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40 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
Your due date has arrived, but only a small number of babies are born on it.
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
Your baby is fully developed and may weigh around 3.5 kg, although healthy babies vary a lot in size. Labour will begin when the hormonal signals between you and your baby are ready.
Only around 1 in 20 babies arrive on their due date. Many first-time mums go a few days or more past it, and a baby born anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks is considered term.
How you may be feeling
It is common to feel impatient, anxious or uncomfortable. Try to rest and take it a day at a time. Labour can start slowly, with irregular tightenings that gradually get stronger, closer together and longer. Your midwife may offer a membrane sweep, a vaginal examination that can encourage labour to start.
Your to-do list for week 40
- Keep your hospital bag and car seat ready.
- Stay in touch with your midwife and ask what the plan is if you go past 41 weeks.
- Keep track of your baby's movements, and tell your team about any change.
- Look after yourself: rest, eat well and accept support.
When to ask for help
If you go past your due date, you will usually be offered monitoring and a discussion about induction, typically from around 41 weeks, depending on where you live. Contact your maternity unit if you notice reduced movements, bleeding or leaking fluid.
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: 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.