What may change in your body
Pressure in the pelvis, contractions, trouble sleeping and anxiety from the wait are common. The cervix may start to change without it being noticeable from the outside.
Care for this week
Don't compare your 'dilation' or signs with those of other pregnant women.
Keep a light routine, and keep eating and drinking fluids.
Seek care according to the signs set by your care team, especially decreased movements, bleeding or leaking fluid.
Prenatal care focus
- The team discusses the plan in case the pregnancy goes past the due date, taking maternal and fetal conditions into account.
If you're expecting twins
Most twin pregnancies have their own recommendations for the timing of birth and should not use week 40 as an automatic goal.
For those by your side
Help filter out messages like 'So, has the baby arrived yet?' — few things test patience as much as the end of pregnancy.
Questions for this week
Is the due date a scheduled date?
No. It's an estimate. Spontaneous labor can happen before or after it.
Do I need to be dilated for labor to start?
The cervix changes throughout the process; a single exam cannot accurately predict when labor will begin.
When to seek care
- Fluid leaking from the vagina, especially in a gush or a continuous trickle, needs to be evaluated.
- Once movements have become familiar, a significant decrease in the pattern you notice should be evaluated without waiting until the next day.
- After 20 weeks, a severe/persistent headache, vision changes, severe pain in the upper abdomen or sudden swelling deserve evaluation for a possible hypertensive condition.
In an emergency, go to the urgent care service in your area. This content does not replace a professional assessment.
The next chapter
In week 40, many pregnancies reach their due date — a reference point, not an expiration date.
See week 40Was this helpful?
Sources and transparency
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Brazilian Pregnancy Booklet, the official prenatal record (Caderneta Brasileira, updated in 2026)
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Prenatal care (Ministério da Saúde — Pré-natal)
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — High-Risk Pregnancy Manual — Multiple pregnancy (Manual de Gestação de Alto Risco — Gestação múltipla)
- NHS — Week-by-week guide to pregnancy
- ACOG — How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Prenatal tests and vaccines (Ministério da Saúde — Exames e vacinas no pré-natal)
- ACOG — Bleeding During Pregnancy
Nilu editorial content, written from the official sources above. Individual clinical review of each week is in progress — this text is for information and does not replace your prenatal care.