What may change in your body
There may be more pelvic pressure, vaginal discharge and irregular contractions. True labor tends to show a progressive pattern of contractions, but every story is different.
Care for this week
Follow your maternity hospital's advice on when to go in.
Seek care if you have leaking fluid, bleeding, a significant decrease in movements or other warning signs.
Avoid 'home remedies' to induce labor without guidance.
Prenatal care focus
- Weekly appointments check blood pressure, maternal well-being, growth, heartbeat and movements, as well as birth planning.
If you're expecting twins
Many twin pregnancies have a planned birth before or around this stage, depending on chorionicity and clinical progress.
For those by your side
Keep your phone charged, transportation arranged and stay operationally calm. The best plan is simple and known to everyone.
Questions for this week
Does losing the mucus plug mean the baby will be born today?
Not necessarily. It can happen hours or days before labor.
Should the baby move less close to birth?
A decrease in movements should not be ignored. The space changes the type of movement, but the pattern is still relevant.
When to seek care
- Fluid leaking from the vagina, especially in a gush or a continuous trickle, needs to be evaluated.
- Once movements have become familiar, a significant decrease in the pattern you notice should be evaluated without waiting until the next day.
- After 20 weeks, a severe/persistent headache, vision changes, severe pain in the upper abdomen or sudden swelling deserve evaluation for a possible hypertensive condition.
In an emergency, go to the urgent care service in your area. This content does not replace a professional assessment.
The next chapter
In week 38, the baby keeps refining functions and the body may alternate calm days with increasingly clear signs of preparation.
See week 38Was this helpful?
Sources and transparency
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Brazilian Pregnancy Booklet, the official prenatal record (Caderneta Brasileira, updated in 2026)
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Prenatal care (Ministério da Saúde — Pré-natal)
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — High-Risk Pregnancy Manual — Multiple pregnancy (Manual de Gestação de Alto Risco — Gestação múltipla)
- NHS — Week-by-week guide to pregnancy
- ACOG — How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Prenatal tests and vaccines (Ministério da Saúde — Exames e vacinas no pré-natal)
- ACOG — Bleeding During Pregnancy
Nilu editorial content, written from the official sources above. Individual clinical review of each week is in progress — this text is for information and does not replace your prenatal care.