Third trimester · Week 38 of pregnancy
38 weeks pregnant: body, feeding, and care
The fetus has a firm grasp and continues gaining — building the fat stores that help regulate temperature after birth.
Body and care — week 38
The fetus has a firm grasp and continues gaining — building the fat stores that help regulate temperature after birth. Development notes on this page are general education summarized from ACOG patient-education material; they describe typical development, not your pregnancy specifically. Anatomy and growth are confirmed by your own provider and ultrasounds.
This week's checklist
- Note one body question — sleep, appetite, movement, comfort — and bring it to your next prenatal visit rather than searching it at 3 AM.
- Keep prenatal appointments on the schedule your provider sets; bring your questions list.
- Anything that worries you — bleeding, pain, reduced movement later in pregnancy — goes to your provider or urgent care first, never to a website.
Week 38 questions
What is happening at 38 weeks pregnant?
The fetus has a firm grasp and continues gaining — building the fat stores that help regulate temperature after birth.
Which trimester is week 38?
Week 38 falls in the third trimester (weeks 28–42). See the third trimester hub.
How is a due date calculated?
A due date is typically estimated as 280 days (40 weeks) from the first day of the last menstrual period. It is an estimate — try the client-side due-date calculator; your provider's dating outranks it.
Educational information only — not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby develops on their own timeline. If you have any concern, talk to your obstetric provider or your baby's pediatrician.