Pregnancy Week 38: Signs of Labor to Watch

You made it. Officially. As of 38 weeks pregnant, you are considered full term — which is the medical way of saying baby is ready to be born whenever they decide to make an entrance. That could be tonight, that could be in three weeks, and neither of you gets to fully choose. Welcome to one of the strangest, most alert, most tired stretches of your life.

This week is less about baby's development (they're basically done cooking) and more about your body quietly rehearsing for labor. Some of the changes are subtle — a shift in how you're carrying, a sudden urge to reorganize your entire linen closet. Others are extremely not-subtle, like a mucus plug in the toilet paper or a contraction that stops you talking mid-sentence. This guide walks you through all of it, with the actual signs to watch for and the ones you can safely ignore.

Quick note before we start: this article is educational, not medical advice. If something feels off — trust that instinct and call your provider. We built Vyve as a private, on-device AI pregnancy tracker with kick counter and contraction timer, so we care a lot about you having good information. But nothing here replaces your OB, midwife or L&D triage line.

Baby at 38 weeks: size & development

At week 38, baby is roughly the size of a small pumpkin — about 19–20 inches head-to-heel and around 6.5 to 7 pounds. Weight and length vary a lot between healthy babies, so don't stress if your last scan said 6.2 or 7.4. That range is normal.

Here's what baby is doing behind the scenes:

• All organs are online. Lungs, brain, kidneys, liver — every system is developed enough to work outside the womb. The final weeks are about fine-tuning, not building.
• Vernix and lanugo are mostly gone. That waxy protective coating and the fine downy hair have shed into the amniotic fluid — which baby has been swallowing. That's part of what becomes their first tar-like poop, meconium.
• Fat layers keep building. Baby is adding a little more fat to help regulate body temperature after birth. This is why late-term babies often look plumper.
• Head is likely down and engaged. Most babies have settled head-down by now, and many have "dropped" into the pelvis (called lightening). If baby is still breech, your provider will discuss options with you.
• Grip is strong. That newborn hand-clench you'll see in the first photos? Already trained.

Your body this week

Your body is very busy being uncomfortable with purpose. Some of what you're feeling now is your body actively preparing for labor.

Pelvic pressure. Once baby drops (lightening), you may breathe easier but feel a whole new heaviness low in your pelvis. Some people describe it as walking with a bowling ball between their legs. Waddling is not vanity, it is physics.

Cervical changes. Behind the scenes your cervix is softening (ripening), thinning out (effacing), and starting to open (dilating). Your provider may check at appointments now. Some cervical change can happen over days or weeks before labor really kicks in — a "1cm dilated" check does not mean labor tonight, and being "closed" doesn't mean labor next month.

Mucus plug. The gelatinous plug that's been sealing your cervix may come out in one gloopy blob or in bits over days. It can look clear, cloudy, pink or brown-tinged. Losing it is a sign labor is coming, but not necessarily today.

Bloody show. A small amount of pink or brown-streaked mucus discharge as your cervix changes. Different from bright red bleeding — bright red or heavy bleeding is a call-your-provider-now situation.

Braxton Hicks. These practice contractions get more frequent and stronger as you get closer to labor. They tighten your belly like a basketball for 30–60 seconds and then let go.

Nesting. A sudden, weirdly specific urge to clean, sort or organize. Some people scrub baseboards. Some alphabetize spices. Enjoy it, but do not lift heavy furniture alone or spend eight hours on your feet just because you have the energy today.

Moodiness & sleep chaos. Hormones are shifting again to prep for labor. You may cry at a car commercial. You may lie awake at 3am rehearsing labor scenarios. Both are normal. Naps count as sleep.

Signs of labor to watch for

Early labor can be sneaky. Some people get textbook signs; others go from "just tired" to "in active labor" in a matter of hours. Here are the signals worth taking seriously:

• Regular contractions that get stronger, longer and closer together — and don't stop when you rest or drink water.
• Water breaking — could be a dramatic gush or a slow trickle you can't stop. Note the time, color and any smell to tell your provider.
• Bloody show — pink or brown-tinged mucus discharge as your cervix opens.
• Low back pain that comes in waves, sometimes described as constant deep ache with a rhythmic build.
• Diarrhea or stomach upset — the body sometimes clears out before labor. Not glamorous. Very real.
• Sudden nesting burst in the hours or day before labor for some people.
• A feeling that "something is different" — take this seriously. Many parents describe knowing something had shifted before they could name it.

