Third Trimester
Pregnancy Week 38
Your baby is about the size of a leek 🧅 — ready for birth.
🧅
Size comparison
≈ Leek
Length
49.8 cm
Weight
3.1 kg
Milestone
Ready for birth
About 2 weeks to go until your due date (week 40).
Baby's development at week 38
Your baby is ready. The lungs produce surfactant independently; all reflexes needed for life outside the womb — sucking, rooting, grasping — are fully functional.
Know the difference between Braxton Hicks and true labour — regular, intensifying, and lasting longer.
Common symptoms at week 38
Mucus plug may be lostBraxton Hicks strongLoose stoolsPelvic pressure
Eat more of
- ✓Calcium & Vitamin K (broccoli, kale)
- ✓DHA-rich fish (sardines, salmon — cooked)
- ✓Iron-rich foods to prevent anaemia
- ✓Fibre-rich foods to combat constipation
- ✓Small frequent meals to ease heartburn
- ✓Dates (studies suggest easier labour)
Foods to avoid
- ✕Alcohol
- ✕Gas-producing foods (beans, cabbage) if uncomfortable
- ✕Very spicy food if causing heartburn
- ✕Raw/undercooked meat
- ✕High-sodium processed food
- ✕Large meals that worsen reflux
Medically reviewed by First OPD Medical Team. Last reviewed on .
Based on average milestones from World Health Organization (WHO), ACOG, NHS UK. Educational only — not a substitute for personalised medical advice.
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