Pregnancy week 40 - baby's development and your body

Your baby is full-term, and both your baby and your body are gearing up for labor. With a high chance that labor could begin soon, it’s a good idea to be prepared and try to rest when you can.

Size:

Your baby is about 50 cm or 19.69 inches long, from head to foot.

Weight:

Approximately 3.5 kg or 7.72 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 early days after birth.

Your baby now has longer sleep and wake 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 stay consistent.

Your body:

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

The cervix is beginning to move forward in the vagina and may soften and start to dilate slightly in preparation for labor.

With the baby pressing down, finding comfortable positions to sit, stand, or sleep may be challenging. Pelvic pain after activity is also common as the hormone relaxin softens the pelvic joints in preparation for childbirth. Some people also experience back pain as muscles tense up to support the relaxing effect of relaxin.