{"id":10228,"date":"2021-04-15T07:14:50","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T11:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10228\/week-37-pregnancy\/"},"modified":"2024-04-23T14:52:17","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T18:52:17","slug":"week-37-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10228\/week-37-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"37 weeks pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For more information about week 37 in a twin or multiple pregnancy, tap here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another week closer to your due date! And this week, <\/span>Baby<\/span> is considered near-term.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How\u2019s Baby<\/span>?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Baby<\/span> is over 6-7 pounds and 19 inches (48.9 cm) tall, the size of a honeydew melon. At 37 weeks your little honey is now considered near-term, meaning their systems are developed enough to sustain them outside of the womb, which is a big milestone. But growing in the womb for a couple more weeks can do nothing but help, as Baby<\/span> continues to put on more of that adorable baby fat that you\u2019re going to love spending so much time hugging and kissing! They also keep inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid as their lungs prepare to make their grand entrance into this open, airy world. Their digestive system also waits in the wings for the time when Baby<\/span> will need it for something other than the amniotic fluid it\u2019s been practicing with for all of these months.<\/p>\n

Baby<\/span>\u2019s reflexes are quite strong by now, and if you were to put your finger in the middle of their palm, your baby\u2019s hand would grasp around yours. By the time your little one is born, this reflex, and Baby<\/span>\u2019s grip, will be strong enough that you could almost lift Baby<\/span> up this way (not that you should try it out!). In fact, when Baby<\/span> first comes into the world, they\u2019re already going to have a full set of reflexes that will help them thrive.<\/p>\n

What’s new with you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Many people start to notice thicker discharge or even their full mucous plug make an exit. As your cervix softens and thins, it\u2019s common for this jelly-like substance to ooze out, either bit by bit or all at once. Sometimes you\u2019ll see small amounts of blood along with it. Speaking of which, slight spotting can be pretty common at the end of pregnancy due to cervical changes. <\/span>While this is common, especially after a vaginal exam or sex, contact your provider if you notice increased vaginal bleeding that requires the use of a pad<\/span>.<\/p>\n

And as your due date keeps approaching, make sure that you have everything in order for your trip to the hospital or birthing center and, more importantly, Baby<\/span>\u2019s first journey home! This means that if you\u2019re using a car for the ride home, make sure you have an up-to-date infant car seat that you\u2019re sure is properly installed. If you\u2019re not sure that the car seat or base is installed correctly, look into car seat installation services in your area with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician or CPST. <\/span>It\u2019s also helpful to practice using your <\/span>car seat<\/span>. Most newborn seats come in and out of a base, so know how to do this, how to adjust the straps and any other bells and whistles. Hospital personnel don\u2019t typically have training in how different car seat brands adjust and install, so it\u2019s <\/span>something<\/span> you will definitely need to know for your first ride as a family!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reviewed by\u00a0the Ovia Health Clinical Team<\/h5>\n
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