Late pregnancy can feel like the longest final lap. The bump is bigger, sleep is lighter, and even small sensations can trigger big questions: “Is this labour?” “Is baby moving enough?” In late pregnancy, your doctor or midwife also shifts focus: baby’s position, blood pressure, fetal movements, and practical planning for delivery and newborn care.

Late pregnancy explained for parents

What late pregnancy means and how it fits with the third trimester

Late pregnancy usually refers to the final stretch of the third trimester, often from around 28 weeks until birth. Antenatal visits become more frequent, and the conversation moves from “baby is growing” to planning labour and newborn care.

From 37 weeks onwards, pregnancy is called term. Term has stages, it sounds technical, but it helps your team talk about timing and safety.

Late pregnancy weeks (28–40+) and what changes week to week

Between 28 and 36 weeks, many women notice increasing tiredness, acidity/heartburn, and body aches as the uterus rises and posture changes. From 36 weeks onwards, visits often become weekly, baby’s position becomes central (head-down vs breech), and signs that labour is approaching (pressure, cramps, mucus changes) may come and go.

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In late pregnancy, week-to-week change is often the overall body load:

The uterus enlarges.
The diaphragm has less room.
Veins return blood less efficiently from the legs.
Ligaments loosen under pregnancy hormones.

Term stages in late pregnancy

Your care team may use:

Early term: 37 weeks 0 days to 38 weeks 6 days
Full term: 39 weeks 0 days to 40 weeks 6 days
Late term: 41 weeks 0 days to 41 weeks 6 days
Post-term: 42 weeks and beyond

These labels matter because the balance between waiting versus planning delivery can change as pregnancy continues.

Due date in late pregnancy: why it is an estimate

A due date is a best estimate, not a promise. The traditional method counts 40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP), but cycles vary and ovulation may not happen on day 14.

An early ultrasound is often more accurate for dating because it measures fetal size when growth differences are smaller.

Late pregnancy and advanced maternal age (35+)

Late pregnancy is about gestational age, not the parent’s age. Still, if you are 35+ (and especially over 40), you may hear advanced maternal age because probabilities like hypertensive disorders and gestational diabetes shift with age.

This does not mean something will definitely go wrong. It usually means more structured monitoring, especially of blood pressure, blood sugar, placental function, baby’s growth, amniotic fluid, and fetal movements.

Late pregnancy symptoms and common body changes

Pelvic pressure and baby dropping

As baby’s head settles deeper into the pelvis (engagement), you may feel heavier pressure low down, discomfort while walking, or sharp twinges near the cervix. Some women breathe more easily, others pass urine more often.

Call your maternity team if pelvic pressure is severe and constant, or comes with bleeding, fever, or a strong feeling something is not right.

Braxton Hicks vs true labour contractions

Braxton Hicks contractions are common in late pregnancy. They are often irregular, may improve with rest or hydration, and do not reliably cause cervical change.

True labour contractions usually become regular, stronger, and closer together, and they continue even if you change position. Timing them can help.

Back pain, pelvic girdle pain, sciatica

Late pregnancy shifts your centre of gravity and increases lumbar curve, which can strain the back and hips. Relaxin loosens joints, so the pelvis may feel less stable.

What may help:

Heat packs (not too hot)
Gentle stretching
Posture support and supportive footwear
Maternity support belt
Physiotherapy exercises

Seek assessment for sudden severe pain, weakness, numbness, fever, or pain with bleeding.

Shortness of breath, fatigue, and sleep changes

Breathlessness is common because the uterus reduces diaphragm space, especially before baby drops. Many women also feel more tired due to increased cardiac workload and broken sleep.

Urgent evaluation is needed for breathlessness at rest, chest pain, fainting, bluish lips/fingertips, or rapidly worsening symptoms.

Heartburn, constipation, haemorrhoids

Progesterone relaxes smooth muscle, slowing digestion and worsening reflux. Small frequent meals and staying upright after meals can help. Constipation and haemorrhoids are common due to slower bowel movement and pelvic pressure.

Seek help for persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, or inability to keep fluids down.

Urination changes and UTI signs

Bladder pressure increases as baby comes down. Emptying fully and staying hydrated earlier in the day can help.

Burning during urination, fever, blood in urine, or flank pain can suggest UTI and needs prompt assessment.

Swelling, varicose veins, cramps, carpal tunnel

Mild swelling in feet/ankles is common in late pregnancy as venous return slows. Elevating legs, gentle walking, and compression stockings (if advised) can help. Fluid shifts can also cause tingling in hands due to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Contact your team urgently for sudden swelling of face/hands, swelling with headache or vision changes, one-sided painful leg swelling, or shortness of breath.

