At 39 weeks
At 39 weeks, your baby is about the size of a watermelon (tarbooz) and measures around 50.7 cm from head to heel (NHS). Their skin is growing a tougher outer layer coated in white vernix, and their brain is growing very quickly. Most women go into labour within a week either side of their due date, so extra discharge, back pain and pressure low in your bump are common now.
Your Baby at 39 Weeks
A few weeks ago your baby's skin was almost transparent; now it is growing a tougher, more solid layer that better protects the internal organs and helps with temperature control. It is coated in vernix, a white, waxy substance whose name means varnish in Latin, which protects the skin and eases your baby down the birth canal (NHS).
Weight gain will probably slow down now, but development continues quickly, especially in the head. Your baby's brain is about 30% bigger than last month and will keep growing fast through the first 3 years of life, and there is now plenty of fat under the skin (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
Your Body This Week
You may notice a lot more discharge, which should be thin, white and not smell of very much. A slimy blob of yellow or bloody mucus is called a 'show', and it can be one of the first signs that labour is on its way, though you could still have days to wait. Back pain and pressure at the bottom of your bump are common as your baby moves down and presses against your spine (NHS).
Your cervix is getting thinner and will gradually soften and open until it is 10 cm wide. Your placenta has grown along with your baby and can weigh as much as 1 kg; delivering it after the birth is called the third stage of labour, which can be managed in different ways, so talk through your preferences with your doctor or midwife (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
When to call your midwife or doctor: Treat any of these as an emergency and call your midwife or doctor: bleeding from the vagina, brown or pink discharge, severe itching (especially at night), a terrible headache that will not go away, vision problems, pain just below the ribs, extreme swelling of the feet, ankles, hands or face, persistent stomach pains, or a temperature above 37.5°C without cold or flu symptoms. Call any time if your baby stops moving.
Garbh Sanskar This Week
A small daily practice for this stage, from Mamta’s 1:1 sessions. It is tradition and gentle self-care, not medical advice, so keep every check-up and follow your doctor or midwife first.
- Mantra: Come back to Om this week, the sacred syllable also called the Pranava: let it sound softly on each out-breath for a few rounds, then sit in the quiet that follows. Keep it short and comfortable, and read more about its meaning in our Garbh Sanskar mantras guide.
- Music: Waiting days can feel long, and a familiar bhajan or calm song can help slow afternoons pass. Choose whatever genuinely relaxes you and keep the volume gentle.
- Gentle movement: Mamta's teaching for the final weeks is to rest as much as you move: a short, easy walk, then time lying on your side with a pillow supporting your bump, only with your doctor's or midwife's clearance. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby also suggests resting as much as possible during early labour.
- Food: Traditionally, Charaka's ninth-month regimen is a set of practitioner-given therapies rather than a food, so it is not something to follow at home. Simple, warm vegetarian meals, plus a few healthy snacks in your hospital bag, are a practical choice, alongside the iron, calcium and folic acid your doctor recommends.
- Garbh samvad (a line to say to your baby): Whenever you are ready, I am ready too. Come gently, my love.
Questions About Week 39
What is a 'show' at 39 weeks?
A show is a slimy blob of mucus, often yellow or streaked with a little old blood, that used to plug your cervix. It can be one of the first signs labour is starting, but you could still have days to wait; if you notice actual bleeding, call your doctor or midwife straight away.
When should I go to hospital in labour?
The NHS says to phone your hospital or midwife when contractions last at least 60 seconds and come every 5 minutes, or any time you are worried. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests staying at home as long as you can unless told otherwise, and going in when contractions are less than 3 to 5 minutes apart or you are not coping.
What checks will my baby have straight after birth?
Within a minute of birth, your baby is rated on the Apgar scale for heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, responsiveness and skin colour, and this is rechecked at 5 minutes. It can take a few minutes for breathing to settle into a regular rhythm, which the NHS says is normal.
Practise With Mamta, Wherever You Are
Mamta guides expecting mothers through private 1:1 Garbh Sanskar sessions online, scheduled in your own time zone, from the first trimester to the last week. Start with a free conversation on WhatsApp or read how sessions work.
Sources
Mamta is not a doctor. Medical points on this page come from the sources below, checked in October 2026. Sizes are approximate and babies vary; your scan report is what matters.