Pregnancy week 39 - baby's development and your body

Your baby is now full-term, and both your baby and your body are getting ready for labor. It’s a good idea to be prepared, as labor could start soon—though most people give birth a little later than this week.

Size:

Your baby is about 49 cm or 19.29 inches long, from head to foot.

Weight:

Approximately 3.3 kg or 7.28 lbs.

Baby's development:

Your baby is now fully developed and ready to handle life outside the womb if labor begins now. They’re still growing and gaining fat, building energy reserves for labor and those first days after birth.

Your baby now sleeps and wakes in longer cycles. When awake, they practice breathing by drawing in and pushing out amniotic fluid through their airways.

With space getting tighter, kicks may feel more like sweeping movements, stretches, or pushes. However, the frequency and strength of movements should remain steady.

Your body:

You may start to notice your body preparing for labor. Contractions might be more frequent now, especially after exertion, often followed by mild cramping.

With the baby’s weight pressing down, it can be challenging to find comfortable positions for sitting, standing, or sleeping.

Pelvic pain after activity is also common, as the hormone relaxin softens the pelvic joints in preparation for childbirth. Some people experience back pain as muscles tense up to support the effects of relaxin.