Pregnancy life changes in week 37

Posted By : Berry

It is week 37 and your baby will now be considered as full term and could be born any day from now.

The little one will now weigh nearly 3kg (however, he/she will be gaining around half a pound each week) and will be approximately 50cm in length from head to toe.

The lungs of your baby will now be capable of adapting to life outside the womb and your darling now has a belly full of meconium, which will make the contents of their very first nappy.

During the birth, the head of your baby will be the same size as their hips, shoulders and abdomen. Then they will change shape through the initial few weeks after the delivery.

The baby will now be in an engaged position and will be all set to go. If the baby is born this week, then they may still have some lanugo hair on their bodies, or perhaps some patches of vernix.

The immune system of the baby is continuing to develop this week. After they are born, it is the breast milk that provides them with the necessary antibodies to stay healthy.

See how your baby is developing

• The baby will continue to use the facial muscles. Sometimes you may even spot him smile.
• The fingernails of the baby will extend beyond the tip of its fingers.
• When the baby spends the next two weeks in the womb, it allows the brain and lungs of the baby to get fully matured. So if you’re thinking of having a c-section, for example, your doctor will program it for no earlier than 39 weeks except if there’s a medical reason to intervene before.

Some of the babies have a full head of hair even at birth. On the other hand, some other babies have only peach fuzz.

When you reach 37 weeks of your pregnancy, your baby would weigh 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit above 19 inches from head to heel, which is nearly the length of a bundle of Swiss chard.

How Big is Your Baby This Week?

The baby will be now as long as a stalk of Swiss chard. Now that the baby has less space in the uterus, it will start to wriggle and stretch rather than kick.

Baby’s Length: The length of the baby will be nearly 19.13 inches.

Baby’s Weight: He/she will weigh nearly 6.30 lbs.

A glimpse inside your womb

Hair: The little one either will have a full head of hair or sometimes sport only peach fuzz during the birth.

Skin: They will start to shed its downy body hair as well as some of the vernix caseosa, which is the creamy substance that shields her skin.

Uterus: Braxton Hicks contractions cal be felt more often now, and you might feel more uncomfortable.

Vagina: You might find an increase in the mucus discharge from your vagina. If you find some mucus tinged with a tiny bit of blood, labour is just around the corner.

How your life’s changing

You will experience frequent Braxton Hicks contractions, and it may last longer than it was before. You might find these contractions more uncomfortable. You may also see an increase in the vaginal discharge. If you find mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood in the toilet or perhaps in your undies, you can surely say that the labour is nearing. However, you should call your doctor if you spot heavier bleeding.

Make sure that you ask your doctor about the results of your group B strep culture. In that way, if the result isn’t still on your chart when you go to the hospital or birth centre, you’ll be able to give the staff there a helpful heads-up if you require antibiotics.

It might be even more difficult for you to sleep comfortably at night. It is better to take it easy through the day since this may be the last chance to do so for quite some time. Continue observing your baby’s movements, too, and let your healthcare provider know quickly if you find a decrease.

You might see some intense dreams as well, while you sleep. The tension about the labour and about becoming a parent can be the reason for a lot of strange flights of unconscious fantasy.