39 Weeks Pregnant

Key Takeaways

• Due date: Congrats! You've reached the finish line. Babies born at 39 weeks are considered full term, so go ahead and let your little squatter know that they’re being evicted. (Your hospital bag is packed, right?)
• Delivery: Yes, technically you're due at 40 weeks. But if you have gestational diabetes, preeclampsia or another condition that puts you or baby at risk, your ob-gyn might encourage a medical induction.
• End-of-pregnancy symptoms: Contractions are the name of the game at this late stage. You’ll feel your belly hardening throughout the day—especially when you’ve been physically active. If you notice that the contractions are getting more intense and more frequent, it may be go time! Be sure to brush up on the other signs of labor below!

You’re probably feeling like you want to get this baby OUT. We’re not sure, but the impatience and discomfort moms-to-be feel around 39 weeks pregnant (and beyond!) might be nature’s way of getting you mentally prepared for delivery. At week 39 of pregnancy, you don’t care what it takes, you just don’t want to be pregnant anymore! Because of gestational diabetes, I was induced with my third at 39 weeks on the dot. I’ll never forget kissing my two older kiddos goodnight before leaving for the hospital for a midnight induction, knowing that the next time I came home, they’d have a new sibling!

Video Highlights

Baby at Week 39

Inside your 39 weeks pregnant belly, baby is probably able to flex their limbs now. Baby's brain is still rapidly developing—they’re getting smarter by the week! Baby's nails may extend beyond their fingertips now.

Believe it or not, baby’s skin is actually changing quite a bit this week: not only is it growing a layer of fat underneath the outer layer to help them regulate their body temperature and stay warm (they’re about to leave the nice, cozy womb, remember?), the skin itself is hardening and growing a tougher, more solid layer that’s no longer translucent. This will also help them regulate their body temperature, as well as protect them from injury.

Baby should still be moving around in your womb at 39 weeks; the myth that babies move less as the labor process gets going isn’t true. However, the type of movement you feel will likely be different (i.e. muffled or subdued), thanks to how little room baby has in there!

Instead of kicks, flips and twists, you might feel more rolling movement, or you may even feel baby attempting to stretch, turn or get comfortable in their cramped quarters. It can be harder to “count kicks” at this point, but you can still keep track of the number of times you feel your little one moving around (it should be about 10 movements every one to two hours).

How big is baby at 39 weeks?

At 39 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a field-trip pumpkin. Your 39-week fetus measures is close to 20 inches long and likely weighs between 7.5 and 8 pounds. Suffice it to say, baby is crowded inside your 39 weeks pregnant belly.

39 weeks pregnant is how many months?

No surprise here: 39 weeks pregnant is nine months pregnant. Next week, you’ll wrap up this final month of pregnancy and reach your due date (that is, if you don’t go into labor this week). Can you handle the suspense?!

39 week ultrasound

At 39 weeks pregnant, an ultrasound and non-stress test might be in order to check on baby’s well-being—especially if you’re 39 weeks pregnant with twins. After seeing the results of these two tests, your doctor might say everything looks fine, or they might recommend an early delivery.

Really, there’s nothing left to do except see the doctor each week, wait for baby and keep your mind busy with little tasks. If they get done, great. If not, no biggie. We know it’s tough to relax, but try!

Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 39

Typical 39 weeks pregnant symptoms—the ones that aren’t signs that labor is happening now—are similar to what you’ve been experiencing the past few weeks. Most are signs that labor will happen soon, though. These include:

Braxton Hicks contractions

At 39 weeks pregnant, cramping or tightening of your uterus may seem pretty constant, no matter what you do. Usually these “practice” labor pains start in the front of your body and ease up when you switch positions. You'll know it's real labor when they start at the top of your uterus and become more frequent and regular.

Pelvic pressure

While getting into position for birth, baby may be sitting so low that your lower torso feels heavy and uncomfortable.

Lightning crotch

Because baby is so low, their movements can hit some sensitive nerves, giving you sharp sensations in your pelvis and vagina—yep, like a lightning bolt! Ouch!

Urge to nest

Some moms-to-be say they get a surge of energy and a strong desire to clean their home right before baby’s debut. Don’t go too crazy, though. You don’t want to wear yourself out before the birth.

Mucus plug and/or bloody show

At 39 weeks pregnant, discharge that’s as thick as mucus and sometimes has a tinge of blood in it is your mucus plug. (The blood is, you guessed it, the bloody show.) And while many people consider this to be a sign you’ll go into labor soon, there’s no exact science to it. In other words, it might still be a bit!

What should I be feeling at 39 weeks pregnant?

Probably a little bit of everything! You’re likely cycling through a lot of the 39 weeks pregnant symptoms. One moment you’re racing around with high energy, accomplishing all your pre-baby chores around the house, and the next you want to just curl up in bed with your body pillow and snooze. You may also be feeling anticipation (OMG, baby’s almost here!) with a little bit of nervousness (OMG, baby’s almost here!). You got this, mama!

If you’re the rare mom-to-be who’s 39 weeks pregnant with twins, kudos to you! You’ve kept those babies baking despite the odds of an early delivery (and despite your all-around discomfort). You’re probably feeling many 39 weeks pregnant symptoms, including the urge to get your twosome out of your 39 weeks pregnant belly and into the world. Don’t worry—the end is so near!

Signs of Labor at 39 Weeks

Other symptoms are your body’s way of telling you baby is making their arrival ASAP. At 39 weeks pregnant, the signs of labor are probably on your mind. It’s important to know what they are, but don’t worry too much about going into labor without realizing it. In most cases, labor symptoms will be so strong and so different from what you’ve been experiencing that you won’t be able to ignore them.

