Pregnancy week by week · trimester 3
🎃 39 weeks pregnant: your baby is about the size of a large pumpkin
At 39 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a large pumpkin and is now full term, building their final soft layers.
Your baby this week
Your baby is around 50.7cm long and about 3.25kg, roughly the size of a large pumpkin. They are now full term. The final soft layers of fat are building, giving them the round cheeks and creases you will soon be kissing. Their lungs are producing more surfactant, ready to open with that first cry. Their brain is still growing quickly and will keep doing so well after birth. Your baby should keep moving in their familiar pattern right up until labour.
You this week
You may feel heavy, tired and impatient, and sleep might be hard to come by. Pressure in the pelvis, practice contractions and a show are all possible this week. Some mums feel calm and quietly ready, while others find the waiting tough. Every message asking if the baby has arrived yet can be a lot, so it is fine to switch your phone off for a while. Rest, nourish yourself and save your energy.
Kind things to do this week
- Rest and keep your energy in reserve for labour.
- Keep your phone charged and your hospital bag by the door.
- Talk through your birth preferences once more with your birth partner.
Appointments around now
No routine appointment this week for most mums. If this is your first pregnancy, your next appointment is usually at 40 weeks; otherwise at 41 weeks.
Questions to ask your midwife
- Could I have a membrane sweep at my next appointment?
- What happens at my 41 week appointment if my baby has not arrived?
When to call your midwife or maternity unit
If your baby's movements slow down, stop or feel different to their usual pattern, contact your maternity unit straight away, day or night. Do not wait until the next day. Please also call your midwife or maternity unit if you have bleeding, fluid leaking, a severe headache, changes to your vision, sudden swelling, or itching (especially on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet). If your waters break, or you think labour has started, call your maternity unit for advice.
OBubba from bump to baby
Follow your pregnancy week by week, free.
OBubba is free through pregnancy, with a weekly update, kick counting and contraction timing. On the day your baby arrives, the same app becomes your baby tracker.
Questions
Is 39 weeks full term?
Yes. 39 weeks is full term, and your baby is ready to meet you whenever labour begins.
How big is my baby at 39 weeks?
Around 50.7cm from head to heel and about 3.25kg, roughly the size of a large pumpkin.
Not sure how far along you are? Use the due date calculator.
Sources
OBubba gives general information. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Your midwife and maternity unit are always the right people to ask, any time of day or night.