Braxton Hicks vs real contractions

This is the single most common source of "should I go in?" anxiety in the final weeks. Here's the honest comparison side by side.

The best real-world test: drink a big glass of water, lie on your left side, and wait 30 minutes. Braxton Hicks usually calm down. Real labor doesn't care about your hydration status.

When to go to the hospital: the 5-1-1 rule

Most providers use the 5-1-1 rule as the standard go-in cue for a first baby (called a primigravida). Some providers use 4-1-1 for people who live far from the hospital, and second-or-later babies often come faster, so your instructions may be different — always follow what your provider told you.

You will never regret calling labor and delivery for something that turns out to be nothing. They answer that phone all night long specifically so you can call. Use it.

When to call your provider

Beyond the go-in list above, call your OB or midwife promptly for any of these:

• Decreased fetal movement or a clear change in baby's usual pattern
• Any leaking of fluid — even a slow trickle
• Contractions before 37 weeks (that's preterm labor and is a different call — but you're past that now, so 38 weeks contractions are welcome, not worrying)
• Persistent headache, spots in your vision, upper right abdominal pain, or sudden swelling of face and hands (possible signs of preeclampsia)
• Fever over 100.4°F (38°C)
• Severe itching, especially on hands and feet
• Any bleeding beyond spotting or bloody show

Kick counting at 38 weeks

Baby has less room to somersault now — expect movements to feel more like rolls, stretches, hiccups and sharp pokes rather than big kicks. But the frequency of movement should stay similar to what's been normal for your baby.

The standard guideline is 10 movements in 2 hours during a time baby is usually active. Sit or lie down, hand on belly, and count. If you don't hit 10 in 2 hours, or if baby's movement pattern feels notably different, call your provider. Do not eat sugar, drink cold water and wait to "wake baby up" as a substitute for calling — call, then use those tricks if your provider tells you to.

A decrease in movement is one of the most important warning signs in the third trimester. It's a call worth making immediately, not tomorrow.

Nutrition & hydration

Food and water are still doing real work this week — keeping you fueled for labor and baby well-supplied.

Dates. A small body of research suggests eating around 6 dates per day from about week 36 may support cervical ripening and shorter early labor. It's not a guarantee, but it's low-risk if your blood sugar is not an issue — worth mentioning to your provider, especially if you have gestational diabetes.

Hydration. Aim for around 8–10 cups of water daily. Dehydration triggers Braxton Hicks and makes real contractions harder to interpret. Sip through the day; don't chug at bedtime unless you enjoy hourly bathroom trips.

Iron-rich foods. You'll lose some blood during birth. Leafy greens, red meat, lentils and fortified grains help top up stores.

Small, frequent meals. Your stomach has almost no room. Big meals cause reflux; smaller ones every 2–3 hours are gentler.

Freezer-friendly protein snacks. Prep some now for postpartum — think boiled eggs, yogurt, protein balls, cheese portions. You will not want to cook next week or the week after.

Safe movement & labor prep

Gentle movement now can help baby settle into a good position and encourage labor without forcing it.

• Walking. 20–30 minutes daily if you're up for it. Gravity is a friend.
• Birthing ball. Sit and gently rock, circle your hips, or bounce. Great for opening the pelvis and easing back pain.
• Squats. Supported squats (holding a countertop or your partner's hands) open the pelvic outlet. Skip if your provider has advised against them.
• Cat-cow stretches. Gets baby off your spine and helps with back labor prevention.
• Perineal massage. If your provider recommended it, keep it up.

Skip anything with a fall risk, hot yoga, or long stretches flat on your back. If it hurts or something feels wrong, stop.

Birth plan reminders

You don't need a laminated 12-page manifesto. You do need to have thought about the key decisions and shared them with whoever will be at the birth. A one-page summary is plenty.

• Pain management preferences. Unmedicated? Epidural available? Nitrous? Wait and see? Any strong "please don't offer unless I ask"?
• Labor positions. Do you want to move freely, use the ball, try the tub or shower, or stay in bed?
• Cord clamping. Delayed cord clamping is now standard practice at many hospitals, but state your preference.
• Immediate skin-to-skin. Say it out loud — you want baby on your chest before weighing, bathing, and measuring (assuming baby is stable).
• Feeding preferences. Breast, bottle, combo — and whether you want a lactation consult before discharge.
• Visitors. Who is allowed in the room during labor, and who is allowed to visit after. It's fine to say "no one but my partner."
• If there's a c-section. Do you want a clear drape, immediate skin-to-skin in the OR, one arm free? Ask about these now, not in the moment.

