38 Weeks Pregnant: The Final Checklist (You're Almost There)
38 weeks. Full term. Any day now.
At this point, your bag should be packed and waiting by the door. Your car seat should be installed. You should be... well, probably tired, uncomfortable, and ready to be done.
This isn't the week for big projects. It's the week for double-checking that everything is actually ready, then trying to rest.
The Final Bag Check
Go through your hospital bag one more time. Not to add more stuff (please don't add more stuff), but to make sure you have the essentials:
Documents - can you grab these in 30 seconds?
- ID
- Insurance card
- Hospital paperwork
- Doctor's number in your phone
Your stuff - is it actually in the bag?
- Going-home outfit
- Phone charger (this is the one thing everyone forgets)
- Toiletries
- Snacks
- Whatever else you packed
Baby's stuff - ready to go?
- A few outfits
- Hat
- Receiving blanket
- Going-home outfit
Car seat - installed? Check one more time. Make sure it's installed correctly (rear-facing, middle of the back seat if possible, not wobbly). If you haven't had it inspected, many fire stations offer free checks.
Things That Should Be Done
If these aren't done, this is the week:
Pediatrician chosen. Call and confirm you're on their patient list. Know how to reach them.
Hospital pre-registration. If you haven't done the paperwork, do it now. Nobody wants to fill out forms while having contractions.
Route to hospital. Drive it once more. Know where to park at night. Know which entrance to use.
Backup plans. What if your partner isn't available? What if labor is fast? Who's your backup driver?
Work stuff. Let your boss know you're close. Tie up loose ends if you can.
Things That Don't Need to Be Perfect
The nursery doesn't need to be Instagram-ready. Baby will sleep in your room at first anyway.
You don't need every single baby item ever invented. You need a safe sleep space, diapers, something to wear, and something to eat (that last one applies to you, not the baby... though also the baby).
Don't spend this week painting accent walls or organizing closets. Rest.
How to Know Labor Is Starting
By 38 weeks, you might have already had some false alarms. Here's how to tell the real thing:
Early signs (could be days away still):
- Baby feels lower ("dropped")
- More bathroom trips than usual
- Braxton Hicks getting more frequent
- Lower back aching
- Losing mucus plug
- Sudden urge to organize everything (nesting is real)
Real labor signs (time to go):
- Contractions in a pattern - 5 minutes apart, lasting about a minute, for an hour
- Water breaking (gush or steady leak)
- Bloody show along with contractions
- Contractions that keep getting stronger
Emergency signs (go immediately):
- Heavy bleeding
- Severe pain that doesn't let up
- Baby not moving at all
- Feeling like something is very wrong
If you're unsure, call your doctor or the hospital. They'd rather hear from you with a false alarm than have you wait too long.
The Waiting Game
This is the hard part. Everything is ready and you just... wait.
Some babies come at 38 weeks. Some come at 42. Most first babies come a little late. There's really no way to predict it.
What to do with this time:
Sleep. I know, easier said than done. But try. Sleep in. Nap. Rest whenever you can.
Eat well. Labor is hard work. Your body needs fuel.
Do things you won't be able to do with a newborn. Go to a restaurant. Watch a movie without interruption. Take a long shower.
Don't drive yourself crazy. Stay off Google. Stop symptom-spotting. When baby is ready, baby will come.
For Partners
Partners, this is your checklist:
- Know where the hospital bag is
- Know what's in it
- Keep your phone charged and volume on
- Keep gas in the car
- Know the route to the hospital
- Be ready to leave any situation immediately
- Have your own bag packed with clothes, toiletries, charger, snacks
Also: your pregnant person is probably anxious and uncomfortable. Be patient. Be supportive. Don't ask "any contractions yet?" every five minutes.
What If Baby Comes This Week?
Good news: 38 weeks is full term. Baby's organs are developed. Lungs are ready. They might need a little extra monitoring but should be perfectly healthy.
So if labor starts now, don't panic. You're prepared. Your bag is packed. You know where to go.
The hardest part might be over - the waiting, the preparing, the worrying about whether you're ready.
You're ready. Now you just have to meet your baby.
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