Third trimester · Week 40 of pregnancy
40 weeks pregnant: body, feeding, and care
The due date arrives — an estimate, not a deadline. Only a small minority of babies are born on the exact day.
Body and care — week 40
The due date arrives — an estimate, not a deadline. Only a small minority of babies are born on the exact day. Development notes on this page are general education summarized from ACOG patient-education material; they describe typical development, not your pregnancy specifically. Anatomy and growth are confirmed by your own provider and ultrasounds.
This week's checklist
- Note one body question — sleep, appetite, movement, comfort — and bring it to your next prenatal visit rather than searching it at 3 AM.
- Keep prenatal appointments on the schedule your provider sets; bring your questions list.
- Anything that worries you — bleeding, pain, reduced movement later in pregnancy — goes to your provider or urgent care first, never to a website.
From pregnancy to baby
When you are ready, the bridge page connects this track to baby week 1.
Week 40 questions
What is happening at 40 weeks pregnant?
The due date arrives — an estimate, not a deadline. Only a small minority of babies are born on the exact day.
Which trimester is week 40?
Week 40 falls in the third trimester (weeks 28–42). See the third trimester hub.
How is a due date calculated?
A due date is typically estimated as 280 days (40 weeks) from the first day of the last menstrual period. It is an estimate — try the client-side due-date calculator; your provider's dating outranks it.
Educational information only — not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby develops on their own timeline. If you have any concern, talk to your obstetric provider or your baby's pediatrician.