Your baby at 39 weeks
The skin becomes more protective. Some vernix may still be present at birth.
The brain and other organs continue developing. The estimated due date is not an exact appointment.
TRIMESTER 3 · WEEK 39
39 weeks pregnant
Getting closer to meeting.
What to expect at 39 weeks pregnant: your baby, your symptoms and this week’s reminders.
Symptoms at 39 weeks pregnant
- Backache or pelvic pressure may occur.
- Irregular contractions are possible.
- Sleep may be interrupted.
None of these symptoms is required. Symptoms alone cannot diagnose pregnancy or establish your baby’s wellbeing.
Use your own team’s plan to assess contraction patterns and decide when to contact the maternity unit.
Source for this week: NHS — Week 39
Measurement note: early lengths are head-to-bottom; from week 20 they are head-to-heel. The numbers across that change should not be compared as if the measurement method were the same.
YOUR WEEK, YOUR JOURNEY
Explore another pregnancy week
Choose a week to explore your baby’s development and changes you may notice.
01 · FIRST TRIMESTERSmall beginnings
02 · SECOND TRIMESTERA growing connection
03 · THIRD TRIMESTERGetting closer to meeting
Sources and content note
This is source-based general information, not a substitute for a clinical assessment or individual care plan. The presence, absence or change of symptoms alone cannot establish pregnancy wellbeing. This content is not a personalised care plan reviewed by a healthcare professional.
This guide groups weeks 1–13 in the first trimester, 14–27 in the second, and 28 onwards in the third. Weeks refer to gestational age dated from the last menstrual period; clinical dating may differ.
- NHS — Pregnancy week by week
- ACOG — Fetal development and gestational age
- NHS — Your baby’s movements
- NHS — Pregnancy symptoms
Sources checked: 31 October 2026 · Illustrations are AI-generated conceptual drawings, not ultrasound or diagnostic images.