37 weeks of pregnancy: what happens to the fetus and the expectant mother?

The baby is deemed full-term at 37 weeks gestation, which means they could be born at any time. Both the unborn child and the expectant mother are getting ready for the impending birth, which could happen any moment now. As the baby continues to grow and develop final touches in the womb, it’s an exciting but also anxious time.

The infant’s brain and lungs are fully formed, and it is probably currently the size of a small watermelon. In addition to practicing breathing techniques, they might even be preparing to give birth—usually head-down. As the space gets smaller, many mothers notice that the baby is moving less.

The mother may experience overwhelming physical changes. When the baby drops, you may feel more pressure in your lower abdomen in addition to weariness and backaches. As your body gets ready for labor, you might also experience more Braxton Hicks contractions. It’s crucial to look after your health and get enough sleep during these final few weeks.

Aspect	Details
Fetal Development	The fetus is about 19 inches long and weighs around 6 pounds. It has fully developed organs and a strong heartbeat. The baby is practicing breathing movements and may start to engage in the birth canal.
Mother"s Body	The mother may experience increased discomfort as the baby drops lower into the pelvis. Braxton Hicks contractions may become more frequent. Common symptoms include backache, frequent urination, and increased fatigue.
Emotional Changes	Expectant mothers might feel a mix of excitement and anxiety as labor approaches. It"s important to discuss any concerns with a healthcare provider and prepare for the upcoming birth.

How many months is this?

The last month of pregnancy begins at 37 weeks. The 10th obstetric month of pregnancy, which is the last stage of the third trimester, begins at the beginning of the 37th week of pregnancy. Approximately eight months, or nine obstetric months, in advance of the standard calendar calculation. 33 weeks have elapsed since the missed period and nearly 35 weeks have passed since conception. There are typically four obstetric weeks remaining before delivery.

Because only about 5% of babies are born on this day, the expected delivery date is highly conditional. Most births take place either before or after the anticipated delivery date.

Pregnancy is a very responsible and significant time between 36 and 37 weeks. It is important for a woman to understand all that is going on with the baby and mother during this time so that she can be ready for any situation.

Feelings of the expectant mother

"When is the birth?" is the most frequent query a 37-week pregnant woman hears. The pregnant woman finds this question very annoying and nerve-wracking because she wants to know when they will arrive because it’s getting harder and harder to carry a baby every day. Although all expectant mothers know deep down that it is best for the baby to be born on schedule so that it is fully mature, the desire to give birth as soon as possible currently takes precedence over these well-established facts.

It makes sense for the expectant mother—the baby is already so large that giving birth becomes a continual test of stamina and strength. Your discomfort worsens, making it nearly impossible for you to get a good night’s sleep. You also suffer from nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting. That is, there is no appetite. The expectant mother’s mobility is greatly reduced and her physical capabilities are severely limited by her clumsiness.

This week might get a lot easier for those who still have trouble breathing because of the uterus’s pressure on the diaphragm. By 37 weeks, the majority of pregnant women have a smaller waist. This indicates that the baby has positioned itself in the most ideal and comfortable position for delivery—head down. As its head presses firmly against the small pelvis’ exit, the diaphragm’s pressure lessens. The woman is able to breathe deeply once more, but she starts to feel pressure in her lower abdomen all the time and has frequent urges to urinate.

How long does labor start after the belly drops is a question that many people have. Everything about this is unique; there are no set standards. Usually, two to three weeks pass between the time the baby’s head drops and the start of the contractions.

Fetal movements

Although the baby’s movements still serve as a sort of "indicator" of its health, they typically stop occurring as often at 37 weeks. The decrease in movement is a physiological phenomenon, so there’s no reason to be alarmed. The baby has grown larger, and because the walls of the uterus already enclose his body tightly and he takes up nearly all of the available space, he is no longer able to physically tumble and "dance" as he once could.

The placenta ages, its functions are nearly completed, and the amount of amniotic fluid decreases. It also starts to "thin out."

