Pregnant: What happens in week 37 of pregnancy

Your baby's development in the 37th week of pregnancy

Fully developed: Your baby is now optimally prepared for life after birth. The organs are fully developed and matured and your little one can independently regulate its body temperature. Bones, muscles, hair and skin are also now in their final stages of development. A birth from the 37th week of pregnancy is therefore already considered full term.

The scalp hair is growing: On ultrasound you could already see your baby's little tuft in recent weeks. In the 37th week of pregnancy the scalp hair grows another good stretch: up to 2.5 cm long are the hairs on the head now. However, the hair color is not yet determined. Only some time after birth will it become clear which hair color and texture your baby has inherited.

Lanugo and vernix disappear: In week 37 the soft down that has protected your baby in recent months slowly falls out. The vernix is no longer produced as much and slowly separates off. Both settle in the amniotic fluid and are swallowed by your baby. Shortly after birth it will be expelled by your baby shortly after birth as so-called meconium.

Lots of sleep: Your baby is probably already positioned in the pelvis. There's not much room there for expansive gymnastics anymore. Most of the day, however, it simply sleeps to gather strength for the exhausting birth and the time afterwards. Sometimes it even dreams and sucks its thumb.

What can be seen on the ultrasound image?

Your baby is currently gaining between 20 and 50 grams per day and has thereby cracked the 3-kilogram mark surpassed it. In the brown fat tissue your little one is now storing more energy. The cute baby fat creates little folds of skin at the tiny knees and elbows that you'll like to pinch later. In the 37th week of pregnancy your baby is about the size of Swiss chard – it now measures about 48 cm.

Physical changes – what happens to the mother in week 37 of pregnancy?

There are only about 3 to 4 weeks until birth – now it's time to hold on! As with the 36th week of pregnancy your baby and the uterus press on your organs. That's why you are probably accompanied by typical pregnancy complaints, such as nausea, diarrhea and lower abdominal pain. Also, your baby bump can become hard in this phase due to lightening contractions and your round ligaments stretch, which you perceive as pulling in the lower abdomen. What else happens to your body and how to correctly interpret signs of labor, you'll find out now:

Lowering of the belly: As your baby settles into the birth position, your belly noticeably drops as well. Our tip: If your belly itches uncomfortably because of the tension, regular moisturizing or rubbing with apple cider vinegar will soothe your skin.

Nesting instinct: A powerful burst of energy shortly before birth leads some women to once again prepare everything for their baby: Cleaning the nursery, washing baby clothes and baby-proofing the apartment are then on the to-do list. But despite the extra energy, treat yourselves to enough breaks or even a nap.

Listening for signs: In the 37th week of pregnancy, most women feel a concrete longing for the baby. You often withdraw into yourselves and wait for the first signs of labor. If you're worried that you'll miss the signs, then trust your body. Because labor usually doesn't happen suddenly but as a process, it is not a problem if you don't correctly interpret the first opening contractions yet.

How to correctly interpret the signs of labor

You are now in the 37th week of pregnancy. That means that labor can begin at any time. But it can also still take a few weeks until you hold your baby in your arms. Therefore it's important to pay attention to the signs your body gives that indicate the approaching birth.

If the mucus plug from the uterus from the 33rd week of pregnancy has not yet detached, it can come away this week and you may experience a 'show'.bloody and mucous discharge in your underwear. If in that context your pre-labor contractions become stronger and more regular, this can be a sign of labor and the opening contractions.

Through the opening contractions the water breaking occurs – probably the clearest sign that labor has started. Your amniotic sac ruptures and the amniotic fluid flows out of the vagina. This can either leak in drops or gush out in a stream. Now is the right time to slowly make your way to the way to the hospital to go. Don't stress, because it will probably still take a few hours until the first contractions start. Our tip: Keep your hospital bag ready in the hallway, because from the 37th week of pregnancy labor can start at any moment.

Important tasks in the 37th week of pregnancy

Labor-preparatory acupuncture: In recent weeks many women have been using traditional Chinese medicine to prepare their bodies for the strains of labor. More and more midwives are offering an acupuncture treatment to make the cervix and the uterine muscle more elastic for the baby's head.For this, needles are inserted into your legs once a week and, from the third session, also into the little toe. So that the treatment can develop its full effect by the time of birth, midwives recommend starting at the latest in week 37.
Have important documents ready: Sometimes things can happen quickly when your waters break. But even if you still have some time after contractions start to drive to the birthing center or clinic, the necessary papers are probably the last thing you want to think about. However, they absolutely belong in a complete hospital bag: Identity card, maternity record, birth certificate, insurance card, marriage certificate and family register or a recognition of paternity, if you and your partner are not married.
Organize childcare: Already a few weeks ago you decided who should accompany you during the birth. Many parents who are not having their first child decide that siblings should only meet after the birth. If your partner is supporting you during the birth, you will need someone who is available day and night to look after the children during the birth. You should already ask around whether the grandparents or friends can support you. Otherwise it's time to find a trusted babysitter to care for, who can step in when you head to the hospital or birthing clinic. If the person is still unknown to your children, it's advisable to arrange meetings with them before the birth so your child won't be suddenly surprised by a stranger's face.

For the 38th week of pregnancy