At 37 weeks pregnant, you have now entered the final stages of your pregnancy. Congratulations! Your baby is now considered "full term," which means that he or she may decide to arrive in the world in the next three weeks.
Your baby may weigh close to 6.3 pounds (or heavier than that) at 37 weeks pregnant. The average baby might be as long as 19.1 inches from head to heel.
At 37 weeks pregnant, your baby continues to pack on the pounds. He or she probably has a chubby stomach, arms and legs. By the time your newborn arrives, he or she will be adorable and round.
Helpful Tip: Your baby should have already flipped upside down into his or her birthing position. If your child is not in the head-down position, your healthcare provider may recommend an external cephalic version (ECV) to manually turn him or her.
Your baby is growing "peach fuzz" at 37 weeks pregnant. The lanugo and vernix that covered your little one's body earlier in pregnancy is being shed and replaced by "vellus hairs" (short, fine hairs that most people call "peach fuzz.")
By 37 weeks pregnant, some babies have a full head of hair. Don't be shocked if your baby comes out with half an inch (or more) of hair. You shouldn't expect your little one's locks to be the same colors as yours; some babies may be born with a lighter hair color that gradually darkens as they age. On the other hand, your baby might be a baldie when he or she comes out.
From 37 weeks pregnant onward, the amount of amniotic fluid in your womb will begin to decrease.
Mom's Changes at 37 Weeks Pregnant
At 37 weeks pregnant, your baby is full-term, so he or she may decide to make his appearance this week. (But keep in mind that you may also have to wait. A healthy, full-term infant can be born anytime from 37 to 42 weeks of pregnancy.) Since you never know when your baby will arrive, it's a good idea for you to be knowledgeable on the signs of labor.
Bloody show - If this is your first pregnancy, you may pass your mucus plug a few weeks before labor actually starts. When you lose your mucus plug, you may notice stringy mucus that is tinged with pink, red, or brown blood.
Sudden burst of energy - Some women go into major nesting mode right before their labor begins. If you've been exhausted, and all of a sudden, you get an unexpected burst of energy, you're nesting. You may have an uncontrollable urge to clean, or reorganize the shelves in your home. Remember to not overdo it. You are going to need your energy for labor and delivery.
Your water breaks - When the amniotic sac breaks, it's time to call your doctor. In most cases, you will already be having contractions when your water breaks. Sometimes, contractions occur afterwards. Unlike on TV, you may not experience a huge gush of water. Rather, you may notice a small trickle of fluid.
Diarrhea - Some pregnant women experience diarrhea in the 24 to 48 hours before they go into labor.
Contractions - At 37 weeks pregnant, if you go into true labor, you will start to experience contractions that get increasingly stronger, last longer, and get closer together. At first, your contractions may be 20 minutes apart, and a few hours later, they are 10 minutes or 5 minutes apart. Sometimes, you may get regular contractions out of the blue and with no warning. Make sure that you talk to your doctor beforehand about when he or she wants you to come in at the onset of real contractions.
At 37 weeks pregnant, it's time for you to be on the lookout for labor. Since you are full-term, your baby might arrive the world anytime from this week until 42 weeks. If your hospital bags aren't already packed and waiting by the door, it's definitely time for you to get that chore out of the way.
Braxton Hicks contractions might be a daily occurrence at 37 weeks pregnant. These false labor pains can happen so frequently that you can easily think you're in real labor. Braxton Hicks contractions may also last longer, and they're probably getting very uncomfortable.
Increased vaginal discharge is common at 37 weeks pregnant. The discharge that you're noticing now might look different than the extra discharge you've gotten used to. If you notice that mucus discharge that is tinged with a small amount of blood, this is probably a bloody show – a sign that labor is on its way.
Helpful Tip: If your water breaks at 37 weeks pregnant, head to the hospital right away. Without the protection of the amniotic sac, your baby is at higher risk of getting an infection. You'll need to get medical care to make sure that your baby remains healthy.
Pelvic pressure and discomfort can make you desperate for labor to strike. If your baby has already dropped into the pelvis at 37 weeks pregnant, you may suffer from pelvic pressure and discomfort when you're walking. Normal pelvic pressure is not the same as feeling your baby "pushing down." That's a sign that your baby wants out.
Insomnia is quite normal at 37 weeks pregnant. Your huge belly is making it hard for you to get comfortable. Plus, you're probably dealing with frequent urination (which is waking you up in at midnight and 3 a.m. to go to the bathroom). Leg cramps can also make it hard for you to sleep. If you're anxious about labor and delivery, this can also contribute to insomnia in the last few weeks of pregnancy.
If you're having trouble sleeping at night, make sure that you get plenty of rest during the daytime hours. Whenever you get a break, try to nap in a recliner. You want to rest as much as you can in the final weeks of your third trimester.
By 37 weeks pregnant, you may have gained 18 to 35 pounds. You only have a few weeks left to go, so you should aim to gain only a few more pounds. Remember that the recommended weight gain for the average sized woman is only 25 to 35 pounds.
At 37 weeks pregnant, it is the time many women consider creating a birth plan. A birth plan is simply a way that you can convey your ideas and desires regarding the birthing process to your healthcare team before, during and after labor.
