Beginning of your Pregnancy when your baby was the size of a poppy seed, you probably wondered what it would feel like to be eight or nine months pregnant. Now you know. Life might not feel so comfortable these days. You may have swelling and various other aches or pains, but one truth remains: You’re getting very close to finally meeting your baby. At 37 weeks pregnant, your baby’s organs are likely to mature — but that doesn’t mean he’s finished growing yet. So the 37th week is like an alarm that soon you’ll be in labour and then your little one will be playing in your arms. So “mom to be” will be a “mom” soon.
Here are some significant changes noticed by you and your baby at 37th week:
Your Baby
At 37 weeks pregnant, you and your baby are officially considered “early term.” Your baby will be putting the finishing touches on vital skills like sucking and swallowing while your body may be giving you signs that it’s preparing for labor and delivery.
The baby has fully mature lungs and can grip firmly with their hand. Their gut contains sticky green meconium that will form their first poo after they are born. Any guesses for what your child’s hair color might be? You’ll learn the answer soon, as many babies are born with locks that are an inch or longer. So be prepared!
Baby’s development
Human pregnancy lasts approximately 40 weeks. Your due date is getting close now,
the amount of time or term of pregnancy is complete, a baby is considered ready for birth. But doctors don’t consider your baby “full term” until 39 weeks. At 37 weeks, a baby’s height is close to 19 inches (48 centimetres) from the top of their head to their heel. This week, the baby weighs about 6 1/2 pounds (2,966 grams). Spending the next two weeks in the womb allows your baby’s brain and lungs to fully mature. Hence your little one is just ready to be in your arms.
Baby’s kicking and moving
Because it’s so snug in your womb, your baby isn’t doing a lot of somersaults anymore, but the amount of kicking should remain about the same. Here’s a bit of baby boy trivia to back that one up: Moms carrying boys tend to eat more than those expecting girls. Well, your baby’s habits make it a little crowded in your uterus, so he may not be kicking as much, though he’s probably stretching, rolling a bit and wiggling — all of which you’ll be able to feel! Keep monitoring your baby’s movements, and let your healthcare provider know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though your baby’s quarters are getting cosy, s\he should still be as active as before.
Sucking and Swallowing
Your baby has been getting ready to take feedings after birth by practising their sucking and swallowing skills for a few weeks. The sucking efficiency significantly increased between 34 and 36 weeks. The coordination of sucking and swallowing is complete by 36 to 38 weeks after conception and exceeded 7 mL/min at 35 weeks. So get ready to feed!
Your body
Your baby may engage – move down into your pelvis – any time from now until the birth. This is more likely to happen if it’s your first baby. When the baby engages, you should start to feel a little more comfortable. Many women notice their breasts leak colostrum (your first milk) towards the end of the pregnancy. You are probably feeling very tired because of the extra weight you are carrying. But it can also be difficult to sleep. You may find it hard to roll over in bed and you will probably need to get up to go to the toilet a lot through the night. Try to get as much rest as you can.
Dilation and effacement
It’s anyone’s guess when your baby will decide to make its appearance? Your doctor is also looking for cervical ripeness — aka, the consistency of the cervix. Dilation is the opening of the cervix, which is measured in centimetres. Once you dilate to 10 centimetres (cm), you’re ready to deliver your baby.
Next, he or she will check for effacement. Effacement is the thinning of the cervix, which is measured in percentages. When you’re 100 percent effaced, your cervix has thinned enough for your baby to be born. The position of your cervix, which moves from the back to the front as labour approaches, will also be assessed. The lower down your baby is, the closer you are to delivery. Although it all sounds very scientific, it’s not. These processes can occur gradually, over weeks or even a month or more in some women — or overnight. So be prepared.
Increase in Braxton-Hicks
When you’re in the final stages of pregnancy, contractions are like your body’s alarm clock, alerting you that you’re in labour. Sometimes, though, contractions can sound a false alarm. These are called Braxton-Hicks. The occasional tightening of the muscles of your uterus may be mild or strong and you may feel it as often as every 10 to 20 minutes. In late-pregnancy, those contractions may be more noticeable and happening more often. You can think of them as practice contractions that get your body ready for your baby’s arrival, but they are not the real thing. Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable.
Vaginal discharge or spotting
You might notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you see some “bloody show” in the toilet or in your undies, labour is probably a few days away – or less. During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus blocks the cervical opening to prevent bacteria from entering the uterus.
During the late third trimester, this plug might be pushed into your vagina. You might notice an increase in vaginal discharge that’s clear, pink labor, or slightly bloody. This might happen several days before labor begins or at the start of labor. Although any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy requires prompt and careful evaluation, it doesn’t always mean that there’s a serious problem. Vaginal spotting, particularly when it occurs along with an increase in vaginal pressure, vaginal discharge, and contractions, is frequently associated with the onset of labor. Vaginal bleeding, however, is generally more serious if the bleeding is heavy or if the bleeding is causing pain.
