Search icon

Pregnancy

22nd Jan 2018

Your baby at 37 weeks pregnant: Week-by-week guide to development

HerFamily

swiss chard pregnancy image

Welcome to week 37 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as a swiss chard. Here’s what else you can expect this week.

Your baby

At 37 weeks, your baby is about 48.5 centimetres long and weighs around 2.9 kilograms. They’re considered full-term, which means they’re just about ready to meet the world. Lanugo, that fine hair covering their body, is disappearing as they gain fat. Their digestive system is fully developed, gearing up for those first feeds. Your little one’s immune system is getting stronger too.

You

As you get closer to your due date, you might feel like a waddle is your new walk. The extra weight in your belly can cause back pain, but try to maintain good posture to ease it. Swollen feet and ankles are still knocking around, but elevating your legs can provide relief. Keep an eye out for any signs of labour – if your water breaks or you have regular contractions, it’s time to call your healthcare team.

Anything else?

With your due date fast approaching, make sure your hospital bag is packed and ready to go. Gather all your essentials, from baby clothes to nappies. For the expectant mother, take some time for self-care. Whether it’s reading a book, a warm bath, or just relaxing, ensure you have moments of calm. And remember, you’ve got this. Enjoy these final couple of weeks of pregnancy, as the next chapter is just around the corner…

Wondering how you will KNOW when you’re definitely in labour? The thing is; when you have never gone through labour, you have NO idea what it is meant to feel like, right? Here are five ways to tell…

More: Here are three must-haves you probably haven’t thought of for your hospital bag

READ MORE