You’ve made it to 39 weeks pregnant, and you’re counting down to your due date!
You’re so ready to meet your baby, and he’s almost ready to be in your arms! Your doctor may be performing checks at your appointments to see whether your cervix has begun to dilate and efface, although some doctors (and patients) prefer to avoid invasive exams. At this point, your doctor has likely completed all of the routine tests performed during pregnancy, and they should have an excellent understanding of your pregnancy and hopefully your needs.
Your Baby’s Development At 39 Weeks Pregnant
A 39-week fetus may weigh more than 7 lbs and be about 20 inches long. At this point, most fetuses are essentially ready for life on the outside, though their lungs and nervous systems keep developing until birth.
If your baby is born this week, he will be considered full-term.
Mother’s Symptoms At 39 Weeks
Weight & Breathing
With your baby sitting lower in your abdomen (for most pregnancies by this point) you may be breathing a little easier. However, higher blood volume and an awkward pregnancy body shape mean that you could still be at risk for wooziness and falls, so continue to use caution.
Swelling, Headaches, & Vision (High Blood Pressure & Preeclampsia)
Higher blood volume, hormonal changes, and other factors can cause swelling and headaches during pregnancy. These can be normal, within limits.
However, when these are severe or sudden, it could be a sign that you have elevated blood pressure, and potentially preeclampsia, which is a high-risk pregnancy factor.
Watch out for swelling that affects the chest or face, or is more significant on one side of the body. Also, watch out for severe headaches that don’t go away, and vision changes.
Any of these symptoms should be reported to your doctor immediately
Digestion & Cravings
At 38 weeks pregnant, heartburn and indigestion may have been plaguing you for months, so by now, you’re probably well used to adding antacids (without aspirin, magnesium trisilicate, or sodium bicarbonate) to your regular grocery shopping.
The newer digestive symptom you may have noticed is difficulty eating enough to be satisfied – it seems your baby and uterus have taken over the space that your stomach once relied on! You’re getting close to the end now, so try to eat smaller, more frequent meals, and look forward to being able to finish your plate again in a few weeks!
Constipation is also a frequent unwanted companion in pregnancy. More water and fiber, as well as the occasional stool softener, can help. Don’t take laxatives without your doctor’s explicit advice, since they can cause contractions.
If you’ve been wondering what those cravings are all about, check out our pregnancy cravings guide for some hints! As long as you’re eating a healthy variety of foods, feel free to eat what your body is asking for. However, if your cravings are for nonfood items, check in with your doctor right away.
Pain, Cramps, & Contractions
By now you’re very familiar with Braxton hicks contractions. Labor contractions can feel very different from those, but how they feel can vary widely from one pregnancy to another.
They may feel like a tight, squeezing pain in the abdominal area. They could feel like fierce menstrual cramps. In some cases, they experience lower back pain or a sensation of downward pressure in the pelvic region.
The defining differences between Braxton Hicks and labor contractions are that labor does not stop if you rest, change position, or hydrate; and that labor contractions become more intense and more frequent over time.
Suppose you’ve had round ligament pain (a stabbing or pulling sensation in the lower abdomen), pelvic girdle pain (around the hip area), and/or sciatica (pain caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve at the base of the spine). In that case, these may continue through the end of pregnancy. For pelvic girdle pain or sciatica, your doctor may recommend exercises or stretches to reduce the effects.
Back pain can sometimes continue for a few weeks postpartum, and light exercise and gentle stretches may help if it continues past the healing period.
If you’ve been suffering from restless leg syndrome symptoms, they clear up in most cases within a few days postpartum. In the meantime, before your baby is born, check with your doctor. They may recommend a supplement to address the underlying cause, since RLS symptoms have been connected to longer labors.
Discharge & Bleeding
You may have light spotting, especially after an internal exam. If you see any bleeding heavier than very minimal spotting, you should let your doctor know.
You may also see bloody show, or signs of losing your mucus plug. This could look like a thick, whitish or clear material, with or without pinkish or bloody red tinges or streaks. There’s a lot more mucus plug than you might expect, and even when you’ve lost the whole thing, labor could still be anywhere from hours to weeks away, so don’t jump in the car at the first sighting!
