At 37 weeks pregnant, you’re only a few weeks away from the delivery date! At this stage your baby is as big as romaine lettuce, 19.1 inches long and weighing about 6.3 pounds. Now the baby is gaining about 0.5 ounce each day!
37 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms
Source:babygaga.com
Increased heartburn
The 37 weeks fetus keeps putting pressure on your digestive system organs, as it keeps growing during this last phase. To add up to this, the changes in your hormones cause further indigestion. Due to these, almost every food you eat does not seem to go well with your system. It is, however, best to stick to foods that don’t contain too many spices and too much oil. Keep drinking water to keep yourself hydrated, which aids digestion.
Trouble sleeping
The hormones are to blame again! It is common to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to go back to sleep. This will continue till your delivery date. The best way to combat this situation, only to a certain extent though, is to exercise, take naps throughout the day, drink ample water, and limit your caffeine intake.
Abdominal pressure
Now that the baby is in your lower abdominal area, it puts more pressure on your abdomen with each passing day. You will have to bear with this until delivery. After all, there’s only little time to go for the big day!
Spotting
A few spots of blood are normal at 37 weeks pregnant. Your cervix is very sensitive at this stage and can react to even slight frictions. If you see more than a few drops of blood, contact your doctor immediately as it might be a sign of “placental abruption”.
Increased contractions
As you draw nearer to the delivery date, you are likely to experience increased cramps. These are mainly Braxton Hicks contractions, which help in getting you ready for delivery. The trick to reduce these cramps is to lie on your side! Remember to keep yourself hydrated.
Nausea
At 37 weeks pregnant, you feel nauseous and develop aversions towards every food. This is normal. Only a few more weeks to go and you’re done with this! Eat lots of fruits, especially apples, and drink water to make the digestion process easy.
37 Weeks Pregnant Belly
At 37 weeks pregnant, your belly is not much different from last week because you’ve basically crossed the major ‘belly-growing’ phase. Although it is not always safe, your baby is ready to come out any moment! It is time for you to test your own belly for symptoms of early labour. The most common signs of going into labour are:
- Regular nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Mucus plug: If you notice thick mucus in your underwear, with or without traces of blood, you are going into labour. There’s a ‘mucus plug’ that protects your cervix until right before delivery, when the cervix dilates to make way for the baby.
- Regular and increased contractions
- Water break: If you notice a trickle or a gush of fluid coming out of your vaginal opening, consider this as a calling bell for labour. This means that your sac has broken and you shall go into labour within 12 hours.
- Severe back ache
During this time, walking might become difficult because as you move, the amniotic fluid moves and makes you wobble!
Pregnancy Ultrasound
37 weeks pregnancy ultrasound is usually done as a part of your biophysical profile during this week. You will see that your baby is more active than ever! It is inhaling, exhaling, sucking, and gripping. The fetus is now gradually discharging its first set of poop that will require cleaning soon after birth. This is called ‘meconium’.
During this ultrasound, the gynaecologist tests the baby’s sugar level and other health conditions, and plans your delivery process.
Dos and Don’ts During Week 37 of Pregnancy
Dos –
Rely on liquid food
At 37 weeks pregnant, you are likely to be nauseated all the time. Along with it, there’s also heartburn to add to your discomfort! Stick to liquid foods like fruit juices and vegetable soups, which are healthy and easy to digest. They also keep you well hydrated.
Drink lots of water
Keeping your system hydrated is vital to combat heartburn and constipation. Make sure that you drink more than 2 litres of water regularly. Some expecting women reduce their water intake due to an increase in the visits to the washroom. Never follow the same!
Exercise
No matter how bloated and tired you are, exercise regularly. Lack of exercise will lead to more sleepless nights and unnatural cramps. Stick to the basics like walking, stretching, practising yoga, and meditating.
Read up on baby-grooming
If not now, when? By now you must already have started reading books and journals on baby care. Try to read more about child rearing before the baby comes out because post-delivery you will hardly get an opportunity to dedicate time and attention to yourself!
Don’ts –
Bend down
At 37 weeks pregnant, your belly is too delicate. Avoid putting any kind of pressure on it. Hence, bending down might hold a risk of breaking your water. Get somebody to help you with your shoes and trousers.
Walk too much
Walking too much now, can cause the amniotic fluid to move and hit the walls of the sac, resulting in premature breakage. However, do the regular walking that is required for exercising your body. Just make sure that you don’t exceed the upper limit.
Eat too many sweets
At this last stage, you might think that the baby is grown well and can handle slight alterations to food habits. You’re wrong! Many pregnant women end up eating too many sweets during this time, to satisfy their last-stage sugar rush. Remember that till the time the baby is inside, your food intake is responsible for its nutritional intake. Too many sweets can lead to gestational diabetes.
Stay alone for too long
At 37 weeks pregnant, it is not safe for you to stay alone for long hours. Hire an assistant to help you with your shoes, preparation of food, running errands, and keeping a tab on your labour signs.
At 37 weeks pregnant, you must be extra careful about the signs of labor and keep your doctor posted about the latest developments in your body. Keep your partner nearby, and enjoy the last few days before the child comes out!
