Third trimester · 41 weeks pregnant
Week 41: late term
Extra monitoring and a conversation about induction.
Your baby is late term and still growing. The placenta gradually works less efficiently after 41 to 42 weeks, so care providers monitor more closely and usually offer induction by 42 weeks.
Size and weight
About the size of
a watermelon
Length
51.5 cm
Weight
3.6 kg
Averages from standard growth charts. Measured crown to rump until week 20 and head to heel afterwards.
How your baby is developing
- The baby continues to grow, with longer nails and less vernix.
- The skin may be dry or peeling at birth.
- Some babies pass meconium before birth, which is why the fluid is checked.
- Movements should stay strong and regular.
How you may feel
- Discomfort and fatigue
- Anxiety about waiting
- Swelling
- Pelvic pressure
- Signs of labour that may start at any time
Being overdue is not a failure. Due dates are estimates, and up to 1 in 10 pregnancies last beyond 41 weeks.
What's next
Tests and appointments
- Late-term monitoring often includes a heart-rate trace (CTG) and a check of amniotic fluid.
- Induction is usually offered between 41 and 42 weeks; a membrane sweep may be tried first.
What to do this week
- Ask about the pros and cons of induction versus waiting with monitoring, and what each would involve.
- Report reduced movements immediately.
- Rest and keep eating well; labour may be close.
Call your doctor or maternity hospital if
- Your baby is moving less than usual, or the pattern has changed
- Vaginal bleeding, or your waters break, especially if the fluid is green or brown
- A severe headache, vision changes, pain under the right ribs, or sudden swelling of your face and hands
- Regular painful tightenings before 37 weeks, or severe itching of your palms and soles
If something feels wrong, trust yourself and call 103 or your maternity hospital. You will never be wasting anyone's time.
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