39 Weeks Pregnant
39 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby’s Development
You’ve made it this far, and now that you’re 39 weeks pregnant, your pregnancy is considered full term. The end of the third trimester, and your pregnancy, is now in sight.
Your baby’s lungs and brain are still developing and will continue to develop after she’s born. In fact, her brain won’t reach its full size for about another two years, and the lungs might not be mature until around the age of 3. Right now, the lungs are busy manufacturing surfactant to keep the air sacs from sticking together when she takes her first breath.
Your little one doesn’t have much room to move around in your uterus now, so if you’ve noticed any changes in her movements, that’s probably why. If you are feeling less movement than usual, you can always check with your healthcare provider for reassurance.
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The Size of the Fetus at 39 Weeks Pregnant
At 39 weeks, the average fetus is about the size of a watermelon, but do remember that healthy, happy babies come in many different sizes.
Space is at a premium inside your belly this week! This illustration can give you a general idea of how your baby may be positioned at 39 weeks:
Mom’s Body at 39 Weeks Pregnant
At this point, you’re probably feeling more than ready for your baby to be born! Some moms-to-be find walking, and moving in general, to be a struggle, thanks to all that baby weight and a belly that just won’t quit.
Try to move slowly and carefully, and get as much rest as you can. Sleep might not come easily, so try to save your energy by getting in some downtime or a short catnap during the day, if possible.
If you’re wondering how many months along you are at 39 weeks pregnant, you’re either 9 months pregnant or 10 months pregnant, because the weeks of pregnancy don’t fit evenly into full months.
Your uterus has expanded over the course of your pregnancy. It started out weighing about two ounces before you were pregnant, and it’s now grown to weigh about two and a half pounds.
After you give birth, it will shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size and settle back down below your pubic bone. After about six weeks, it should be back to its normal size.
39 Weeks Pregnant: Your Symptoms
At 39 weeks pregnant, here are some of the symptoms you may be experiencing:
Trouble sleeping. It may be more difficult to get a good night’s sleep toward the end of your pregnancy. The size of your belly may make it hard to find a comfortable position, and nerves and anxiety can keep you up, too. Try to make your bed and bedroom as comfortable as possible, with plenty of extra pillows to prop you up and keep you comfortable.
Losing the mucus plug. At 39 weeks pregnant, losing the mucus plug can be one of the normal signs that labour is approaching, and it can happen anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks before labour actually starts. A clear, pinkish, or slightly bloody vaginal discharge might be the mucus plug, but not all moms-to-be will notice it. This plug seals the cervix during pregnancy and keeps bacteria out of the uterus. When it detaches, you might see it in one blob or in several parts on your panties or on the toilet paper after you wipe. If you notice anything more than this slightly bloody discharge, contact your healthcare provider right away.
Water breaking. We’ve all seen it in the movies—when the character’s water breaks, you know the baby is coming soon! This discharge can feel like a trickle or gush of fluid, and it means that the amniotic sac around your baby has broken, the amniotic fluid is leaking, and your labour is starting. If your water breaks, it’s time to call your healthcare provider, who will let you know what to do next. If the leaked amniotic fluid has a foul odor or if you’re running a fever when your water breaks, be sure to let your healthcare provider know, because this could be an indication of an infection known as chorioamnionitis.
Preeclampsia. Some moms-to-be are diagnosed with this blood pressure disorder in the last weeks of pregnancy. A few possible symptoms at 39 weeks pregnant include swelling of your face and hands, headaches, nausea and vomiting, sudden weight gain, shortness of breath, and vision changes. Your healthcare provider has likely been checking your blood pressure regularly, and may continue to do so as needed in these final few weeks, but if you notice any of the symptoms described above, contact your provider right away.
39 Weeks Pregnant: Things to Consider
When you think you might be in labour, you’ll want to start timing your contractions to make sure you’re not experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. In the early stages of labour, your contractions might come in 5- to 15-minute intervals and each contraction might last between 60 and 90 seconds. When your contractions occur at regular intervals and don’t stop when you change positions, it’s probably time to give your provider a call. As labour progresses, you’ll probably find your contractions occur more frequently, and they might become more intense, too. To help you keep track, download a contraction tracking chart online.
Be aware that, in some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend inducing labour. This could be because you or your baby have certain medical conditions, your labour is not progressing as it should, or you’ve gone past your due date. Your provider will be able to talk you through the procedure, its risks, and its benefits for your specific situation if this is something that you may need, even if it’s not exactly what you had planned.
Once you’re in labour, you may find some positions more comfortable than others. For example, some moms-to-be give birth in a hospital bed while reclining with their feet in stirrups, and others may use a birthing chair or stool, depending on the policies and available facilities at the local hospital or birth center. If available, you may also be able to try using a birthing ball that lets you rock back and forth when contractions strike. You might also like to try squatting, standing, or kneeling during labour, if your hospital staff give you the OK to do so. You may have a birth plan that outlines how you want to go through labour and some possible comfort techniques, but keep in mind that your preferences may change when you are actually in labour, and that you'll need to be flexible when the time comes. Check out the visual below for some examples of labor positions you might like to try:
It's possible that well-meaning friends and family members may start offering suggestions on how to bring on labour at 39 weeks pregnant. Your best friend may insist she went into labour right after enjoying a spicy meal, or a relative may suggest having sex or taking a long walk. There’s actually no medical evidence that eating spicy foods, taking long walks, or having sex will bring on labour. If you do have any questions or concerns about when labour will start, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider.
You still have time to do some shopping (even if it’s online!) and source any of those missing items you need for your newborn. Check out our newborn essentials list to double check you have everything you’ll need.
What’s in store after you give birth? It might help you feel more reassured and comfortable with what’s to come if you read up on your postpartum recovery and healing as well as newborn baby care basics like umbilical cord care and how to change a diaper.
39 Weeks Pregnant: Ask Your Doctor
How much should your baby be moving in these last few weeks of your pregnancy?
If your baby is in a breech position, what is recommended?
In what circumstances would labor need to be induced?
If you give birth vaginally, will labour and childbirth be in different rooms?
What is an operative vaginal delivery? Is this something that may be recommend?
Will your birth partner or older children be allowed in the delivery room when you give birth?
Is photography or videography allowed in the delivery room?
What should you expect to happen in the first few hours after you give birth?
Will skin-to-skin contact be allowed immediately after your baby is born?
What are the visiting hours should people want to visit you and your newborn?
39 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist
Take a moment here and there to take stock and enjoy those little kicks and your final few days or weeks of being pregnant. You’ve come a long way and you’ll soon meet your baby, but whether you’ve found pregnancy exhausting or magical – or a mixture of both, taking a moment to soak in the feeling of being pregnant is worth doing as it’s a time period you’ll remember forever.
If you’re still at work, start wrapping things up and leave notes or onboard your colleagues who will be managing things while you are on maternity leave.
If you plan to bottle feed your baby, stock up on baby formula.
If you haven’t already and you like the idea of keeping details of your little one’s first year written down, buy a “my first year” baby book as a memento.
If you haven’t already, plan who will take care of your pets and older children when you go into labour and during your hospital stay.
Get a baby first aid kit and have it stocked up.
Protect your mattress with a waterproof sheet or cover in case your water breaks during the night.
Finalize your choice for your baby’s pediatrician.
Contact your insurance company to ask about the availability of a breast pump.
Make sure you have the right diapers for your newborn.
Download the Pampers Club app to earn points toward discounts and Pampers products.
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How we wrote this article
The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.
