Third trimester
40 weeks pregnant
Your due date week. Only around 5% of babies arrive on the estimated date itself, and going past it is entirely normal — particularly with a first baby.
Size of
small pumpkin
Length
51 cm
Weight
3460 g
Your baby at 40 weeks
The baby is fully developed and ready. Weight and length vary widely at term and both ends of the range are normal.
The skull bones remain unfused so they can overlap during birth. Some newborns have a temporarily cone-shaped head as a result, which resolves in days.
The baby continues gaining small amounts of weight while waiting.
How you may be feeling
Appointments continue, usually weekly or more often. Monitoring increases past the due date to check the baby is still doing well.
The psychological part is often the hardest. The due date passing can feel like a failure even though it is simply the middle of a range.
Common symptoms around week 40
- Strong Braxton Hicks or early labour contractions
- Intense pelvic pressure
- Difficulty sleeping
- Possible show
- Considerable impatience
Appointments and tests around now
Induction is typically discussed if pregnancy continues past 41 to 42 weeks, as risks gradually increase beyond term. Monitoring usually increases in the meantime.
What is normal, and what varies
Going past your due date is normal and common. Most babies arrive within two weeks either side, and your care team will monitor rather than simply wait.
Worth doing this week
Keep monitoring movement right up to birth
This remains the single most important thing. Movements do not reduce before labour, and any change warrants a call.
Ask what the plan is past term
Understanding the monitoring schedule and when induction would be offered makes the wait considerably easier.
Accept that you cannot schedule this
Methods for starting labour are mostly unevidenced. Rest, eat, and let your team monitor.
Looking ahead
Whenever it happens, your care team will keep monitoring both of you until it does.
Nearby weeks
Not sure which week you are in? The week tracker works it out from the first day of your last period, and the due date calculator gives you an estimated due date.