Week 39 of Your Pregnancy

At 39 weeks, your unborn baby is moving through its final stages of development in preparation for birth. Read on to learn all about week 39 of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Journey Week 39

Design By Alice Morgan / Illustration by Tara Anand

It can feel like an eternity when you're in your third trimester. It was the end of August when I hit week 39 of my first pregnancy, and I woke up every morning wondering if today would be the day.

At 39 weeks, your pregnancy is considered full term. For a significant number of pregnant people, week 39 is the finish line since almost all scheduled C-section deliveries take place this week and a growing number of physicians are also scheduling inductions. That doesn't mean you're meant to give birth in week 39. As long as you and your baby are healthy, you can continue to wait for labor to begin spontaneously.

Whether you give birth this week or sometime within the next few weeks, one fact is clear: your pregnancy is almost done, and your baby will be here soon. Use this time to finalize labor and delivery plans, stay in close contact with your health care provider, and make sure your postpartum care plan is in place.

Pregnancy Week 39 Quick Facts

  • At 39 weeks, you're nine months pregnant
  • You have one week until your due date, or you're giving birth this week
  • You're in the third trimester

Your Unborn Baby's Size at 39 Weeks

The fetus now weighs about the size of a small pumpkin and is around 7.25 pounds and 19.96 inches.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 39

The symptoms you experience now are signs your body is getting ready for labor. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Contractions
  • Increased vaginal discharge
  • Urine leakage
  • Greater physical discomfort

"Those contractions are a necessary evil," says Tiffany Woodus, M.D., an OB-GYN in Cedar Hill, Texas. "They're softening the cervix and making it what we call 'more favorable' for delivery."

The cervix also shortens, starting the dilation process that prepares for delivery. All of these processes stimulate mucus glands in the vagina, which increases discharge. As your baby begins putting more pressure on your bladder, you also have less capacity to hold in urine. Wearing a pantyliner or other leak protection is probably a good idea at this time (I was using them daily at this point!). 

Cervical sensitivity could also lead to more spotting if you're having intercourse, getting cervical checks, or engaging in workouts. Some spotting is normal, but bleeding should never be heavy as you'd experience with a menstrual period.

If you're feeling uncomfortable in general, that's also common at this point.

"We expect to feel more musculoskeletal aches and pains," says Dr. Woodus. "It can feel like a bowling ball down there. There's lots of pressure on your pubic bone, hips, and sacrum, and discomfort in your back. It's really hard to get comfortable and sleep might be hard to come by."

While you still should feel consistent fetal movement, those motions might not be as aggressive as they were earlier in your pregnancy. That's because the fetus settles into the pelvis as your due date approaches and has less room to make big position changes.

Keep in mind, symptoms can vary, but if you experience a symptom that seems concerning to you, make sure to call your health care provider.

Developmental Milestones 

Your baby's lungs, brain, and nervous system continue to develop, but the circulatory and musculoskeletal system is complete. Your unborn baby has also reached its likely birth weight.

At this point, the fetus has also shed most of that white creamy substance called vernix and the fine, fur-like hair called lanugo that has covered their skin since the middle of your second trimester.

Pregnancy Journey Weekly Reminder

Design by Alice Morgan

Prenatal Tests and Doctor's Appointments 

Starting in week 36, you should be seeing your health care provider weekly until you give birth. Your provider will measure fundal height and possibly take an ultrasound to get an estimate of the baby's weight, check the fluid levels, and make sure it's in a head-down position for a vaginal delivery.

While many expectant parents find the week 39 appointments and tests to be routine and uneventful, providers want to make sure nothing goes awry at the end. Urine samples will be checked closely for protein and glucose, because protein could be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Sugar could be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes.

Your provider might offer the option of a cervical exam to see if you've dilated. Joy Baker, M.D., an OB-GYN in LaGrange, Georgia, says that while one might be offered, you don't have to consent. I agreed to a cervical exam at 39 weeks in my first pregnancy and found it excruciating. I declined every time after that when it was offered during a prenatal visit.

