Reaching week 39 of pregnancy means your baby is now considered full term and could arrive any day. After the long months of your third trimester, this is the home straight, a time of watchful waiting, gentle preparation and understandable impatience. Being 39 weeks pregnant can feel both exciting and exhausting, and it helps to know what is happening to your baby, what your body is doing, and when it makes sense to seek reassurance.
If you have just moved on from week 38, you will notice that much of the focus now shifts from growth to readiness. Your baby has done the vast majority of their developing, and these final days are largely about the finishing touches before birth.
Your baby at week 39
By 39 weeks, your baby is fully developed and ready for life outside the womb. At this stage a full-term baby typically measures around 50 centimetres from head to heel and weighs, on average, somewhere in the region of 3 to 3.5 kilograms, though there is a wide and completely normal range. Every baby is different, and size at birth is influenced by many factors.
Most of the fine downy hair known as lanugo has now disappeared, and the creamy vernix that protected your baby's skin has largely gone too. Your baby's lungs are among the last organs to fully mature, and by full term they are typically ready to take those first breaths. The brain and nervous system continue to develop rapidly, a process that will carry on well after birth.
You should still feel your baby moving right up to and during labour. Movements may feel different now that space is tight, more like rolls, squirms and pushes than large kicks, but the overall pattern should not reduce. If you notice any change in your baby's usual movements, contact your maternity unit straight away, at any time of day or night.
Your body at week 39
At 39 weeks pregnant, your body is preparing in earnest for labour, and you may notice a number of changes. Common experiences around this week include:
- Braxton Hicks contractions that may become stronger and more frequent as practice tightenings for the uterus.
- Pelvic pressure and lightening as your baby's head settles deeper into the pelvis, which can make breathing easier but increase the need to pass urine.
- A "show", the release of the mucus plug, which can appear as a pinkish or blood-tinged discharge.
- Backache, disturbed sleep and fatigue, all of which are very common in these final days.
- Swelling in the feet, ankles and hands, which is usually normal but should be checked if it comes on suddenly or is severe.
It is worth being aware of the difference between normal end-of-pregnancy symptoms and warning signs. Sudden or severe swelling, a bad headache, visual disturbances such as flashing lights, or pain just below the ribs can be signs of a condition that needs prompt assessment. If you experience any of these, contact your midwife or maternity unit without delay.
What to keep in mind this week
This is a good moment to make sure everything is ready. In line with NHS guidance, keeping your hospital bag packed, your notes to hand and your birth plan considered can ease last-minute stress.
- Know the signs of labour. These typically include regular, strengthening contractions, a show, and your waters breaking. If your waters break, note the time, colour and smell and contact your maternity unit for advice.
- Keep monitoring movements. There is no truth to the idea that babies move less before labour. Report any reduction or change promptly.
- Rest where you can. Short walks, gentle activity and good hydration can help you feel more comfortable while you wait.
- Discuss group B streptococcus with your midwife if relevant to you, as this is often talked through in late pregnancy.
By now, the pregnancy-specific vaccinations offered on the NHS, such as the whooping cough vaccine (typically offered from around 16 to 32 weeks) and the RSV vaccination (offered from 28 weeks), should already have been discussed or given. If you are unsure whether you have had everything you are eligible for, your midwife can confirm.
Scans, tests and appointments
By week 39 the routine NHS scans, the dating scan and the 18 to 21 week anomaly scan, are long behind you, and there are no further routine ultrasound scans scheduled for most pregnancies. Your antenatal care at this stage usually focuses on midwife appointments to check your blood pressure, urine, your baby's growth and position, and your general wellbeing.
Some parents, however, find late pregnancy an anxious time and welcome extra reassurance. At London Pregnancy Clinic, a reassurance scan can offer a check on your baby's wellbeing and heartbeat when you would value peace of mind between appointments. If there is any question about how your baby is lying as your due date approaches, a presentation scan can confirm whether your baby is head down, breech or in another position, information that can be helpful for your birth planning discussions with your midwife or obstetrician.
These private scans are not a replacement for your NHS antenatal care but can sit alongside it. If you would like to see how the weeks ahead map out, our pregnancy journey planner can help you visualise your personalised timeline.
Looking ahead to week 40
Week 39 is a week of readiness and anticipation. Your baby is full term, your body is preparing, and labour could begin at any point, though it is equally normal to continue into week 40 and beyond. Try to rest, stay in touch with your midwife, and keep listening to your baby's movements. The wait is nearly over, and support is always close at hand should you need it.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always speak to your midwife, GP or obstetrician about your own pregnancy.