Give a copy to your partner, doula (if you have one) and the L&D nurse when you arrive. Then hold it loosely — birth rarely goes exactly to plan, and that's okay.

Final prep checklist

You want the boring logistics done, so future-you in labor doesn't have to think.

• Hospital bag packed and by the door (yours + baby's + partner's)
• Car seat installed and inspection done — many fire stations do free checks
• Pediatrician chosen and their intake paperwork done
• Route to hospital driven at least once during traffic
• Backup driver identified if partner is out of town
• Phone charger + backup battery in the bag
• Insurance card and hospital pre-registration done
• Birth plan printed, 3 copies
• Freezer stocked with 2 weeks of easy meals
• Postpartum supplies at home: peri bottle, pads, disposable underwear, nipple cream, ice pack, stool softener
• Meal train / support schedule set up if you have one
• Pets, older kids, or plants covered for while you're at the hospital
• Nursery basics ready — you do not need a fully decorated room, you need a safe sleep space and diapers
• Out-of-office set on your work email

Three practical tips

1. Time contractions, don't count them. Grab a contraction timer app the moment they feel remotely regular. You want start time and duration. Guessing "every 8ish minutes" is not the same information as "every 6:14, 6:02, 5:58, lasting 52, 55, 58 seconds." Your provider needs the second version.
2. Sleep like it's a job. Naps are legitimate work now. Do not stay up scrolling birth stories at midnight. Sleep debt going into labor is real, and you cannot bank it — but you can avoid making it worse.
3. Say the awkward thing to your partner now. "I might yell at you." "I don't want photos of my face during pushing." "If I ask for an epidural, don't remind me I said I wanted to go unmedicated." Have the weird conversation over dinner this week, not in triage at 3am.

If you haven't yet, glance back at week 37 to make sure you didn't skip anything on the final-month prep, or look ahead to week 39 and week 40 so you know what's coming. And if you're one of those planners who wants to check the math on your dates, our due date calculator is right here. You may also want a quick refresher on early pregnancy signs — not for you, but for the friend who's about to ask.

Frequently asked questions

How big is baby at 38 weeks pregnant?

At 38 weeks, baby is roughly the size of a small pumpkin — about 19 to 20 inches long and weighing around 6.5 to 7 pounds, though healthy babies vary widely. All major organs are fully developed and ready to work outside the womb. Most of the growth from here is a little extra fat and fine-tuning of the lungs and brain.

What are the early signs of labor at 38 weeks?

Common early signs include losing your mucus plug, a small amount of pink or brown-tinged discharge (bloody show), a sudden burst of energy known as nesting, low back pain that comes and goes, mild cramps that feel like period cramps, and Braxton Hicks contractions that gradually become more regular. Water breaking and steady, painful contractions that get closer together are stronger signs that labor is here.

What's the difference between Braxton Hicks and real contractions?

Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular, usually painless or mildly uncomfortable, don't get longer or stronger over time, and often stop when you change position, drink water or rest. Real labor contractions come at regular intervals that get closer together, last longer, get more intense, and don't go away with rest or hydration. Real contractions also usually feel like they wrap around from your back to your front.

When should I go to the hospital at 38 weeks?

Most providers use the 5-1-1 rule for a first baby: contractions coming every 5 minutes, each lasting 1 minute, for at least 1 hour. Go in sooner if your water breaks, if you notice bright red bleeding, if baby's movements slow down significantly, if you have severe or constant pain, or if your provider has given you different instructions based on your history. When in doubt, call the labor and delivery line — they'd rather hear from you.

Should I still count kicks at 38 weeks?

Yes, absolutely. Baby is running out of room to do big flips, but you should still feel regular movement every day. A common guideline is to feel around 10 movements in 2 hours during a quiet stretch when baby is usually active. Any sudden decrease or a change from baby's normal pattern is a reason to call your provider right away — do not wait to see if it improves.

Educational, not medical advice. Call your provider for concerns.