Pregnancy Week by Week

At forty-two weeks pregnant - this is it! If you haven’t given birth yet, this will be the week: whether or not your baby wants to come out yet, your doctor will likely induce you this week. Find out what your baby and body are doing in the final, 42nd week of your pregnancy. How big is my baby at 42 weeks? Your baby will weigh up to nine pounds and be between 19 and 22 inches from head to bottom. They have been shy so far, enjoying their comfy home in your womb, but it’s finally time for them to make their big appearance. What’s my baby doing at 42 weeks? Babies who are overdue may look a little wrinkled, dry or cracked when they first arrive. The protective vernix around their body was shed weeks ago in preparation for the due date that went by what feels like years ago. Don’t worry, once they start feeding regularly, their skin will return to normal. They may also have long fingernails and toenails, longer hair and none of the downy baby hair known as lanugo. Plus, some b...

At forty-one weeks pregnant, will your baby finally make her appearance!? Find out what your baby and body are doing at 41 weeks pregnant.  How big is my baby at 41 weeks? Your baby will now weigh up to nine pounds and be between 19 and 22 inches from top to toe. Although they are loving life inside your womb, she can’t stay in there forever. Don’t fret, you’ll soon be a mum and get to meet the little person who’s been growing inside you for nine (nearly ten!) months. Also, keep in mind that many babies aren’t actually overdue at all: there was just a miscalculation with predicting the due date.  What’s my baby doing at 41 weeks? Still no joy? Don’t worry, babies rarely arrive on their due date and can be up to two weeks late. In the week or two before your baby is due, they will start shedding the greasy, white substance, which has been protecting their skin, called vernix. This turns the amniotic fluid, which was once clear, pale and milky. Overdue babies can be s...

At forty weeks pregnant, you’re getting so close to the end of the pregnancy journey and meeting your very own little baby! Find out what’s happening to your baby and to your body and any symptoms you might experience now you’ve reached the 40th week of pregnancy.  How big is my baby at 40 weeks? Your baby is fully grown and ready to be born now and is the size of a watermelon. They will weigh between six and nine pounds, and will usually measure between 19 and 22 inches, though they could be bigger or smaller once you finally get to meet them. What’s my baby doing at 40 weeks? It’s the official end of your pregnancy, but your baby may not realise it yet. Around 30% of pregnancies last longer than 40 weeks. Hang in there - it’s nearly time to meet your little one. While they are still living inside your tummy, you’re still providing the antibodies they need to fight infections for the first few months of their life. If you decide to breastfeed, they will get more antibodi...

At thirty-nine weeks pregnant, this may well be your last week of pregnancy. Your baby is ready to join you in the world! Find out what’s happening to you and your baby and any symptoms you might experience at 39 weeks pregnant. How big is my baby at 39 weeks? Your baby is the size of a small pumpkin and is now officially full-term. Your baby will now weigh between seven and eight pounds and measure between 19 and 21 inches from top to toe. They won’t grow much more now, but their brain is still growing at a rapid pace that will continue for the first three years of their life. What’s my baby doing at 39 weeks? This might be your final week of pregnancy, but babies usually go past their due date (only 4% are born on time!), so don’t expect a prompt arrival, especially if this is your first child. You won’t be allowed to go past 10 to 14 days overdue – you’ll be offered an induction. Once your baby is born, you might be dreading the crying in the middle of the night: but hav...

At thirty-eight weeks pregnant, you just can’t stop peeing. Your baby is nearly ready to be born, and it’s time for your partner to help you plan ahead. Here is all the essential information you need to know about your baby, your body, what to do and any symptoms you might experience at 38 weeks pregnant. How big is my baby at 38 weeks? Your baby’s now the length of a leek, and is still growing rapidly, now weighing seven pounds and measuring around 20 inches in length. While it could be any time now that your baby decides to make their grand appearance, the maximum time is four weeks - so you’re so nearly there! What’s my baby doing at 38 weeks? Your baby is a fully functioning little human, though they are still practising breathing and swallowing. If you’ve got a little boy, then his testicles have descended into the scrotum by now. And little girls might have slightly enlarged breasts (this is just the effect of your hormones and will go down after birth). Your placenta...

At thirty-seven week pregnant, you’re getting closer than ever to your baby’s arrival, and their body is still maturing. Find out everything you need to know about your baby, your body and any symptoms you might experience at 37 weeks pregnant. How big is my baby at 37 weeks? This week, your baby is bigger than ever at the size of a whole romaine lettuce. They weigh around six and a half pounds, though if he’s a boy, he’ll likely weigh even more than this. They are also getting tall, measuring over 19 inches from top to toe.  What’s my baby doing at 37 weeks? Although your due date is close now, your baby still isn’t considered full term for another two weeks. If they are born now, they will still be considered early term. The next two weeks in your womb (if they decide to stay in there till then) will see their brain and lungs reach full maturity. They will keep gaining around half a pound a week until the birth. They will still be practising for life outside of their ...