Call your OB if you experience either of these:

Water breaking

It might not be like it is in the movies—you might have a slow trickle instead of a huge gush of water. But if at 39 weeks pregnant, your discharge is watery instead of its usual consistency, it may mean your amniotic sac has ruptured and you will likely go into labor within hours.

Regular contractions

If you’re having repetitive and painful tightening in your belly, start timing the contractions. If they keep coming and the time between them keeps getting shorter, you’re in the beginning stage of labor. Just how long this stage lasts will vary from mom to mom (yes, you’ll be a mom very soon!), so keep your provider updated and follow their directions for getting to the hospital by the time you progress into active labor.

When you’re 39 weeks pregnant, no signs of labor may have appeared yet, and that’s fine too! On average, a first-time mom-to-be will go into labor naturally around the 41-week mark, but second-time moms, tends to deliver closer to 40 weeks. And while some women start to show signs of labor—a dilated and/or effaced cervix, regular contractions, etc.—weeks or days before they give birth, others go from zero to 10 centimeters dilated within hours.

Can you be in labor without contractions or water breaking?

Contractions are the body’s way of getting ready for delivery, so you need them to be in labor. (We’re talking real contractions, not the Braxton Hicks kind.) It’s a different story when it comes to your water breaking, which doesn’t happen naturally for all women. If you’ve reached the get-to-the-hospital stage of your contractions and your water hasn’t broken, your doctor may take care of that for you when you get there. If your water breaks and there aren’t any contractions to go along with that, contact your OB, because that can lead to infection risk.

Inducing Labor at 39 Weeks

Now that you’re 39 weeks pregnant (full term!) and itching to give birth, you might wonder how to induce labor naturally at home. Gulping down castor oil and taking herbal remedies aren’t considered safe—and eating spicy food just isn’t going to do it. But there are a few things that are typically safe and may work:

Walking

Tie on those sneakers and go for a long, long walk. It’s not a medically proven method of inducing labor at 39 weeks, but some experts believe gravity will push baby down onto your cervix and the pressure will start dilation. (You can also try curb walking!)

Acupuncture

Again, it’s not proven, but there’s some evidence to suggest that the ancient practice of acupuncture regulates blood flow, which stimulates your cervix to dilate.

Having sex

Anecdotally, some people believe that having an orgasm (which you can safely achieve with or without your partner) can help bring on contractions. Couldn’t hurt to try, right?

For some women who are 39 weeks pregnant, the doctor might recommend a medical induction. Reasons for inducing labor include complications (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, a heart condition), placental problems and infection of the uterus. Induction also may be recommended if you’re 39 weeks pregnant with twins or if your water broke but labor hasn’t started on its own.

Tips for 39 Weeks Pregnant

Time is ticking by. You’re ready to go—and baby will be soon! Here’s what you can do this week as you get ready for delivery day!

To shave or not to shave

If you’re asking: Should I shave before birth, know that at this 39-week stage of pregnancy, shaving your pubic hair is a pretty tricky job to pull off! You’ll be glad to know you don’t have to go through the hassle of shaving before giving birth; in fact, if you’re having a C-section, you’re advised not to.

Get cooking

One of the most productive things you can do during your nesting phase is get your kitchen in order. Stock up on pantry essentials and prepare meals that can be frozen now and then reheated after you come home with baby. Trust us, the last thing you’ll want to be doing while you get acquainted with your newborn is grocery shopping and cooking elaborate meals.

Go for a quick dip

At 39 weeks, you probably feel ready to burst at the seams. Take all the pressure and weight off you by going for a swim—check with your provider first to ensure you aren’t dilated. You’ll feel weightless floating in the water, and that can help relieve aches and pains.

Install your car seat

If you haven’t done so already, this is a task you (or your partner) should check off the to-do list before you leave for the hospital. Visit a local inspection station, such as your local police or fire station, to make sure you’ve done the job right!

Get as much sleep as you can

This may be the last week you get to try to sleep through the night for a while, so take advantage of it! Get to bed early and take naps if you need to during the day. You’ll need your strength for the big day!

Wins, Challenges and Wisdom

You’re officially full-term, which means baby could be coming any day now. If you’re already experiencing labor symptoms, try to keep calm and find ways to stay as comfortable as possible. Below, moms share their best advice for the finale stage of the journey.

• Win: “I think I may just be the only 39 week pregnant woman excited to still be pregnant! It means I still have more time to get stuff done! Every room in my house is now cleaned and organized, including the closets… my entryway looks like a stroller convention is going on (I think there are four or five now, including one donated double stroller), all of which are cleaned and ready to go!” - hawaiibridegrm
• Challenge: “I went to the doctor today and he told me that I may be late. He said that the head had not dropped yet. I’m 39 weeks pregnant. As of earlier today I had not had any signs of labor except for a little of that thick gooey discharge earlier this week. I came home, went on a nice walk then started feeling crampish. Since I am a first time mom I am not sure what to expect!” - dek73
• Wisdom: “I went into my first delivery with the understanding that I’d try to go unmedicated for as long as I could, but was not opposed to getting an epidural if I decided I needed one. The best thing you can do is prepare yourself physically and mentally for an unmedicated birth and if it doesn't work out then it's not for you. I feel like more people have bad experiences because they get hung up on it being a certain way and when it doesn't happen like that, they’re disappointed. Doing your best to prepare and then going with the flow will hopefully give you the best birth experience… However they were created or came out, you made a human and will be a mother at the end of that day.” - meggyme