Week 39 is a time of waiting that can be tiring — for the body and for the mind. What works well then is a simple daily rhythm, a short to-do list, and being ready to leave without packing everything from scratch. This week is worth living through as calmly as possible.
What to do in week 39
- Plan one light task for each day and let go of the rest.
- Check that the maternity unit's number is saved in your phone.
- Prepare the care plan for an older child or pet.
- Put your keys, documents, and phone in one fixed place.
- Treat yourself to one pleasant thing this week.
A daily plan that saves energy
At the end of pregnancy energy runs out quickly, so planning the day by feel usually fails. It is simpler to plan one important thing and treat the rest as a bonus.
- Plan one thing per day and only add more if you still have strength.
- Build a short walk and a rest in a back-friendly position into your day.
- Limit housework to what truly has to be done.
- Ask your loved ones to do the shopping and run the errands outside the home.
Tip
Agree with your loved ones on one short message a day — it is enough for both sides and saves you answering calls asking "is it time yet".
Ready without the tension
Bag, documents, and phone in one place give peace of mind — as long as you are not checking them anew every day. Confirm once that everything works, and do not go back to it without a reason.
- Check that your phone and power bank are charged, and put them in a fixed place.
- Add the maternity unit's number to your favorite contacts.
- Keep your keys and documents together, in a place your birth partner knows.
- Leave a small lamp or flashlight by the bed in case of a night trip.
Loved ones, an older child, and time for yourself
If you have an older child at home, decide in advance who will look after them on the day of the trip. Also find a few things you enjoy doing, so the waiting does not turn into staring at the clock.
- Agree on a care plan for your older child, for day and night.
- Prepare a bag for them and explain who will come for them.
- Do something for yourself: read, listen to music, meet someone close.
- Write in a note what the family should hear when your birth partner calls.
What to do at home when contractions start
In the early phase of labor it is common to stay at home, so that you do not spend the whole day at the hospital waiting. It helps to rest, drink water, and eat light meals if you feel like it. A warm shower or a heat pack on your back helps many people relax. Stay in touch with your midwife and call if you are not sure what to do next.
- Rest between contractions and save your strength.
- Drink water and eat light things if you are not nauseous.
- Try a warm shower or a heat pack on your back.
- Call the labor and delivery ward when you are not sure what to do.
When labor starts at night
A night trip can be harder, so it is worth having a simple plan for it. Keep clothes and shoes in one place so you can get dressed without searching in the dark. Leave a charger and a small lamp plugged in by the bed. Call the labor and delivery ward before leaving and let the person driving you know.
- Put clothes and shoes in one known place.
- Keep your phone and charger by the bed.
- Leave the hallway light on for the way out.
- Call the labor and delivery ward before you get in the car.
Last questions worth asking before the birth
Before the birth, it is worth writing down the questions you want answered before the contractions start. Ask about admission rules, contact with the labor and delivery ward, and what happens after the birth. If you do not have the strength to follow up, ask your birth partner to make sure these topics are covered for you. One sheet of paper with the answers is enough to leave home more calmly.
- Ask how to check in at the maternity unit and where to go.
- Find out when the hospital contacts your doctor.
- Follow up on the first feed and contact with your baby.
- Write down the answers and take the sheet of paper to the hospital.
When to contact a doctor
- • If the waiting starts to overwhelm you, tell your midwife — a conversation helps more than it seems.
- • If you do not feel your baby's movements as usual, do not wait for the next visit.
- • With contractions, leaking fluid, or bleeding, call the labor and delivery ward at any hour.
- • In a life-threatening situation, call 112.
When to call a doctor or midwife
- • Contractions that become regular and build up.
- • Your water breaking or fluid trickling.
- • Reduced activity from your baby — report it the same day.
- • Growing tension or anxiety that you find hard to cope with.
In a life-threatening situation call 112 or go to the nearest maternity hospital admission room — do not wait for a follow-up appointment.
Week 39 in detail
Week 39: how your baby is growing — Watermelon
At thirty-nine weeks your baby is about the size of a watermelon (around 50 cm) and weighs about 3.2 kg. Fat now makes up about 15% of body weight and will keep your baby warm after birth. The skull stays soft, with seams that overlap during birth.
Development at week 39
- Fat is about 15% of body weight.
- Soft skull — it will mold during birth.
- Fully developed, ready for the world.
Tip
Midwife's tip: the soft skull and overlapping seams are a natural mechanism — they let the head pass safely through the birth canal.
Sources
- NHS — You and your baby at 39 weeks — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/28-to-40-weeks/39-weeks-pregnant/
- Mayo Clinic — Pregnancy week by week — www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week
Week 39: tests and symptoms — CTG, ultrasound if overdue
At thirty-nine weeks practice contractions come almost daily. You'll recognize real labor by its regularity and growing intensity. It's also time for a CTG — and an extra ultrasound if you go past your due date.
How to recognize real labor
- Contractions regular, every 5–10 minutes.
- Intensifying and getting longer.
- Your water breaking.
When to go to the hospital
- Regular contractions every 5 minutes for an hour.
- Water breaking (green/brown — go immediately).
- A decrease in your baby's movements.
When to contact a doctor
- • Green-tinged waters or bleeding require immediate admission to the hospital.
Tip
Midwife's tip: real labor won't be stopped by a walk or a bath — unlike practice contractions. That's a good test.
Sources
- NHS — Signs of labour — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/
- ACOG — How to tell when labor begins — www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/how-to-tell-when-labor-begins
Week 39: Almost there — what you can do today
Week thirty-nine is for wrapping up the details. Check your hospital bag — small things like a charger, headphones, or lip balm make a real difference to your comfort. Get everything buttoned up.
Your tasks for this week
- Check the bag: charger, headphones, lip balm.
- Charge your power bank and phone.
- Fill in any small gaps.
Readiness checklist
- Documents and birth plan.
- Phone with charger.
- Water and snacks for your partner.
Tip
Midwife's tip: a ready bag means less stress. Do a quick review, tick it off — and let yourself relax.
Sources
- NHS — Pack your bag for labour — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/planning-a-birth/what-to-pack/
Related guides
- Postpartum — what happens to your body and when to contact a doctor
The postpartum period is the time when your body returns to balance after pregnancy and birth — gradually, over weeks, and without a rigid schedule. This guide organizes what happens in the first hours, days, and weeks, what midwife home visits and the postpartum check-up look like in Poland, and when it is worth calling your care team instead of waiting for a scheduled appointment.
Medical disclaimer
This article is educational in nature and does not replace advice from a doctor, midwife or other specialist. If in doubt, contact your attending physician.
This week is awaiting medical review: the page is not indexed and carries no ads until the content has been verified by a medically qualified person.
Sources
We base our content on these documents. Every medical claim in the guide is reflected in one of the publications below.
- WHO — perinatal mental health — www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use
- NHS — "Pregnancy": care during pregnancy and preparing for birth — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/
- Ministry of Health — information on perinatal care — www.gov.pl/web/zdrowie
- NHS — You and your baby at 39 weeks — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/28-to-40-weeks/39-weeks-pregnant/
- Mayo Clinic — Pregnancy week by week — www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week
- NHS — Signs of labour — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/
- ACOG — How to tell when labor begins — www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/how-to-tell-when-labor-begins
- NHS — Pack your bag for labour — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/planning-a-birth/what-to-pack/