39 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Development, Symptoms and Tips

Short Answer: At 39 week pregnancy, your baby is full term, about 50 cm from head to heel, roughly the size of a small watermelon, and weighs around 3.3 kg. The organs are ready for life outside the womb, the head is usually down and often engaged in your pelvis and your baby is putting on the last fat and shedding the last of the downy hair. The top of your womb is about 38 to 39 cm above your pubic bone. Labour can start any day, or not for another two weeks. You may have pelvic pressure, a mucus show, loose stools, strong Braxton Hicks tightenings and trouble sleeping. This week, ask about a membrane sweep, learn what happens if you have an induction or a planned C-section, understand cord clamping and newborn checks and choose a contraception method for after the birth. Go to hospital for regular contractions, waters breaking, bleeding, a change in your baby’s movements, a severe headache with blurred vision or any sign that something is wrong.

Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period, not from conception. Thirty-nine weeks pregnant means about thirty-seven weeks since conception. You are in your ninth month, with about 1 week to go to your due date. For earlier weeks, start with our guide to 8 weeks pregnant, or read last week’s guide to 38 weeks pregnant.

Week 39 at a glance

Sizes differ between guides and between babies. Healthy babies at term range from about 2.5 kg to 4 kg, and your own scan results and your doctor’s measurements matter more than a chart. Many Bangladeshi babies are born a little smaller, around 2.8 to 3.2 kg, and are perfectly healthy.

Your baby at 39 weeks

Growth. Your baby gains about 100 grams a week now, and length has almost stopped. Fat makes up about 15 percent of body weight. It is stored mainly under the skin and around the organs, and it will keep your baby warm after birth.

Lungs. The lungs make surfactant, the slippery substance that keeps the air sacs open, and they are ready to breathe air. They keep maturing for weeks after birth. Hormones from your baby’s lungs and adrenal glands help signal the start of labour, so the baby has a say in when it begins.

Brain. The brain is about a quarter of its adult size and will triple in the first years. Nerve cells keep growing a fatty insulation called myelin, which speeds up signals, and connections multiply. Your baby sleeps most of the day, with cycles of deep sleep, dream-like sleep and short wake periods.

Organs. The kidneys and liver work, though the liver is still learning to clear bilirubin, which is why mild jaundice is common after birth. The gut is full of meconium, the first dark, sticky stool. The immune system is getting your antibodies, which cross the placenta in large amounts in the last weeks.

Senses. Your baby hears your voice and the sounds of your home, and may turn toward them after birth. Newborns see blurry shapes best at about 20 to 30 cm, the distance to your face during feeding, and they prefer faces and strong contrasts. Taste and smell are working, and your baby may recognise the smell of your milk and skin.

Skin and hair. The skin is smooth. Most of the downy lanugo hair is gone, and the white waxy vernix remains mostly in the creases. Hair on the head can be thick, thin or almost absent, and the colour often changes in the first months. The nails reach or pass the fingertips, so keep a soft nail file or mittens handy.

Skull and bones. The bones are hard apart from the skull, whose plates stay soft and loosely joined so the head can mould through the birth canal. The soft spots, called fontanelles, stay open for months. A newborn’s head may look long or lopsided after a vaginal birth, and usually rounds out within days.

Position. Most babies are head down by now, and the head is often engaged, which means it has settled into the pelvis. About 3 to 4 in 100 are breech at term. If your baby is breech, your doctor will have talked to you about an external version or a planned C-section.

Movement. With little room, movements feel more like rolls, stretches and pushes than sharp kicks. The total amount should stay about the same until labour. Hiccups are common. A clear drop in movement is never normal, so call your doctor the same day.

Your body at 39 weeks

Womb. The top of your womb is about 38 to 39 cm above your pubic bone. If your baby has dropped, the measurement can fall a little, and that is normal.

Weight. Weight gain has slowed or stopped. Some people lose a little in the last week. By now most people have gained about 11 to 16 kg in total. Sudden rapid weight gain, especially with swelling, needs a check for pre-eclampsia.

Cervix. The cervix is softening, thinning and may be starting to open, which you cannot feel. A vaginal examination does not predict when labour will start, and you can decline it.

