37 weeks pregnant: Baby’s development, symptoms and top tips

At 37 weeks, your baby is almost 49 cm long and weighs around 2.9 kg (about 6 lb 4 oz).

Your full-term baby is ready for the outside world now, and could come at any time. Their soft bones will help them ease their way down the birth canal – the temporary name for your vagina – and into your arms.

Still wriggling

Your baby is a little squished inside your uterus now, but that doesn’t stop them having a stretch and a wriggle. The movements may feel different to you – more like a push than a poke – but shouldn’t decrease in frequency. Remember to keep monitoring baby’s movement right up to the end of your pregnancy.

Breathing underwater

Your baby is currently receiving all their oxygen via the umbilical cord. When they are born, the shock of it all (Light! Air! Sound! Cold!) makes them inhale. This first breath pushes the amniotic fluid out of their lungs, and the functions that allowed them to carry out all those ‘practice breaths’ in the watery womb are immediately shut down. Amazing!

You're bound to be feeling restless and agitated about what you’re about to experience –especially if this is your first baby. You’ll be unsure what your body’s symptoms mean and won’t know whether or not they indicate that birth is imminent.

Your internal organs feel increasing pressure 

If false labour (which moves your baby down into your lesser pelvis so that they’re in the position for birth) hasn’t happened yet, it probably will this week. This will increase the load on your lesser pelvis and pelvic floor, which you’ll feel as a kind of downward pressure. The good news is, it does mean your lungs won’t be as squeezed and you can breathe more freely. Exercises where you move in a gentle, circular motion will help you avoid pelvic floor muscle cramps, alleviate the pressure and make you more relaxed, as well as help your baby get into position for birth.

Signs the baby is on its way

Labour could now begin at any time. Frequent early signs (https://www.hipp.co.uk/pregnancy-baby-toddler-advice/expert-articles/early-signs-of-labour) you may experience include diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches, serious backache and abdominal pain, but the major sign that real labour is on its way is when you notice discharge containing blood (the so-called ‘bloody show’). This indicates that the mucus plug in front of your cervix is finally loosening and it looks different to the watery milky white discharge you have probably noticed before now.

When real labour begins, it might kickstart with your waters breaking (i.e. the amniotic sac will burst), which you’ll notice as a trickle or gush of amniotic fluid coming out of your vagina. If this happens it’s best to call your maternity unit for guidance on whether to proceed straight to the hospital. (They will probably want to see a sample of the amniotic fluid, so stick a pad in your underwear before you go in.) Sometimes the amniotic sac doesn’t burst until partway through labour, so other early indicators would be those regular contractions, which increase in frequency and intensity as labour progresses.

Remember, your baby will continue moving during labour, so if movements stop you should proceed straight to hospital for monitoring.

Dilation

Did you know, your cervix may already be dilated? Particularly if this is not your first baby, your cervix could be up to 2 cm dilated before labour even begins. At 3 cm dilated you are probably in the early stages of labour. You need to get to 10 cm dilated before you can start pushing.

Your cervix is also shortening, becoming softer and thinner in preparation for childbirth in a process called effacement. Effacing and dilation are both necessary components of labour.

Breast changes

Your breasts have been growing and changing throughout your pregnancy, and will continue to change in the next few weeks. Once your baby arrives, your milk will come in. This may take a few days – longer if you’ve had a C-section – but don’t worry, there is plenty of colostrum in there already to keep them going.

When your milk comes in, your breasts may become engorged (swollen and hard), which can be quite painful. Warm compresses, a nice warm bath or shower, and a bit of hand expressing can help ease the pain and soften your breasts enough to allow your baby to latch on. Don’t be tempted to pump the milk off unless you plan to feed it to your baby, as your milk comes on a supply-and-demand basis and pumping milk to dump will encourage your body to create more, continuing the problem rather than relieving it.

Carry your maternity notes everywhere you go

Every time you leave the house now you should take your maternity notes and birth plan with you – just in case. Have your hospital bag packed and ready near the door too – you might be needing it sooner than you think! Take a look at our handy hospital checklist if you're not sure what to pack.

