At 37 weeks, you're 9 months significant with the end in sight.

Your baby is practicing special skills this week (like sucking his thumb and grasping) that he'll prove off upon his arrival.

At your next prenatal appointment, your practitioner volition likely check your cervix for clues nigh how you're progressing.

Your Infant at Week 37

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At week 37, your no-longer little peach is ripe and ready — in fact, fifty-fifty if she arrived a tad earlier than expected, she wouldn't be considered premature. Still, she'south smart to stay put — which, like most babies, she'due south likely to do. With simply three more weeks to get inside her uterine abode, she'll manage to pack on a pound or more — rounding out frame and rounding up her birthweight…happily, without you having to gain another ounce.

By now it's likely your soon-to-be-born baby has rotated south to a head-offset position. Non all babies make this downward plough…most three to four percent of fetuses opt to stay stubbornly in the upright — or breech — position. If this is your showtime pregnancy, in that location's a chance your little one's head has or will soon drop into your pelvis in a process that's called engagement — or "lightening", since information technology lightens the pressure on your long-cramped diaphragm.

Engagement likewise means that your little bundle is locked and loaded and in position for departure — even if that departure isn't scheduled for two or more weeks. Infant hasn't dropped yet? Not to worry. She'll make her way down and out somewhen, just in her own sweet time. Second babies almost always wait to do their dropping until the labor party gets started.

Feeling fewer punches and kicks? The fact that baby's dropped is one reason. Her too-squished-to-motility quarters is another. Or it could be that she's doing some more regular snoozing — clocking in long cycles of twenty to 40 minutes of close-centre. Let's hope she keeps that up once she'southward on the outside.

What'southward keeping her busy while she bides her time before D-day? She'due south sucking her pollex to practice her nursing skills, brushing up on her breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, and blinking to set up to protect her eyes once she'southward built-in. She's besides busy accumulating more fatty, forming dimples in those cute elbows, knees, and shoulders, and adorable creases and folds in the neck and wrists. Bet you tin can't await to kiss those dimples and cuddle those creases! It won't be long now.

At a Glance

Wearing apparel rehearsal

If your baby were born this week, he'd still exist early term merely volition be full-term by calendar week 39. He's practicing for his m entrance past inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, blinking and turning from side to side.

Hang on!

Your baby has developed more dexterity in his fingers. He can now grasp onto smaller objects, like a toe or his olfactory organ.

More thumbsucking

Your baby is likely sucking his thumb a lot these days in grooming for his feeding sessions after birth.

37 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you're 37 weeks pregnant, yous're in calendar month 9 of your pregnancy. Only a few weeks left to become! All the same have questions? Here's some more data on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.

How big is my babe at 37 weeks?

At 37 weeks pregnant, your infant's nevertheless packing on near a one-half an ounce per solar day or half a pound a week. In fact, until the stop of week 38, he'southward technically considered "early term." At this age, the average fetus weighs nigh 6 pounds — though boys are likely to be heavier at birth than girls.

Baby'due south stretching and moving

It's a little crowded in your uterus, so he may non be kicking every bit much. Instead, your baby's probably stretching, rolling a fleck and wiggling — all of which you'll be able to feel!

Practicing for nascency

And then what'southward keeping your petty i busy while waiting it out until delivery twenty-four hour period? Practise, exercise, practice.

Right now, your tiny superstar is rehearsing for his big debut, simulating breathing past inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, sucking his pollex, blinking and pivoting from side to side. One 24-hour interval you lot feel his bottom on the left side, the next information technology's flipped around to the right!

Babe's head is huge!

Here'south an interesting fact: At birth, your baby'southward head — which, by the mode, is still growing — volition be roughly the same circumference as his chest.

And approximate what's making a quite-literal impression these days on those shoulders and hips? Fat — causing little dimples in those cute elbows, knees and shoulders, along with creases and folds in the neck and wrists.

Your Torso at Calendar week 37

37 Weeks Pregnant

Dilation and effacement

It's anyone's guess when your baby will make up one's mind to make his appearance — will he be sociably early, fashionably late or right on time? — simply that doesn't terminate your practitioner from guessing when labor will brainstorm.

Just what is your doctor looking for? Starting time, for dilation, or how far your neck has opened. Specifically, your cervix needs to open to 10 centimeters for the infant to pass through into the birth canal.

