What are warning signs at 38 weeks pregnant?

Severe headache that won't go away with acetaminophen — preeclampsia.; Vision changes — blurred vision, light flashes, vision loss.; Severe right-upper-quadrant pain — HELLP syndrome.; Sudden swelling of face, hands, or feet.; Reduced fetal movement — fewer than 10 kicks in 2 hours.; Vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, or persistent contractions.; Severe shortness of breath at rest or chest pain.; Fever over 100.4°F.; Seizure — eclampsia, life-threatening.;

Third trimester · Pregnancy week by week

Week 38 of pregnancy

Q: How big is the baby at 38 weeks?

size of a leek. The fetus is essentially fully developed. Brain continues to grow. Skin is becoming pinker. Most fetuses are in head-down position.

Baby is the size of a leek. About 19.60 inches, 3100g.

Week 38 — full term. Black women have higher rates of unwanted cesarean per CDC — finalizing your birth plan and having an advocate (partner or doula) in the room reduces unwanted interventions. Source

What's happening with the baby

The fetus is essentially fully developed. Brain continues to grow. Skin is becoming pinker. Most fetuses are in head-down position.

What's happening for you

Many women feel they're 'done.' Pelvic pressure peaks. Sleep is disrupted. Some women experience nesting urges (energy to clean, organize, prepare).

Common (normal) symptoms this week

Pelvic pressure, frequent urination, prodromal contractions, sleep disturbance, breast colostrum increasing, mild diarrhea (early labor sign for some).

Call your OB or 911 if

Severe headache that won't go away with acetaminophen — preeclampsia.
Vision changes — blurred vision, light flashes, vision loss.
Severe right-upper-quadrant pain — HELLP syndrome.
Sudden swelling of face, hands, or feet.
Reduced fetal movement — fewer than 10 kicks in 2 hours.
Vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, or persistent contractions.
Severe shortness of breath at rest or chest pain.
Fever over 100.4°F.
Seizure — eclampsia, life-threatening.

Why this week matters for Black families

The final weeks and the immediate postpartum period are where Black-maternal-mortality cases cluster. Postpartum hemorrhage rates are 3 to 4 times higher in Black women per ACOG Practice Bulletin 183, and recognition is documented to be slower. If after delivery you soak a pad in under an hour, pass golf-ball-sized clots, feel lightheaded standing up, or your heart races at rest — go to the ED, not to your OB's office for an appointment. Postpartum preeclampsia can develop up to 6 weeks after birth and is repeatedly missed. The Serena Williams near-miss in 2017 wasn't an outlier — it was the median pattern.

What to do this week

Weekly visits. Discuss what happens if you don't go into labor by 41 weeks (induction). Confirm doula plan. Confirm postpartum support. Stock the home with newborn supplies, food, and postpartum recovery items (pads, peri bottle, breast pads).

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References

CDC NCHS Cesarean Delivery Data.
ACOG Committee Opinion 766.

Last medically reviewed: April 25, 2026.

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