What happens to my baby at 40 weeks pregnant?

At 40 weeks, your baby is fully developed with thicker hair, longer nails, and plump body due to subcutaneous fat. They have less room to move but movements should remain regular.

Is it normal for my baby's head to be cone-shaped after birth?

Yes, a slightly conical head shape after vaginal delivery is completely normal. Your baby's head will round out within a few days after birth.

What are the soft spots on my newborn's head?

These are called fontanelles - spaces in the skull that haven't closed yet. They help your baby pass through the birth canal during delivery and are completely normal.

How should I breastfeed twins?

Alternate which baby nurses on which breast at each feeding. This ensures equal stimulation and milk supply for both babies since they may nurse at different intensities.

When should I be concerned about my baby's movements at 40 weeks?

While movements become smaller at full term, they should remain regular. Consult your doctor if your baby seems unusually active or too calm.

Welcome Your Baby: Complete 40 Week Pregnancy Guide 2026

It’s time to welcome your baby

Your baby will be born any day now! As you await the start of labor, try to find time to relax and enjoy some quiet moments before delivery. Remember that your due date is only a rough estimate and many women — especially first-time moms — give birth after [1].

The baby has completely developed and is ready to come into the world. But still, their hair is becoming thicker, nails are getting longer [2] and the baby continues to grow every day.

Subcutaneous fat makes the baby’s body fleshy and plump, especially around the elbows, knees, and shoulders [3, 4]. Fluffy lanugo hair is almost gone, but some traces may remain after birth [5].

Now at full term, the baby doesn’t have a lot of room to move around. So movements become smaller but should remain regular. If you feel your baby is too active or calm, consult your doctor [6].

After the baby is born, you will notice two spots on the top of the head where the skull is soft. These are the fontanelles, which are spaces in the skull that have not yet closed. This will help the baby pass through the narrow birth canal [2, 4].

During vaginal births, the baby’s head may become slightly conical; there may also be slight swelling or bruising. This is no reason for concern, as their head will round out a few days after birth [2].

If you are expecting twins

Now is the time to establish breastfeeding. It is important to alternate the babies on each breast. For example, if at first baby “A” is on your left breast, and baby “B” on the right, then on the next feeding you should start the opposite way. Since children can nurse at different intensities, it is important that the sum of the load on each breast is even, so as to ensure that mom has enough milk for both babies [7].