Braxton Hicks. Practice tightenings can be strong and frequent. They are irregular and usually ease with rest, water or a change of position. If they become regular, painful and closer together, labour may be starting.

Pelvic pressure. If your baby has dropped, you may have pressure on your bladder, rectum and pelvis, a waddle and sharp, electric-like twinges in the vagina. Breathing and heartburn often improve.

Show and discharge. A pink, brown or blood-streaked jelly-like mucus, called a show, is the plug that sealed your cervix. Labour may start within hours to days, or not for a week or more. Bright red bleeding that soaks a pad is not a show and needs urgent care.

Loose stools. Hormones that prepare the body for labour can loosen your stools. Drink more water, and call if it is severe or comes with fever.

Skin and hair. A glow is common, but so are acne, dry skin, dark patches on the face and a dark line down the belly. Itchy red bumps on stretch marks, called PUPPP, are harmless but very itchy. Intense itching on the palms and soles needs a doctor the same day, because it can be a liver condition called cholestasis.

Breasts. They are larger and heavier. Colostrum, the thick yellow first milk, may leak. A supportive nursing bra and breast pads help.

Hands, feet and legs. Mild swelling is common, especially in hot weather. Tingling in the hands from carpal tunnel syndrome is common too. Varicose veins and piles can appear or get worse.

Tiredness and mood. Tiredness, impatience, vivid dreams, forgetfulness and mood swings are common. Nesting, the urge to clean and organise, is common as well. Avoid climbing, heavy lifting and strong cleaning fumes. Excitement and fear at the same time are normal.

Full term: what it means

Doctors divide late pregnancy into stages because a baby born a week earlier or later can have different needs.

From this week, your baby is considered full term. If labour starts, no one will try to stop it, and your baby is ready. Doctors who plan an induction or C-section for a medical reason usually do it from 39 weeks. For a healthy pregnancy, the safest course is to let labour start on its own, and your due date is only an estimate. Only about 1 in 20 babies arrives on it.

Membrane sweep

A membrane sweep, sometimes called a stretch and sweep, is a way to encourage labour to start naturally. It is not an induction, and it is optional.

How it is done. During an internal examination, a doctor or midwife slides a finger just inside the cervix, if it is open enough, and makes a circular sweeping movement to separate the membranes from the lower part of the womb. This releases hormones called prostaglandins, which can soften the cervix and start contractions. If the cervix is closed, the doctor may massage the area around it, which may also help.

What to expect. It can be uncomfortable, a bit like a smear test or a period-type pain, and it may cause cramps, a little spotting or a mucus show for a day or two. It takes a few minutes. Take a pad with you.

Does it work? Studies suggest a sweep raises the chance of labour starting within 48 hours, and may lower the chance of going overdue, especially in a first pregnancy. It does not work for everyone, and some need more than one. It does not raise the risk of infection or early labour in a healthy term pregnancy.

When it is offered. Usually from 39 weeks, often at 40 and 41 weeks, and at later visits if you are overdue. It is not suitable if you have a low-lying placenta, praevia, bleeding of unknown cause, waters broken or an active infection. You can say no, or ask for it later.

After a sweep. Light spotting or a pink show can happen. Call your doctor or go to hospital if you have heavy bleeding, regular strong contractions, your waters break, you have a fever or your baby moves less.

Induction at 39 weeks: when and why

Induction means starting labour with medicine or other methods instead of waiting for it to begin on its own. It is advised when the risks of continuing the pregnancy outweigh the risks of induction. Our guide to 34 weeks pregnant lists the common methods.

Medical reasons for induction at or after 39 weeks:

• Pre-eclampsia or high blood pressure
• Diabetes, especially if not well controlled, and often at 38 to 40 weeks
• Cholestasis of pregnancy, often at 37 to 38 weeks
• A baby who is not growing well, or low fluid
• Reduced movements with other concerns
• Waters broken without labour starting, usually within 24 hours at term
• Twins, often at 37 to 38 weeks
• A past stillbirth, or other high-risk conditions
• Being overdue, usually offered between 41 and 42 weeks

Induction for a healthy pregnancy at 39 weeks. Some hospitals offer induction at 39 weeks to healthy first-time mothers. A large trial in the United States found that this did not raise the C-section rate, and slightly lowered it, compared with waiting, and lowered the chance of high blood pressure in pregnancy. But induction means a longer hospital stay, more monitoring and less freedom to move, and it is not necessary for most healthy women. Ask your doctor why they are recommending it, and what the alternatives are.

