Learn what’s happening in week 37 of pregnancy and find out how your baby is developing.
At 37 weeks, you’re well into your last month of pregnancy with your due date approaching fast. Your baby is the size of a large cantaloupe and has excellent survival rates without long-term complications.
At this stage, your doctor may check for labor signs while your baby prepares for birth by sucking and breathing in the womb. Baby’s head will drop into your pelvis for labor and you’ll find that you can breathe much more easily this week.
You may also have begun to nest. Nesting is common especially in late pregnancy and it’s a sudden urge to clean and get your home ready for the new baby.
What Happens in Your Body in Pregnancy Week 37?
Most expectant mothers start to waddle once their baby’s head has engaged (dropped into the pelvis). You may feel uncomfortable moving around and if you’ve experienced any pelvic pain, you’ll notice that it will worsen now.
However, even though you may feel more pressure in your lower abdomen and pelvis, you will find that you can now breathe easier.
Changes in Your Body at 37 Weeks Pregnant
The baby moving down the pelvis means there is more space in the upper part of your abdomen. This will lead to an increase in your appetite and you will be able to breathe more comfortably. The common symptoms of pregnancy such as heartburn and indigestion might ease a little bit.
However, baby’s dropping alters your center of gravity making you clumsier than usual. Other common pregnancy symptoms at 37 weeks include pelvic pain, leg cramps, swelling of the extremities, insomnia, Braxton Hicks contractions, and frequent urination.
Your Baby at 37 Week of Pregnancy
At 37 weeks, your baby’s lungs are mature but that doesn’t mean that he/she is finished growing yet. Until the end of week 38, your baby is considered “early term” and is concentrating on increasing his/her weight little by little. The baby won’t grow significantly in length from now on but will continue to add body fat.
At this stage of pregnancy, your little one weighs around six and a half pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches.
Your baby is busy rehearsing for his big debut moment sucking on his/her thumb and simulating breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid.
Don’t worry if you’re feeling the baby’s movements as “rumbles” rather than kicks. This happens because your little one has hardly any room left to move around in.
Pregnancy Week 37 Tips
Only 5% of babies are born on their actual due date, so make sure your hospital bag is packed, in case your baby decides to come early. Some of the essentials you will need include:
- a comfortable nightgown;
- a well-fitting nursing bra;
- toiletries;
- non-skid slippers;
- and coming home outfits for both of you.
Your doctor may want to do a vaginal exam to see if you’re dilated however, this does not provide a reliable indicator of when you will go into labor. It’s common for the cervix to begin dilation before labor contractions begin.
Another thing your doctor may be wanting to check for it effacement – the softening and thinning of the cervix. Some women start to dilate a few weeks before going into labor while others don’t show any symptoms of labor until it’s time to go to the hospital.
