At present that you're 40 weeks pregnant, you're notwithstanding technically in month 9 of pregnancy (fifty-fifty if it feels like longer).

Your little one is fully prepped for life outside the womb, with all systems (including organs and reflexes) a go.

You're in practiced company if you've passed your due date: About 1 in three pregnancies will hit the 41-week mark!

Your Baby at Week 40

Don't have headphones?

View video transcript.

Congratulations…your babe is officially full-term! She'south now between six and 9 pounds, and anywhere between 19 and 22 inches long — a wide range, true, but that'southward because babies, similar their parents, come in all sizes…taller, shorter, chubbier, slimmer. What package will your baby come up in? It's hard to say for sure until she arrives — ven your practitioner's guesstimates tin exist way off the concluding mark.

You know what else is around xx inches long? Your babe'southward umbilical cord — her connection to yous during her ix-month stint in your uterus. It could exist floating free in whatever space there's left in your uterus, coiled around her ankle or wrist, gripped between her stubby fingers, or wrapped around her neck. Non to worry if it is…it'due south not dangerous now and at nascency your practitioner volition simply slip it over her head before clamping it tight. The remnants will dry out up and go…her sweet little bellybutton.

Your little miracle is now fully loaded with fully functioning organs, bodily systems, and reflexes, and she's gear up to start her new life outside your uterus. When you do encounter your new inflow, exist certain to say how-do-you-do — and more. Though it'll exist your starting time face-to-face, your baby will recognize the sound of your voice — and that of dad's.

Though your sweetie is fully baked and set to roll, she'southward still putting in a total day's piece of work. Her hormones are revving up, sending signals throughout her torso to gear up for life on the exterior. Hopefully one of those hormones volition signal to the placenta that it'south time to initiate labor.

Even during labor and commitment, your petty 1 will be hard at work alongside you, producing her own stress hormones that'll enable her to adapt immediately to the new environment outside your womb and boot-starting time the survival instincts she needs equally well equally help her take her beginning large breath of air.

And if she doesn't arrive on time, opting instead for a belatedly checkout, y'all're in good — though anxious — visitor. Nigh half of all pregnancies continue past the twoscore-week mark, though thankfully, your practitioner will probably non allow yours keep beyond 42 weeks.

At a Glance

Dry skin alert

Since your infant has already shed most of her vernix, the waxy blanket that acted equally a moisturizer, some dry out spots may appear on the skin.

Past your due engagement?

If baby hasn't arrived this week, you're in proficient visitor: An estimated 30 percentage of pregnancies proceed past the forty-week mark.

Talk to baby

Exist certain that y'all and your partner talk to your footling bundle a lot afterwards baby makes her k entrance. She'll likely recognize the sound of your voices!

forty weeks significant is how many months?

If you're 40 weeks significant, y'all're in calendar month 9 of your pregnancy. It'southward almost fourth dimension! Still take questions? Hither's some more than information on how weeks, months and trimesters are cleaved downwards in pregnancy.

How large is my infant at 40 weeks?

Correct now, your baby probably weighs anywhere from 6 to 9 pounds and measures betwixt nineteen and 22 inches — though tons of perfectly healthy babies are built-in smaller or bigger.

The end of pregnancy

At forty weeks pregnant, y'all're at the official terminate of your pregnancy. You lot, or actually the placenta, are still providing the antibodies she'll demand to fight off infections for the kickoff six months of her life.

Just if you plan on breastfeeding, your milk will provide more antibodies to heave the allowed arrangement — especially colostrum, a sparse, yellow precursor to breast milk that'south super rich in antibodies and feeds your infant for the first few days postpartum.

Coming together your babe

The commencement affair y'all're likely to wait for when your new arrival makes that dramatic — and maybe fashionably late — entrance: proof positive that your baby is actually a boy or a daughter.

That major mystery solved once and for all, you'll as well find that babe, also beingness beautiful as can be, is wearing a little leftover travel grit consisting of claret, vernix, lanugo and amniotic fluid.

From your baby'south perspective, y'all'll await a fleck blurry — at birth, babies' key vision is still developing — but that's okay. But be sure to say hello to your new arrival, since your baby will very likely recognize the sound of your vox and your partner'south.

Your newborn may dear being swaddled

You lot'll detect your little one is all the same curled in the fetal position, although her arms and legs may flail a bit. That's because after ix months in such cramped quarters, information technology'll take a while before your babe realizes she has room to spread out.

And considering it's the only position she has really known, it'south a comforting one to be in. That's too why so many newborns (though not all!) like to exist swaddled — it reminds them of your uterus.

Your Body at Week 40

baby size at 40 weeks pregnant

Will you go past your due engagement?

When volition your torso know it'due south fourth dimension to evangelize this baby? Just because your due date is marked with pen on your practitioner'southward chart and red marker on your calendar doesn't mean that Female parent Nature's gotten the memo.

