What does 37 weeks of pregnancy mean on Monday? So, you are in the ninth month, the third trimester. At the same time, it is 35 weeks since conception. Birth can begin at any time.
Normally, babies are born between 37 and 42 weeks, so we continue to rely on the weekly calculation, but not on how many months it means. Therefore, if regular painful contractions have started, with a tendency to increase in frequency and, especially, if the amniotic fluid has leaked – go to the hospital immediately.
According to the WHO, births that take place between 22 and 37 weeks of pregnancy are considered premature.
Body changes
In principle, at 37 weeks of pregnancy, physical changes are associated with large uterine size and preparation for birth and breastfeeding.
Uterine changes. The weight of the uterus reaches its maximum, and its volume reaches 4-5 liters. Due to its gradual decrease, the pressure on the bladder and the nerve endings of the hip area increase. Hence the back pain, the sensations of pulling on the legs, the discomfort in the muscles of the perineum.
Periodic contractions. Uterine training contractions become the norm. The main thing is not to confuse them with the real ones. The placenta gradually ages as its function nears completion.
Fetal movements.Baby’s movements at week 37 of pregnancy can be painful and uncomfortable. Watch the baby move, they reflect his general condition. Weakening of the movements, a decrease in their frequency can indicate the intrauterine suffering of the fetus. At 37 weeks pregnant, you should feel 10 more movements in 12 hours.
Hypertension. The phenomenon is not uncommon in late pregnancy, but beware that it can cause a dangerous complication of pregnancy – preeclampsia.
Blindness. Progesterone retains fluid in the tissues, including the visual organ. The structure of the eye changes. Vision loss can be 1-2 diopters. If the vision was not ideal before pregnancy, the pathology increases.
Weight. You can stop gaining weight – this is one of the signs of the approaching birth.
Burta . Now you feel it easier. Most likely, your belly went down and you became freer to breathe. However, do not be alarmed if you feel that your belly has not fallen – in some pregnant women this phenomenon occurs just before birth or during birth, and this is a completely normal option.
Emotional changes
Big, heavy belly, weakness, pain in the lower back and legs suddenly limit the activity and you always feel tired. Therefore, irritability and tears are common phenomena for pregnant women in recent weeks.
Don’t get angry for no reason – the desire to give birth faster is inherent in many and from now on it will only increase. But do not rush the time – the child knows for himself when it is better for him to see the light of day.
Fear and anxiety about childbirth in the last weeks of pregnancy can literally paralyze a woman’s strength. You need to calm down and understand that birth is a natural mechanism offered by nature from beginning to end, regulated by evolution and modern science.
It will all end sooner or later, and you will be amazed at how these emotions will turn into ridiculous and exaggerated ones.
The fact that we were all born in the same way already indicates that this event should be treated with a greater degree of optimism. Most likely, you are simply afraid of the unknown.
Don’t worry, talk about it with your doctor, husband, friends or mom. They will certainly understand and support you.
Symptoms
Baby at 37 weeks pregnant, pictures
Starting with the 37th week of pregnancy, the woman should be fully prepared for the birth at any time.
Keep in mind that with multiple pregnancies, childbirth usually begins a few weeks earlier.
Numbness. Sometimes there is a numbness of the limbs, which is associated with a violation of microcirculation in the vessels.
Edema and varicose veins. The 37th week of pregnancy is the period when edema and varicose veins can occur. Most often, this is due to the work of the kidneys, which cannot cope with the increased pregnancy.
To avoid edema, it is necessary to reduce the daily amount of fluid consumed to 1-1.5 liters and eat less salt – this will reduce the burden on the kidneys and stop the edema process.
Vaginal discharge. The secretion from the genital tract of the pregnant woman should be milky white, uniform, with a slight pungent odor.
At the end of the pregnancy, a slight mixture of mucus is allowed, which may contain a small amount of blood. This is a mucous plug that has served as a barrier throughout pregnancy to prevent the infection from reaching the baby.
It begins to be eliminated in small amounts 2 weeks before birth. Below we will describe in more detail about this substance.
