<p>Being 39 weeks pregnant means you are between 39+0 and 39+6 weeks. About 8 months and 30 days have passed since your last period, so you are completing the 9th month and moving into the 10th. In the ACOG classification, full term begins this week. According to the NHS, most women go into labour within a week either side of their due date, so labour could start any day.</p>
<p>At 39 weeks, about 8 months and 30 days have passed since your last period: the end of the 9th month and the start of the 10th. Weeks are counted from the first day of your last period (days 273–279).</p>
According to the NHS, your baby is about 50.7 cm from head to heel. The skin, which was almost see-through a few weeks ago, now has a tougher new layer that helps protect the organs and control temperature. It is coated in a white, waxy substance called vernix, which protects the skin and eases the baby down the birth canal. Your baby may be born covered in it, or it may have mostly gone.
The NHS says you may have more discharge, which should be thin, white and not smell much. If a slimy blob of yellow or bloody mucus comes away, this is called a show: it used to plug your cervix and can be one of the first signs labour is on the way, though you could still wait days. As the baby moves down and presses on your spine, back pain and pressure low in the bump can increase. Sudden bursts of energy and an urge to get things ready are also common.
Right after birth (NHS): babies do not always cry straight away as in films. Within a minute of birth your baby is checked on the Apgar scale for heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, responsiveness and colour, and this is repeated at 5 minutes. Hands and feet may look blue for a while, and it can take a few minutes for breathing to settle, with gaps of up to 5 seconds between breaths.
Turkish Ministry of Health (antenatal care guideline, 2026): the four routine visits end at 38 weeks; weekly blood pressure checks continue until birth, with advice to see a doctor above 130/80 mmHg. The guideline has no separate visit or induction recommendation after 38 weeks.
NICE NG201: there is no 39-week appointment; there is a 40-week appointment for first-time mothers and a 41-week appointment for anyone who has not given birth. US (UpToDate, 2026): visits are weekly. UpToDate lists induction in the 39th week as an option to reduce the risks of continuing pregnancy, notes that membrane sweeping at visits from 39 weeks, if the cervix is partly open, may help labour start, and suggests induction if you have not given birth by 41+0 weeks. The NHS says planned caesareans are usually booked for at least 39 weeks.
| Symptom | Usually | Seek care if |
|---|---|---|
| Bloody or yellow mucus (a show) | This can be one of the first signs of labour; you may still wait days (NHS). | The NHS lists vaginal bleeding and brown or pink discharge among emergency signs; if you are not sure whether it is a show or bleeding, call. |
| Back pain and pressure low down | This can increase as the baby moves down and presses on your spine (NHS). | If the pain comes with regular contractions that get stronger, labour may be starting. |
| Lots of practice contractions | Painless Braxton Hicks contractions are common this week (NHS). | Call if they become painful, last at least 60 seconds and come every 5 minutes (NHS). |
Most of these are danger signs or emergency referral criteria in the Turkish Ministry of Health guideline; call your maternity unit or go to the nearest emergency department without waiting. The NHS says to call straight away, even in the middle of the night, if your baby's movements reduce, stop or change pattern, without waiting until the next day. NICE asks for hospital assessment within 24 hours if blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or above and the same day at 160/110 mmHg or above; it recommends a hospital review for any unexplained bleeding after 13 weeks, and anti-D for women who are RhD negative and at risk of isoimmunisation. The NHS also says you can call any time if you are worried something is wrong.
About 8 months and 30 days have passed since your last period: you are at the end of the 9th month and moving into the 10th.
According to the 2017 WHO fetal growth charts, the 50th percentile for estimated weight at 39 weeks is 3,403 g, and the 10th to 90th percentile range is 2,905–3,897 g. According to the NHS, the baby is about 50.7 cm from head to heel. The WHO values come from ultrasound measurements in low-risk pregnancies in ten countries; the authors note differences by country, maternal factors and fetal sex, and that birth weight varies considerably even under optimal conditions. Your own baby's estimated weight is measured on ultrasound and has a margin of error (UpToDate, 2026).
According to the NHS, most women go into labour within a week either side of their due date. UpToDate lists induction in the 39th week as an option and suggests induction if you have not given birth by 41+0 weeks. Talk to your doctor about what suits you.
A slimy blob of yellow or bloody mucus (a show) can mean labour is approaching and is normal (NHS). However, the NHS lists vaginal bleeding and brown or pink discharge among emergency signs; call if it looks like bleeding or you are unsure.
The NHS says call when contractions last at least 60 seconds and come every 5 minutes. Call straight away if your baby is not moving, you are bleeding, your waters have broken or you are worried something is wrong.
Last updated: . All sources have been confirmed with their latest versions. This content is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for a doctor's examination.