Welcome to the 37th week of your pregnancy journey! You have now reached the final stages of your journey and you should expect to pop at any day now, for some women, however, their journey could continue for a few more weeks.
In either situation, you should be prepared to meet your baby, with a ready-to-go bag with all the essentials in case your water breaks at any point.
Your baby is now rehearsing his grand entrance, practicing inhaling and exhaling the amniotic fluid, tossing from one side to another, and even blinking! If your baby arrives this week, he would be a bit early but still can survive the outer world easily. By week 39 he will be completely ready to pop!
Your baby has developed a few skills such as grabbing as he can now grab his toe and his nose and can grasp smaller objects too. And on the other hand, he can now suck his little thumbs in preparation for breastfeeding after birth.
Changes Happening in Your Body by Your 37th Week
At this stage, no one can really know when your baby is going to arrive, it could be anyone’s guess by now, he could be fashionably late or surprisingly early. Even though nothing is for sure, your doctor can still predict when the labor will begin.
Your doctor or midwife will be looking for the perfect dilation or in other words, how far has your cervix opened. Your cervix needs to open to 10cm so that your baby can pass through the birth canal.
Not only the cervix opening is what matters, but also the consistency of your cervix, it starts out by being quite firm like the tip of your nose, and then it softens to be more like the inside of your cheeks right before labor which makes it easier for your baby to come through your birth canal.
The next thing your doctor will be looking for is the position of your cervix, which moves back and forth as you get closer to labor. And lastly, your doctor will need to measure the position of your baby and your pelvis, because when your baby is lower down your pelvis, it means you are getting closer to the delivery.
This all might sound quite scientific, but it really is simpler than that as it happens gradually over a long period of weeks and could even be up to a month.
Have You Considered Perineal Massage?
You are probably now aware of the benefits of massage during your pregnancy, however, have you heard of something called perineal massage? It might sound a bit odd, but it is quite beneficial to reduce the stinging feeling that occurs while you are giving birth and your baby’s head crown, it is also very helpful to avoid inconveniences such as tearing and episiotomy.
The perineal massage helps to gently stretch your perineum, which is the skin area between the rectum and the vagina. If you decide to give it a shot, it is best to seek out a pelvic floor therapist so that he can help you do it correctly.
Symptoms of the 37th Week of Pregnancy
If you are experiencing heartburn more than usual these days, try some home remedies such as eating a handful of almonds or drinking a cup of warm milk and adding a tablespoon of honey to it, you can also try some dried papaya to help reduce the burn.
Your 37th week of pregnancy symptoms might include:
- Sleeping problems
- Baxton Hicks
- Bleeding gums
- Snoring
- Backache
- Headaches
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Random pain around muscles
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Sore breasts
- Leg cramps
- Stretch marks
- Thicker hair
- Swollen gums
- Urine infection
- Bloating or constipation
- Spotty skin
- Feeling too warm
- Greasier skin
- Piles
- Vaginal infection
- Thicker hair
Your Baby’s 37th Week Development
Your baby is growing graciously day by day, making it tighter and tighter in there, but you can still feel all of his kicks and movements. By your 37th week, your baby is now around 2.8kg in weight and is about 48.5cm in length from head to toe.
Your baby’s head is now getting huge! Even though it is still growing and will keep on growing till birth. By the time of the delivery, your baby’s head will be roughly around the same circumference as his chest.
The highlight of your baby’s growth this week is his fat! He is now padding up on the shoulders and the hips, your baby now has tiny dimples in his elbows, shoulders, and knees, along with fold and creases in the wrists and the neck.
This Week’s Tip
Stay Hydrated
Have you been feeling bloated recently? Drink plenty of water! Keeping up the recommended eight glasses of water daily will help you ease fluid retention.
Finish Up Your Baby’s Nursery
It is not like your baby would care very much if his room is painted or if it is not. But only 5 percent of babies actually arrive on their scheduled due date, so, if you want to get the nursery room done before he arrives, do not assume your baby still has three weeks to pop, get it done as soon as you can.