By 37 weeks, the infant has adopted flexion, which is the only position in which he can fit within the uterus. The infant is positioned with his chin firmly pressed to his chest, his arms and legs folded compactly, and his body bent. This position allows for extremely limited movement. The mother now experiences pain and discomfort when she moves her arms and legs.

It is advised that a pregnant woman keep track of her unborn child’s motor activity episodes. There should still be ten or more of them in a half-day, despite the fact that they are getting harder to find. The counting process starts in the morning and takes about 12 hours on average. A hiccup by the infant is not regarded as movement. His actions are regarded as one movement if they are made quickly after one another. The general guidelines for counting are as follows.

When counting, a woman can choose any technique. This includes the Cardiff method, which is well-liked by physicians in prenatal clinics, as well as other approaches and strategies, such as the Pearson method. The fact that the result falls within the expected range is crucial.

A prolonged and long-term hypoxia may be indicated if the movements are less than usual. The infant attempts to conserve the oxygen he so desperately needs by becoming less active.

An increase in movement is typically indicative of the early stages of oxygen starvation. The baby massages the placenta and tries to pull on the umbilical cord as a means of gaining more oxygen for itself, which explains its restlessness and short, sharp movements.

For a baby, hypoxia can be fatal. It frequently results in the child’s intrauterine death at a late stage, has negative effects on the child’s health, and alters the nervous system, the state, and function of the brain.

Before the onset of spontaneous labor, an urgent delivery is warranted if hypoxia is present at 37 weeks.

This is not intended to be an action guide; rather, it is provided for reference only. This implies that not all reductions in movement or increases in movement are correlated with oxygen starvation. Although an expectant mother is already familiar with her unborn child’s unique characteristics, she should pay closer attention to any changes in her unborn child’s behavior.

Both less and more active babies are present. Furthermore, the child’s activity within the womb is impacted by numerous internal and external factors, including the expectant mother’s health, nutrition, weather, and mood.

Pain

A pregnant woman at this stage usually gets used to pain. Various discomforts are now the woman"s constant "companions", and the pain continues to intensify. In one woman they are more pronounced, in another – less, it all depends on the individual pain threshold. But everyone has pain at 37 weeks, because the body of the expectant mother is under serious stress. Weight has increased significantly over the past months, because of this, periodic pain in the legs, knee joints, ankles appears. Often women at this stage are bothered by cramps in the calf muscles, they are associated with a lack of calcium in the body, because the child took it in large quantities.

The uterus keeps expanding. Although the intensity of this growth has decreased, the ligaments are still overstretched and strained, which is why a woman experiences lower back pain as well as lower abdominal pulling. Pain in the lower back, either on the right or left side, is mostly felt when shifting positions or remaining upright for extended periods of time.

By the 37th week of pregnancy, training contractions start to get stronger. The expectant mother shouldn’t be bothered by them even though they are happening more frequently. Her body gets ready for childbirth in this way.

Women who have previously given birth may now experience training or false contractions. Primiparous women typically begin them well in advance of giving birth. Shortly before the actual birth, Braxton-Hicks spasms are a defining feature of the second or third pregnancy.

This is also a normal variant if at 37 weeks there are no false contractions. Numerous women worldwide do not experience any type of uterine contraction training, but this does not stop them from carrying their babies to term and giving birth in a safe manner. Training contractions do not fall under the precursor category as a result. They have no effect on the cervix opening.

It is very simple to identify false contractions because the uterus briefly contracts before relaxing. Perhaps there won’t be another contraction. And this is the primary distinction between actual contractions, which happen more frequently and cause more pain, and fake ones.

The frequency of contractions, which are repeated at regular, equal intervals of time and get stronger, indicates the onset of labor.

By the 37th week, if the training contractions are causing you a great deal of discomfort, you can adjust the position by lying down and taking a warm shower. Regard them as inevitable and handle them with composure and non-panic.

