38 weeks pregnant

Your baby

Much of your baby's fine body hair has disappeared, although some may remain at birth. Material called meconium is collecting in the intestines and usually becomes the first bowel movement after birth. Your baby should continue moving in their usual pattern. A later pregnancy week is not a reason for movements to slow or stop.

Your body

You may feel increasingly ready for birth, or you may feel uncertain about what happens next. Both practical discomfort and the waiting itself can be tiring. Ask for help with symptoms that make daily life difficult. Avoid interpreting every sensation as a prediction; the care plan is based on your pregnancy as a whole, not a single sign.

This week

Discussing the plan beyond your due date

Before the due date arrives, ask what the plan would be if labor has not begun. Discuss when you would next be seen, whether additional monitoring might be recommended and when induction would enter the conversation. Ask about the reasons, benefits, risks and alternatives in your own circumstances rather than treating a particular date as the same deadline for everyone. Confirm how you will receive instructions if the plan changes. Do not wait for the next scheduled assessment if movement decreases, your water may have broken or another urgent concern develops.