Your health intendance provider is also looking cervical ripeness — aka the consistency of the neck. It starts out existence firm like the tip of your nose, then softens to the same texture as the inside of your cheek before labor. Next, your practitioner volition check for effacement, or how thin your neck is; it'll be 100 percent effaced earlier you push your babe out.

The position of your cervix, which moves from the back to the front as labor approaches, will also exist assessed. And final but non least, your md or midwife volition measure the position of the baby in relation to your pelvis. The lower down your infant is, the closer y'all are to delivery.

Although it all sounds very scientific, it's really not. These processes can occur gradually, over a flow of weeks or fifty-fifty a calendar month or more than in some women — or overnight.

So while they're clues that you're indeed progressing, they're far from sure bets when information technology comes to pinpointing the actual start of labor. You tin can be very dilated and non have your babe for weeks. Or your cervix can be high and closed during an examination one morning, only to exist open and gear up for business — and labor — past noon.

Perineal massage

You already know most the mind-body benefits of massage — but have you heard of perineal massage?

Yes, it sounds — and can feel — a little awkward, simply perineal massage may help to gently stretch your perineum, the area of peel between your vagina and rectum, which in plow can minimize the "stinging" that occurs when a babe's caput crowns during childbirth. It may besides aid y'all avert an episiotomy and tearing.

If you want to requite information technology a shot, information technology'southward best not to DIY it the beginning time. Seek out a pelvic flooring therapist, who tin show you lot how to do information technology correct. (Word to the wise: Be gentle.) Once you know what you're doing, you tin can go on upwardly the good work — or accept your practitioner take over during labor itself.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 37

Changes in fetal activity

By the time your baby's head is engaged in your pelvis, he'll accept a lot less room for any more than than a twist or squirm. What's important is that you feel some movement every 24-hour interval. Remember, though, that your baby is behaving like a newborn now and has interludes of deep slumber, when he barely moves at all. Read More

Heartburn or indigestion

If your heartburn is getting worse these days, try eating a scattering of almonds. Other dwelling house remedies that may banish the burn: a tablespoon of beloved in warm milk or some dried papaya. Read More than

Bloody show

A pink- or chocolate-brown-tinged mucous belch means that the blood vessels in the cervix are rupturing every bit the cervix dilates in grooming for labor and delivery — it won't exist long now! Read More

Varicose veins

If the veins in your legs are acting up at present, try sleeping on your left side, which is the best position for optimum circulation. Too try elevating your legs by putting a pillow under your feet. Both positions will keep the blood flowing. Read More

Pelvic pain

If your baby'south head is pressing into your pelvis, hips and float, y'all'll feel more pressure equally the calendar week wears on. If you lot feel really uncomfortable, invest in a sling that will support the weight of your tummy and accept pressure level off your back and pelvis. Read More than

Leg cramps

If leg cramps are making a misery of your nights, endeavour drinking more fluids during the twenty-four hours and make certain you're eating plenty magnesium and calcium. And those almonds you lot're munching for the heartburn? Those will come in handy here, too. Read More

Stretch marks

With your boobs and abdomen as big as they've e'er been, you've probably noticed those classic marks of maternity by now. Don't worry, they'll fade and turn into a badge of pride (or at least motherhood!) a few months after childbirth. Read More

Breast changes

Your innie probably became an outie weeks ago, but yous may notice that your nipples are also popping at present — all the meliorate for a newborn to latch on when nursing. Read More than

Pregnancy encephalon

There are and then many things to proceed track of now that it's no wonder you're walking around in a fog. Is the photographic camera charged and packed? Do y'all have a baby outfit washed and ready to bring to the hospital? How many dinners are stocked in the freezer? Postal service reminders effectually the house and on your computer then you won't forget anything important. Read More

Insomnia

You've heard that pregnancy insomnia is Mother Nature's style of preparing you for the sleepless nights alee, but try to squeeze in some shut-eye so you have enough energy for childbirth and beyond. Sleep in a piddling longer, nap when you come dwelling house after work or on weekends and give yourself a relaxing routine when it's time for bed. Read More than

Tips for Yous This Calendar week

End baby's nursery

Fewer than 5 per centum of babies arrive on their due date, then don't assume y'all take three weeks to become through your to-practise list and get the nursery gear up.

Focus on the bigger tasks, like assembling the crib — information technology takes longer than you think — arranging the changing table stocked with diapers and wipes, and conveying in the rocking or glider chair if you're planning on nursing (or just snuggling). Make sure to become assistance with any of the heavy lifting from your partner or a shut friend or family fellow member.

