39 Weeks Pregnant: What to Expect This Week
Thirty-nine weeks pregnant — your baby is ready for the world. The final antibody transfer is happening, and the brain continues to make the connections that will serve your child for a lifetime.
Baby at Week 39: Size of a mini watermelon
Baby's Development at 39 Weeks
A large surge of antibodies is being transferred from mother to baby through the placenta, providing crucial immune protection for the first months of life outside the womb. The brain continues to develop connections — this process will continue for years after birth. Baby is now roughly 50cm long and weighing around 3.3kg on average. All systems are go. The placenta is doing its final work.
Your Body at 39 Weeks Pregnant
The final stretch is genuinely challenging — discomfort, disrupted sleep, and the emotional weight of waiting. Braxton Hicks contractions can be very convincing now. The cervix is gradually ripening and shortening (effacing) in preparation for labour — your provider may check this at appointments. A burst of energy (the nesting instinct's final act) sometimes precedes labour.
Tips for Week 39
- Go for walks, which can help baby engage and encourage labour onset.
- Distraction is the best strategy now — visit friends, see a film, do something you won't be able to do easily with a newborn.
- Trust the process — your body knows what to do.
- Have a candid conversation with your provider about your feelings and options if you reach week 40+.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I encourage labour to start naturally?
Evidence for natural labour induction methods is mixed, but some that are commonly discussed include: walking (helps baby engage), sex (semen contains prostaglandins that may ripen the cervix), nipple stimulation (triggers oxytocin), and eating dates. Membrane sweeping by a midwife from 39+ weeks has reasonable evidence for bringing labour on within 48 hours. Discuss options with your provider.
What is induction of labour?
Induction involves medically starting labour using prostaglandin gels or pessaries (to ripen the cervix), membrane sweeping, breaking the waters, or an oxytocin drip. It's recommended in specific circumstances, such as going significantly past the due date, certain health conditions, or concerns about baby. It's very common — around 25–30% of births are induced. Inductions vary in how quickly they progress.
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