Stomach burns.Lowering the abdomen reduces the pressure of the uterus on the stomach and esophagus, but heartburn may persist. Gastric juice, which is excreted during strong gastric contractions in the esophagus, irritates the receptors and causes heartburn. You can deal with them by splitting meals, rejecting acidic, spicy foods.
Shortness of breath. When the big belly starts to go down, the woman’s center of gravity starts to change. It becomes more difficult for her to walk, climb stairs and even work easily. Any activity can cause difficulty breathing.
Changes in venous blood flow contribute to the accumulation of blood in the pelvis. With unstable bowel movements, these processes lead to the formation of hemorrhoidal nodules and their inflammation. The way out is to correct the diet, to include fiber in it.
Not only the baby but also the mother’s body is preparing for the birth. The mammary glands begin to produce colostrum and distribute it along the canals. Lactating hormones increase their activity.
Problematic sleep. It becomes more difficult to sleep: it is difficult to find a comfortable position of the body, the pains intensify, the thoughts about the approaching birth are excruciating. Cramps, low back pain and high blood pressure may increase.
There are sharp pains in the muscles of the leg, neck, back. Seizures occur suddenly. The reason for this condition is a deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Serious neurological reasons are not excluded. A doctor’s consultation is required.
Nausea, vomiting. For week 37, nausea is not a typical symptom. If it occurs, you should look for problems in the gastrointestinal tract, adjust your diet. However, there are severe cases, the confirmation of which is the presence of acetone in the urine. In this case, urgent treatment is needed.
Headache. It can be caused by: hormonal background, high or low blood pressure, low hemoglobin levels, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, a sharp change in weather conditions, stress.
Low back pain. They occur due to the displacement of the center of gravity, the lowering of the abdomen, the periodic preparatory contractions of the uterine muscles. Light massages are recommended to reduce back pain.
Abdominal pain. Stomach pain at 37 weeks of pregnancy is associated with false contractions. However, abdominal pain may be less harmless. Severe pain, accompanied by bleeding or dizziness, can cause serious problems, such as abrupt placental abruption. In this case, you should call your doctor immediately.
What is a mucous plug
A clot of mucus, in appearance and consistency similar to egg white – this is what the mucous plug looks like. It is formed until the end of the first month of pregnancy in the cervix, under the influence of hormones.
When the fetal egg moves into the uterus and is implanted there, the cervix swells, softens, and fills with cervical mucus, which is produced by the cervix’s own cells.
Then the mucus thickens and clogs the entrance to the uterus, protecting the mother’s fetus and body from infections.
At the end of pregnancy, under the influence of hormonal estrogen, the mucus softens and the clot comes out. It usually occurs immediately before birth or in a few hours or days, sometimes in 2 weeks. It happens that the mucus is removed when the pregnant woman is examined by a gynecologist.
In this case, the cause of the removal is the tone of the smooth muscles of the uterus – due to contraction, it is pushed out.
The plug can come out whole or in pieces. In some women, it gradually comes out over several days in the form of a secretion, reminiscent of the onset or end of menstruation.
Pregnant women may not notice mucus leaking at all, especially if it comes out during urination or showering. Often, the plug is removed during birth.
Usually, it has a yellow, beige, pink, brown color, it can be colorless. Signs of blood can also be seen in the clot – this is due to the fact that when the uterus opens, the small capillaries burst and the blood enters the mucus.
If there is a little blood, the color will be pink or brown. A small amount of blood in the plug is a completely normal situation. If there is a lot of blood in it, you should consult your gynecologist. There is a risk of placental abruption.
Child development
- Fat weight: 2.6-2.8 kg.
- Length: 48-49 cm.
- Size: a celery with leaves
At 37 weeks of pregnancy, the baby continues to prepare for birth. There are no significant changes – you simply gain weight and increase in length.
Some changes affect the child’s musculoskeletal system – calcium continues to be deposited in the bones. They increase in length. The process will continue long after birth.
The work of the brain is getting better, the reflexes become stable – the sucking reflex is the most pronounced, the baby sucks his finger all the time free of sleep, preparing to receive food from the mother’s breast.
The child reacts actively to everything that happens, and the mother can understand if her child likes something or not.
The visual and auditory devices are fully formed, the child is ready to perceive and process the information. He already hears, remembers and discerns his parents’ voices, the music his mother listens to.
