The 37th week of pregnancy marks the beginning of the 10th and final month of your pregnancy. Another important milestone is reached at the end of this week: your baby is considered mature and would no longer be classified as premature if born now. Find out what else is happening this week and what you should keep in mind.
How big is your baby in the 37th week of pregnancy?
At 32 centimeters, your baby is about the size of Swiss chard this week. The crown-to-heel length is approximately 47 centimeters.
37th week of pregnancy: What's changing for you
No question: the last weeks of pregnancy can be uncomfortable, and many things take longer than usual. At the same time, your anticipation is growing, and you may be feeling a bit impatient. Even if it's difficult, try to stay calm and rest as much as possible before the birth—your baby will come when the time is right. By the way, did you know that only 5% of all children actually see the light of day on their due date?
Besides restlessness, it’s probably physical discomfort that’s bothering you most this week. Your uterus presses on your organs, which can lead to nausea, lower abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Hormones also continue to loosen your ligaments, and your baby bump pulls forward in the last month of pregnancy, which can result in the typical “penguin walk.” Sometimes your belly may harden from time to time, and you may feel a pulling sensation in your back or groin. These are Braxton Hicks contractions, which help your baby settle deeper into your pelvis. But not every pregnant woman feels Braxton Hicks contractions, so don’t worry if you (still) don’t notice anything.
Signs of labor
You are probably wondering now: How can you tell that labor is starting? There are some signs from your body indicating that it will happen soon. This includes the loss of the mucus plug, which dissolves as the cervix gradually opens. You might recognize it by increased discharge or thick mucus, white or with traces of blood. However, it’s also possible that you don’t consciously notice the loss of the mucus plug at all. Another sign of impending labor is the rupture of the amniotic sac. Unlike in movies, this usually doesn’t happen suddenly and dramatically, but rather in small drops. In the video, midwife Sissi from LILLYDOO explains what other signs may indicate labor and when you should head to the hospital.
37th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby
Your baby weighs approximately 2,900 grams this week and gains another 20 to 50 grams each day. The layer of fat it is now building helps it regulate its temperature outside your body after birth. With the completion of the 37th week of pregnancy, your baby is also considered mature. The development of its organs is complete, and it has reached lung maturity, so if it were to be born now, it would no longer be considered premature. In preparation for birth, the protective vernix caseosa is gradually dissolving, and your baby is losing its remaining lanugo hair. Both are released into the amniotic fluid, ingested by your baby, and further stimulate its intestinal activity. After birth, everything is expelled with the first stool, the so-called meconium. Many babies also already have a tuft of hair on their head, which can be up to 2.5 centimeters long by the time of birth. The hair color they are born with can change again after birth, as can their eye color, which only develops fully under the influence of light.
This is now important
Now is the right time to double-check whether your hospital bag contains everything important. It's best to have it ready, together with the car seat for your little explorer's first trip, next to the door.
If you and your partner are feeling anxious about the upcoming birth, it can help to plan the route to the hospital in advance or even do a test drive. You or your partner can also save the clinic's phone number in your mobile phone in case you need to hurry and want to notify them of your arrival.
Enjoy a relaxing baby bump massage during the final stages of your pregnancy . It can help with back pain and tension, and it gives you and your partner an opportunity to bond with your baby.
Tip from LILLYDOO Midwife Sissi
That your baby is no longer considered premature from this week onwards is an important milestone—one you have probably been looking forward to. Most babies are born between this and the 42nd week of pregnancy; however, it’s the exception for birth to occur exactly on the due date. So don’t worry if you don’t feel any signs yet this week.
With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, also through exchange with our