Don't go crazy, though. You have plenty to exercise — and your baby won't care what color the walls are painted.

Irksome weight gain is normal

Not gaining the pound a week you've come to wait during the third trimester? That's okay. You may not gain any weight at all during the concluding calendar month.

Stretch out your meals

Feeling more bloated than ever? Yous can blame the pregnancy hormone progesterone for slowing downward your digestion — which then leads to bloating and cramping.

One way to trounce the bloat: Eat your meals slowly. When you scarf downwardly your lunch in five minutes apartment, you lot swallow more than just nutrient. Yous also swallow a lot of air, which will and then settle into your breadbasket as gas bubbles.

Get an exercise ball

Looking for a good late-pregnancy workout? Get on the ball! An practice ball is a safe and effective tool for strengthening your core muscles during pregnancy. And looking not-too-far ahead, it tin also provide welcome relaxation and physical relief during pregnancy and labor.

Cull a loftier-quality ball fabricated from burst-resistant textile, and exist sure yous purchase the correct size for your height: 22 inches (55 centimeters) for those shorter than 5-foot-3, and 26 inches (65 centimeters) for those taller (though check the instructions to be sure).

Stay sane while you rest

Here are some things you tin do if you're on bed balance: Stock a mini-fridge or cooler with lots of water, fruit, yogurt, cheese and sandwiches. Be sure the telephone, magazines, books and Television remote are all within arm's reach.

Endeavour to establish a routine — even if the highlight is a soak in a tepid tub, and so a nap or a morning on the burrow, so an afternoon in bed. You'll experience a piffling better if yous give the day some sort of structure.

Keep your optics on the prize. Frame i of your ultrasound pictures and know that you are just starting the parenting process a lilliputian earlier than about, doing what'south best for your kid even if it'south a hardship for y'all.

Remember: Every day you lot stay in bed or off your feet is one more day your baby stays inside you lot, giving him the all-time chance at being born good for you and strong.

Make a belly cast

Belly casts date dorsum to aboriginal times when they were used to commemorate the miracle of life. These exercise-it-yourself plaster replicas are easy and fun to make. But sit back as your called ones utilize strips of moisture plaster onto your belly (it usually dries within 15 minutes).

In one case the cast is dry, decorate and display as you lot like. (Is the dining room tabular array too prominent a spot?) You'll find many resources online; but type "belly cast" into a search engine and sculpt abroad.

Do using your baby gear

You accept the car seat, the stroller, the playard and the rest of the baby gear — now all you lot need is an bodily baby. Earlier your piffling one makes that big arrival, take hold of an unwitting (and willing) baby stand-in — a doll, stuffed brute or fifty-fifty a very patient pet (within reason!) — and make a few practice runs.

Try strapping dolly into the car seat or strolling teddy around in your hallway, property the little bundle in ane hand while folding up the stroller in the other. If you feel airheaded using a simulated baby, don't use anything at all. Simply do practice. You lot'll feel more prepared when it'southward starting time!

From the What to Expect editorial squad and Heidi Murkoff, writer ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only apparent sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected wellness organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How Much Weight You Should Proceeds During Pregnancy, October 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Your Guide to Pregnancy Hormones, January 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Space-Saving Tips for Infant'southward Nursery, August 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Taking Baths While Pregnant, June 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Ab Exercises That Are Safe and Beneficial During Pregnancy, June 2018.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How to Buy a Infant Stroller, December 2020.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Get-go Month: Physical Appearance and Growth, August 2009.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, How to Tell When Labor Begins, May 2020.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy, Baronial 2020.
  • Periodical of Midwifery and Women'south Wellness, Perineal Massage in Pregnancy, January 2016.
  • KidsHealth From Nemours, Your Newborn'due south Growth, October 2018.
  • March of Dimes, What Is Full Term? September 2018.
  • Mayo Dispensary, Bed Rest During Pregnancy: Get the Facts, February 2020.
  • Mayo Clinic, Muscle Cramp, March 2021.
  • Mayo Clinic, Stages of Labor and Birth: Baby, It's Time!, February 2020.
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  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, National Heart for Biotechnology Information, Length of Man Pregnancy and Contributors to Its Natural Variation, October 2013.
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  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Your Babe in the Birth Canal, June 2021.
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