Baby Development at Pregnancy Week 37
37 weeks pregnant means that your baby’s lungs are now likely to have developed completely and when she isn’t napping, she spends her days exercising them by breathing in and out the amniotic fluid. She can also suck on her thumb in practice for breastfeeding.
Your munchkin now has a head that’s the the same size as her abdomen, shoulders and hips. She is over 48.3 cm long and weighs between 3 and 3.5 kilograms. This shape will slowly change days or weeks after birth and depending on genetics, she may already have a full head of hair at this point.
Related: Pregnancy Week 36: Baby Development and Body Changes to Expect
Your Changing Body at Pregnancy Week 37
Carrying and having a baby can be tiring and at 37 weeks pregnant, you will experience this exhaustion. The truth is that your little one can’t be hurried and will come on their own time. Try keeping your mind occupied to relieve this anxiety but remember that it’s a completely normal feeling at this stage. There are also spas that specialise in prenatal massage that you can visit to ease anxiety and pent-up pressure.
If you’re a Malaica mum, our virtual psychologist who’s specialized in maternal mental health can support you in managing these feelings through confidential sessions tailored to your unique circumstances.
Practice contractions may now be happening more often and lasting longer. You are now on the home stretch and real labour may begin any time soon. Watch out for:
- Bleeding during pregnancy
- sudden gushes of clear fluid
- Regular contractions that have an increasing intensity
Your breasts which might be filled with milk might be overly sensitive to touch. At this point, you may also discharge thick white mucus. This is known as the mucus plug usually lodged at the opening of the uterus to seal it off against infections. It may come in one swoop or it may just be a tickle. This is a sign that the cervix is softening in readiness for delivery but it doesn’t necessarily signal the onset of labour. Your baby could still be days or weeks away.
If it’s however tinged with blood, go to the hospital. It could mean that your cervix is dilating to offset the birth process and some vessels ruptured hence the blood.
Also Read: 10 Signs of Labor You Shouldn’t Ignore: Insights From a Midwife
Pregnancy Week 37 Tip
This is the time to check your hospital bag to make sure that you have the clothes that the baby will need. You should have already made arrangements with your maternity hospital of choice in Nairobi. Also pack clothes for yourself to wear on your ride back home and make sure also that your hospital insurance card is well at hand.
Preparing for Labor and Delivery
At this time, you should be preparing for labor and delivery by practicing labor positions, breathing techniques, gentle exercises, and planning for the time you’ll be in hospital, all which you can learn at Malaica’s birth preparation classes.
Your weekly hospital visit this week will include a weight and blood pressure check to watch out for preeclampsia, belly measurement, a urine test, baby position checkup, and monitoring their position. If you’re yet to find a maternity care hospital that fits your needs for delivery, book a consultation at Malaica to learn more about our services, facility, and how we can support your birth for a safe and confident experience.
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