Pregnancy at Weeks 37 to 40

Your baby's movements should continue in the same pattern right up until birth and even during labour. Contact your midwife, doctor, or hospital immediately if movements slow, stop, become much weaker, or worry you. Do not wait until the next day, and do not rely on food, cold drinks, home Dopplers, or apps for reassurance.

Engagement can happen from week 37, especially in a first pregnancy. The baby's head may move lower into the pelvis, which can make breathing or heartburn feel a little easier while adding pelvic pressure, bladder pressure, waddling, or sharp twinges. If pressure comes with bleeding, leaking fluid, fever, severe pain, or movement changes, call your care team.

You may also notice colostrum leaking toward the end of pregnancy. Breast pads, soft bras, spare tops, and an easy laundry plan can help if leaking bothers you. Some people are advised to express and store antenatal colostrum, but check with your midwife or doctor first because it is not suitable for every pregnancy.

Labour timing is not predictable. Even if you have given birth before, this labour can start differently. Many people notice early signs between 37 and 42 weeks, including period-like cramps, backache, diarrhoea, a mucus show, waters breaking, or contractions that gradually become stronger, longer, and more regular.

Early labour can be slow, stop-start, or surprisingly fast. Your care team should tell you when to call or come in for your circumstances. If you are unsure whether labour has started, call for advice. If symptoms feel urgent, you cannot reach your provider, or you feel unsafe, use local emergency care.

Your cervix may be softening, thinning, and beginning to open. More vaginal discharge or a mucus show can be normal as the cervix changes. A show can include a small amount of old blood mixed with mucus, but fresh bleeding, heavy bleeding, pain that worries you, or bleeding with movement changes needs prompt medical advice.

Most people do not need another ultrasound at week 39, but extra monitoring can be recommended for gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, twins or multiples, growth concerns, overdue planning, or movement concerns. Keep the threshold low for calling if something feels different; late pregnancy is not a time to wait for the next routine appointment.

A well-grown term baby can be a wide range of sizes. At 40 weeks, Pregnancy Birth and Baby describes term babies as often weighing between about 2.9 kg and 4.2 kg, while still coming in many shapes and sizes. If there are concerns about a very small or large baby, your doctor or midwife can recommend individualised monitoring.

The bones in the baby's head remain a bit soft and flexible so they can fit through the birth canal. This can make the baby's head look pointed right after birth. Staff will check the baby after delivery and explain what is expected, what needs follow-up, and what support is available.

Overdue management can include regular checks, ultrasound, and CTG monitoring of the baby's heartbeat. These checks show how things look at that time; they cannot guarantee what will happen later. Keep reporting movement changes immediately, even if a recent check was reassuring.

After birth, the baby may be offered newborn screening from a heel-prick blood sample, vitamin K, hepatitis B vaccination, and a hearing test. Ask before birth if you want to understand timing, consent, benefits, side effects, or what happens if a result needs follow-up.

Home prep should be smaller than the internet makes it. A safe sleep space, fitted rear-facing car restraint if travelling by car, nappies, wipes or cotton wool, a few clothes and wraps, feeding basics for your plan, maternity pads, simple meals, and a way to ask for help matter more than finishing every drawer.