Pregnancy Week 37

What’s your baby up to?

Your baby weighs about 2.8kg and measures around 48.8cm long from head to toe. Your baby is ready for the outside world, and there’s hardly any more room left to kick around in; but he still needs a little more time for his brain and lungs to fully mature.

Get your nail clips ready, because your baby’s finger nails are now growing beyond the fingertips. Also growing thick and coarse at this stage is your baby’s lock of hair; except of course your little one is destined to be a bald cutie.

If you are having twins, they are due this week. If your babies are not born by then, most twin pregnancies are induced by 38 weeks because the health risks increase after that.

How are you doing?

You’ll find that your are breathing much more easily, and your bump may have dropped slightly. This is called ‘lightening’, and is because your baby has moved lower into your pelvis, and hopefully, his head has ‘engaged’. If you are told your baby’s head has not engaged, don’t feel downcast, all babies are different, and some even wait until labour starts to engage. If your baby still doesn’t engage during labour, he would have to be born through a cesarean section.

You may also have noticed an increased vaginal discharge. Be on the look out for a ‘bloody show’ known as the mucous plug. It is a blood-tinged discharge which usually tells you that labour is not too far away. Start heading to the hospital once you lose your mucous plug.

Your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent these days, and sleeping comfortably might be mission impossible at this stage. Support pillows can make a lot of difference.

What should you do this week?

Recheck your hospital bag, get the house ready for baby’s arrival. Be as ready for the hospital as possible. Remember that your EDD was only an approximation, and most women deliver their babies between weeks 38 and 42. In fact, only 5% of babies are born on their due dates.

If you have older children, make arrangement for someone to look after them when you go into labour.

Be certain of how you’ll get to the hospital and the delivery ward. It’s best to have taken a tour of the hospital by now.

You should really take things slowly now, keep eating well, and do gentle exercises if you can.

Finally, stay informed, healthy and inspired, by reading  Maternity Nest. Connect with other moms-to-be for moral support, by joining your Due Date Club in the The Nest.