At 37 weeks, the perineum hurts for two reasons: either the stomach has already dropped and the baby’s head is pressing on the small pelvic structures, or the process of softening the small pelvic bone apparatus in preparation for the impending birth is well underway.

During labor, bones and ligaments become more flexible to allow the baby’s head to pass through and escape the uterus. The pelvic bones are affected by a unique hormone called relaxin, which is currently produced in significant amounts within the body of an expectant mother.

Perineum pain is more severe at night. A woman’s morning movements may be slightly restricted by her pubic bone after awakening. It will take some time for it to go away so she can sit, stand, and walk with her legs moving.

To rule out the development of symphysitis, you should see your doctor if the pain is severe, does not go away, or changes. This is a disagreeable pregnancy complication. It increases the likelihood that a cesarean section will be used to deliver the baby.

The last week to treat teeth is 37 obstetric weeks. Any oral cavity manipulations and a subsequent dental appointment become unwanted. Do not put off going to the dentist this week if you have a toothache, especially since receiving dental care does not have to hurt. Since a woman in this stable state is already permitted to take some painkillers and anesthetics, the doctor will make every effort to ensure that the patient experiences the least amount of anxiety during the procedure.

The cervix starts to actively prepare for childbirth at 37 weeks of pregnancy. This can result in mild pulling pains and a sensation of brief "stabbing" shooting pains deep within the vagina. It gradually shortens and smoothes out. You have nothing to fear because everything that occurs is entirely normal and physiological.

At 37 weeks, you should call for an ambulance if you experience any of the following types of pain: sharp, intense, accompanied by bleeding or another unusual discharge, rupture of water, or mucous plug release. In this case, there is no time to waste: the sooner the expectant mother arrives at the hospital, the better for both her and the unborn child.

Discharge

By 37 weeks, a woman can predict when labor will begin or when complications will surface based on changes in her vaginal discharge. You should use thin daily sanitary pads so that you don’t miss the important stuff.

Tampons should not be used by pregnant women because they increase the production of vaginal secretions, which in turn promotes the growth of harmful bacteria.

Maintaining control over discharge is essential for good personal hygiene in the later stages of pregnancy. As it was a few weeks ago, discharge at 37 weeks is still fairly abundant. Nonetheless, a woman may detect mucus contaminants in her vaginal secretions this week. This marks the start of the mucous plug’s discharge, which for the entire nine months effectively prevented bacteria and viruses from entering the cervical canal and entering the uterus from there. At this point, the mucous plug can no longer be retained in the growing cervical canal as the cervix starts to slightly open.

Small mucus impurities at this time suggest that the cork is coming loose in pieces; if a sizable clot with or without blood veins is discovered on the gasket, the cork has completely come loose. As of right now, a woman should only take showers and avoid having sex in order to avoid introducing foreign microorganisms into her uterus.

Not every time does the cork disappear beforehand. There are situations in which she exits the cervical canal at the same time as amniotic fluid is released, and the woman who is released may go unnoticed. Parts of the water itself may also flow. To this, the woman will "indicate" a watery discharge.

At 37 weeks, the discharge should typically still be white or slightly yellowish, be uniformly thick without clots, and smell free. When a woman exhibits any bloody discharge at this point, you need to call an ambulance right away.

Thrush may be present if there is itching in the perineum, especially if it is accompanied by a thick white discharge that has a structure similar to cottage cheese. This week, discharge that is green, gray, brown, and smells bad indicates a genital infection.

Seeing a doctor early on is crucial because genital tract treatment and sanitation will take time, and thrush and infections should be eradicated before labor starts.

Psychological state and mood of a pregnant woman

The expectant mother still feels fear about giving birth, but over time, that fear fades and is replaced with excruciating anticipation. Many women want these "awful" births to stop as soon as possible because they are sick of carrying such a heavy load. A woman may consequently start to feel a little depressed, agitated, and easily excited.

