From Body Carre we are going to see two pregnancies of two friends, from two different perspectives and countries, one from Latin America and the other from Spain. I hope you like it and see if you are able to find those little differences.
At 37 weeks’ gestation, the baby sucks his fingers, pulls the umbilical cord, and can be about 19 inches tall and weigh about 3 kg! At this time, respiration is produced with the amniotic fluid, and the sound of the father’s voice further enriches its development.
If your baby is born today, it is considered full term because it has already entered the ninth month of pregnancy . The expected date for your baby to be born is an estimate that doctors make. In fact, it can stay in your belly until 42 weeks of pregnancy. Of course, doctors prefer not to risk letting the pregnancy go long, but it is possible!
The 37-week-gestation baby already looks exactly like a newborn baby, the only difference is the weight, it is known that the longer it is in the womb, the more weight it gains. His lungs are well formed and he can now train his breathing with the help of amniotic fluid. If he is born this week all his organs are already working as expected without major problems, but do not rush! Expect that everything will happen in time.
Inside the womb, the 37-week-gestation baby usually follows a routine such as when he is born, he sleeps a lot, several times a day, yawns, wakes up and goes back to sleep. Between naps he moves with difficulty, but not due to lack of space, but trying to adapt to a more comfortable shape.
Index
The internal sensations of the mother in the 37th week of pregnancy
It is coming! Finally nine months, happiness spreads through the family and anxiety grows each day as the birth approaches. Some mothers (if not all) at this stage are tired and can’t wait for the baby to be born. Certainly, you should have the whole motherhood issue settled. Do you already know where you are going to have your baby? Did you pay a visit to the maternity ward? It is advisable to have some itineraries ready in case the bag breaks and you need to go quickly to the hospital.
The doctors usually have a phone available for emergencies and you can talk to yours to see the need for further examination. The last ultrasound to see the development of the fetus can usually be done at 37 weeks of pregnancy, to determine the maturity of the placenta and the position of the fetus. Do you already have a birth plan? If you opt for a cesarean section, the doctor may have a prognosis already this week.
Trips to the bathroom are more and more constant since the weight of the uterus on the bladder makes you have to urinate all the time. Back pain is also present and not being able to find a position to sleep is a great annoyance, but this is over, a little patience!
Sensations and external factors in the 37th week of pregnancy
Mom, it’s time to forget responsibilities and obligations. Now is the time to rest and restore all your energies. Soon your baby will be home and you will need a lot of energy to take care of him and face the marathon of breastfeeding. Leave everything ready, including the suitcase that you will take to the maternity ward, and get plenty of rest these days.
Around the 37th week of pregnancy, many moms find themselves organizing their closets and washing their floors. This is the phenomenon that people lovingly refer to as “nesting.” It may be something instinctive, your body detects that the baby will be here very soon. After all, you are 37 weeks pregnant, which is considered “early term,” meaning the baby is almost ready. Nesting can also be your brain’s way of trying to make sure it is ready for when the baby is born. Having a friendly cushion for your baby definitely gives you a head start on this new task of parenting. At least that’s something you can control.
How big is the baby at 37 weeks?
At 37 weeks pregnant, your baby is the size of a head of romaine lettuce. Baby is approximately 19.1 inches. Her average weight at 37 weeks is 6.3 pounds, and the baby is gaining about half an ounce each day.
37 weeks pregnant, how many months is it?
37 weeks pregnant is eight months and about one week. You have only three weeks until the date of birth.
Symptoms of pregnancy at week 37
At 37 weeks pregnant, symptoms can be mistaken for signs of labor. This is what you might feel this week:
- Acidity. The baby continues to put pressure on your digestive system around the due date.
- Light stains. Some spotting is normal in the 37th week of pregnancy. Remember, the cervix is more sensitive while you are pregnant, so sexual intercourse can irritate you and make you bleed. But call your doctor if it’s more than just a few drops of blood. Vaginal bleeding could be a sign of a problem with the placenta (such as placental abruption) and it is important to seek treatment immediately. In addition, you should not confuse spotting or bleeding with the “mucous plug”, a discharge tinged with blood. That is a totally harmless sign, your cervix is changing to prepare for birth.
- Stretch marks. Sorry, but new stretches may appear on your belly from 37 weeks pregnant and every week thereafter. Keep the body oil on hand and apply it when you can. Also, you should drink plenty of water, even though you are constantly heading to the bathroom (probably every two minutes).
- Abdominal pressure If the baby has dropped into your pelvis prior to labor, he or she is putting more pressure on your abdomen, which could lead to some new lower aches and pains, as well as an increased need for to pee.
- Trouble sleeping It is normal to be up in the middle of the night, at the end of your pregnancy. Some strategies that can help you get more sleep include: get enough light exercise during the day, drink plenty of water (except just before bed), and limit your caffeine intake.
- Contractions At 37 weeks, you can expect cramps or contractions. After all, you are going to have a baby soon. You may find that the contractions go away if you sit or lie down. That means the contractions are not really those of labor. Make sure to stay hydrated, as dehydration could put you in early labor.
