40 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby is fully developed; at any moment, he’ll make his grand entrance. Let’s take a look at what’s happening with your body and your baby this week and list a few tips to help you make it through these final moments of pregnancy.

At this stage, your baby is about the size of a watermelon, typically weighing between 6.75 and 10 pounds and measuring around 19 to 21 inches long. 1 Here’s what else is happening with him this week:

• Organs and vital systems: All of your baby’s organs and systems have matured and are ready to function. He’s been practicing breathing, and his lungs are ready for his first breath of fresh air. 2 3
• Coordination: Your baby now has impressive coordination and motor skills (for a baby, anyway). He’s responding to sounds, blinking, clenching his fists, and even turning his head.
• Skin changes: Your baby’s skin may be discolored or covered with dry patches and rashes. Don’t worry; this is normal. 4 Most of his lanugo (the soft, downy hair that kept him warm in the womb) should be gone by now. 3
• Positioning: He should have dropped further down into your pelvis (known as “lightening”) as he gets ready for his big debut. Most babies settle into a head-down position at this point, but he could also be feet down or even sideways. 3
• Soft spots: Your baby’s skull bones haven’t fused yet, leaving soft spots (fontanels) on the top and back of this head. You’ll see them once he’s born, but don’t worry; they’re completely normal. 1

As you approach your due date, you might still be suffering from those irritating symptoms from the past few weeks. Considering how big your baby is, you’re probably feeling the strain more than ever.

Here’s what else you might have to contend with this week:

• Cervical changes: As your body prepares for labor, your cervix is likely ripening, meaning it’s becoming softer, thinner (in a process called effacement), and more dilated (open). 5
• Back pain: The weight of your baby will continue straining your back. If you need some relief, try gentle exercises, like yoga or swimming. Applying a warm or cold compress might also help. 6
• Pelvic pain and pressure: As your baby drops lower, you may feel increased pressure in your hips, groin, and pelvic floor. This can lead to more frequent trips to the bathroom. 7
• Pregnancy insomnia: Between your aches and pains, the weight of your baby, and maybe a touch of anxiety, getting a good night’s sleep may be a struggle at this stage. Try creating a relaxing bedtime routine or taking naps when you can.
• Leg cramps: The dreaded leg cramps can catch you off guard, often striking at night. You can relieve these annoyances by stretching your legs or gently flexing your toes. 8

At 40 weeks, you could go into labor at any moment, so it’s important to recognize the signs that it’s beginning. If you do experience any of these, contact your doctor or midwife immediately.

Bloody show

Don’t let the name alarm you—this is actually a good sign. As your cervix thins and dilates, blood and mucus often mix into your discharge, giving it a reddish-brown tinge. While it means labor isn’t far off, it could still be a few days before the main event starts. 9

Regular contractions

One surefire sign that you’re in labor is having regular, painful contractions. However, many women also suffer from Braxton Hicks contractions as they approach the big day. These “practice” contractions are another one of your body’s ways of preparing for labor.

While you may mistake them for true labor contractions, they’re quite distinct. Check out the table below to tell Braxton Hicks contractions apart from the real deal: 10

Differences between Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor contractions

You may find it helpful to use a pregnancy tracker app to time your contractions, so you can know whether they’re the real deal.

Your water breaking

The rupture of the amniotic sac (your water breaking) is a classic sign of labor, though it might happen before you go into labor, too. It may come as a slow leak or a gush, but amniotic fluid is typically clear and odorless, unlike your regular milky-white pregnancy discharge (leukorrhea). 11

At 40 weeks, you’re now at your due date. Before you start trying to pry your little one out (hint: don’t), know that even if your baby doesn’t come this week, it’s nothing to panic over—plenty of women go past their due dates without any problems.

Why is your baby overdue?

There’s no single reason why some babies don’t come on time. It’s more likely to happen if you’re overweight, are a first-time mom, or previously had a post-term pregnancy. 12

Sometimes, it’s also simply a miscalculation of your due date. If you used a due date calculator to know when you’re expecting based on the date of your last period, you could get an inaccurate result. 13

What happens if you go past 40 weeks?

It’s usually not a big problem if your pregnancy lasts longer than 40 weeks, but if you go past 41 weeks, your doctor will probably keep a closer eye on you and your baby to ensure everything is okay. This might include non-stress tests (NSTs) and biophysical profiles to assess your baby’s well-being. 13

When will your doctor induce labor?

Most of the time, the best thing to do is let nature take its course and wait for your baby to come out naturally. However, if you’re well past your due date (later than 42 weeks), your doctor may recommend inducing labor, especially if you or your baby have any health concerns.

Your doctor can induce labor using the following methods: 14

• Rupturing the membranes: Your doctor manually breaks the amniotic sac surrounding your baby (amniotomy), although they can only perform this procedure once your cervix is dilated. Once your “water” breaks, contractions should start anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours later.
• Using prostaglandins: If your cervix hasn’t started ripening or thinning, your doctor can use medicines called prostaglandins to kickstart the process. They’ll place these in your vagina next to the cervix. They’ll start to ripen your cervix, with contractions following soon after.
• Oxytocin (pitocin): Your doctor will give you a synthetic form of oxytocin (pitocin) intravenously to start or strengthen your contractions. Once you start going into labor, your doctor can then lower the dose.

With each of these procedures, your doctor will monitor your baby’s heart rate and the strength of your contractions to check you’re both progressing well.

Can you naturally induce labor on your own?

Some parents claim that you can kickstart labor with natural methods, like walking or having sex. Unfortunately, there’s little evidence to back up these claims. Still, if your doctor gives you the green light, there’s no harm in trying. 15

However, you should avoid unsafe methods, like castor oil. This can give you nasty side effects, like nausea or diarrhea. 16

As you await your baby’s imminent arrival, you might be awash with excitement, as well as (understandable) anxiety.

Preparing for labor

Labor could strike at any moment. Follow these tips to prepare for the big day:

• Stay active: Engage in gentle exercise, like walking or pelvic floor exercises. The latter is a great way to help your body prepare for labor and prevent incontinence. 17
• Rest when you can: While you should get moving a little, you also need to conserve your energy, so rest whenever you can.
• Pack your hospital bag: Pack your bag with the essentials for you and your baby. It’s a good idea to leave your bag somewhere visible so you can quickly grab it when you need to head to the hospital.
• Prepare your home: If you’ve contracted the nesting instinct during pregnancy, make the most of it! 18 Make your bed with a waterproof cover, clean up the car, and finish up any other last-minute household tasks.

Look after yourself

It’s not just your baby that needs taking care of—make sure you’re also giving yourself the attention you deserve:

• Stay hydrated and nourished: Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious meals to keep your strength up.
• Keep the lines of communication open: You never have to deal with pregnancy alone. Talk to your partner (if you have one), doctor, or midwife, and don’t be afraid to share any worries or doubts with them.
• Use relaxation techniques: It’s only natural to feel anxious as you get closer to labor, so find time to relax and unwind. As it happens, techniques like deep breathing or meditation are great ways to manage the pain of labor contractions, so there’s no better time to start practicing.

Don’t lose your motivation now—the end is in sight. While you wait for the big day, make all your last-minute preparations, rest up, and keep an eye out for the telltale signs of labor. Get ready to finally meet your baby!