40 Weeks Pregnant
At 40 weeks pregnant, your baby is considered full term and ready for life outside the womb. This is the official “due date” week, though only about 5% of babies are actually born on their exact due date- many arrive a little before or after.
Baby’s Growth & Size
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Weight: Around 7-8+ pounds (3.2-3.6+ kg), though some babies are smaller or larger and completely healthy
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Baby is the size of a Small Pumpkin!
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Length: About 19-21 inches (48-53 cm).
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Growth slows down compared to earlier weeks, but your baby is still adding fat to stay warm after birth.
Development & Features
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Organs: Fully developed and ready to function outside the womb.
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Brain: Continues to grow and develop connections-this process rapidly continues after birth.
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Lungs: Mature and producing enough surfactant to keep air sacs open when breathing.
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Skin: Smooth, with some remaining vernix (creamy coating) and possibly patches of lanugo (fine hair).
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Hair & nails: Hair may be long and nails may extend beyond fingertips-sometimes babies scratch themselves at birth.
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Movements: You’ll still feel movement, though space is tight. Rolling and stretching are more common than sharp kicks.
Position
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Most babies are in a head-down position, with the head engaged in the pelvis.
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If your baby hasn’t dropped yet, labor could trigger engagement.
Immune System
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Your baby continues receiving antibodies from you, which helps protect against infections in the first months of life.
Key Point
At 40 weeks, your baby is fully developed, and labor could begin at any moment. Some babies will stay cozy and come a week or two later- this is still within the normal range.