Many people who experience insomnia at night wish to sleep all the time, but only during the day. A psychological imbalance results from this change in the biological cycle; the woman may start to feel as though her time is passing very slowly and never ends.

Relationships between spouses and between the pregnant woman and her parents frequently deteriorate in the final month of pregnancy. At this point, psychologists assist a woman in consultation. Seeking psychological assistance is not something to be ashamed of; in fact, it is quite common and accepted in all of civilization.

In addition to wanting to feel loved and needed, the expectant mother now needs assurance that she and her child will be cared for in the future.

Hence, despite his hectic schedule at work, the future father must remember that his significant other is going through a tough moment and she needs his help and involvement.

Changes in the body

Every cell, every system, and every organ in the mother’s body starts to get ready for the impending birth. From a biological perspective, this is a very complex process with numerous involved substances and mechanisms.

Uterus

The abdominal cavity is nearly entirely taken up by the uterus. Its bottom measures between 32 and 37 centimeters high. The uterus is elevated from the navel line by 17–18 centimeters. Breathing becomes challenging for the mother if the baby is not head down because the diaphragm and chest are supported by the bottom of the uterus, which also squeezes the stomach. This fact is the primary cause of the extremely crippling heartburn that nearly all pregnant women experience, particularly toward the end of the third trimester.

The diaphragm is compressed by the uterus, which gives the impression that there is never enough air. This goes away once the abdomen has dropped, but if it hasn’t dropped by 37 weeks and breathing is still difficult, you should keep an eye on your health and avoid allowing symptoms of oxygen deprivation to persist. A woman should periodically adopt the knee-elbow position and breathe fully in and out of it to accomplish this. These breathing techniques will assist in coping with oxygen shortage and in getting ready for childbirth.

A woman often feels the urge to urinate because of her large uterus and the pressure it puts on her bladder. By now, most expectant mothers are accustomed to using the restroom multiple times during the night, but issues like urinary incontinence can still catch them off guard. This is neither horrifying nor peculiar. Urine can now leak from a simple cough or laugh due to increased pressure on the sphincter caused by the bladder.

The cervix starts to alter quickly. In medical terminology, "to ripen." Now a determination is made regarding the probability of giving birth in the near future based on the state and length of the cervix. The cervix shortens to 24-26 mm, and there may be a tiny opening.

The internal OS typically opens first, followed by the external OS. When an obstetric pessary is implanted at 37 weeks to maintain pregnancy earlier due to a weak cervix, the patient typically becomes hospitalized. Following a general examination of the pregnant woman, the pessary is removed, and labor usually starts within a few hours or days. A hospital stay is now advised if the cervix had surgical sutures applied previously.

Labor is more likely to start soon the shorter the cervix is at 37 weeks. Cervical ripening is an individual phenomenon; if it hasn’t started yet, there’s a chance that labor won’t start until after 40 weeks of pregnancy.

Weight gain

A woman feels the effects of weight gain in practically every area of her body at 37 weeks. It has grown more challenging to turn, walk, and throw. By this point, a woman can gain up to 14 kg on average. It’s also advised to keep weighing yourself on a daily basis at home, independently, and not just on the days when you visit the prenatal clinic. The expectant mother will gain a better understanding of her body’s processes with the aid of this monitoring.

Therefore, an abrupt increase in weight at first glance could be a sign of preeclampsia developing. In this situation, you should see a doctor right away to determine the type and severity of the complication and to determine the best course of action for managing the pregnancy.

For both the mother and the fetus, preeclampsia can be extremely dangerous in and of itself, particularly if the weight gain is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure and the appearance of protein in the urine.

Elements of the overall weight gain over the course of the pregnancy that have normal indicators:

• About 30% is the baby"s weight.
• A little more than 10% is allocated to the weight of waters and placenta.
• More than 12% is the weight of blood, the amount of which in the mother"s body has increased with the appearance of another circle of blood circulation (uteroplacental).
• About 5% of the increase is the weight of the mammary glands.
• About 15% is allocated to the liquid that accumulates in the intercellular space of the body"s tissues. If there is a lot of it, swelling appears – internal and external.

