My 39 Week Pregnant Belly Picture
Starting Weight: 123 lbs
Current Weight: 142 lbs
Total Weight Gain: 19 lbs – my weight has plateaued.
Now let’s go over how my week went and what to expect…
Energy Level: My energy level was good this week. I actually stopped working, which was a huge relief. I can finally focus my energy on what my body needs, instead of putting myself on the back burner while in the hospital.
Pregnancy Symptoms: I still feel Braxton-Hicks Contractions and pelvic pressure every day. Every time I think that the contractions result in true labor, they just peter out.
I also get a lot of false alarms in the middle of the night, which can be a little disappointing.
Another common symptom I notice is an increase in heart rate whenever doing normal activities around the house.
Other Physical Changes: No new physical changes.
Diet: I didn’t have much of an appetite this week, so I just listen to my hunger cues and eat when I’m hungry.
However, I am consuming dates daily in an effort to soften my cervix!
I also continue to take my prenatal vitamin every day.
Diet Modifications: No diet modifications this week.
Food Aversions: No food aversions this week.
Food Cravings: No food cravings this week.
Workouts: I have been walking with my husband a lot now that we have the time! We do anywhere from 3-5 miles a day. Check out my post on walking to induce labor to learn more.
In addition, I have been doing my pelvic floor exercises whenever I can.
You can see examples of the types of workouts I did throughout my entire pregnancy in my Prenatal Fitness Prescription.
Modifications to my workout: Throughout my third trimester, I have always ensured that I take adequate rest between sets, use lighter weights, and modify my workouts to accommodate my big belly.
Here is a video of one of my workouts at 39 weeks.
*Be sure to speak with your health care provider before doing any physical activity or lifting at this stage of your pregnancy.*
Other Related Questions
What does 39 weeks pregnant look like?
At 39 weeks pregnant, the top of your uterus, also known as your fundus, will measure approximately 39 centimeters from your pubic bone.
This is known as your fundal height, and ideally, it should equal the number of weeks you are, in centimeters.
It is important you do not compare how you look at 39 weeks to other pregnant women at 39 weeks.
The way you look at this gestational age varies and depends on many factors.
Here is what I look like at 39 weeks pregnant with my first baby.
Is the baby still growing at 39 weeks?
Yes, your baby is still growing at 39 weeks at approximately 0.5 lb per week.
What does the baby look like at 39 weeks?
At 39 weeks your baby looks like a normal, full-term baby.
Your baby will have some hair on its head, and the fine hair on his body (aka lanugo) should have fallen off.
Also, there will be some vernix caseosa, a white creamy film, present on his body.
Is the baby fully developed at 39 weeks?
Yes, your baby is fully developed at 39 weeks gestation.
All internal organs are completely developed and your baby is ready for life outside the uterus.
Is 39 weeks safe for delivery?
Yes, 39 weeks is safe for delivery as your baby is now “full term.”
Per ACOG, a full-term gestation is from 39 0/7 weeks to 40 6/7 weeks.
What is the average weight of a baby at 39 weeks?
The average weight of a 39 week baby is approximately 7 1/2 lbs. This is about the size of a pumpkin!
In addition, the average length is 20.5 inches.
What should I expect at 39 weeks of pregnancy?
At 39 weeks you should expect any or all of the following symptoms.
- pelvic pain and pressure
- lower back pain
- sharp shooting pain in your vagina
- irregular contractions (Braxton Hicks contractions)
- difficulty sleeping
- fatigue
- urinary frequency without pain
- vaginal discharge without odor
- loss of the mucus plug
It is also normal to go into labor at any point in the next couple of weeks.
Is it normal to sleep a lot at 39 weeks pregnant?
Yes, it is normal to sleep a lot at 39 weeks pregnant.
Fatigue may be one of the signs that your body is conserving energy for the big day.
Just make sure you are listening to your body and taking naps as needed.
Why is my stomach so hard at 39 weeks pregnant?
Painless hardening of your stomach at 39 weeks is due to uterine contractions. As your uterus contracts, it tightens up and becomes hard.
Once the uterus relaxes, it should become soft again.
Is it normal for my belly to get hard and soft?
Yes, it is normal for your belly to get hard and then soft at 39 weeks of pregnancy.
As mentioned above, as your uterus contracts, you will feel your belly get hard, and as your uterus relaxes, you will feel your belly get soft.
If this pattern is occurring every 3-5 minutes for more than 2 hours, you should speak with your doctor as you may be in early labor.
Is it normal to have stomach tightening but no pain?
Yes, painless stomach tightening is likely due to Braxton Hicks contractions.
These contractions can start as early as the second trimester and are classified as practice contractions, or false labor.
Real contractions are different from Braxton Hicks because they increase in frequency and intensity with time.
How do you tell labor is a few days away?
There is no real way to predict when labor is going to happen.
However, the following signs and symptoms could mean labor is approaching:
- Regular uterine contractions every 3-5 minutes
- Increased pelvic pressure
- Vaginal spotting (bloody show)
- Loose bowel movements
- Spontaneous rupture of amniotic membranes (aka your water breaks)
If you are experiencing any of these signs of labor, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Does walking induce labor?
From a scientific perspective, we can’t say for certain that walking helps induce labor.
The thought process is that walking may help your cervix dilate as gravity and the weight of the baby press down on the birth canal.
How far should you walk when 39 weeks pregnant?
You can walk as much as you comfortably can at 39 weeks as walking is one of the best forms of exercise during pregnancy.
A randomized controlled trial from 2021 found that walking 40 minutes a day four times per week starting at 34 weeks improved spontaneous labor rates in 90% of women.
Where do you feel kicks when the baby is engaged?
If your baby is engaged in your pelvis, you should feel kicks in the upper to mid portion of your abdomen. However, it is difficult to distinguish a kick from a punch, which you may feel lower down.
How many months is 39 weeks?
39 weeks is considered 9 months and 3 weeks.
39 weeks pregnant symptoms not to ignore
The following list of symptoms should not be ignored at 39 weeks of pregnancy.
- Headache
- Blurry vision
- Chest pain
- Severe abdominal pain
- Persistent nausea and vomiting
- High blood pressure / Preeclampsia
- Shortness of breath at rest
- Itching on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet
- Decreased fetal movements
- Fever or any other signs of infection
- Leakage of fluid from the amniotic sac
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should seek care immediately.
Anything else I should know?
If you happen to go past your due date, your provider will recommend that you undergo a nonstress test once or twice a week.
This test will look at your baby’s heart rate pattern to ensure that he is still being oxygenated adequately and is active.
Any concerning signs on a nonstress test would indicate that the baby needs to be delivered.
Final Words on The 39th Week of Pregnancy
At the end of this week, you have reached your due date! Can you believe you are basically at the end of your pregnancy?
How did your week go? Did you go into spontaneous labor at 39 weeks?
Or do you have an induction of labor or c-section planned?
Comment below and let me know.
Maybe this will be my last week, but if not, I’ll see you next week!
My Other Weekly Updates
- My pregnancy bump at 36 weeks of gestation
- My pregnancy bump at 37 weeks of gestation
- My pregnancy bump at 38 weeks of gestation
Get Four Free Workouts To Help Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor & Heal Your Mommy Tummy!
Brittany Robles, MD, MPH, CPT
Brittany Robles is a full-time OBGYN physician, a NASM certified trainer, and a prenatal and postnatal fitness specialist. She holds a Master of Public Health degree in maternal health with a special interest in exercise and nutrition. She is also the co-author of The White Coat Trainer. Learn more about her here.
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