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Sign InWeek 40 — Due Date!
Overall Pregnancy
Your Baby is About
small pumpkin
Your baby is fully ready. At about 51cm and 3.4kg on average — every organ is mature, every system is ready, and the only thing left to do is be born. The vernix may be mostly gone, the lanugo has shed, and your baby has a full head of hair (or not — both are completely normal). They're positioned, head-down, and waiting. Your placenta is at peak function and will start to decline after 40 weeks.
Only about 5% of babies are born on their actual due date — the other 95% arrive either side of it. If you reach 40 weeks without labour starting, your provider will discuss next steps: a membrane sweep to encourage labour, and induction if you reach 41–42 weeks. Monitoring becomes more frequent after 40 weeks. If at any point movement decreases, contact your provider immediately.
Your baby's first breath doesn't just fill the lungs — it simultaneously changes the entire circulation pattern of their cardiovascular system. A flap called the foramen ovale, which allowed blood to bypass the lungs in the womb, closes permanently when the pressure in the lungs increases on that first inhale. The heart literally rewires itself the moment your baby breathes. In most people, it closes within hours.
If you're still waiting, try your hardest not to fixate on the date. Due dates are estimates based on averages, and perfectly healthy babies arrive anywhere from Week 37 to 42. Staying gently active, hydrated, and resting when you can is the best thing you can do. Try to have something non-baby to look forward to each day — a show, a meal, a friend to call. The wait is hard. You're so close.
Eat regular meals and stay very hydrated. If labour starts, having eaten and drunk well beforehand gives you the energy reserves you need for what can be a very long process.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation. Read full disclaimer
Be patient — with the wait and with your partner. The final days of pregnancy are uncomfortable, emotional, and exhausting. Your presence, patience, and reassurance are the most valuable things you can offer right now.