39Weeks First Baby

Why does your baby need 39 weeks? Babies born too early may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born later. Being pregnant 39 weeks gives your baby's body all the time it needs to develop. Your baby needs 39 weeks in the womb because: Important organs, like your baby’s brain, lungs and liver, need time to develop. The brain develops fastest at the end of pregnancy. A baby’s brain at 35 weeks of pregnancy weighs only two-thirds of what it will weigh at 39 to 40 weeks. He’s less likely to have health problems after birth, like breathing, vision and hearing problems. He can gain more weight in the womb. Babies born at a healthy weight have an easier time staying warm than babies born too small. He can suck and swallow and stay awake long enough to eat after he's born. Babies born early sometimes can't do these things. He’s less likely to have learning problems and health problems later in life than babies born before 39 weeks.