Questions to ask:

• Why do you recommend induction now, and what happens if we wait?
• How and when will it be done, and how long may it take?
• What are the options if it does not work, or if I change my mind?
• Can I move around, eat and drink, and what pain relief is available?
• Can my companion stay with me?
• Will my baby be monitored, and how?

You can ask for time to think, unless it is an emergency. Induction can take a day or longer, and contractions started by medicine can feel stronger and closer together than natural ones. It should be done only in a hospital with enough staff, monitoring and the ability to do an emergency C-section.

A planned C-section: the day, step by step

A planned C-section is advised for a medical reason, such as a breech baby, a placenta covering the cervix, a very large baby with a small pelvis, certain infections, two or more previous C-sections or other conditions. It is usually done from 39 weeks, unless there is a reason to go earlier.

The day before:

• Confirm the time and place, and who will operate
• Have your hemoglobin, blood group and any cross-matching done, and arrange blood donors
• Pack your bag, and arrange help at home and for older children
• Ask when to stop eating and drinking. A common rule is no solid food for 6 hours and clear water until 2 hours before, but follow your doctor’s instructions
• Take a shower, and remove nail polish, jewellery and contact lenses
• Ask about medicines to take or skip that morning

At the hospital:

1. You change into a gown, and the nurse checks your blood pressure, pulse, temperature and your baby’s heartbeat.
2. A drip is placed in your arm for fluids and medicines. You may receive an antibiotic, which lowers the risk of infection, and medicine for nausea or heartburn.
3. Your lower belly may be shaved a little, and a tube, called a catheter, is placed in your bladder, usually after the anaesthetic.
4. The anaesthetist places a spinal or epidural injection in your lower back. This numbs you from the chest down, and you stay awake. General anaesthesia is used in emergencies or if regional anaesthesia is not possible.
5. In the operating theatre, a screen is placed so you do not see the surgery. Your companion may be allowed to sit by your head, so ask in advance.
6. The doctor makes a cut in the lower belly, usually low and horizontal, the “bikini” line, and another in the womb. Most babies are born within 10 to 15 minutes of starting.
7. You may feel pressure, pulling and tugging, but no sharp pain. Tell the anaesthetist if you feel pain, nausea or dizziness.
8. When your baby is born, you will hear the first cry. If you and your baby are well, ask for your baby to be shown to you, dried and placed on your chest for skin-to-skin contact, even on the operating table.
9. The placenta is delivered, and the womb and belly are closed with stitches. This takes 30 to 45 minutes. You are given oxytocin to help your womb contract and prevent bleeding.
10. In recovery, you are watched for an hour or two. Try to breastfeed in the first hour, with help.

After a C-section:

• Expect to stay two to four days. You may have a drip and a catheter for the first day
• Pain relief is given regularly, so ask before pain builds up
• Walk a little as soon as you are told, to prevent clots and help recovery
• Hold a pillow against your wound when you cough, laugh or move
• Keep the wound clean and dry, and wear loose, high-waisted clothing
• Do not lift anything heavier than your baby for about six weeks, and do not drive until you can brake without pain
• Use side-lying or football-hold positions for breastfeeding
• Eat fibre and drink water, and ask for a stool softener
• Get help with your baby, cooking and older children

Call your doctor or go to hospital for: fever of 38°C or more, a wound that is red, swollen, hot or leaking, heavy bleeding, severe pain, a painful swollen leg, chest pain or breathlessness, trouble passing urine or a foul-smelling discharge.

A C-section is major surgery, with higher risks of bleeding, infection and clots for you, and it can affect future pregnancies. It saves lives when it is needed. If your doctor advises one, ask why, what the alternatives are and what the plan will be for future births.

If you are planning a vaginal birth after a C-section

If your last baby was born by C-section, you can often choose a trial of labour, called vaginal birth after C-section or VBAC. About seven in ten attempts succeed, and a vaginal birth avoids another operation. It carries a small risk, about 1 in 200 to 1 in 500, that the scar on the womb opens, called uterine rupture, which is an emergency for mother and baby. VBAC should be attempted only in a hospital with doctors, an operating theatre and blood available around the clock.