Plan your journey to the hospital

Come up with a plan for the moment birth begins: How will you get to the hospital/midwifery unit? Who will go with you? Who will you tell and when? Do you know where your bag is? This will help you by reducing your stress levels. Make sure the car always has plenty of petrol (and a car seat installed!) and you have backup plans in case your birth partner is held up for some reason.

Harvesting colostrum

It’s not necessary to harvest colostrum before your baby is born. However, some women like to familiarise themselves with the process of hand expressing and in specific cases your doctor or midwife might recommend you begin collecting your colostrum – for example, if your baby is expected to have a high or low birth weight, if you’re expecting multiples, or if your baby has Down’s syndrome.

If you do decide to start harvesting your colostrum, talk to your midwife first. Not only can they advise on best practice, but they can also give out oral syringes, caps and labels so that you can store the colostrum safely for when you need it. Guidance on how to hand express and collect colostrum can be found here.

Nutrition

You’ve been eating well throughout your pregnancy. Don’t stop now! Keep your energy levels up by maintaining a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet. Meal-prepping for after the baby comes will also help you continue this healthy diet in the fourth trimester when otherwise it can be too easy to lean on unhealthy convenience foods.

Eat slowly

If you’re still suffering with indigestion and heartburn, try slowing down your eating. Your gastrointestinal system is under pressure – literally – from your uterus and won’t deal well with big portions eaten fast. Eating slowly gives your body more time to digest your food. Some people find that they eat slower when they’re sitting at a table with someone, having a conversation.

Right now, you’re probably on baby watch 24/7, expecting labour to start at any moment. But in addition to signs of labour, you should also be keeping an eye out for any of the following symptoms:

Is 37 weeks full term for a baby?

Yes, in the UK pregnancy is said to last for 37 – 42 weeks. A baby born at 37 weeks is considered full term.

What should I be feeling at 37 weeks pregnant?

At 37 weeks, you’re probably feeling the most ‘expectant’ you’ve been feeling the whole time you’ve been expecting. Everywhere you look (including here!)you’re being told the baby is now full-term and could arrive at any time! You’ll also be so ready to meet your baby, and so done with being pregnant. The next few weeks are going to be uncomfortable, but it will all be worth it.

In terms of physical symptoms, pelvic pressure, digestive discomfort and frequent urination are par for the course at 37 weeks. Your baby will still be kicking and wriggling, but the movements might feel different because of how little room the baby has. Expect to see tiny feet and fists poking into your belly from the inside.

How do I know if my baby is head down at 37 weeks?

If your bump has dropped, there’s a good chance your baby is head down and ready to go. Ask your midwife. They have the experience to palpate your tummy, and can usually tell a lovely baby bum from a head!

How likely am I to go into labour at 37 weeks?

The Office for National Statistics doesn’t collect data on the specific week of gestation at which babies are born, so we don’t have the data to give you the full picture on this, unfortunately. Anecdotally, your baby is more likely to arrive between weeks 39 and 41 than at week 37, but it happens!

Is sharp pain normal at 37 weeks?

Sharp pains can strike at 37 weeks – especially low down in your pelvis, sometimes called lightning crotch! This is a quick, sharp pain (if you’re experiencing prolonged pain, seek medical attention) that strikes seemingly without warning and feels like it’s happening in your vagina – hence the name. Some people experience this as a short, sharp pain, while for others it’s a tingling pins-and-needles sensation. Either way, it’s not pleasant but not dangerous.

Other sharp pains might be felt in your stomach, either side of your uterus where those round ligaments are struggling to cope with your ever-rounding bump. Support your bump when you cough, sneeze, laugh, and as you get out of bed, so those round ligaments aren’t having to carry the load all by themselves.

Got questions? At the HiPPBabyClub, we bring you real-world advice and support from HiPP parents, midwives, nutritionists and more. Join our Baby Club to find out more.