Reaching week 42 of pregnancy can feel like the longest wait of all. If you are 42 weeks pregnant, your baby is now around two weeks past your estimated due date, a stage often described as post-dates or post-term. It is a point many parents never reach, because most babies arrive before now, but a small number of pregnancies do continue this far. Understanding what happens at 42 weeks, and how your care team will support you, can help you feel calmer and more prepared during these final days.
Following on from week 41, this week is less about new development and more about close monitoring, reassurance and planning the safest path to meeting your baby.
Your baby at week 42
By 42 weeks, your baby is fully developed and ready to be born. There is very little new growth to describe at this stage. Instead, your baby is simply maturing and putting on a little more weight while waiting to arrive.
Babies born around this time are typically similar in size to those born at term. As a general guide, a baby at 42 weeks often measures approximately 50 to 53 centimetres from head to heel and may weigh in the region of 3.5 to 4 kilograms, though there is a wide and completely normal range. Some babies are smaller and some are larger, and your care team will take your individual circumstances into account.
You may notice that some post-dates babies are born with slightly drier or peeling skin and longer nails or hair. This is simply because they have had a little extra time, and it is not a cause for concern in itself.
Your body at week 42
At 42 weeks pregnant, many of the familiar late-pregnancy symptoms continue, and some may feel more pronounced as you approach the end. Common experiences at this stage include:
- Increasing pelvic pressure and a sense of heaviness low down as your baby settles further into your pelvis
- Irregular tightenings, or Braxton Hicks contractions, which may become more frequent
- Backache, disturbed sleep and fatigue
- Swelling in the feet, ankles or hands
- Changes to vaginal discharge, sometimes including a show as the cervix begins to prepare
Emotionally, this can be a demanding week. It is very common to feel impatient, anxious or simply tired of waiting, alongside excitement about finally meeting your baby. These feelings are entirely understandable, and talking them through with your midwife or partner can help.
What to keep in mind this week
The single most important thing at 42 weeks is to keep a close eye on your baby's movements. Your baby should continue to move regularly right up until labour and during labour itself. There is no truth to the idea that babies move less towards the end.
If you notice your baby's movements have slowed, stopped or changed in any way, contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away, at any time of day or night. Do not wait to see if things settle.
Beyond movements, it helps to:
- Keep your hospital bag ready and your birth plan and notes to hand
- Stay hydrated, rest when you can and eat regularly to keep your energy up
- Know the signs of labour, including regular painful contractions and your waters breaking
- Have a plan for how you will get to your place of birth, day or night
You may also find it reassuring to look ahead to the early weeks with your newborn. Our pregnancy journey planner can help you map out the days around birth, and a postnatal package offers dedicated checks and support for you and your baby once they arrive.
Scans, tests and appointments
By 42 weeks, you will already be under increased NHS monitoring. Because pregnancies that continue beyond term are associated with a gradual rise in certain risks, women are typically offered induction of labour at around 41 to 42 weeks. If you choose to wait for labour to start naturally beyond this point, your care team will usually recommend closer monitoring of your baby's wellbeing.
This monitoring often includes electronic recordings of your baby's heartbeat, sometimes called a CTG, and ultrasound checks to look at the amniotic fluid around your baby. Your midwife may also offer a membrane sweep to try to encourage labour to begin.
Alongside your NHS care, some parents value additional reassurance during this waiting period. A private reassurance scan can provide a further check on your baby's position and the fluid around them, complementing rather than replacing the monitoring your maternity team provides. If group B strep has been discussed during your late third trimester, this is also a good time to make sure any agreed plans are clearly recorded in your notes.
Every pregnancy is different, so the exact timing and combination of checks offered to you will depend on your individual circumstances. Your midwife and obstetrician will discuss your options and help you make the choices that feel right for you.
Looking ahead: meeting your baby
Week 42 really is the final stretch. Whether your labour begins on its own or you go ahead with an induction, you are now very close to holding your baby for the first time. Focus on rest, stay alert to your baby's movements, and lean on your care team and loved ones for support.
If you have any concerns at all during these last days, do not hesitate to make contact. It is always better to be checked and reassured than to wait and worry.
If you have concerns about your pregnancy or baby's wellbeing, contact your midwife, GP or maternity unit promptly.
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.