Your baby and you are monitored closely. Continuous heartbeat monitoring is usually advised, and an intravenous line is placed in case of an emergency. Induction with prostaglandins is generally avoided, and some doctors use other methods.

Warning signs of uterine rupture. Tell staff at once or call for help if you have:

• Sudden, severe, constant pain in the belly or at the scar, which does not ease between contractions
• Vaginal bleeding
• Contractions that suddenly weaken or stop
• Your baby’s heartbeat suddenly changes
• A sudden change in your belly’s shape, or your baby moving up
• Feeling faint, a fast heartbeat or shock

Go to hospital early if you plan a VBAC, so that you are close to emergency care, and tell staff you have a scar. Do not stay at home in advanced labour.

Who may not be advised to try VBAC: a past classical (vertical) cut on the womb, a past uterine rupture, a placenta covering the cervix, a breech baby, three or more previous C-sections and some medical conditions. Ask your doctor about your own situation. A repeat planned C-section is a safe alternative, and the choice is yours after counselling.

If labour starts at night

Many labours begin at night, because the hormone that makes the womb contract rises after dark. A plan keeps you calm.

What to do:

1. Stay calm. The start of labour is slow, and you have time. Take a few deep breaths.
2. Time the contractions for 30 minutes to an hour, noting how long they last and how far apart they are.
3. Wake your partner or companion, and tell them. Ask a relative to watch other children.
4. Eat and drink lightly. A banana, some plain rice or toast, dates and water. Avoid heavy or oily food.
5. Rest if you can. If early labour is mild, lie down between contractions, or sit upright on a ball or pillows. Try to doze.
6. Move and breathe during stronger contractions, with a warm shower, a back rub and slow breathing.
7. Check the bag, documents and transport. Fill the vehicle, and call the driver if you use one.
8. Call the doctor or hospital when it is time, or earlier if you are unsure, and tell them the pattern of your contractions and whether your waters have broken.
9. Leave when you meet your hospital’s guide, for example contractions every 5 minutes, lasting a minute, for an hour, or at once for danger signs.
10. Travel safely. Sit upright or on your side in the back seat, with your seat belt on, and keep your companion beside you.

If the roads are slow, flooded or unsafe at night, leave earlier, and tell the hospital you are coming. If you live far from a hospital and labour has begun, do not wait until morning.

Danger signs at night are the same as in the day. Go at once for waters breaking with green or brown fluid, heavy bleeding, constant severe pain, a severe headache, a drop in your baby’s movements or an urge to push.

Pain relief in more detail

Labour is painful for most people, but many options help. The choice is yours, and you can change your mind at any time.

About an epidural:

• It is placed once labour is established, though some hospitals place it earlier. Placement takes about 10 to 20 minutes, and relief starts in 10 to 20 minutes.
• You usually have a drip, a blood pressure cuff and continuous monitoring of your baby. A catheter is placed in your bladder, and you may not be able to walk.
• It may lower your blood pressure, cause itching or shivering and make your legs feel heavy. A headache after an epidural is uncommon, in about 1 in 100 to 1 in 200 people, and can be treated.
• It can make the second stage longer, and slightly raise the chance of a vacuum or forceps delivery. It does not raise the chance of a C-section.
• It does not cause long-term back pain and does not harm your baby when given correctly.
• It needs an experienced anaesthetist and equipment, which may not be available at all hospitals, or at night. Ask in advance whether it is offered, what it costs and whether an anaesthetist is on call 24 hours.

Pain after birth. Paracetamol is generally safe and safe with breastfeeding. Ask your doctor before taking ibuprofen or other medicines. After a C-section, you will be offered regular pain relief, and it is better to take it before the pain is severe.

