This week is one of the last stretches of your entire pregnancy journey. The baby is known as a full term at this stage as the baby is fully developed. The baby is just waiting for the perfect moment to make an entry into this world. Many changes are still occurring within the baby and the mother’s body. When you are at week 39, you have completed the three weeks of the ninth month.

The size of the baby 
The baby resembles a tiny watermelon at this stage.

Weight/height of the baby
The length of the baby ranges from 18-20.5 inches i.e. around half meters. The weight of the baby is around 7-8 pounds or 2.9-3.6 kgs.

About your baby
The baby at week 39 is fully grown with no changes in the height or weight of the baby. However, some changes still take place within the uterus. One of the most significant changes is related to the size of the head. The brain of the baby is developing at a faster pace i.e. 30% more when compared to the previous month. The brain will continue its development during the first three years of a baby’s life. The skin of the baby turns white at this stage because there is a thick deposition of fat underneath the skin over the developing blood vessels. The baby has now the ability to develop multiple skin cells.

About your body
During the last weeks of pregnancy, the body is preparing for the Labor Day. The belly is fully stretched and the baby has occupied most of the space. The uterus displaces the internal organs in order to make space for the growing baby. The stretch marks are extremely visible at this stage with the appearance of PUPP or pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy which appear over the stretched womb.

The symptoms which you might face during the 39th week include fatigue, tiredness, Braxton hicks contractions i.e. false contractions, pressure over the pelvic area, clumsiness, discomfort, and constipation. During the ultrasound of 39th week, you’ll notice the cephalic position of the baby i.e. head down posture in order to get ready for delivery.

Do & Don’ts
You might feel anxious and excited at the same time during this stage in order to deliver the baby as soon as possible. However, you need to take care of yourself by taking rest, having healthy fruits and vegetables, keep yourself hydrated and involve yourself in light exercises in order to stay active and super healthy.
• Go for a prenatal visit.
• Wrap up all your work in order to take rest after the delivery
• Perform some light exercises in order to prepare for the big day
• Plan healthy meals for yourself after you are done with delivery
• Discuss your plan for the big day with your partner
• Keep your bag ready for visiting the hospital
• Keep a list of contacts whom you can alert at the time of delivery

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