Babies after 37 weeks of pregnancy swallow amniotic fluid with lubricant, lanugo and secretion products. All this will remain in the baby’s digestive tract until birth.
The work of the child’s intestines will begin with the elimination of meconium – the stool that has a very dark color.
The baby can already take, digest and assimilate food, because the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines is lined with a hairy epithelium, which is able to absorb nutrients.
The little one is training to breathe. The lungs are well developed and continue to accumulate surfactant. In case of birth, the baby will breathe normally.
In the process of this “breathing”, a small amount of amniotic fluid enters the lungs. Feto-placental insufficiency and the presence of meconium in amniotic fluid increase the risk of intrauterine lung infection.
The child’s liver accumulates intense iron, necessary for the production of blood cells, which will be useful for the child in the first year of life.
What the baby looks like
The baby looks like a newborn. This week, most of the lanugo disappears – the so-called hair covering the baby’s skin.
In addition, the lubricant begins to disappear – a substance similar to butter, which protects the baby’s skin in the womb. However, a small amount of fat may persist until birth. The baby’s skin is pink, covered with lanugo only in the shoulder area and the lower back.
The hair on his head continues to grow. Subcutaneous fat is deposited, especially on the face, making the cheeks more rounded.
The bones of the skull retain their suppleness for longer, thanks to which the fetal head is able to change its shape and adapt to the mother’s birth canal, while keeping the brain intact.
The density and elasticity of the cartilaginous tissue increases, the atria are quite elastic. The baby’s fingernails are long, reaching to the fingertips.
Because of this, the child may scratch himself. The fetus moves less and less – there is not enough space for it in the uterus and it only makes minor movements.
Fetal development
- The baby is completely ready to be born. As soon as her body is ready for birth, the birth process will begin. At this point, the baby looks completely like a newborn.
- A sufficient amount of subcutaneous fat has been accumulated, which will help the newborn’s body maintain a constant body temperature and will serve as an excellent supply of nutrients for the period of adaptation of the digestive system to new functions. Thus, about 16 grams of fat are accumulated daily. According to statistics, boys are born older than girls.
- The cartilaginous bases of the ears and nose have become firm and strong. Now, the ears, even after bending or pressing, return to their original position.
- The development of the fetal nervous system continues. Myelination of nerve fibers is completed, ie the nerve trunks are activated, providing a rapid conduction of the nerve impulse.
- The baby trains diligently in breathing movements, thus preparing his lungs and breathing muscles for life outside the womb.
- The mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract already has small villi, on the surface of which will soon take place the absorption of nutrients that enter the child’s body. Intestinal motility is slowly activated.
- Cortisone is produced in the adrenal glands of the fetus, which ensures the complete preparation of the lungs for the first breath after birth.
- The baby’s lifestyle at week 37 is about the same as that of a newborn. Sleep takes up most of its time and, if it does not sleep, it sucks everything it finds nearby: fingers, forearms, umbilical cord. The child is clearly responsible for everything that happens around his mother.
- Hearing and sight are fully formed, the baby sees and hears everything perfectly, and his memory allows him to remember many interesting things later, starting from the mother’s voice.
- His agitation is less common. This is due to the tightness of the uterus and should not scare you.
- The thickness of the placenta over a period of 37 weeks is about 35 mm, and its aging processes are already observable.
Medical tests and examinations
At week 37, CTG – the recording of the fetal heartbeat, its movements and uterine contractions will be performed.
Your doctor will measure your blood pressure, the circumference of your belly and the height of your uterine bottom. It is also necessary to check for swelling of the limbs.
Ultrasound
Most often, ultrasound is prescribed at this time to women whose child was in the wrong position. It is clarified if the child “changed his mind” and if he returned.
At 37 weeks of pregnancy, cesarean section is possible in case of transverse and oblique position of the fetus in the uterus. In the transverse position, the fetus crosses the long axis of the uterus in a straight line. Thus, the baby in the womb is like a cradle.
Also, this ultrasound determines the blood flow in the placenta, the fetal size, the degree of maturity of the placenta, the amount of amniotic fluid.