Cord clamping and cord blood

Delayed cord clamping. The umbilical cord keeps pulsing for a few minutes after birth, passing blood, rich in iron and stem cells, from the placenta to your baby. WHO recommends waiting at least one to three minutes before clamping and cutting the cord, in babies who are breathing and well. Benefits include higher iron stores and haemoglobin in the first months, which lower the risk of anaemia in infancy, and better blood flow in preterm babies. The only downside is a slightly higher chance of jaundice needing light treatment. It is not used if your baby needs immediate resuscitation, or if you are bleeding heavily. Put it on your birth plan, and ask your doctor whether your hospital does it. You can have delayed cord clamping and skin-to-skin contact together.

Cord cutting. The cord is cut with a sterile blade or scissors after clamping. Your partner may be offered the chance to cut it. Ask in advance if you want this.

Cord blood banking. Some companies in Bangladesh offer to collect and store your baby’s cord blood for a fee. Cord blood contains stem cells that can treat certain blood diseases, such as some leukaemias and thalassaemia, but the chance that your child will ever need their own stored cord blood is very low, and in most cases a child’s own cord blood cannot be used to treat the disease it carries. Medical bodies do not recommend private storage for healthy families, except when a sibling already has a condition that cord blood can treat, such as thalassaemia. If you are asked to pay a large sum, think carefully and ask your doctor. Cord blood collection can interfere with delayed clamping, so do not give up the first for the second. Public donation, where available, helps others at no cost to you.

Newborn checks in the first days

Your baby will be checked several times in the first days. Knowing what is checked helps you ask the right questions.

After birth, if you are Rh negative: if your baby is Rh positive, you need an anti-D injection within 72 hours of birth. Ask the staff to check your baby’s blood group.

Normal newborn features that can worry parents but are usually harmless:

• A pointed or lopsided head, from moulding, which rounds out in days
• Swollen eyelids and puffy eyes, which settle in a few days
• Small white spots on the nose (milia), and a blotchy rash on the skin (erythema toxicum)
• Peeling skin in the first weeks
• Swollen breasts or genitals, from your hormones, and a little vaginal discharge or bleeding in girls
• Blue-ish hands and feet in the first days, if the baby is otherwise pink and feeding well
• A red mark on the eyelids, forehead or nape (a stork bite), which fades
• Blue-grey patches on the lower back (Mongolian spots), which are common in South Asian babies and fade over years
• Sneezing, hiccups and noisy breathing
• A bleeding or crusting cord stump

Danger signs that need urgent care: fever of 38°C or more, or a very low temperature, poor feeding, fast or difficult breathing, grunting, fits, a floppy or very sleepy baby, yellow skin in the first day or deep yellow on the belly, legs or soles, a red or pus-filled cord, a blue or very pale colour, not passing urine or stool and vomiting green fluid. Go to hospital at once.

Choosing contraception after birth

You can become pregnant again soon after birth, even before your first period and even while breastfeeding. Waiting at least 24 months before the next pregnancy is safest for you and your baby. Choosing a method before you leave hospital helps you avoid an unplanned pregnancy.

What to do:

• Talk with your partner and your doctor before the birth, and decide together
• Ask which methods are available at your hospital, and what they cost. Government facilities and community clinics in Bangladesh offer many methods free or at low cost
• Ask for a method that works with breastfeeding
• Use a backup, such as condoms, until your chosen method is working
• Tell your doctor about any condition, such as high blood pressure, blood clots or diabetes, because these can limit choices
• You have the right to choose, to say no, to change your mind and to receive full information, without pressure from family or staff

Sex after birth is safe when you feel ready and bleeding has eased, often around four to six weeks. Use a water-based lubricant if you are dry from breastfeeding, and go slowly. Tell your doctor if sex is painful after healing.

Common symptoms and what helps

Do not take any medicine, including painkillers and herbal products, without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Paracetamol at the recommended dose is generally considered safe. Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin and diclofenac unless your doctor prescribes them.

When to call a doctor

Go to hospital at once, or call 999, if your waters break and the fluid is green, brown or bloody or smells bad, you see or feel the umbilical cord, you have heavy bleeding or bleeding with severe pain, you have a severe headache, blurred vision or fits, you have constant severe pain with no break between contractions, you have a fever of 38°C or more or your baby moves much less than usual or not at all.

Pre-eclampsia. A serious blood pressure condition. Signs include a severe headache that will not go away, blurred vision or flashing lights, sudden swelling of the face and hands, pain under the ribs on the right side, vomiting and rapid weight gain. It needs urgent care.

