Week 38: Any Day Now
Full term is days away — stay close, stay calm, stay ready
The baby is essentially full-grown. The due date is 2 weeks away, but babies come on their own schedule — only about 5% arrive exactly on the due date. This week is about maintaining readiness, managing the waiting-game anxiety, and making sure every system is go.
What's happening this week
The baby weighs about 6.8 pounds. The brain is adding 30% of its weight in these final weeks. The baby is producing surfactant to prepare the lungs. The grasp reflex is strong — the baby can grip a finger. Meconium (first stool) is accumulating in the intestines. She is likely very uncomfortable — sleeping is difficult, everything hurts, and she's ready to be done.
Your checklist
0 of 4 completeNo trips more than 30–45 minutes from the hospital. Keep your phone charged and loud. If you're at work, have a leave plan you can activate in minutes, not hours.
The 'is this it?' phase is exhausting. Every cramp could be a contraction. Every trip to the bathroom could be the water breaking. Stay calm, be reassuring, and don't jump to conclusions at every twinge. But also — take real signs seriously.
If she goes past her due date, your OB may recommend induction — typically between 39 and 41 weeks depending on the practice. Understand the process: cervical ripening, Pitocin, timeframes. Discuss preferences with your OB this week.
Walk through the bag one more time. Phone chargers? Insurance cards? Snacks? Going-home outfits (her and baby)? Car seat in the car? Pediatrician's number written down? Anything that's been taken out and not replaced?
Recommended products
Nipple Cream — Lansinoh Lanolin
Hospital-recommended lanolin nipple cream for breastfeeding. Soothes and protects sore, cracked nipples from the first days of nursing. Safe for baby — no need to wipe off before feeding. Single-ingredient, hypoallergenic.
The final weeks of pregnancy are defined by waiting. Only about 5% of babies arrive on their exact due date, with most first-time mothers delivering between 39 and 41 weeks. The uncertainty is difficult for both of you. For her, every physical sensation is analyzed for signs of labor. For you, the challenge is maintaining calm readiness without adding to the anxiety.
Induction becomes a topic of conversation in the late weeks. Most OBs recommend against elective induction before 39 weeks (per ACOG guidelines) but may recommend it for medical reasons or if the pregnancy extends past 41 weeks. Common induction methods include cervical ripening agents (Cervidil, Cytotec), mechanical dilation (Foley balloon), and Pitocin (synthetic oxytocin). Understanding these options in advance helps you make informed decisions if induction is recommended.
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