Baby by Week
Week 40

Your week 40 guide

Your due date has arrived, but it is an estimate and many babies are born before or after it.
Trimester

3

Month

9

Weeks left

0

Size at a glance

Comparison
Large watermelon
Length
≈ 51–56 cm
Weight
6.5–9 lb
Measurements are approximate. Healthy babies grow at different rates.

Baby development

The baby is full term and ready for life outside the womb.
Weight, length, and the timing of labor vary considerably among healthy pregnancies.
Your care team may recommend additional monitoring if pregnancy continues beyond the due date.

Your body

Regular contractions, waters breaking, pelvic pressure, or other labor signs may begin.
Sleep and movement can be difficult at this stage.
Feeling both excited and anxious is common.

This week's checklist

Follow the monitoring and birth plan agreed with your care team.
Keep transport, support contacts, and your bag ready.
Rest, hydrate, eat as advised, and keep noticing your baby's movement.

Call your care team

Contact maternity care immediately for reduced movement, bleeding, waters breaking, or contractions that match your labor instructions.
Seek urgent help for severe headache with vision changes, sudden swelling, chest pain, fainting, severe abdominal pain, or trouble breathing.

Medical information, not medical advice

Every pregnancy is different. Use this guide for general education and follow the advice of your own maternity care team. Do not delay urgent care because of something you read here.