Therefore, during the ultrasound, the volume of amniotic fluid around the baby, also called the amniotic fluid index, can be measured. This indicator may vary depending on the method your doctor uses for measurements. The level of amniotic fluid begins to drop starting at 37 weeks.
This can also affect the volume of amniotic fluid. If the future woman’s body is very dehydrated, then the volume may be smaller (it is recommended to drink plenty of water the day before the test).
The “biophysical profile” is also important to determine during an ultrasound scan. It helps to measure the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby and to assess the blood flow through the brain.
It may show how well the blood flows between the uterus and the placenta.
All the above tests cannot act as a single guide and do not guarantee 100% health of the child. In some cases, the ultrasound may show that the woman has a good AFI or an excellent biophysical profile (BPP), but the baby is not feeling very well.
During the baby’s ultrasound at 37 weeks of pregnancy, a Doppler examination of the vessels is also performed. The process verifies:
- Umbilical arteries;
- Uterine arteries;
- Utero-placental blood flow.
During ultrasound, fetometry is considered a mandatory procedure. It is designed to provide answers to the following questions: What size should the baby’s head be during this week of pregnancy
? It will be possible to take a picture of the fetus.
What indicators should the bones have
? Fetometry (fetal size) is normal if:
- biparietal size = 85–98 mm.
- fronto-occipital size = 106–126 mm.
- fetal head circumference) 307–353 mm.
- fetal abdomen = 299–361 mm.
Normal dimensions of long bones:
- The femur is 66–76 mm.
- The humerus is 59–69 mm.
- Forearm bones 51–59 mm.
Possible difficulties
Gestosis, preeclampsia and eclampsia
The main danger at this time is the development of gestosis and its transition to eclampsia. The condition can develop if your body does not cope with the pregnancy and your kidneys are disturbed.
Manifestations of gestosis are swelling, high blood pressure and protein in the urine.
If the symptoms are ignored, the condition worsens and goes into preeclampsia. It is manifested by impaired consciousness, headache, dizziness. If you feel unwell, call an ambulance.
Placental abruption
Another danger is premature detachment of the placenta. The condition can lead to heavy blood loss, fetal hypoxia and even death.
It is manifested by sharp abdominal pain and bloody vaginal discharge.
Uterine rupture
For women whose previous birth ended by cesarean section, there is a risk of rupture of the uterus along the old scar, so you should not lose sight of any abdominal pain.
Colds
The temperature and the runny nose, at 37 weeks of gestation, can cause you and your baby to be separated for a short time after birth and it will be very difficult to give birth.
The common cold often prevails against pregnant women because of their low immunity.
It is easy to distinguish cold from the first symptoms: malaise, weakness, nasal congestion, cough and, of course, fever. If these symptoms occur, call a home doctor.
If it is confirmed, it is necessary to drink warm liquids, to wash your nose with saline solutions, to ventilate the room as often as possible, to keep the humidity in the room at 50-60%. If the temperature rises above 38 degrees, you can reduce it with paracetamol. Doctors recommend avoiding other antipyretic drugs.
Cholestasis
Cholestasis is a condition that usually occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy and causes severe itching of the hands and feet.
Factors that increase the risk of cholestasis are: family or personal history of pregnancy cholestasis, pre-existing liver disease, twin pregnancy, pregnancy obtained by in vitro fertilization. Symptoms: dark urine, light stools, yellowing of the “white” of the eyes and skin.
But the most difficult thing to bear is the itching, especially at night. Cholestasis can temporarily prevent the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Even if the pruritus disappears a few days after birth and no other liver problems will occur, however, severe complications can occur in the baby: premature birth and possible shedding of meconium into the amniotic fluid.
Indications for cesarean section
These include: low or high levels of amniotic fluid, placenta praevia, fetal hypoxia.
Nutrition
The nutrition of the pregnant woman at week 37 must be balanced in terms of composition and energy value. It should fully meet all the needs of the mother and the fetus for nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
At the end of your pregnancy, you should strictly monitor your weight gain, trying not to overeat, not to overeat in sweets and fatty foods.
Also, spicy, fatty, smoked, carbohydrate foods should be excluded, because they contribute to increased heartburn, complicate the functioning of the liver and pancreas, cause stomach difficulties and disrupt sleep.