The woman’s build determines what weight is normal at this point.

• Women who were overweight before pregnancy can gain 8.3 kilograms by week 37, and this will fit within the normative values.
• Thin and slender individuals can normally gain about 14 kilograms.
• Women of average build – a little more than 12 kilograms.

Regarding the normalcy of weight gain, different doctors hold differing opinions. The absence of consistent, standardized requirements is the cause of this.

At this point, you can only gain a maximum of 300 grams in a week. A woman should keep in mind that her infant is currently rapidly gaining weight of its own. To avoid upsetting the obstetrician-gynecologist, it is crucial to consume small meals with low calorie counts.

Weight loss started at 37 weeks, as many pregnant women report, and this is also quite normal. The placenta shrinks, there is less water, and many people report that their appetite has nearly completely vanished.

Other changes

At 37 weeks, it is not uncommon to hear complaints that the breasts hurt once more, just like they did at the start of the pregnancy. The last phase of the mammary glands’ preparation for lactation begins. The nipples get rougher, the breasts become more sensitive, and they might even start to peel a little. Colostrum secretion frequently rises. At 37 weeks, the colostrum itself starts to change from being thick and yellow to being more liquid and whitish.

By now, most pregnant women have noticed colostrum, but it usually appears during the second or third pregnancy, if the mother had to breastfeed the child in the past.

Nonetheless, the expectant mother shouldn’t have any concerns or doubts about the lack of colostrum. It is incorrect to believe that the lack of colostrum indicates that a woman will either produce little or no breast milk after giving birth.

An excessive volume of blood in circulation causes blood pressure to become unstable. It follows that the head pain or spinning, hot and cold, and faster heartbeat at 37 weeks are all normal. A woman feels weaker than before and becomes tired more quickly. Drug therapy is not necessary for headaches; instead, doctors typically advise women to sleep with a window open and to take breaks in a dark, well-ventilated room.

Any anemia that may have existed starts to disappear. A pregnant woman’s blood hemoglobin level starts to rise at 37 weeks. Significant amounts of estrogens are produced, and they encourage hair growth elsewhere in addition to the head. Sweating endures because sebaceous glands and sweat continue to function at a higher level. However, nails that are deficient in calcium become more fragile and brittle.

The skin of a woman is more sensitive than ever. Allergies and increased pigmentation are brought on by this. Pimples, which a woman almost forgot about when progesterone controlled everything in her body, may appear at 37 weeks. The hormonal backdrop has altered, and acne is one way that this can show up.

Harbingers of labor

Every expectant mother is curious about who these "harbingers of labor" are. Labor’s forerunners include:

• shortening of the cervix;
• drooping of the abdomen;
• pulling pain in the lower abdomen of an irregular nature;
• discharge of the mucous plug.

In the days before cervix length measurement, our great-grandmothers and grandmothers were guided by folk signs. The onset of eating disorders, especially diarrhea, is typically a harbinger. It is thought that the expectant mother’s body is attempting to "cleanse" itself in preparation for the impending birth in this way. But harbingers and simple food poisoning are not the same thing. When a woman is poisoned, she vomits.

Increasing contractions are not a very reliable indicator.

The so-called "nesting instinct," which occurs when a pregnant woman actively arranges her home and starts to "build a nest," is frequently attributed to the harbingers. Sleeplessness and a persistent lower abdominal pain are also regarded as harbingers. A week before giving birth, many pregnant women say they nearly stopped sleeping at night.

Baby development

Your infant is hard at work doing something very vital: gaining muscle and fat mass. The gain is 50 grams per day on average. At 37 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus weighs 3100 grams on average. Ultrasonography is a useful tool for estimating the weight of the fetus, but the doctor will caution you that this is a very relative measure with errors of up to 300–400 grams.

