Week by Week Pregnancy Guide – Week 37 of your pregnancy

Just two weeks away from labour, frequent urination and pelvic pain can bother you, while your baby practises breathing techniques to perfect the art.

Debjani Arora | Published: December 18, 2014 10:48 am

By the end of this week, your pregnancy will finally be considered full-term. The last few weeks of your pregnancy are very crucial in terms of foetal brain and lung development. In case you experience labour pain during this week and need to give birth now, which is not an uncommon occurrence, your baby will cope well. However, try to avoid early labour because it is best for a baby to be born after 39 weeks.

Here is what happens to you during this week:

Pelvic pain: Now that your baby is in the labour-ready position with its head resting on the pelvic floor, you might feel more pressure and pain in that area. This could make you tired too quickly. In case your baby has not taken the head-down position, try these exercises to turn your baby into normal position.

Leaky breasts: At this point in time, your breasts might be ready for lactation and full with milk. You might notice some secretions from your breasts, which is usually a clear yellow-coloured liquid called colostrum and this is going to be your baby’s first food after birth. Here are six changes that happen to your breasts during pregnancy.

False contractions: Experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions or false contractions at this time is very common. However, know that those could be a sign of early labour too. If your contractions are consistent and painful it is better to check with your doctor. Here are six signs of preterm labour that you need to know.

Frequent urination: As your uterus keeps on stretching, it presses hard on your bladder and leads to frequent urination. Although you might not be urinating enough but the pressure triggers this sensation. Few more days and this annoying symptom will be a matter of the past. Apart from these, you might also experience symptoms like constipation, hemorrhoids, fatigue, edema, stretch marks, etc.

Development of your baby

Here is what happens to your baby this week:

Your baby practises breathing techniques: As you approach the due date, your baby keeps practising breathing techniques by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid through the nostrils.

Your baby’s scalp will have more hair: By this time your baby’s scalp has more hair than before. However, the amount of hair and colour depends on genetics.

Your baby’s skin becomes smooth: As more fat tissues are added beneath the skin, your baby’s skin becomes smooth. This also means that your baby is steadily putting on weight during the last weeks of your pregnancy. This week your baby can weigh anywhere between 2700 to 3000 g.

What you should do:

Try not to exert yourself as that could lead to premature rupture of membranes and early labour.
Take as much rest as you can as it will help you regain some energy and feel relaxed.
Drink lots of water and other healthy drinks to avoid dehydration at this stage.
Eat right and practise Kegel exercises to help you wade through labour pains.
Practise deep breathing and think positive as your mental state has a direct effect on your baby’s well-being.

Image source: Getty Images

Published: December 18, 2014 10:48 am

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