Therefore, food should be light, digestible. It should provide enough energy without creating a feeling of fullness in the stomach.
It is still necessary to limit the amount of salt to avoid swelling. Refusal of alcohol, coffee, strong tea also remains relevant.
In addition, do not include new foods and beverages in your diet that are prone to allergies. And don’t eat too many exotic fruits or mixtures based on them.
In the third trimester of pregnancy, it is better to go to 5-6 meals a day, in small portions. This will reduce the burden on the digestive system, undigested products will not accumulate in the intestine, which means that there will be no bloating, constipation and other unpleasant sensations.
Moreover, you have to distribute the products throughout the day. Keep in mind that digestive juices start to be produced from 9-10 in the morning, so that gastritis can develop without a full breakfast.
Protein increases metabolism and digests longer in the stomach, so it is recommended to eat meat, fish and eggs in the morning.
Two hours later, include a second breakfast of foods that also contain carbohydrates and complex fiber. You can eat buckwheat or oats, a salad of fresh vegetables in combination with fish or lean meat, cottage cheese with dried fruit and honey.
The peak activity of the digestive system takes place at 13-15. At this point, try to eat completely. Dinner is best taken 2-2.5 hours before bedtime – let the body have time to prepare for rest. For dinner, eat milk or vegetables.
Sports and Spa
At 37 weeks of pregnancy, it is allowed:
- Continue to massage the perineum – to prevent ruptures at birth.
- Attend classes for pregnant women.
- Have a light massage by a specialist who works with pregnant women.
- Swim properly and moderately.
- Go more in the fresh air.
- Attend yoga classes for pregnant women.
Sex
The question of sex at 37 weeks of pregnancy most often grinds men. The main fears can be combined in a list:
- will harm the child;
- the child feels and understands everything;
- this will cause uterine tone and birth;
- it will be painful, unpleasant;
- the changed body is ugly.
For the most part, all of these fears are unfounded. First of all, the child will not suffer in any way from your pleasures and, even if certain feelings are transmitted to him, it will be a feeling of pleasure of the mother, of her joy.
Secondly, the components of sperm really help the cervix to soften at birth, but we are talking about the 37th week of pregnancy from conception, when the baby is ready to be born, so it does not make sense to limit yourself. .
Third, if sex in the 37th week of pregnancy suddenly becomes painful and unpleasant, you should contact a specialist: having a normal pregnancy, intimate life should not cause discomfort. By the way, sex, on the contrary, in this case should be more pleasant.
According to surveys, about one in five pregnant women has experienced an orgasm for the first time in months.
It is important to remember that for certain pregnancies, sexual intercourse is indeed contraindicated. Usually, doctors should warn you. You need to abstain from sex with placenta praevia, bleeding, multiple pregnancy.
Otherwise, just keep in mind what to avoid:
- sex without a condom;
- aggressive sex;
- extreme positions.
recommendation
- Set aside long journeys! In the last weeks of pregnancy, it is better not to go far from home – the birth can catch you at the wrong time.
- At this point, all the main elements must be met – the child’s room, the bed, the stroller must be bought, and the things for the maternity ward must be gathered.
- The entire workload of the household should be taken over by your family members. Your body is busy with another mission – a super task: preparing for the most important event – the birth of a person.
- Write a list of the things you will need in the hospital and collect them in 3 packages (the first for the birth, the second with your things for the hospital, the third with the things for the baby).
- You also need to prepare for breastfeeding. You should find out about the physiological side of this process. Scientists say that children who are breastfed are less likely to suffer from infectious diseases or allergies. And the nursing mother receives a huge emotional boost, which positively affects her health. Studies also show that breastfeeding significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer in women, after six months of feeding, the woman begins to lose weight and quickly returns to form until pregnancy.
- Sleep when needed, at least 9 hours a day.
- Do not use household chemicals with a pungent odor and aggressive properties.
- Do not stay in an area with a high background of electromagnetic radiation.
- Do not contact infectious patients.
- Always dress according to the weather outside, to avoid colds.
- Do not lift weights, do not bend suddenly, do not jump or try to run.