The infant stands 47 to 49 centimeters tall. Given his current size, he has a very hard time fitting inside the uterus. The infant appears to be a newborn, with the exception of weight. Other than that, it is very similar to a newborn.

The most crucial task now occupying the entire small child’s body is getting ready for its own birth. Adaptive abilities are activated, the senses are "tuned in," and the immune system is ready to fend off attacks from the hostile world outside the mother’s womb.

Appearance

There have been noticeable changes to the child’s appearance. The baby has gained noticeable weight and now has cutely plump palms and heels, as well as chubby cheeks, despite previously appearing thin and wrinkled. The process of subcutaneous fat accumulation made this possible. It has prevented the skin from becoming red and wrinkly, and as a result, the baby can now retain heat—a critically important survival skill for him after birth.

The baby has nearly no lanugo, or fine, light hair, on its skin. Only in areas of mechanical friction, such as under mice, in the elbow and popliteal folds, and in the groin, has the original lubricant been retained. At 37 weeks, only one out of every twenty babies still has some lanugo. However, this is not pathological; the baby’s hair will fall out in the first few days of life.

Thanks to coloring pigments, some babies’ hair can already reach impressive lengths of up to 5 centimeters on their heads. This allows the baby to have brunette, brown, red, or fair hair at birth. The nose and ears now have tougher cartilage. As a result, the ears no longer protrude oddly in various directions and have developed a fully realized aesthetic appearance.

The child’s lashes, eyebrows, fingerprints, and unique eye color all contribute to his unique facial features. Since the baby’s tiny nails have grown and are now confidently rising above the phalangeal borders, he can now scratch himself. The body’s proportions have evened out and grown more harmonious. The cranial bones maintain their mobility during childbirth to aid in the process.

Presentation

At this point, the majority of babies are positioned head-down in relation to the small pelvic exit. This is thought to be the safest and most appropriate for giving birth. There is very little chance that the baby will turn around in the uterus if it is in a breech presentation at 37 weeks. At this point, it is decided to have a cesarean section to reduce the risk that the baby will have severe, permanent birth injuries.

A cesarean section is indicated by both transverse positioning in the uterus and breech presentation. Usually, it is done at 38–39 or 39–40 weeks.

The ultrasound is done again prior to hospitalization because there have been isolated reports in medicine of babies shifting positions just prior to labor starting.

Nervous system

The baby’s brain expanded in size and became much more capable of controlling the whole body’s movements. Convolutions and furrows can be seen in the cerebral cortex, and myelinated nerve endings are present. Young neurons continue to develop at a breakneck speed, forming connections between nerve cells that are essential for the child’s continued development. The nervous system will continue to develop under new circumstances even after birth, so this process never ends.

Once the baby is born, he cannot disappear from the womb due to several dozen reflexes that have been formed. They’re all formed now. These include the breathing reflex, the grasping reflex, and the sucking and swallowing reflex. There are also several dozen tonic and tendon reflexes.

The brain can receive a complete report on touch or temperature changes from nerve endings that pierce the delicate skin. The child’s brain, which serves as its "control center," develops neural connections with all of its internal organs and systems.

The baby’s senses are ready for an autonomous life. The tasks of the near future after birth are visual acuity and focusing. He sees blurred colored spots and hears sufficiently, as far as the thickness of the mother’s abdominal wall permits. The infant can distinguish tastes perfectly, and he has a sense of touch and smell.

Internal organs

The internal organs of the baby are fully developed; at this point, their size and weight are only continuing to grow. Every organ has been refined and troubleshooted so that the child’s body as a whole operates in unison, much like a clock. Boys’ testicles have fallen into the scrotum, but they will undoubtedly descend in the next few days if the sex glands continue to travel slowly from the abdominal cavity to the scrotum.

The baby’s lungs keep accumulating surfactant, a unique material required for survival and self-sufficient breathing. If the baby is born this week, there will be enough air in the alveoli for them to breathe. Little bubbles, which are essentially the alveoli, are kept apart during the exit by surfactant. In the human body, these bubbles carry out the processes of gas exchange, releasing carbon dioxide in return for oxygen.

