Due date. Only about 4 percent of babies actually arrive on their due date — anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks is considered normal. Your baby is fully ready, and your body is finalising the last hormonal signals for labour.
Common symptoms at 40 weeks pregnant
- Contractions that build in intensity and rhythm
- A significant loss of the mucus plug or bloody show
- Water breaking — a gush or a slow leak of clear or pink-tinged fluid
- Nesting energy alternating with fatigue
- Diarrhoea or nausea in the hours before labour
Tips for week 40
- Stay in touch with your birth team. Most providers monitor you every few days after the due date.
- Try natural, evidence-informed ideas to encourage labour — walking, curb-walking, birth ball bouncing — after discussing with your provider.
- Eat small, easy-to-digest meals. Hydration is more important than heavy food right now.
- Rest, rest, rest. Labour can start at any hour and stamina matters.
This week's checklist
- Stay within reach of your birth team
- Rest whenever contractions ease
- Charge phone and camera
Frequently asked questions
When is induction offered after the due date?
Many providers offer induction between 41 and 42 weeks because placental function declines beyond that. Discuss timing and options in advance.
Can I go past 42 weeks safely?
Post-term pregnancy is closely monitored with extra scans and non-stress tests. Most providers recommend delivery by 42 weeks to reduce stillbirth risk.
What are the early signs of labour I should watch for?
Regular, painful contractions that grow closer together, water breaking, bloody show, and lower-back cramping that comes in waves are the main signs.
When to call your provider
Most weeks of pregnancy pass without alarm, but a small set of symptoms always deserves urgent attention. Call your doctor or head to the nearest maternity emergency room straight away for any of the following:
- Heavy, bright-red vaginal bleeding or the passage of clots
- Severe headache with visual changes, upper-abdominal pain, or sudden facial swelling
- Any leaking of fluid before 37 weeks or a sudden gush of fluid at any week
- A clear drop in your baby’s usual pattern of kicks, or fewer than 10 movements in two hours during their active window
- Fever above 38 °C, painful urination, or one-sided calf swelling
Where week 40 sits in the third trimester
The third trimester begins at week 28 and ends at birth. Baby gains most of their weight now, senses sharpen, and your body prepares for labour with practice contractions and hormonal shifts. Sleep gets trickier and appointments become weekly by the end. Week 40 is one step closer to meeting your baby.
Educational content — not a substitute for medical care. Contact your obstetric provider urgently for heavy bleeding, severe headache with visual changes, one-sided leg swelling, upper-abdominal pain, reduced fetal movement, or any concern that feels wrong to you.