Near 30 percentage of all pregnancies last longer than 40 weeks, and it'southward anyone's guess when yours might end. Thankfully, your practitioner probably won't allow it go longer than 41 weeks.

When (and if) your water will intermission

One event that's non guaranteed earlier the onset of labor is your water breaking — the rupture of the amniotic sac surrounding your baby the terminal nine months.

By now, y'all've no uncertainty lost a night or two'due south slumber over when and where information technology will happen. You've probably heard or seen horror stories near an inconvenient — no, make that humiliating — time and place where someone's water broke, like in the centre of a busy sidewalk at tiffin hour or at a jam-packed mall on a Saturday morning. But your reality show will probably be a little dissimilar.

First, fewer than fifteen percent of women feel a rupture of the membranes before labor begins, and second, if your water does break in public, it's less likely to come as a torrential tidal wave and more likely to come equally a ho-hum leak, trickle or small gush.

One thing you tin can be pretty sure of if your water breaks before your contractions have started: Labor will likely begin in earnest inside 24 hours. Either that or your practitioner will starting time information technology for yous within 24 hours.

How tin can you tell if your amniotic sac has ruptured? Amniotic fluid is usually colorless and odorless. If you observe fluid that looks yellowish and smells of ammonia, you're probably leaking urine. Another examination: Yous can endeavour to stem the menstruum of the fluid by squeezing your pelvic muscles (Kegel exercises). If the catamenia stops, information technology's urine. If it doesn't, information technology's amniotic fluid.

If your h2o breaks and the fluid is greenish or chocolate-brown, be certain to call your practitioner right away. It could mean that your infant has had a bowel movement (meconium) in utero.

Pelvis size

Many women share an unfounded fear of not being able to actually nativity their baby. It does seem implausible that something and so big — a half-dozen- or 7-plus-pound watermelon — could squeeze through such a footling space, but that'due south exactly what happens most of the time.

Whether you're plus-size, petite or any size in between, information technology's how large your pelvis is — not your frame — that matters. Mother Nature knows the drill, and the majority of newborns are pretty well-matched to the size of their moms. So if you lot're small-boned, chances are you're not carrying sumo babe in at that place.

And your vagina knows what to do, also — it stretches considerably during childbirth and so, miraculously, tightens upwardly again. You lot can help that procedure along by doing your Kegels faithfully both earlier and afterward you deliver. Fifty-fifty your baby knows what to exercise — by molding that yet-pliable head to fit through that tight squeeze. So don't worry!

Pregnancy Symptoms Week forty

Braxton Hicks contractions

Wondering if those contractions you're feeling this week are the do Braxton Hicks contractions or the existent thing? If they don't increase in frequency or severity or if they subside when you lot walk effectually or change position, so they are probably just practice contractions. Read More

Changes in fetal activity

Even though your baby's movements may have changed or even slowed downwards a bit, she still should be moving around in there. How much movement is normal? You should be able to count x flutters, wiggles or rolls an 60 minutes. Read More

Cervical dilation or effacement

Although y'all won't experience your cervix opening or thinning out, it is probably happening this week. Dilation is measured in centimeters and effacement in percentages; subsequently an internal test, your practitioner will probably give you lot the measurements. The cervix volition continue to amplify and efface through early and active labor. Read More

Diarrhea

Your bowels take a beating during pregnancy — and information technology seems as if they get from sluggish to loose. This week, loose bowel movements may be a sign that your labor is imminent. Read More

Pelvic pain

If your infant has dropped this week, the uncomfortable feeling in your pelvis may be traced to a certain someone's picayune head bumping upward against your hips and bladder. If you accept the time, schedule a massage with a certified prenatal massage therapist; it'll soothe the discomfort. Read More

Leg cramps

While no one really knows what causes those painful spasms in your legs, it's a good bet that carrying around all that pregnancy weight — especially this calendar week! — is a pain in the legs. When a spasm hits, gently flexing your ankle and toes back toward your shin can assist. Read More

Insomnia

As tempting equally it is to endeavor herbal supplements or other over-the-counter sleep aids, don't. Instead, inquire your partner for a relaxing massage. Read More

Nesting instinct

Changes in energy levels are pretty common this week. Possibly you've been hit by the nesting instinct or perchance you merely have an urge to slump in front of the Goggle box and veg out. Don't worry — both are completely normal, as is alternating between the 2 states. Read More than

Tips for Yous This Calendar week

Inquire about inducing labor

Talk to your health care provider about when, why and how you lot might exist induced. Unless at that place are wellness or medical reasons to induce, it'southward non typically recommended before week 39 of pregnancy. Many doctors induce effectually calendar week 41.

Take a backup plan for a home birth

Domicile births tin exist prophylactic for those with low-risk pregnancies, but if you demand to be induced — or if yous or your baby need more than medical assist — you may need to get to a hospital after all.

