Week 39 of pregnancy
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Your baby this week
About the size of a watermelon
Source: Vinmec – Bảng cân nặng và chiều dài thai nhi theo tiêu chuẩn của WHO
Your baby's development
Most of the organs in the body are mature.
At this stage your baby is about 50.7 cm long and weighs a little over 3.0 kg.
Your baby doesn't gain much weight this week, but the brain is developing very fast – more than 30% compared with 4 weeks ago.
The pink skin turns white or greyish-white and has no pigment until after birth.
Your body
So you're about to meet your little one. You could go into labour at any time now. Giving birth on a day other than your due date is very common. For mums who are scheduled for a planned caesarean section, this is also a suitable time for the baby to be born.
The signs below still want to remind you that you are doing a wonderful job of creating something amazing in this life:
- Your bump keeps getting bigger, and you feel heavy and uncomfortable.
- You may feel Braxton-Hicks contractions.
- Baby's movements: curling up, kicking, punching.
- Cramps, trouble sleeping and loose stools may happen.
- You may go into labour: tummy pain coming in waves, vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding, or your waters breaking. You need to get to hospital as soon as possible.
Advice for you
You still need to patiently keep track of your baby's movements and recognise the signs of labour so you can go to hospital. Don't let impatience lead you to try to bring on labour early with foods such as pineapple or black sesame, or even sex.
By now the whole family has probably almost finished preparing for the new arrival, right? Stay calm – everything will be fine. Momby is always by your side.
Watch the video for this article
Signs that need a doctor now
If you notice any of the signs below, please go to the nearest health facility to be checked by a doctor.
Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy
This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now. If the bleeding is heavy or comes with severe pain or faintness, call the emergency number 115.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Convulsions (fits)
A convulsion in pregnancy is an emergency. Family members should call 115 at once, lay the mother on her side in a safe place and get her to the nearest hospital.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Fever in pregnancy
A temperature above 38°C counts as a fever. Please go to a health facility so a doctor can find the cause and advise on safe ways to bring it down; do not take medicine on your own.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Leaking fluid or waters breaking
Fluid leaking from the vagina may mean the waters are leaking or have broken and needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to a health facility soon, lying with your head low while travelling.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Severe headache, blurred vision, sudden swelling
Headache with blurred vision, or sudden swelling of the face, hands or eyelids, can be a sign of high blood pressure in pregnancy or pre-eclampsia. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Reduced or no fetal movement
A clear drop in the baby's movements, or no movement, needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now rather than waiting until tomorrow.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Severe or worsening abdominal pain
Abdominal pain that keeps getting worse, does not ease, or is severe needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now. If the pain is severe with sweating, faintness or bleeding, call 115.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Sources
Content advised by our doctors.
- NHS (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Vinmec (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- ACOG (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Source for fetal size: Vinmec – Bảng cân nặng và chiều dài thai nhi theo tiêu chuẩn của WHO
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
This article helps you understand and prepare. It does not replace a check-up. For an answer about your own situation, please ask the doctor who is caring for you.