Many women use birth plans to list their expectations regarding the birth process. A birth plan can help your healthcare team better understand your needs and desires, and it can help you prepare to welcome your baby into the world in a manner you deem fit.
You don't have to use anything fancy to create a birth plan, you can simply write down your ideas on paper. There are some common things, however, you probably want your birth plan to address. Among the more common areas covered by a birth plan include:
Whether or not you wish to receive pain relief during labor.
What kind of pain relief you prefer.
Whether you plan to breastfeed or bottle feed.
Whether or not you want a circumcision performed if you are having a boy.
If you want to listen to music or other forms of entertainment while giving birth.
Whether or not you want to use a tub or shower if available to relax in during labor.
Describe what positions you prefer to be in during birth.
Whether or not you agree to an episiotomy, or if there are certain steps you would like your healthcare provider to take in order to avoid one.
Whether or not you have any special requests related to the birth process.
Who is allowed in the room when you give birth.
Not sure where to begin? Simply start by writing down a list of your hopes and expectations about the birthing process. Then number and list them to make sure the most important of your needs gets addressed.
You should also consider having your partner contribute to the birth plan. Your partner may come up with a request that you hadn't considered. You should be comfortable sharing your plan with your healthcare provider, nurses, and anyone else that might be interacting with you during the labor and delivery process.
Remember that even with a birth plan surprises do happen during labor and delivery. You may state that you do not want a cesarean section for example, but sometimes a cesarean may be necessary to protect the well being of you and your baby. Keep an open mind about your birth plan, but also remember that you have a right to inform your team of your preferences and desires during your stay at the birthing center of your choice.
You are now more eager than ever to meet your newborn baby. Be sure you take some time to discuss your labor and delivery preferences with your healthcare provider. If you haven't pre-registered at the hospital, you should consider doing so now.
Do You Have a Plan of Action?
At 37 weeks pregnant, you should talk to your healthcare provider about your "plan of action" so you know what to do when you start having contractions, or bag of water breaks. Find out when your healthcare provider would like you to phone, and when they prefer you visit the hospital.
Group B Strep Test at 37 Weeks Pregnant
Your healthcare provider might take a Group B strep test during pregnancy week 37. Group B Strep is a type of bacteria that can live in the vagina or area surrounding the rectum. Typically, Group B strep is present in up to 35 percent of healthy adults.
When you are colonized with this bacteria during pregnancy, your baby might get infected during labor and delivery. Infected newborns will require close observation and treatment in the hospital. Your baby will need antibiotics if they are infected. Group B infections in newborns can cause serious infections such as sepsis, which is an infection of the bloodstream. It can also cause meningitis, a condition that affects the lining of the fluid surrounding the brain. Group B can also lead to pneumonia. Typically, most newborns exposed will start showing symptoms during the first week of life, though late onset Group B disease may also develop a week or more after birth.
Fortunately, your doctor can perform a culture prior to delivery to see if you have Group B present in your body. If you do, your healthcare provider will likely set you up on a course of antibiotics before and during labor. This will help prevent the spread of infection to your baby.
Some women are more at risk than others for this infection, including women who have already had a baby with a Group B infection, women who develop a fever during labor, women who have a urinary tract infection caused by Group B or women who rupture their membranes (your water breaks) before 37 weeks.
Researchers are currently working on developing a vaccine to treat Group B strep.
At pregnancy 37 weeks, you are considered "full-term,” which means your baby (or babies) may arrive any day now. If you are pregnant with twins, you'll want to be on the lookout for labor this week. A majority of twin pregnancies end in premature infants. The average pregnancy for twins ends at 35 weeks, though some women can carry their babies until 40 weeks of pregnancy.
Many healthcare providers typically recommend that women carrying twins induce their labor between 38 and 40 weeks pregnant to avoid potential complications. Studies have indicated that twins that are delivered from 37 weeks pregnant until pregnancy week 40 have the best outcome and lowest rates of perinatal mortality (which is the number of stillbirths after pregnancy week 28, combined with the number of babies who die within the first seven days of life).
If you haven't gone into labor yet, you will want to prepare for it at any second. Make sure that your hospital bag is packed and ready to go by the door, and double check that your infant car seats are properly installed. You will not be able to go home with your newborn twins without car seats.
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At 37 weeks pregnant, it's time for you to be on the lookout for labor. Since you are full-term, your baby might arrive the world anytime from this week until 42 weeks. If your hospital bags aren't already packed and waiting by the door, it's definitely time for you to get that chore out of the way. 
At 37 weeks pregnant, it is the time many women consider creating a birth plan. A birth plan is simply a way that you can convey your ideas and desires regarding the birthing process to your healthcare team before, during and after labor. 
You are now more eager than ever to meet your newborn baby. Be sure you take some time to discuss your labor and delivery preferences with your healthcare provider. If you haven't pre-registered at the hospital, you should consider doing so now. 
At pregnancy 37 weeks, you are considered "full-term,” which means your baby (or babies) may arrive any day now. If you are pregnant with twins, you'll want to be on the lookout for labor this week. A majority of twin pregnancies end in premature infants. The average pregnancy for twins ends at 35 weeks, though some women can carry their babies until 40 weeks of pregnancy.
