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39 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
Full term: your baby is ready whenever labour begins.
Before you use this guide: Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period. Sizes are rough averages, and healthy babies vary. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor or midwife.
How your baby is growing
From 39 weeks your baby is considered full term. The brain and lungs are ready, and your baby is still adding fat that will help keep them warm. The placenta continues to pass on antibodies that protect your baby in the first weeks after birth.
Your baby's head is likely to be engaged. There is less space, but movements should continue as usual.
How you may be feeling
You may be tired of waiting and uncomfortable. Many first-time parents go beyond their due date, so it is normal to feel impatient. Signs such as a show, period-like cramps, back pain, loose stools or regular tightenings can come before labour, but they can also come and go for days.
Your to-do list for week 39
- Rest, eat well and keep active with gentle walks.
- Charge your phone and keep your hospital bag by the door.
- If you feel up to it, do something you enjoy, such as a film, a favourite meal or a long bath.
- Ask your midwife what happens if you go past your due date, including membrane sweeps and induction.
When to ask for help
Call if you are unsure about contractions, if your waters break, if your baby moves less or if you have any bleeding. Never feel that you are bothering the team.
For heavy bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, a severe headache with vision changes, or a baby who is moving less than usual, do not wait for your next appointment. Contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. Our guide to pregnancy warning signs has more detail.
Not sure which week you are in? Use the due-date calculator to estimate your due date and current week.
Useful at this stage: pregnancy weight gain calculator, baby movement counter, hospital-bag checklist and contraction timer.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- NHS: Pregnancy — Pregnancy care, common symptoms, screening and complications.
- NHS: Week-by-week pregnancy guide — Pregnancy development and care by week.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.