38 weeks pregnant: fetal development
Chess
by Chess Thomas | animated_fact_check Medically reviewed by Joseph Aquilina, Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist | December 2019
The average weight of a baby at 38 weeks of pregnancy is about 3.1kg (6.8lb), and the average length is about 49.8cm (19.6in). Your baby is about as long as a leek.
Your midwife may be able to give you an idea of whether your baby will be bigger or smaller than this, based on your fundal height. Fundal height is the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your womb (uterus).
The fine lanugo hair that covered your baby's body is largely gone. But she may still have some patches when she's born, particularly on her upper arms and shoulders. Her elbows and knees may have small dimples, and she can now make a firm grasp with her hands.
Looking forward to seeing what colour your baby | s eyes are? Remember that the colour of their irises at birth may not indicate what colour their eyes will be when they're older. This is because the pigmentation in her irises needs natural light outside your womb to finish developing. It's not an instant transformation, either. It'll take a few weeks, or longer, before she has her final eye colour. The pattern and colour of her irises are as unique as her fingerprints.
Find out how your life and your body are changing this week with our guide to 38 weeks of pregnancy.
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Note: every baby develops differently. This page is designed to give a general idea of how a fetus grows in the womb.
3.5 kg baby at 38 weeks?
