Week 39 of Pregnancy

Weeks Pregnant (Besides Staring at Your Phone)

If you're here, welcome to the final countdown. You're 39 weeks pregnant, and depending on the hour, you're either scrubbing grout like you're auditioning for a cleaning commercial or lying in bed Googling "how to go into labor naturally." You might be getting texts like "Baby yet? 👀" from every person you've ever known, while simultaneously wondering how it's possible to be this swollen and still not in labor. This week can feel like a strange limbo: you're emotionally ready, your baby is physically ready, but somehow—nothing is happening yet.

The truth is, this waiting period is its own emotional marathon. It's normal to feel restless, impatient, or even low-key panicked about what comes next. But there's also power in this pause. You have a window of time, right now, to check in with yourself: mentally, emotionally, logistically. This isn't just about birth prep—it's about preserving your energy, tuning into your needs, and setting yourself up for the massive shift that's coming. You're not just about to meet your baby—you're about to meet a whole new version of yourself.

🍼 Your Baby at 39 Weeks: Fully Cooked, Just Marinating

Your baby is considered full-term and developmentally ready to thrive outside the womb. If you went into labor today, your care team would be all systems go.

Estimated Size: Between 6–8 lbs and roughly 19–21 inches long—about the size of a mini watermelon.

Fun Fact: Boys tend to be a little longer and heavier than girls, but there's a wide healthy range.

Developmental Milestones:

• Baby's lungs are mature enough for breathing air.
• Her brain is still rapidly developing and will continue to do so after birth.
• Her immune system is getting stronger, thanks to antibodies passed from you.
• Layers of fat built over the last few weeks are now regulating her temperature outside the womb.

What's changing now? Not much in terms of visible development. Baby's just gaining tiny bits of fat, practicing breathing, sucking, and blinking—and maybe getting into position for the big day.

🧍‍♀️ Your Body: Nesting, Noticing, and Nearly There

Physically, 39 weeks can feel like one long question: Is this it? Contractions may come and go. Your back might ache like never before. And the sudden urge to organize your spice rack at 2 a.m.? That's your nesting instinct, and it's a real sign that labor could be approaching (though it's not a guarantee).

Common physical experiences this week:

• Braxton Hicks contractions that feel tighter or stronger than before
• Pelvic pressure or heaviness as baby drops lower
• Cervical changes (you might hear your provider mention dilation or effacement)
• Back pain, groin aches, or even shooting nerve sensations (hi, sciatica)
• Fatigue + adrenaline, the weirdest combo

🧠 Mental Health Check: Postpartum Prep Starts Now

You've been prepping for birth, but have you thought about the emotional rollercoaster that often follows?

💧 Understanding the Baby Blues

After birth, your hormone levels crash dramatically—and with it, your mood may shift. Up to 80% of new moms experience the Baby Blues:

• Tearfulness for no reason
• Feeling emotionally overwhelmed
• Irritability or sadness
• Trouble sleeping even when baby sleeps

This typically starts around day 3 or 4 postpartum and resolves within 2 weeks. It's not a reflection of your love for your baby or your ability to parent. It's hormones + exhaustion + life whiplash.

🧠 When It Might Be More Than Blues

If these feelings persist or worsen, it may be postpartum depression (PPD) or postpartum anxiety, which affects 1 in 7 moms.

Know the signs:

• Lasting sadness, hopelessness, or guilt
• Feeling numb, disconnected, or disinterested
• Panic attacks or constant worry
• Inability to care for yourself or baby
• Thoughts of harming yourself

You are not weak. You are not alone. And there is support.

Plan ahead:

• Add mental health hotlines and your OB's contact to your phone.
• Talk to your partner or a trusted person about how they can check in with you postpartum.
• Ask your provider about what support is available if symptoms arise.

📓 Tips & To-Dos for Week 39

✨ Preserve the Details with a Birth Story

You think you'll remember every second, but trust me—labor and delivery is a time-warp zone. Recording your birth story (even just the basics) is a beautiful way to honor this transformation.

Here's a quick guide to capturing it:

• What was your pregnancy journey like—joys, struggles, surprises?
• How did you feel in the days before labor started?
• What were the signs labor was starting? Where were you?
• Who was present? What stood out—funny moments, scary ones, tender memories?
• What were your emotions holding your baby for the first time?

📸 Pro Tip: Pair your notes with photos from those early hours or days. One day, your child might read that story and feel so known.