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Week 40 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside

British Columbia Specific Information

If you have any questions or concerns about pregnancy, labour and baby care speak with your health care provider or contact HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse anytime of the day or night, any day of the year, or a pharmacist from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

You can also read Baby's Best Chance (PDF 14.88 MB), a parent’s handbook on pregnancy and baby care, or visit the Healthy Families BC website.

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Topic Overview

You may have felt ready for baby to come for a while, but your baby may still be perfectly happy inside. It can be very hard to wait to meet your baby!

Wondering what your baby looks like now? At the end of ten months of pregnancy, your baby is about the size of a small watermelon. Average baby length is 450 mm (18 in.). And average baby weight is 3400 g (7.5 lb).

How your baby is changing

Here are some of the important facts and developments around 40 weeks.

  • Your baby is full-term when you have finished 37 weeks of pregnancy.
  • By the time a baby is born at term, fat makes up 16% of body weight. The baby's growth has slowed in the last days before birth.
  • At this size, your baby does not have much room to move around. You will probably notice less "big" movement than before.
  • Your pregnancy is called "post-term" or overdue when you have finished 42 weeks of pregnancy. This is 2 weeks after your due date. Risks go up for the baby, so delivery is recommended.

Credits

Adaptation Date: 11/6/2019

Adapted By: HealthLink BC

Adaptation Reviewed By: HealthLink BC

Is it an emergency?

If you or someone in your care has chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding, it could be a life-threatening emergency. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately.
If you are concerned about a possible poisoning or exposure to a toxic substance, call Poison Control now at 1-800-567-8911.

Thanks to our partners and endorsers:

Northern HealthBritish Columbia College of Family PhysiciansProvincial Health Services AuthorityVancouver Coastal HealthBritish Columbia Medical Association: Doctors of BCIsland HealthCollege of Pharmacists of British ColumbiaCollege of Physicians and Surgeons of British ColumbiaFraser Health AuthorityCollege of Dietitians of British ColumbiaInterior HealthCollege of Dental Surgeons of British ColumbiaBC Centre for Disease Control