The Playbook

38 Weeks Pregnant: Learn the First Days Before They Arrive

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed . 2 min read.

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

Trimester3
Sizea small pumpkin
Length / weightabout 19.6 in (49.8 cm), about 6.8 lb (3.1 kg)

The baby has firm grasp reflexes and is mostly adding fat. Organs are ready to work on their own, with the lungs continuing to mature until birth.

Your to-do list this week

  • Learn newborn feeding cues: rooting, sucking on hands, lip smacking. Crying is a late hunger sign.
  • Know the diaper counts your pediatrician expects in the first week, and keep a simple log.
  • Learn the newborn warning signs, especially a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under 3 months.
  • Set up the first night: bassinet in your room, bare and flat, with a dim light for feeds.
A conversation to have this week

"What's our plan for the first night home?" Who sleeps when, who does diapers, and when you'll call the pediatrician's nurse line with questions.

The baby this week

Nearly seven pounds, the baby has a firm grip and is mostly adding fat. The organs are ready to work on their own, and the lungs keep maturing until birth (Mayo Clinic; NHS).

How she may be feeling

Done with being pregnant, often with good reason. Swelling, back pain, and pelvic pressure are common, and so are false alarms. Be patient, be present, and keep the household running.

Learn the first days now

The hospital will teach you a lot in a short time, while you’re exhausted. Get a head start on the essentials:

Feeding cues. Newborns show hunger by rooting (turning toward a touch on the cheek), sucking on hands, and smacking lips. Crying is a late sign. Newborns typically feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.

Diapers. Your pediatrician or hospital will tell you how many wet and dirty diapers to expect each day in the first week; the numbers go up as feeding gets established. A simple log on your phone answers the first question every pediatrician asks.

Jaundice. Yellowing of the skin and eyes is common in the first week. Usually it’s mild, but high levels need treatment. The AAP explains that babies are checked before discharge and again at the first visit; call if the yellow is spreading, or the baby is very sleepy or feeding poorly.

Fever. For a baby under 3 months, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher means calling the pediatrician right away, even if the baby seems fine (AAP). Buy a digital thermometer now.

Safe sleep. On the back, in their own crib or bassinet, nothing else in it, in your room. See our safe sleep guide.

For the full list of reasons to call, read when to call the doctor.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature is a fever in a newborn?

A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. For babies younger than 3 months, the AAP says to call the pediatrician right away, even if the baby seems fine.

What is newborn jaundice?

Yellowing of the skin and eyes from a substance called bilirubin. It is common in the first week and usually mild, but high levels need treatment. Hospitals check babies before discharge, and your pediatrician will check again at the first visit.

Sources

  1. Fetal development: The 3rd trimester, Mayo Clinic
  2. Fever and Your Baby, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
  3. Jaundice in Newborns: Parent FAQs, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
  4. Week 38: Your baby and your body, NHS

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.