Skip to content

Your 39-Week-Old Baby – development & growth

Table of Contents

39-Week-Old Baby

Table of Contents

39-week-old baby – Want to inculcate the habit of reading? Week 39 could be where you lay a foundation. Introducing babies to fish, insights on some major internal developments, and what to expect from the 9th-month progress report?

Your baby's thirty-nine week after birth

A 39-week old baby’s development further grows as they now are able to stand and cruise along with your furniture, and move while they take the support of things around. Not only does the furniture help them with support but also becomes a way of pulling themselves up while they are still learning to stand firm and move around the house. Perhaps, better late than never, if you haven’t already baby-proofed your house, this is the best time as you wouldn’t want to discourage the little one in their initial walks. To know more about the 39 weeks old baby, read on

Not only that, the little one is making a constant effort now to talk and laugh along. Parents must now make good conversations with their baby this week and less of the baby language. Also, you must talk while pointing at things that will help the baby encourage their speech patterns.

Your 39-week-old baby's development and physical growth

Let us now understand what happens with the little one in their thirty-nine week after birth in terms of their physical development in the thirty-nine week after birth.

Your baby's weight:

  • The weight of your baby at 39 weeks could be between 18.2 to 19.10 lbs during this week. Anything extremely low or high must be referred to the baby’s doctor for perusal.

Your baby's sleep:

  • Babies are now more experienced in pulling themselves in order to stand with support. Therefore, most when the babies wake up, they tend to stand and cry out when she is unable to sit back down again. Perhaps, make sure you teach the little one to sit back from the standing position during the day
  • Get the baby a bassinet that will not easily tangle your baby’s legs if they try to move around its railing. Also, leave the baby’s room in low light, white noise that prevents any disturbances while the baby is asleep.

Your baby's diet:

  • It is often noticed that breastfeeding the baby during this week is perhaps a difficult week to do so as they will be most distracted as compared to the other weeks. At times they might even refuse to drink the milk due to a sore mouth that causes the growing teeth.
  • It is ok if the little one doesn’t drink much as they used to during the day as they will make most of it at night. Perhaps, at 39 weeks, breastmilk is still the primary food along with little amounts of solid food during meal times.

Your newborn and 39-week-old baby's health

A 39-week old baby or nine months is acquiring major milestones, including the doctor’s visit. Here’s what you can expect from the visit to the baby’s doctor:

1. Tests:

In the visit, you can expect the doctor to measure the height, weight, and head circumference of the baby as a part of the physical examination.

2. Blood test:

You might also expect a baby’s blood test in order to check the hemoglobin levels with ( if needed) a fluoride varnish test as and when the tooth erupts.

3. Vaccinations:

Expect the little one to get vaccinated for influenza immunization once a year in the flu season ( or twice, as per the doctor’s recommendation).

Postpartum baby tips: Week 39 after birth

At 39 weeks the baby is acquiring major milestones this week, including their constant blabbering in order to communicate, improved hand and eye coordination, need to stand, is the ability to nicely grab and move their toy around, and is of course still curious and is looking for attention. However, here are a few things that you can keep in mind and be well prepared for:

Your baby's increasing physical skills

  • As mentioned earlier in the article, the baby will now be able to cruise along with the support of the furniture. The little one might be cautious at first but will gain confidence, strength, and skill down the week.
  • You can also expect the baby to learn and grow the knowledge of physical coordination, evolving their memory and other skills
  • They will be able to rotate their shoulders and will start testing other mobility skills
  • Your baby learns to raise their arms high and show what they wish to pick from the shelf as a part of the critical communication milestone.

Your baby's interest in books

If you wish to raise a baby who is interested in books or find your baby more interested in books or when learning new things, this is the perfect age to get the little one their own books that can be put as a part of the little one’s library. Here are a few examples of books that you can pick from:

  • Choose simple books with bold photos with familiar words
  • Purchase books are sturdy, not shape and water or damage proof
  • Get books that allow the little one to touch-and-feel or lift-the-flap. This will help the baby to stay entertained
  • Choose books with a voice to represent different characters or ones that have sound effects

The parents after childbirth of a 39-week old baby: What is happening and what to expect in their thirty-nine week after giving birth?

Here are a few tips for our parents to help them simplify their journey with their 39th-week old baby:

Playing with your baby

Playing with a 39-week old baby is a great way to encourage physical coordination, memory, and other important skills. Here are a few examples that the baby will like and will help you bound:

  • Place two objects in front of the little one and ask the baby to decide which one is the biggest. The idea behind this to help them understand and indulge in conversation while helping them understand different sizes as per the distance of the object.  
  • Sing itsy-bitsy spider to them to help them learn hand gestures and to coordinate their hands and fingers

Your back pain at 39 weeks after birth

There are chances that even if you avoided the curse of sciatica during your pregnancy, you might be prone to back pain this week.  This is because the baby is now heavier than they were when you were pregnant and lifting them up could take a toll on the back muscles of your body. Here are a few tips to help you aid or prevent further severe ache:

  • While picking your baby or even a laundry basket, make sure to bend at your knees and lift using your legs and not your waist as it could strain your back muscles
  • Slide the baby’s crib before you put them in. This will avoid the awkward lifting angles that could hurt the back 
  • Practice crunches along with the other abdominal exercises several times a week. This will because when your core is strong it supports yours back in return.

Understanding your baby's health and the urgent need of a doctor

Listed below are a few instances where parents must consult a doctor regarding their 39-well old baby during this week:

  • If you notice your baby have trouble breathing or swallowing food
  • In situations of a sore throat, a temperature over 38 degrees, or swollen tonsils
  • Your baby applies more weight on the foot arch for balance or stands with the feet apart
  • If there are symptoms of anemia like paleness, rapid heartbeat, weakness, or shortness of breath

To Conclude

A 39-week old baby’s development status tends to grow dramatically during the 39th week after birth, including the baby’s development  – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Parents may also see changes in the behavior that may seem big and exciting, but do require long bonding sessions right from the start. They will need full attention as they try to communicate, perhaps, grow cognitive skills.

Alongside, you must also remember that it at times could get tiresome or parents, therefore, do not shy away if you need a break and are in need of help

FAQs: Your 39-week-old baby - development & growth

1. Are babies born at 39 weeks normal?

As per the study by the National Center for Health Statistics, the babies at 39 weeks are considered as full-term and normal. In regards to the specifications, right about 57.5 percent of births take place between 39 and 41 weeks, while the other 26 percent occur at 37 to 38 weeks.

2. How old is a 39-week old baby?

At 39 weeks a baby is nine months old. They have now experienced equal time as per their time in the womb and are more open to experiencing the ever-expanding environment.

3. How much should a 39-week old baby eat?

A 39 week old would need about 12-15 ounces of formula or milk in a 24 hour period. If more or less, remember to consult your doctor to be on the safer edge.

On behalf of the editorial team at Parenthoodbliss, we follow strict reporting guidelines and only use credible sources, along with peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and highly respected health organizations. To learn about how we maintain content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

Share this Article

Disclaimer: All content found on our website is published for informational and/or educational purposes only; not intended to serve or offer any form of professional/competent advice. We put in every effort to ensure that all information is just, accurate, fool-proof, useful, and updated but do not assume responsibility or liability, to loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence of information provided. Parenthoodbliss may earn commissions from affiliate links in the content.

Rectangle 22

Did not find what you were looking for?

Drop-in your request and we will be happy to write it down for you!