Pregnancy Week 39

This week of pregnancy, your baby is close to 21 inches and weighs over 7 pounds. Your baby is fully developed and just about ready for life outside your womb.

The "lanugo" hair that covered a large portion of your baby's body is mostly gone now, but your baby still might have a small amount of vernix (the creamy, white substance) around joints.

Changes in You:

Your Braxton-Hicks contractions may become more frequent and sometimes a bit uncomfortable. True labor will develop into a pattern, with contractions growing closer together, but Braxton-Hicks tend to remain the same.

The contractions during true labor won't go away regardless of activity and may grow stronger with increased activity such as walking.

Remember, if your contractions continue to get longer, stronger and closer together, call your doctor or the hospital. You're most likely in labor!