"I always ask, 'Would you like to be checked today to see if you have any cervical dilation?' If they say no, then we don't check," says Dr. Baker.

As the parent, you always have the right to consent or decline tests or procedures offered, and providers should create an atmosphere where you feel comfortable with the information you receive so you can make an informed decision.

Augustine Colebrook, a midwife for 25 years who runs Midwifery Wisdom, an international online support community for midwives, says she often gets new patients at 39 weeks for this reason.

"This week can be one of the first visits we're having with new parents because as they get closer to birth, they realize how much is not individualized in a hospital system and they see a community-based provider," Colebrook says. "Community-based providers deliver in clinics, in birth centers, and in the home."

Those with low-risk pregnancies who choose midwifery care can often have longer appointments of up to an hour, where in addition to tests, they can discuss their hopes, dreams, fears, and concerns about their upcoming labor and delivery, Colebrook says.

Regardless of your choice of provider, you should be able to use your week 39 appointment as an opportunity to discuss labor and delivery–what's normal, what's not, and when to call your provider's office.

Most scheduled C-sections take place this week, so some parents' 39-week appointments will include meeting their new babies. Other patients may be given the option of induction this week if you haven't already scheduled one. While medical concerns like gestational diabetes, poorly controlled blood sugars, hypertension, or issues related to fetal growth or fluid levels could warrant an induction, if you and your unborn child aren't experiencing any issues, you can decline and wait for spontaneous labor to happen.

If you're seeing a midwife, elective induction likely won't be mentioned at all at 39 weeks.

Common Questions at This Pregnancy Stage

When is the baby coming? 

Dr. Woodus says that's the most common question she's asked at week 39. But due dates are not always exact. Even with a dating ultrasound or menstrual cycle tracking, a due date could be off by up to a week or the baby could come earlier than expected. As you get close to your expected due date, it’s important to pay attention to signs of labor. 


How do I know I'm in labor? 

When your contractions are getting closer together—maybe every 3 to 4 minutes apart—and are becoming more intense, that's an active labor pattern, says Dr. Baker. If they're few and far between, that's called latent labor, and those contractions can last for days or even weeks. You can also experience bleeding called a "bloody show," a sign the cervix is opening. Your water breaking, which is the rupture of the amniotic sac where your fetus grew, is also a key sign of labor, but most pregnant people will experience contractions before their water breaks unlike what we often see on television and in movies.


How do I know when I should come to the hospital/call my midwife? 

If you're experiencing active labor for more than two hours, you can head to the hospital, birth center, or call your midwife if you’re having a home birth. If you're concerned at any point about your labor process, however, don't hesitate to go to the hospital for care.

Things You Might Consider This Week

In addition to thinking about your birthing process, it's time to prepare for life with a newborn. Get your postpartum care team in place—family and friends who can help with cleaning, meals, laundry, and child care. Think about what resources you need to support your mental health and how to find lactation support if you plan to breastfeed.

The postpartum period can be tough. "There are doulas that not only can help with pregnancy, labor, and birth, but there are postpartum doulas as well who can help you wrap your head around the fact you just brought home a new person and how to navigate that,” says Dr. Baker.

While I had great support from my husband and my parents after giving birth to my first child, I still felt I needed more help. For my second pregnancy, I found a doula who would be present at my birth, and she told me during week 39 that she would come over after birth to help with whatever I needed.

Support You May Need This Week

You're likely tired, sore, and beyond ready for your baby to arrive. You might want to use this time to reach out to your partner, friends, and family to help with chores around the house, watch other children, or just sit and talk. Emotional and physical support are crucial at this time.

If you do have some energy, prepare some simple meals to freeze in advance of your birth. They'll come in handy when your baby arrives, because you'll likely have little time or energy to cook while healing from birth and bonding with your baby. If you want to skip the whole cooking process, order meals to freeze. Ask your supporters as well to organize a meal train where people can sign up each day to bring you and your family something to eat. Or look into postpartum meal delivery services.

Do whatever you can now to lessen your load after you give birth. You'll be thankful for it later.

Head over to week 40 of pregnancy

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