How many months is 40 weeks pregnant?

40 weeks pregnant puts you in month 9 of pregnancy. Week 40 is the last week of that month. Providers count in weeks; months are approximate.

How big is the baby at 40 weeks?

At 40 weeks, the baby is about the size of a small pumpkin, roughly 51.2 cm long and around 3462 g. That is an average; healthy babies vary.

Is it normal to have no signs of labour at 40 weeks?

Yes. Lots of people reach their due date with no contractions, no show and no waters breaking. Your due date is only an estimate, and many babies are born in the days after it. The first part of labour, when the cervix softens and starts to open, can take hours or even days. There are no proven ways to bring labour on safely at home, so check with your midwife or doctor before trying anything. Keep going to your checks, and call straight away if your baby moves less.

How many days past my due date can I go?

It's usually safe to go up to a week past your due date. From 41 weeks, some risks start to rise, though they stay very small. That's why, in the UK, induction is offered at 41 weeks if you're still waiting, and in the US it may be recommended from 41 weeks. Most labours start on their own before 42 weeks. If you choose to wait past 42 weeks, you'll be offered more monitoring of your baby.

Are cramps, diarrhoea or pressure signs of labour at 40 weeks?

They can be. Period-like cramps that come and go, backache and loose stools can all be signs that labour is getting closer. An urge to poo can come from your baby's head pressing on your bowel, and pressure low in your pelvis may mean your baby has dropped. But none of these tells you exactly when labour will start. Labour contractions come regularly and get longer, stronger and closer together. Call your provider right away if you have severe nausea and vomiting.

Is brown discharge or a bloody show normal at 40 weeks?

Often, yes. Near the end of pregnancy, the plug of mucus in your cervix comes away. It is thick and jelly-like, and can be clear, off-white, pink, red or brown. A bloody show should be no more than a tablespoon or two. Labour may follow within hours or days, or sometimes weeks. Light spotting after an internal exam or a sweep is also common. Phone your maternity unit right away if you bleed more than this or your waters break.

What symptoms should I not ignore at 40 weeks pregnant?

Call your midwife or maternity unit at once if your waters break, you have vaginal bleeding, or your baby is moving less than usual. The same goes if a contraction lasts longer than 2 minutes, or you have 6 or more contractions in 10 minutes. Waters that smell, or look coloured rather than clear, also need checking. So do a severe headache, problems with your vision, or your face, hands or feet suddenly swelling up, as these can be signs of pre-eclampsia. Don't wait until morning.

40 Weeks Pregnant

At 40 weeks pregnant, you've reached your due date. Your baby is around 51.2 cm from head to heel, about the size of a pumpkin. There isn't much room left, but your baby should keep moving in their usual pattern right up to labour. A due date is only an estimate, and giving birth before or after it is common. This page explains what happens when a pregnancy runs past the due date, how the checks and a membrane sweep work, and why your belly may sit lower now. It also covers the early signs of labour and the symptoms that mean you should call your midwife or doctor straight away.

What trimester is 40 weeks?

Week 40 is in the third trimester, which runs from week 28 until birth. Week 40 is the due-date week.

Week 40 — third trimester, month 9; this is your due-date week.
Baby's size — about a small pumpkin, ~51.2 cm.

Not sure it's 40 weeks? Try our due date calculator.

★ Your estimated due date.

How big is your baby at 40 weeks?

Size of a

small pumpkin

Length, head to heel

~51.2 cm

Weight

~3462 g

Up from a mini watermelon last week to a small pumpkin now.

Baby development at week 40

This is your due date week — though only about 1 in 20 babies arrive on the exact date. The baby is fully developed and ready to meet you. The skull bones haven't fused, allowing the head to mould slightly during birth. If you go past your due date, your midwife or doctor will talk you through next steps, such as extra checks or an induction from around 41 weeks. About the size of a small pumpkin.

What happens if you go past your due date

Pregnancy usually lasts between 37 and 42 weeks, so your due date is a best guess, not a deadline. Doctors call a birth between 39 weeks and 40 weeks 6 days full term. Hospital data from England show how labour tends to unfold. Of the labours that started on their own in 2019 to 2020, about 1 in 3 (32.5%) began during week 40. By the end of week 40, 82.8% had begun.

In the UK, if this is your first baby, you'll have a check this week. Your midwife or doctor measures your bump, takes your blood pressure and tests your urine for signs of pre-eclampsia. After 39 weeks you may also be offered a membrane sweep. During an internal exam, a finger is swept around your cervix to separate the bag of waters from it. This releases hormones called prostaglandins, which may help labour start. It can be uncomfortable, and you may have some cramps or light bleeding afterwards. If labour doesn't follow, you may be offered another sweep.

