nuhahyearlyLaunch pricing - Get £50 off!nuhahyearlyAt week 38, your baby is early term. All organ systems are mature, and they have shed most of their lanugo and vernix. According to Nuhah's pregnancy guide, your baby has a firm grasp reflex and is producing surfactant for breathing.
Organ systems are mature. The baby sheds most lanugo and vernix. A firm grasp reflex is ready. Surfactant production is well advanced, meaning the lungs are nearly ready for breathing air, with full lung maturity typically reached at 39 weeks. The baby weighs about 3kg and is roughly 50cm. The brain is rapidly forming new synaptic connections and myelinating nerve fibres, processes that will continue for years after birth. The baby is ready for life outside the womb.
You may feel like you have been pregnant forever. Cervical changes may begin in preparation for labour - your cervix softens and may start to dilate. You might lose your mucus plug (a jelly-like discharge, sometimes tinged with blood). Braxton Hicks can be strong enough to make you wonder if labour has started. Fatigue, pelvic pressure, and general discomfort are at their peak.
Per ACOG Committee Opinion No. 579, early term covers 37 0/7 to 38 6/7 weeks, and full term begins at 39 weeks. At 38 weeks your baby's organs are fully developed, but the extra week or two helps with brain and lung maturation. Babies born at 38 weeks are generally healthy, though waiting until at least 39 weeks is preferred unless there is a medical reason for earlier delivery.
The mucus plug is a thick, jelly-like substance that seals the cervix during pregnancy. Losing it (called a show) can happen days or weeks before labour begins. It may be clear, pink, or streaked with blood. It is a sign that your cervix is starting to change in preparation for labour.
Milestones, partner sharing, notes, photos, and a curated essentials guide - all free. No app to install.
Get Started - Free© 2026 Nuhah. All rights reserved.