In general, vaginal discharge could be a bit thicker as your body works to protect your uterus from potential infection. A bad odor or greenish or gray discharge could be a sign of infection, which you’ll want to treat right away, so let your doctor know.
If your water breaks, you could see a gush or trickle of fluid. Once this happens, you’ll want to contact your doctor and head for the hospital or birth center.
Insomnia & Nightmares
Even after you’ve treated the RLS symptoms and heartburn keeping you awake, other factors can cause pregnancy insomnia. Stress, of course, is a significant contributor. Higher blood volume and increased heart rate play a role too.
Adding to this, the sleep disturbances of pregnancy contribute to more intense dreams, including nightmares, and to remembering them more vividly!
Your doctor may prefer for you to try methods of destressing and use sleep hygiene techniques to address this. However, if a lack of sleep is severe enough to pose a danger during the daytime, consider consulting a medical professional.
Hormones & Mood
The surge of hormones as you approach delivery can significantly impact your mood. If you’re feeling weepy, anxious, or irritable, take solace in the knowledge that this is normal and has a biological cause!
You may also feel the effects of the nesting instinct kicking in. This can cause a surge of energy and the desire to complete last-minute preparations, start new projects, or give your house a thorough clean. Just remember to take it easy and give your body enough rest!
When To Contact Your Doctor
In the last weeks of pregnancy, changes in your body, as well as heightened anxiety and the knowledge that your baby could come any day, can leave you worrying about whether the latest symptom to appear is an emergency or just another normal event. There are several circumstances in which you should always consult your doctor.
Labor
If your water breaks, it’s time to call your doctor and head for the hospital. It’s a good idea to know in advance exactly what your doctor’s procedures are. In some practices, whichever obstetrician is currently on call will deliver your baby. In smaller practices, you may need to call your OB and have them meet you at the location.
If you’re having regular contractions, your doctor may prefer that you head for the hospital when they’ve been at least every 5 minutes for an hour or two, or may want you to arrive at the hospital while they’re still 7 minutes or more apart.
It’s beneficial to be aware of your particular doctor’s policies and preferences on this matter in advance. However, if you’re unsure, you can call your provider’s office early in labor and ask.
Preeclampsia Symptoms
If preeclampsia symptoms surface at this point in pregnancy, your doctor may treat the symptoms and monitor you closely, or they may prefer to deliver your baby early, depending on the severity. If you notice severe, sudden, or unusual swelling, or any swelling that affects the face or chest, call your doctor. Also, call if you experience severe headaches that don’t go away, or any vision changes.
Decrease In Fetal Movement
If you notice a change in your baby’s movement at 39 weeks pregnant, call your doctor. Be prepared to describe the changes, including recent kick counts. (However, if you haven’t been doing kick counts but feel that something is wrong, call anyway.)
Other Symptoms To Report Right Away
You should also call your doctor for any of the following: cracked or bleeding nipples; signs of vaginal infection or UTI; fever over 100 degrees; severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; symptoms of dehydration; vaginal bleeding (other than light spotting after an internal exam or bloody show).
What Should Mom Be Doing At 39 Weeks Pregnant?
If you haven’t packed your bag and installed your car seat, it’s time to get ready! Hospital day could be any day now!
Continue to visit your doctor every week. Your doctor may check for cervical dilation and thinning of the cervix. Some doctors will also perform a “sweep” of the membranes that may prod your body into action (and may do so without giving warning), so if you prefer to wait for things to happen naturally, make sure to let your doctor know.
Discuss your expectations with your doctor regarding labor. Depending on your hospital and doctor’s rules, you may or may not be allowed to snack during labor, or hydrate other than ice chips. If you are considered a risk for an emergency C-section, this may affect what is allowed. If you plan to have more than one support person in the room (say, your spouse and a doula) it’s good idea to clear the plans in advance.
What To Look Forward To
If you’ve reached the 39 weeks pregnant milestone, the good news is you’ll soon be holding your little one! Other postpartum bonuses are the end (hopefully) of the heartburn, indigestion, and many of the other physical discomforts!
You may need a few weeks or several to feel physically recovered, so plan on spending some time resting, cuddling your baby, and maybe binge-watching the show you’ve been putting off, or catching up on your reading or podcasts.