At 38 weeks, the baby is nearly here, but there is no precise way to predict the exact delivery date. It’s best to try to rest while paying attention to possible signs of labor. Call your doctor if you’re concerned about anything.

You’re close enough to the big day now — your baby is early full term at this point.

How you’re feeling at 38 weeks could give you some clues about what to expect for the rest of your pregnancy, including when you might be going into labor.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 38th week of pregnancy.

You could still be pretty far away from giving birth at this point. Most people give birth between 38 and 41 weeks of pregnancy.

Your due date, technically, isn’t for another 2 weeks, and some people don’t even give birth until closer to 42 weeks.

However close you are to going into labor, there will still be some symptoms you’re experiencing at 38 weeks pregnant, like:

Around 38 weeks pregnant, you may lose your mucus plug — the glob of mucus that protects your cervix from infection.

People usually think this means you’re about to go into labor any day now, but the truth is that your mucus plug can fall out several weeks before labor begins.

You might experience a range of uncomfortable symptoms throughout your pregnancy. However, there are some symptoms that are outside the bounds of “normal” and should prompt you to call your doctor ASAP.

These symptoms include:

  • rupture of the amniotic sac (i.e., your water breaks)
  • dizziness, severe headache, or blurred vision
  • significant vaginal bleeding
  • fever
  • trouble urinating or painful urination
  • vomiting or severe stomach cramps
  • sudden swelling in your extremities or face
  • a marked decrease in or absence of fetal movement

With the exception of your water breaking, these symptoms aren’t usually signs of impending labor, so you should contact your doctor if they happen to you.

You might have experienced noticeable Braxton-Hicks contractions for a few weeks now, and it might be difficult to tell them apart from contractions that you would have during labor.

But when labor is coming for real, you might notice:

  • regular, measurable contractions that don’t go away when you lie down
  • contractions that become more intense — and closer to one another — over time
  • rupture of the amniotic sac
  • loss of the mucus plug (again, this can happen weeks away from labor, but if it happens alongside some of these other signs, it’s worth noting)
  • diarrhea
  • engagement of the baby’s head into your pelvis, sometimes called lightening or “dropping”

If you’re still not sure if you’re actually going into labor, don’t hesitate to call your doctor or midwife for advice.

Most pregnant people — especially first-timers — will have at least one false alarm, so don’t be embarrassed if you show up at the hospital convinced you’re in labor, only to be told to come back later. It will put your mind at ease to get checked.

The baby is technically early full term, but there’s still more development going on for them in the womb.

While your baby’s critical organs (think heart, lungs, and brain) are fully developed, they are still growing — so as long as there aren’t complications, it’s best to let your baby stay in there until they’re totally ready to come out.

Meanwhile, your baby is starting to say goodbye to their lanugo, getting their first bowel movement prepped, and continuing to pack on body fat. They’re probably about 6 or 7 pounds and 18 to 20 inches, but at this point in your pregnancy, there can be a lot of variation in the baby’s height and weight, just like there is at birth.

Babies move up until birth, but fetal movement definitely changes in the third trimester as your baby starts running out of room to bounce around.

A lot of the movement you feel at this stage is your baby stretching and wiggling in the confines of your uterus.

Sometimes a baby’s movement decreases slightly right before labor. However, you shouldn’t ignore a complete absence of movement — you should still be able to feel baby move a few times an hour, at least. They just may be more subdued in the day or two before labor begins.

Here’s a list of things you might consider doing when you’re 38 weeks pregnant to unwind and help prepare for the baby’s birth.

  • Prep some meals: You can never have too many crock pot dinners, comforting soups, and craving-satisfying pizzas stocked in your freezer during the newborn phase, especially when you’re too tired to even think about cooking. Whip up some freezer-friendly meals now and thank yourself later.
  • Review your birth plan: You could revisit your birth plan and see whether you feel differently about anything. It won’t hurt to give yourself a mini-refresher about how you intend to birth and feed your baby.
  • Catch up with friends: It might be a while before you feel physically or mentally ready for a chat over coffee with your friends, so squeeze them in now if possible.
  • Pamper yourself: Like pretty much every other thing you love in your pre-baby life, self-care will take a backseat after you give birth. Go ahead and check off all those beauty boxes, like getting a haircut, brow wax, and foot massage.
  • Finalize anything that has to be done: Think about packing your hospital bag, installing the baby’s car seat, and deciding who will be with you in the delivery room.

If you’re feeling super anxious, talk with your doctor. They may be able to reassure you about specific things stressing you out. If that doesn’t work, find a seasoned parent, in person or in an online parenting group, who can speak from experience and soothe some of your nerves.

If you’re feeling physically uncomfortable, try to go back to basics. You could sleep more, try out prenatal yoga, or go for a relaxing walk. Watching your favorite show, reading a book, or spending time with loved ones may also help boost oxytocin and soothe your anxiety in the weeks before the birth.

Labor could start anywhere between 38 and 41 weeks of pregnancy. Some people may even go into labor later, during their 42nd week of pregnancy.

Stay calm, get as much rest as you can, and try to be patient. Most importantly, pay attention to what your body is doing — it will give you clues when it’s priming itself for labor. And, as always, don’t ignore warning signs; always call your doctor if you’re concerned about anything.