Fever. In Bangladesh a fever can also mean dengue, so do not treat it at home. See a doctor straight away.

Your baby’s movements. Keep tracking them. Learn the usual pattern, and if you want a method, count distinct movements until you reach ten, which usually takes under two hours. If you notice a clear drop or change, call your doctor the same day, and do not wait until the next day or rely on a home Doppler.

If you feel sad, anxious or hopeless for more than two weeks, tell your doctor. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, seek help right away.

Waiting well: the last days

Waiting for labour can feel long. You may feel impatient, tired, anxious and sick of questions from relatives. A few things help.

• Keep a routine. Regular meals, short walks and bedtimes give your days a shape.
• Rest. Sleep whenever you can, because labour can be tiring and you will not get much sleep afterwards.
• Do something small and calming each day. Cook a favourite meal, visit a friend, read, listen to music or pray.
• Limit the “any news?” messages. Tell family you will message when there is news. Many people stop telling others they have gone into labour, to avoid the pressure.
• Avoid searching for horror stories online. Every birth is different.
• Prepare, but do not obsess. Check your bag, the car and your emergency plan once, and then let it go.
• Talk about your fears with your partner, a friend or your doctor.
• Look after your partner too. They are waiting, and may feel anxious or helpless.
• Remember that most babies arrive within two weeks of the due date, and that your baby will come when ready.

If your baby is late, our guide to 38 weeks pregnant explains what happens after the due date.

Food, exercise and sleep

Food. Eat small, frequent meals, with protein, iron-rich foods such as leafy greens, lean meat and lentils (with lemon or guava for vitamin C), calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt and small fish eaten with the bones, whole grains, fruit and vegetables and plenty of water. Take iron-folic acid and calcium as prescribed, at different times, and use iodised salt. Limit caffeine to about 200 mg a day, and avoid alcohol, tobacco, raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs, unpasteurised dairy, unwashed produce, large predatory fish and herbal tonics your doctor has not approved. In early labour, light snacks and water are usually fine unless your doctor says otherwise. If you plan a C-section, follow your fasting instructions.

Dates. Some studies suggest eating about six dates a day in the last weeks may help the cervix soften and shorten labour. The evidence is limited. If you have gestational diabetes, ask your doctor first, because dates are high in sugar.

Exercise. Keep walking, about 30 minutes on most days. Gentle yoga, swimming, sitting on a birthing ball and pelvic floor exercises are good. Avoid hot yoga, lying flat on your back during exercise, contact sports and heavy lifting. Stop and call your doctor if you have pain, bleeding, dizziness, trouble breathing, regular tightenings or fluid leaking.

Pelvic floor. Squeeze and lift the muscles you use to stop urine flow, hold for a few seconds and release. Do 10 repetitions a few times a day, and practise relaxing fully after each squeeze.

Sleep. Sleep on your side, with a pillow between your knees and another under your belly. Sleeping on your back in the third trimester is linked to a higher risk of stillbirth. If you wake on your back, turn onto your side. Do the same for naps. Rest as much as you can. Keep a fan, loose cotton clothes and water by the bed in hot weather.

Final preparations

Hospital bag. It should be packed and by the door, with your prenatal card, test results, scans, National ID, loose cotton clothes, maternity pads, nursing bras, baby clothes, wraps, nappies, a phone charger, cash and snacks.

Transport. Know the fastest route to the hospital, and a backup. Fill the vehicle with fuel, or agree with a driver who can come at any hour. Save the numbers of the driver, an ambulance service and a neighbour. In heavy traffic, rain or floods, allow more time, and leave earlier if you live far away.

Emergency plan. Know your blood group, arrange two or three healthy adults with a matching blood group as donors and keep money and documents ready. Agree with your family that if there is bleeding, fluid leaking, a drop in movement, severe pain or a severe headache, you go to hospital at once, with no waiting for permission or for morning.

Birth plan. Keep it to one page, and share it with your doctor and companion. Include who you want with you, movement and positions, pain relief, delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding in the first hour, rooming-in and your contraception choice. Stay flexible.

Companion. Share the guide for birth companions in our 36 weeks pregnant article with your partner or support person.