The lobule formation in the baby’s liver is fully developed, and the kidneys’ deep structures have also reached their ultimate form. The baby now drinks amniotic fluid, urinates roughly once every hour, and its kidneys can produce up to 500 milliliters of urine per day. Urine enters the amniotic fluid, but because the water’s composition is changed every three hours, the environment stays sterile.

A significant amount of the initial feces, or meconium, has accumulated in the intestines by week 37. It is composed of the baby’s stomach’s exfoliated epithelium, undigested lanugo particles, and bile. After birth, the baby starts to poop. Within the first day or two, he will expel this specific clavicle of dark green meconium.

The baby’s heart pumps up to twenty liters of blood per day with ease.

Viability

Children born this week are most likely to survive, as a pregnancy at 37 weeks is regarded as full-term. However, a lot relies on the baby’s unique development. Occasionally, there is not enough surfactant accumulated in the lungs, and babies born at 37 weeks may not have enough subcutaneous fat to adequately regulate their body temperature.

Because of this, newborns at this time are closely monitored by neonatologists for a few days, and some require resuscitation techniques and special care for a few days after birth. If there are no complications, babies born at 37 weeks are frequently nursed right away and moved to the same ward as their mother the following day.

There is no need to worry, even if the baby is kept in intensive care and not brought home. He was able to effectively adjust to the outside world because he had enough time in his mother’s womb. There ought to be no negative effects on health.

The fetus and the expectant mother are getting close to the end of their journey at 37 weeks of pregnancy. When vital developmental milestones like lung maturity and brain growth reach their pinnacle, the fetus is deemed full-term and ready for life beyond the womb. As the mother’s body continues to adjust to the approaching delivery, this week usually brings with it a mixture of physical discomfort and excitement. Recognizing these changes aids in preparing mother and child for this momentous occasion and helps anticipate the impending birth.

Your child on ultrasound

The primary purpose of ultrasound at 37 weeks of pregnancy is medical. These indicators are present when a large fetus is suspected and the doctor needs to know the precise size of the fetus’s head and estimated weight. To select the most effective delivery strategies, these data are required.

An ultrasound at 37 weeks may be the last one performed during the whole pregnancy. It actually makes no sense to do it yourself if your only goal is to admire the baby or find out its gender.

The baby’s position in the mother’s womb makes it impossible for the doctor to perform a thorough examination of the baby’s genitalia, making gender diagnosis extremely challenging and prone to error.

Fetometry is a measure of the baby’s development. The doctor can estimate the baby’s weight and visualize the baby’s body proportions based on the measurements of the head and paired bones. The little heart’s beating and motor activity are evaluated, along with the internal organs. At this point, the placenta is closely examined.

The following are the 37th week’s fetometry norms.

BPD, mm

LZR, mm

Femur length in millimeters

Shin bone length, millimeters

Humerus length, millimeters

Forearm bone length, millimeters

Head circumference in millimeters

Circumference of the abdomen, mm

It is acceptable to deviate from the given values, but no more than twice a week. The baby may have intrauterine growth retardation if his growth is two weeks or more behind average. Large births are common in babies whose values are above average.

It is advised to perform a Doppler ultrasound at 37 weeks instead of a standard ultrasound in order to evaluate the placenta’s function and the rate of blood flow in the uteroplacental vessels. To comprehend the degree of comfort the baby experiences within the mother’s womb, this information is necessary.

Dangers and risks

At 37 weeks, the greatest risk is from injury from falls. The woman’s belly has grown to such an extent that she is unable to see where she is walking or even see her own feet. This is particularly risky in the winter months if the woman goes on her own, independent walks. However, you should also take extra care when walking around the house because a pregnant woman’s gait is now unstable and you could trip and fall practically on level ground.

