Pregnancy Guide

40 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby is the size of a Giant Watermelon. Discover exactly what is happening to your body and your baby this week.

New pregnancy guide: Learn how weeks are counted, what each trimester means, and how to interpret your calculator results for better preparation and planning. Read the full guide

Week 40 in detail

Due-date week — only about 5% arrive on the day

Baby this week

This is an estimate, not an eviction notice. Average weight is around 3.4 kg. The placenta is still working; your unit will start talking about membrane sweeps or induction if labour has not started, depending on local policy and your health.

  • A due date is a midpoint of a window, usually 37–42 weeks
  • Sweep and induction are options with trade-offs — ask for numbers, not slogans
  • Movements should continue; “saving energy for labour” is a myth

Your body this week

If nothing is happening, that is statistically normal. Walk if it helps your back; rest if it does not. Discuss induction timing with a human who has your notes, not a thread.

  • Daily kicks still beat guessing
  • A stocked changing station is useful even if you stay pregnant 10 more days
  • Ask what happens at 41 weeks in this hospital, in writing if you like

Get ready

Keep counting. Keep the 41-week appointment. The checklist above is kicks, nappies, and that visit. You are not late until your clinicians say you are — and even then, it is a plan, not a verdict on your body.

A general guide, not medical advice. Scan timing and symptoms vary — ask your clinician.

Baby Growth Curve

This chart visualizes the average length of the baby from week 1 to 40. Values are based on standard clinical averages.

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