If y'all do want a dwelling nativity, talk to your practitioner near when yous might need to be transferred to a medical setting, and how the delivery will proceed from there.

Shave safely

Feeling a little extra furry these days? Shave those legs with caution — and a lot of nick-protecting shaving gel — since A, your balance may be off, and B, you probably can't see beyond your belly. Make sure the razor you lot use is new so y'all'll be less probable to draw blood.

A definite no-no: shaving in the shower, where a skid-up could be serious.

Think virtually hydrotherapy

Similar hypnobirthing and massage, hydrotherapy is a complementary or alternative pain reliever that's used to relieve pregnancy aches and pains and can also come up in handy during labor.

When the contractions are upon you, you may want to soak in a warm bathroom or shower, or take warm or cold compresses placed on your lower dorsum or pelvis. Or y'all may choose to labor in an bodily tub and allow the warm water soften your contractions.

Once it'south time to starting time pushing, notwithstanding, you'll want to climb out of the bathroom. Babies born underwater are at chance of several potentially serious complications.

Practice a mini workout

Don't have the free energy for a full sweat session? Do a mini workout.

Turn from side to side, slowly twisting at the waist, letting your artillery swing freely. You can also clench your butt and concord for a count of two, then release. Try doing fifteen or 20 arm swings and barrel clenches — information technology'll make the time pass and tone your muscles in the process.

Keep decorated

Baby on the brain? It'south hard to call back of annihilation else when your due date has come and gone — a week ago. But yous know what they say about a watched pot — so in an effort to keep your mind off your tardy baby and proceed you busy, try to accept something planned every day (notation: watching the clock tick doesn't count!).

Accept a walk (which might fifty-fifty help get your contractions going), spend some fourth dimension focusing on self care (you may not have the chance once baby's on board), sentinel a movie or two, brand sure your fridge and freezer are stocked with ready-made meals. Oh, and tell your friends and family to stop calling every day. Remind them that no news is…no news.

Try to relax when the contractions come

Of form you're as excited and nervous every bit can exist, but it'due south important to try to relax as much every bit you lot can during the first stage of labor — you'll demand to save your strength for subsequently.

If it'southward dark, do what yous tin can to get some sleep, since yous won't be able to when your contractions become more than insistent. If it'southward daytime, keep yourself busy. Try taking a walk, which might even boot up the contractions a notch. Just don't stray too far from home, and don't become anywhere without a cellphone.

Don't worry about obsessively timing contractions at this bespeak — you may but get frustrated if yous try — but practice check periodically to come across whether they're getting closer together. Nearly people caput to the hospital as the first phase of labor ends and the second phase begins.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, writer ofWhat to Look When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such every bit peer-reviewed studies, bookish research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Larn how nosotros keep our content authentic and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Expect Earlier You're Expecting, fifth edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • What to Expect the Starting time Year, tertiary edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Labor Contractions: What Exercise Contractions Feel Like?, December 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Hydrotherapy During Pregnancy and Labor, May 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, What to Do If Your Water Breaks During Pregnancy, April 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Childbirth Stage 1: The Three Phases of Labor, Baronial 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How to Remove Hair During Pregnancy Safely, March 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, What to Know Earlier Having a Planned Home Birth, November 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Inducing Labor: What Happens When Y'all're Induced?, June 2021.
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology, Baby's Vision Development: Newborn to 12 Months, July 2020.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, How to Tell When Labor Begins, May 2020.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Labor Induction, June 2018.
  • American Optometric Association, Infant Vision: Nativity to 24 Months of Age, 2021.
  • Centers for Disease Command and Prevention, National Vital Statistics Reports, Births: Last Data for 2017, November 2018.
  • National Institutes of Wellness, National Library of Medicine, Am I In Labor?, June 2021.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Data, Treating Pain in Pregnancy with Acupuncture: Observational Report Results From a Costless Clinic in New Zealand, February 2018.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, When You Pass Your Due Date, June 2021.
  • ScienceDirect, Electroacupuncture, 2021.
  • U.Southward. Department of Wellness and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Acupuncture: In Depth, January 2016.
  • U.South. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women'due south Wellness, Labor and Nascency, June 2018.
  • UpToDate.com, Patient Pedagogy: Postterm Pregnancy (Beyond the Basics), May 2021.

Recommended Products

What to Expect selects products based on independent research  and suggestions from our customs of millions of parents; larn more about our review procedure. We may earn commissions from shopping links.

Make Certain You lot Have These Concluding-Infinitesimal Items Before Babe Comes Dwelling from the Hospital

View All

last minute checklist

⚠️ You lot tin't see this cool product considering yous have ad cake enabled.

Please whitelist our site to go all the best deals and offers from our partners.

last minute checklist for baby

last minute checklist

⚠️ You can't see this cool production considering you have ad block enabled.

Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners.

last minute checklist

Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Bag Dispenser