Numbers to save: your doctor, the hospital, an ambulance, your driver, a relative, the national emergency number 999, the government health call centre 16263 and the national helpline 109 for violence against women and children.

Home. Set up a firm, flat sleeping space with a mosquito net. Wash newborn clothes and wraps with mild soap, rinse well and dry them in the sun. Stock easy, nutritious food for the first weeks. Remove standing water around your home.

Help. Arrange who will look after other children, the house and visitors when you go to hospital and after you return. Ask relatives to take shifts in the first weeks.

Birth registration. Register your baby’s birth with the local authority after the birth. It is free within 45 days, and the certificate is needed for school and many services.

Work and money. Under Bangladesh’s labour law, working mothers in the private sector are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, eight weeks before and eight weeks after the birth, and government employees receive six months. If you are still working, confirm your leave and paperwork in writing. Ask the hospital for a written estimate of costs, and what is paid in advance. Government hospitals provide delivery care, including C-sections, at low or no cost, and you should not delay going to hospital because of cost.

If you feel unsafe at home, tell your doctor or a trusted person. In Bangladesh you can call the national helpline 109 for support with violence against women and children. It is free.

Checklist for this week

• Keep your weekly visit, and check your blood pressure, weight, womb size, baby’s position and hemoglobin
• Ask about a membrane sweep, and whether any induction or planned C-section is advised
• Ask about your group B strep result and the plan if your waters break
• Take iron-folic acid and calcium as prescribed, at different times, and use iodised salt
• Keep tracking your baby’s movements, and call the same day if the pattern changes
• Sleep on your side every night, including naps
• Know when to go to hospital, and what to do if labour starts at night
• Ask your hospital about pain relief, delayed cord clamping and skin-to-skin contact
• Choose a contraception method with your partner, and ask what is available
• Keep your hospital bag, documents, cash and transport ready, and fill the vehicle
• Arrange blood donors, family help and care for other children
• If you have had a C-section before, discuss VBAC or a repeat C-section with your doctor
• Plan your first 40 days after birth, including postnatal checks
• Tell someone if you feel low or anxious
• Save your doctor’s number and the nearest hospital’s emergency number

FAQ

How big is the baby at 39 weeks?

About 50 cm from head to heel and 3.3 kg, roughly the size of a small watermelon. Healthy babies at term range from about 2.5 kg to 4 kg.

Is 39 weeks full term?

Yes. Full term runs from 39 weeks to 40 weeks and 6 days. Babies born in this window do best.

What is a membrane sweep?

A doctor or midwife gently separates the membranes from the cervix during an internal examination, to release hormones that may start labour. It can be uncomfortable, and may cause spotting. It raises the chance of labour starting within 48 hours, and it is optional.

Should I be induced at 39 weeks?

Not unless there is a medical reason, such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes or poor growth. A large trial suggests induction at 39 weeks in healthy first-time mothers does not raise the C-section rate, but it is not necessary for most women. Ask your doctor why they recommend it.

What is delayed cord clamping?

Waiting one to three minutes after birth before clamping the cord, so blood from the placenta passes to your baby. It raises iron stores and lowers the risk of anaemia in infancy. Put it on your birth plan.

Is private cord blood banking worth it?

For most healthy families, no. The chance of your child needing their own stored cord blood is very low, and medical bodies do not recommend private storage unless a sibling has a condition that cord blood can treat. Delayed cord clamping benefits your baby more.

Can I have a vaginal birth after a C-section?

Often yes, in a hospital with doctors, an operating theatre and blood available at all times. About seven in ten attempts succeed. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits for you.

Which contraception can I use while breastfeeding?

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months (LAM) if your periods have not returned, a copper IUD, an implant, an injection, a progestogen-only pill and condoms are all safe. Avoid the combined pill for the first six months if you breastfeed. Ask your doctor.

Is it safe to exercise at 39 weeks?

Yes for most healthy pregnancies. Walking, swimming, gentle yoga and pelvic floor exercises are good. Avoid contact sports, heavy lifting, hot yoga and lying flat on your back during exercise.

Note: This article gives general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different. Call your doctor or go to a hospital if you have bleeding, severe pain, fever, fainting, fluid leaking, a change in your baby’s movements or any symptom that worries you.