Third trimester · Week 42 of pregnancy
42 weeks pregnant: body, feeding, and care
Post-term by definition at 42 completed weeks. Most providers recommend delivery by this point if it has not happened.
Body and care — week 42
Post-term by definition at 42 completed weeks. Most providers recommend delivery by this point if it has not happened. 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.
Pregnancy to baby
See the bridge page and baby week 1.
Week 42 questions
What is happening at 42 weeks pregnant?
Post-term by definition at 42 completed weeks. Most providers recommend delivery by this point if it has not happened.
Which trimester is week 42?
Week 42 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.