Between 40 and 41 weeks, you don't always need extra tests. In the UK, you'll be offered an induction if you reach 41 weeks without going into labour. That means starting labour with medicine or other methods. In the US, ACOG says testing and induction may be recommended from 41 weeks. Induction is your choice, so ask what the pros and cons are for you. Labour usually starts on its own before 42 weeks.

Your body at 40 weeks

Regular contractions when labour begins
Water breaking (a gush or slow trickle)
Strong pelvic and back pressure
Bloody show

Your belly at 40 weeks

Your bump may look lower now. As your baby moves down into your pelvis, a change called lightening, you may feel more pressure low down. Because of this drop, the height of your uterus can go down after 36 weeks. So your bump may measure smaller at 40 weeks than it did a month ago. A petite build or strong belly muscles can also make a bump look small. If your provider thinks your baby is measuring small, they may offer a scan to check.

Your baby is squashed for space, but their movements should not slow down or stop near the end of pregnancy. If they do, or they feel different from usual, contact your maternity unit at once, whatever the time. A home heartbeat monitor can't tell you that your baby is well, so don't use one instead of calling.

Tips for week 40

Most providers discuss options if you pass 41–42 weeks
Go to your birth setting when contractions meet the timing rule you were given
Trust your instincts and your care team

40 Weeks Pregnant: your questions

What trimester is 40 weeks?: Week 40 is in the third trimester, which runs from week 28 until birth. Week 40 is the due-date week.
How many months is 40 weeks pregnant?: 40 weeks pregnant puts you in month 9 of pregnancy. Week 40 is the last week of that month. Providers count in weeks; months are approximate.
How big is the baby at 40 weeks?: At 40 weeks, the baby is about the size of a small pumpkin, roughly 51.2 cm long and around 3462 g. That is an average; healthy babies vary.
Is it normal to have no signs of labour at 40 weeks?: Yes. Lots of people reach their due date with no contractions, no show and no waters breaking. Your due date is only an estimate, and many babies are born in the days after it. The first part of labour, when the cervix softens and starts to open, can take hours or even days. There are no proven ways to bring labour on safely at home, so check with your midwife or doctor before trying anything. Keep going to your checks, and call straight away if your baby moves less.
How many days past my due date can I go?: It's usually safe to go up to a week past your due date. From 41 weeks, some risks start to rise, though they stay very small. That's why, in the UK, induction is offered at 41 weeks if you're still waiting, and in the US it may be recommended from 41 weeks. Most labours start on their own before 42 weeks. If you choose to wait past 42 weeks, you'll be offered more monitoring of your baby.
Are cramps, diarrhoea or pressure signs of labour at 40 weeks?: They can be. Period-like cramps that come and go, backache and loose stools can all be signs that labour is getting closer. An urge to poo can come from your baby's head pressing on your bowel, and pressure low in your pelvis may mean your baby has dropped. But none of these tells you exactly when labour will start. Labour contractions come regularly and get longer, stronger and closer together. Call your provider right away if you have severe nausea and vomiting.
Is brown discharge or a bloody show normal at 40 weeks?: Often, yes. Near the end of pregnancy, the plug of mucus in your cervix comes away. It is thick and jelly-like, and can be clear, off-white, pink, red or brown. A bloody show should be no more than a tablespoon or two. Labour may follow within hours or days, or sometimes weeks. Light spotting after an internal exam or a sweep is also common. Phone your maternity unit right away if you bleed more than this or your waters break.
What symptoms should I not ignore at 40 weeks pregnant?: Call your midwife or maternity unit at once if your waters break, you have vaginal bleeding, or your baby is moving less than usual. The same goes if a contraction lasts longer than 2 minutes, or you have 6 or more contractions in 10 minutes. Waters that smell, or look coloured rather than clear, also need checking. So do a severe headache, problems with your vision, or your face, hands or feet suddenly swelling up, as these can be signs of pre-eclampsia. Don't wait until morning.

Useful at week 40

Pregnancy discharge by trimester — how a show differs from normal discharge and leaking waters
Spicy food in pregnancy — does a curry really bring on labour?
Baths in pregnancy — a warm bath can ease early labour, but keep it warm, not hot
Is Tylenol safe in pregnancy? — paracetamol is safe to take in early labour
Pregnancy weeks to months — 40 weeks is the end of month 9 — the full chart

← All weeks: the full pregnancy week-by-week guide

Sources

Checked against the following public guidance on October 2, 2026. Advice can differ between countries; your doctor, nurse or midwife can apply it to you.