Because progesterone has suppressed the woman’s natural defenses for too long, her immunity is still weak, making her vulnerable to acute respiratory viral infections and the flu. Furthermore, a common cold can lurk at any time. Thus, it is now crucial to avoid going to places where large crowds of people congregate, frantic and crowded shopping malls, and taking public transportation, especially when there is an outbreak season outside.

While a cold or viral infection by itself hardly poses any risk to the child, they can make the life of the expectant mother considerably more difficult. If labor starts while a woman has a runny nose and cough, she is admitted only to the maternity hospital’s observation (infectious) ward.

If a woman gets sick at 37 weeks of pregnancy, she should only treat a cold or acute respiratory viral infection under a doctor’s supervision because poor self-medication can injure her more severely than the illness itself. The physician will advise you on which home cures are appropriate and assist you in selecting a medication that is safe for the child’s health. The illness is curable without significant side effects.

Lifting heavy objects or being extremely anxious are not recommended for women as these activities can cause early labor. The final few weeks of pregnancy are crucial and should not be disregarded, even if the baby is deemed viable. Stormy emotions and unhealthy habits can also accelerate the process; furthermore, if nature meant for a woman to carry a baby for forty weeks, then defying that intention could be dangerous. Don’t go to the maternity hospital right away.

At 37 weeks, a woman is frequently plagued by a sensitive and excruciating issue: hemorrhoids. You shouldn’t think that everything will go away on its own because, as experience has shown, giving birth only makes hemorrhoids worse. As a result, you should see a doctor right away, begin treatment, change your diet, and stay constipated. Moreover, loose stools must not be disregarded. Dehydration can result from diarrhea.

Tests and examinations

An impressive set of instructions for tests that must be performed prior to childbirth is given to expectant mothers at 37 weeks of pregnancy. This thorough assessment of the mother’s health will aid medical professionals in managing the final weeks of pregnancy and childbirth.

Additionally, a general urine test is performed prior to a prearranged appointment at the antenatal clinic. It is imperative to ascertain the kidneys’ capacity to handle the burden, regardless of the presence of gestational diabetes or gestosis in the woman.

It is advised that a woman get a coagulogram this week, which is a test that indicates the level of hemostasis, as well as a general and comprehensive biochemical blood test and a blood test for antibody titers if the woman has a negative Rh factor. Finding out if the expectant mother has any blood clotting factor disorders is crucial because giving birth, regardless of technique or method, is always associated with a significant loss of blood.

Another blood test is performed for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. CTG is performed on all pregnant women to ensure the baby is developing normally.

Recommendations for the expectant mother

The three most important things to remember during 37 weeks of pregnancy are to eat healthfully, follow a rest schedule, and pay close attention to any changes in your own body. Furthermore:

• if the skin in the chest, abdomen and thighs is very itchy, a woman should definitely use special cosmetics against stretch marks. You can also use a more economical option – rub warm almond, linseed or sunflower oil into the skin after a shower. But first you need to consult your doctor to rule out other causes of itchy skin that can be dangerous for the woman and the fetus;
• sex is not contraindicated and is even useful, because orgasm helps the uterine muscles prepare for childbirth, and sperm contains prostaglandins, which help prepare the cervix for opening. However, sex should be very careful.

Sex is not advised if there is a risk of preterm birth or if the plug has fallen out.

Both the mother and the unborn child are preparing for the last stages of pregnancy at 37 weeks. When a baby is fully developed and only gains a small amount of weight and strength prior to birth, it is said to be full-term. Because there is less room inside the womb for the baby to move around, their movements may feel different.

This phase may provide the mother with more obvious indicators that labor is about to begin. Her Braxton Hicks contractions might be more intense and she might feel more pressure in her lower abdomen. As the body gets ready to give birth, fatigue and discomfort are normal, but this is a sign that things are happening naturally.

It’s critical to maintain routine examinations and remain informed of any changes in the body. Since every pregnancy is different, it’s important to pay attention to your body and maintain regular communication with your healthcare provider to ensure a safe and easy delivery.

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