Week 42
Your baby is the size of a watermelon
What's happening this week
At 42 weeks, your baby is post-term — meaning the pregnancy has extended beyond the standard 40-week timeline. Your baby is fully developed and likely weighs 8 pounds or more, though individual variation is wide.
Developmentally, your baby has been ready for the outside world for weeks. Every organ system is fully functional. The brain is continuing to develop neural connections, but this process will continue for years after birth regardless of when delivery occurs.
The primary concern at 42 weeks is the placenta. After nine months of continuous function, the placenta naturally begins to age. In most cases, it continues to work effectively, but your provider will monitor closely to ensure it's still delivering adequate oxygen and nutrition to your baby. This monitoring typically includes twice-weekly non-stress tests and amniotic fluid assessments.
Amniotic fluid levels may decrease past 42 weeks, which can affect the cushioning around the umbilical cord. Your baby may also continue to gain weight, which can sometimes make delivery more challenging. These factors are why most providers recommend delivery by 42 weeks.
If you've reached this week without going into labor naturally, your provider has almost certainly discussed induction. This isn't a sign that something is wrong — it's a proactive decision to ensure the safest possible delivery. Many perfectly healthy babies are born at 42 weeks, and the close monitoring you're receiving is designed to keep both you and your baby safe.
Your baby is ready. They have been for a while. And very, very soon, you're going to meet them.
Your body this week
Being 42 weeks pregnant is an exercise in patience, frustration, and trust. You've been pregnant longer than the textbooks said you would be, longer than your friends and family expected, and longer than you ever imagined. Every day past your due date has felt like a week.
By now, your provider has been monitoring you closely: non-stress tests, amniotic fluid checks, and regular assessments of your cervix and baby's well-being. If induction hasn't been scheduled yet, it almost certainly will be this week. Most providers recommend delivery by 42 weeks based on evidence that outcomes are optimal before this point.
Induction may feel like giving up on natural labor, but reframe it: it's your healthcare team ensuring the safest possible delivery for your baby. Induction methods may include prostaglandin medications (to soften the cervix), Pitocin (to stimulate contractions), mechanical dilation, or amniotomy (breaking the water). Your provider will choose the approach based on your cervical readiness and individual situation.
Physically, everything from weeks 40-41 continues. You may be dilated and effaced, or your cervix may still be 'stubborn' — both are normal. The emotional weight is heavy. Be gentle with yourself.
Here is the one thing that is absolutely, unequivocally true: this pregnancy will end. Your baby will be born. And when they are — whether it's today or in a few days — every agonizing moment of waiting will dissolve the instant they're placed in your arms. You are about to become a parent. And it will be the greatest thing you've ever done.
For dads
If your partner is 42 weeks pregnant, she has been more patient than anyone should ever have to be. She is tired, frustrated, and possibly frightened. She may feel like her body has failed her — it hasn't. Her body has been doing something extraordinary for nine months, and the timing of labor is not something she can control. Your job this week is deceptively simple: be there. Not with advice. Not with optimism. Not with a plan. Just be there. Hold her hand. Tell her she's strong. And when the time finally comes — whether it's spontaneous labor or a scheduled induction — walk into that delivery room as her partner, her advocate, and the father of her child.
This is the last entry in our pregnancy journey together, and it ends the same way it began: with both of you. From the moment you found out about this pregnancy — whether it was planned or a surprise — you've been on a journey that has changed you both. You've navigated morning sickness and anxiety, anatomy scans and anatomy books, nursery assembly and name debates. You've learned about neural tubes and surfactant and vernix caseosa and Braxton Hicks contractions. And now you're about to learn the most important thing of all: what it feels like to hold your child for the first time. Welcome to parenthood. You're going to be amazing.
Common concerns
Why hasn't labor started naturally?+
There's no single answer — the timing of labor is determined by a complex interaction between your hormones, your baby's hormones, and your body's readiness. Some people are simply genetically predisposed to longer pregnancies. Your due date may have been slightly off (even ultrasound dating has a margin of error). Whatever the reason, going to 42 weeks doesn't mean anything is wrong — it means your body and baby are operating on their own schedule. Your provider is ensuring safety through close monitoring.
What are my options for induction at 42 weeks?+
Common induction methods include: prostaglandin medications (inserted vaginally to soften and thin the cervix), Pitocin (administered through an IV to stimulate contractions), amniotomy (breaking the amniotic sac to release fluid), and mechanical methods like a Foley catheter (a balloon inserted into the cervix to encourage dilation). Your provider will recommend an approach based on your cervical readiness. Induction may take several hours to a full day or more, depending on how your body responds. Discuss the specific plan and timeline with your provider.
Is a 42-week baby at higher risk for anything?+
Most babies born at 42 weeks are perfectly healthy. However, post-term pregnancies carry slightly increased risks: the placenta may function less efficiently, amniotic fluid levels may decrease, and the baby may be larger (which can complicate delivery). There's also a small increased risk of meconium aspiration (the baby inhaling their first stool). These risks are the reason for close monitoring and the recommendation to deliver by 42 weeks. With proper medical care, the vast majority of post-term births have excellent outcomes.
What should I expect during induction?+
Induction typically takes place in the hospital. Depending on your cervical readiness, the process may begin with cervical ripening (medication or mechanical devices to prepare the cervix) followed by Pitocin to stimulate contractions. The timeline varies: some people progress to active labor within hours; others may need a full day or more. You'll be monitored continuously. Pain management options (including epidurals) are available throughout. Eat beforehand if your provider allows it, bring your hospital bag and comfort items, and prepare for a potentially long process. The end result — your baby — is worth every minute.
Product picks for week 42
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Contraction comfort pack
A heated rice sock, massage oil, and essential oil roller for labor — small tools that provide real comfort during contractions.
Postpartum meal delivery service
Schedule a week of delivered meals starting from your delivery date — the last thing you'll want to think about is cooking.
Baby's first photo frame
A simple, beautiful frame for that first photo — the one you'll take minutes after birth and treasure forever.
A quick note: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider about any questions or concerns. Learn how we create our content.
Content based on guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Mayo Clinic, and peer-reviewed medical literature. Learn more about how we create our content.