- Nausea. A fairly typical stomach upset, practically at any time during pregnancy. But now that you’re so close to your due date, it could be a sign that your baby will soon be born. If the nausea is severe (even if you are vomiting), inform your gynecologist so he or she can rule out a disease or pregnancy complication such as pre-eclampsia or HELLP.
57 percent of twins are born before the 37th week of pregnancy, so if your partner is still in your womb, you are in the minority of moms of the multiples that exceed this week. While you are probably feeling very uncomfortable and really anxious to have your cute babies, this represents a truly good thing for the moment of their birth.
Development of pregnancy at week 37
37 weeks pregnant is the perfect time to review the signs of labor. Every day, your chance of going into labor increases and you don’t want to be stuck in a car giving birth because they waited too long to get to the hospital (we don’t want to scare you, the chances of giving birth in a car are low, we just want to you are prepared).
The different signs of labor tend to fall into two categories: those that mean it’s coming soon, and those that signal what’s happening now.
You’ll soon go into labor if you notice these signs at 37 weeks (although we can’t say exactly when, because every pregnancy is different).
- Mucus and bleeding You can see a bit of thick mucus in your underwear, either in large amounts or little by little. This is the mucus plug, which has been protecting your cervix the entire time. As the cervix dilates, the mucus plug is released to make way for the baby. The mucus plug may or may not have a blood tinge in it, if it does, that is the “mucus plug.” “
- Sickness. Some women swear that they start to feel sick to their stomach just before labor begins. Therefore, at 37 weeks pregnant, nausea could mean that the baby is about to be born.
- Diarrhea When you’re 37 weeks pregnant, diarrhea could just be the normal reaction to any food or it could be an unmistakable sign of labor. This happens because your hormones change to prepare for labor and can also stimulate your intestines, causing diarrhea.
Here are the signs that labor has started: it means a call to your OB immediately:
- Water break. If you feel the water escaping, either in a stream or a drip That’s probably amniotic fluid. Most women go into labor within 12 hours of the water bag rupture.
- Regular contractions If the contractions keep repeating and seem to be coming more and more frequently, you are most likely in labor. As your uterus contracts, your cervix dilates so the baby can go through the time of delivery. If this is your first pregnancy, you may have regular contractions for several hours before going into what is known as’ active labor, which is when the contractions get very painful and require your full attention, as well as when you should be at the hospital.
- Back pain. Sometimes the baby is in a position in such a way that it puts extra pressure on your spine. If you have severe back pain and it’s constant, even more severe than any back pain you’ve ever had, up to the time in your pregnancy, or the pain radiating from your abdomen to your back (or vice versa), it could mean you’re in labor.
Your doctor will inform you when you will take your 37 weeks pregnant belly to the hospital. If your bag of water has broken, your doctor may advise you to be admitted immediately to the hospital, as you may need to be monitored for an infection. If you’re already having contractions, you likely need to constantly spawn five minutes or less apart before many hospitals will admit you, so the further away you are, the sooner you’ll have to leave your home.
At 37 weeks, many mothers are dying to know how to induce labor. But don’t get ahead of yourself! A 37-week fetus is considered “short term.” That means doctors don’t recommend inducing or doing a cesarean just yet. That’s because at 37 weeks pregnant, some babies need a couple more weeks to complete their development. If you go into labor, that’s totally cool, but there’s no need to rush things. Once you reach 39 weeks, which is considered “full term,” you can feel free to go for a long walk, have sex, or have acupuncture in the hopes of naturally inducing labor. Those things are considered safe and can work very well (although none of them are scientifically proven). But if your baby can still stay strong for a couple more weeks, it can make a big difference in your baby’s health at birth. Consider it the first of many altruistic acts of love, which you will perform especially for your baby!
Ultrasound at week 36 of pregnancy
Your baby is already practicing some of his new skills: inhale, exhale, suck, grasp, and blink. As for the less pretty news, your baby is in charge of producing the first sticky poop (called meconium) ready for his first diaper.
A 37-week ultrasound may be done by your doctor as part of a biophysical profile. The profile is designed to measure the well-being of your baby, using ultrasound and the results of a non-stress test.
For mothers who are 37 weeks pregnant with twins, your doctor might talk with you about induction or cesarean delivery (depending on your medical history and the condition of the babies). Some doctors recommend that this happen at 38 weeks pregnant with twins, so you could be sharing with your babies in as little as a week.
No matter how or when you are going to have your baby (or babies), try to be more patient and calmly wait for the right moment for your baby to be born. Remember that it could be any day from now or it could be in a few weeks. If you feel anxious, you can go find something else to clean (if you think you have everything ready, then dare to look behind the refrigerator).
Considerations regarding pregnancy at week 37
- Schedule your 38 week prenatal visit
- Learn the signs of possible postpartum depression.
- Read a little about the basics related to baby hygiene.
Kathie Sand always saw the world of beauty as the terrain on which to build her professional career, a goal that was clear to her when she was only 15 years old. Her great concern to expand knowledge led her to settle in Paris where she studied hand in hand with the best beauty professionals and with the most advanced techniques for skin care.