Mood changes and anxiety

Late pregnancy can bring excitement and fear together. Hormonal shifts and poor sleep can amplify emotions.

If anxiety affects daily functioning or sleep, discuss it at a visit. Support may include counselling, practical birth preparation, or perinatal mental health care.

Discharge, mucus plug, and bleeding

More discharge is common. The mucus plug may pass as thick mucus (clear, white, or pink-tinged). A light bloody show can appear hours to days before labour.

Heavy bleeding, clots, or bright red bleeding needs urgent assessment.

Itching: when to test

Mild itching can happen as skin stretches. Intense itching on palms/soles without rash can suggest intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and needs blood tests.

Baby development and positioning in late pregnancy

Brain, lungs, and growth

In late pregnancy, the fetal brain strengthens connections and the lungs mature with rising surfactant production. Most fetal weight gain and fat storage happens now, supporting temperature control after birth.

Baby position (head-down, posterior, breech)

Head-down (cephalic) is most common near term. Occiput posterior may cause more back pain in labour, and many babies rotate during labour.

If breech persists near term, options may include external cephalic version (ECV), planned caesarean, or in selected cases planned vaginal breech birth with an experienced team.

Placenta, fluid, and movements

Amniotic fluid and placental function guide decisions, especially if pregnancy goes beyond the due date.

Movements should remain present daily. A common method is 10 movements in 2 hours during a calm time. In late pregnancy, a clear change from your baby’s usual pattern matters, if movements are reduced, contact your maternity unit the same day.

Late pregnancy prenatal care and tests

Visit schedule and vital checks

Many schedules move to every 2 weeks from 28–36 weeks, then weekly from around 36 weeks until birth.

Visits commonly include symptom review, blood pressure, sometimes urine protein, discussion of fetal movements, and checking baby’s position.

Common tests in late pregnancy

Depending on your situation, your team may suggest:

Group B strep (GBS) swab (35–37 weeks). If positive, antibiotics in labour reduce newborn infection risk.
Ultrasound for growth, position, placenta, and fluid.
NST (non-stress test) and BPP (biophysical profile) for reduced movement, post-dates, hypertension, diabetes, or placental concerns.
Doppler studies when fetal growth restriction or placental insufficiency is suspected.
Anti-D immunoglobulin if you are Rh-negative (often around 28 weeks, and after certain bleeding/trauma events).

Late pregnancy warning signs: when to call or go in

Go to the hospital or contact your maternity unit urgently for:

Heavy bleeding, clots, or bleeding with pain
Waters breaking (or suspected leak), especially if fluid is green/brown or foul-smelling
Clearly reduced fetal movement
Severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling of face/hands
Severe्o Severe abdominal pain, fainting/dizziness
Fever 38°C or above
Chest pain or breathlessness at rest

Recognising labour in late pregnancy

Early labour may feel like period cramps and low backache. Active labour contractions become regular, stronger, and closer together.

Many units use 5-1-1: contractions about 5 minutes apart, lasting about 1 minute, for 1 hour. Follow your hospital’s advice if you are GBS positive, have a planned induction, or have medical risk factors.

Comfort and pain relief options

Non-medication options include movement, warm shower, massage/counter-pressure, breathing techniques, and a TENS unit (where available). Medication options depend on the hospital and may include nitrous oxide, IV/IM pain relief, and epidural analgesia.

Late pregnancy delivery planning (India-specific pointers)

A birth plan works best when it states your priorities but allows medical adjustments.

In India, practical points to discuss in late pregnancy:

Distance and traffic time to the hospital
Emergency OT access and anaesthesia availability
Blood bank access
NICU facilities for newborn support

Induction may be offered at or after 41 weeks, or earlier for BP disorders, diabetes concerns, low fluid, suspected placental issues, or after waters break with infection risk. Methods can include membrane sweep, balloon catheter, prostaglandins, amniotomy, and oxytocin.

Key takeaways

Late pregnancy often starts around 28 weeks, term begins at 37 weeks (early/full/late term stages).
Many symptoms are common (pressure, reflux, swelling, Braxton Hicks), but a sudden change from your usual pattern deserves attention.
Blood pressure (and sometimes urine protein) checks help screen for preeclampsia.
Reduced fetal movement should be assessed the same day.
Seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, waters breaking, severe headache/vision changes, severe abdominal pain, fever, or breathing problems.
Support exists for both medical and emotional needs, and you can download the Heloa app for personalised tips and free child health questionnaires.

Late pregnancy: timeline, symptoms, and preparing for birth