40 Weeks Pregnant? Here’s What No One Tells You (But You Need to Know!)

by Stephanie Poole, Doula & Lactation Consultant

You made it to 40 weeks pregnant.
The finish line.
The grand finale.
The “everyone keeps texting me asking where the baby is” stage.

So if you’re wondering why you’re still pregnant…
Here’s the truth your provider may not have mentioned:

Your Baby Is NOT Late

Only 4 to 5% of babies are born on their due date.
Because guess what?
Due dates are a prediction, not a promise.

A normal full-term birth can be anywhere from 40+5 to 41+3 for first-time moms.
You are exactly where you should be.

The Secret Work Happening Inside Your Body

Even without contractions, things are happening:
• Baby’s brain + lungs finishing key development
• Cervix softening and thinning
• Hormones prepping your milk supply
• Baby positioning for birth

Your body is working overtime… quietly.

Signs Labor Is Close (Even If It Isn’t Obvious)

• Lightning crotch
• More discharge
• Bathroom marathons
• Period-like cramps
• Lower back pressure
• Sudden energy… or zero energy
• Nesting instincts
• Baby feeling lower in your pelvis

Your body whispers the news before it shouts it.

 What to Do Right Now

A doula’s top tips:
✔️ Rest and protect your energy
✔️ Daily movement like curb walking
✔️ Hip-opening positions
✔️ Warm baths/showers
✔️ Relaxation + oxytocin-boosting activities
✔️ Intimacy if approved by your provider

Your job right now:
Stay calm. Stay rested. Stay open.

 When to Call Your Doctor

If you notice:
• Decreased baby movement
• Bleeding like a period
• Fever
• Severe headache or vision changes
• Fluid leakage
• Instinct telling you something is off

You do not need permission to advocate for yourself.

 Final-Stretch Encouragement

Everything you’re feeling is valid:
The impatience.
The discomfort.
The “I swear if someone asks me if baby is here yet…” rage.

But hear this:
Your baby knows when to be born.
Your body knows what to do.
You were made for this moment.

You are already a great mother.

 Ready for Birth + Breastfeeding Success?

If you want guidance from the final weeks through the first latch, check out my Bump To Bundle Blueprint.

It includes:
✅ Labor prep
✅ Birth advocacy support
✅ Postpartum survival tools

👉 Join here: Birth Prep Academy - #1 Birth Courses for Pregnant First-Time Moms

You don’t have to figure this out alone.