby’s movements decrease.
How will I know if my waters have broken?
Clear fluid comes from the vagina as a sudden gush or a steady trickle. Note its colour and the time, and go to the hospital.
Your pregnancy care at SoftCare Clinic
Book an appointment with our specialist doctors for your ultrasound check-up and any questions you may have.
The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not replace a medical examination. Measurements are average values; please discuss your own results with your doctor.
Medical content editor: Op. Dr. Şükrü Sanus