Your baby at 40 weeks
The baby rests in a more curled position, but the usual pattern of movements should continue.
A due date is an estimate. The frequency of checks and next steps depend on your individual circumstances.
TRIMESTER 3 · WEEK 40
40 weeks pregnant
An estimated date, a personal journey.
What to expect at 40 weeks pregnant: your baby, your symptoms and this week’s reminders.
Symptoms at 40 weeks pregnant
- You may have backache or period-like sensations.
- Contractions may become more regular.
- Pelvic pressure may occur.
None of these symptoms is required. Symptoms alone cannot diagnose pregnancy or establish your baby’s wellbeing.
Contact your team if your waters break, you have bleeding or movements decrease.
Source for this week: NHS — Week 40
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.