This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider with any concerns about your pregnancy.
How Big Is Your Baby?
Your baby is about the size of a watermelon — approximately 510 mm / 3.4 kg (measured crown to heel).
Your Baby's Development
Your due date is here! Only about 5% of babies are born exactly on their due date - it is perfectly normal to deliver a few days before or after. Baby is fully developed and ready to meet you. Average weight is about 3.4 kg and length about 51 cm. The lungs are fully mature. Baby's head bones remain unfused to allow passage through the birth canal.
Your Body This Week
Strong contractions may begin at any time. Watch for: regular contractions (5 minutes apart for 1 hour), water breaking (gush or trickle), bloody show. Backache, pelvic pressure, diarrhea, and nesting urges may signal approaching labor. Every pregnancy ends differently - trust your body and your provider.
What to Do This Week
Weekly or more frequent visits. Discuss induction if you go past your due date (typically offered at 41 weeks). Non-stress test (NST) and/or biophysical profile (BPP) may be ordered to monitor baby. Keep hospital bag ready. This is it - you are about to meet your baby!
Nutrition Tips
Continue eating a balanced diet with adequate protein (75-100 g/day), iron (27 mg/day), calcium (1000 mg/day), and DHA omega-3. Stay hydrated with at least 10 cups of fluid daily. Eat fiber-rich foods to combat constipation. Focus on nutrient-dense snacks. Extra 450 calories per day are needed now. Discuss any specific dietary concerns with your provider.
When to Call Your Doctor
At full term, know these signs that it is time to call or go to the hospital:
- The 5-1-1 rule — contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, for 1 hour means active labor has likely begun
- Water breaking — whether a gush or a trickle, note the time and color and call your provider; go in if fluid is green or brown
- Decreased fetal movement — your baby should still be active; fewer than 10 kicks in 2 hours needs immediate attention
- Preeclampsia — severe headache, swelling, vision problems, or upper abdominal pain can appear even at the end
- Post-date monitoring — if past 40 weeks, your provider will schedule non-stress tests and may discuss induction
Your baby is ready and so are you. Trust your body, trust your preparation, and know that your care team is standing by for the moment you need them.