37weeks
pregnant

Medically reviewed by Clare Herbert, Senior midwife and team leader

Written by Chess Thomas | 13 Sep 2021

IN THIS ARTICLE

Highlights this week

Learn how natural pain relief and breathing techniques could help you in labour.

Baby development at 37 weeks

Congratulations, you've reached full-term pregnancy! At 37 weeks, your pregnancy is now considered full-term. Your baby is ready for birth, and you'll be meeting your new addition within a few weeks (NHS 2018).

Your baby weighs over 3kg (6.7lb) and is about 48.3cm (19in) long from head (crown) to heel (Hill 2019a). They’re continuing to work their facial muscles by practising pouts, frowns and grimaces (Lopez-Teijon et al 2015, Reissland et al 2011). Their blinking and startle reflexes are more honed because their hearing has taken a leap in sensitivity (Ogo et al 2019).

Your baby's toenails should now reach the end of their toes (Hill 2019b, Moore et al 2019), but they're still not as long as their fingernails (Hill 2019b). After your baby's born, their fingernails will continue to grow faster than their toenails (MedlinePlus 2019).

Your baby's digestive system is still developing and will continue to mature for several years after they're born (Hill 2019c). Their small intestine will grow by over a metre in their first year alone (Hill 2019c)!

Your baby will still have a regular pattern of movements, which will continue until they're born (RCOG 2019, Tommy's 2018). If you notice a change in their pattern of movements, speak to your midwife or maternity unit straight away so that they can check your little one is safe and well (RCOG 2019, Tommy's 2018).

Your baby at 37 weeks

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Your baby is as long as a stalk of Swiss chard

length

48.3

head to toe

weight

kilograms

Pregnancy symptoms at 37 weeks

Now your pregnancy is full-term, you may be feeling more Braxton Hicks contractions, as your body gets ready to give birth. But if your contractions come at regular intervals, they don’t go away when you change position, and they get gradually stronger and more frequent with time, it could be the real thing! Read more about what contractions really feel like.

Another sign that your body’s getting ready for the big day is having more intense mood swings. Your baby could also move down in your pelvis (engagement) and you may lose your mucus plug. This is sometimes known as having a bloody show and you can see what real-life mucus plugs look like with our photo gallery. If you’re too squeamish to take a peek, read all the signs of labour instead!

baby in womb at 37 weeks, quite cramped in womb

Your body at 37 weeks

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What you need to know at 37 weeks pregnant

If you're having your baby at home, now’s the time to double-check you’ve got everything you need close at hand.

If you're giving birth in hospital or in a birth centre, have you packed everything you need? Double-check if there are any last-minute items that you haven't thought of in our hospital packing checklist.

You'll probably be in your maternity clothes for a little while after the birth, as you'll still have a bit of a bump after having your baby. Big, comfortable knickers are a must! You'll need to use maternity pads for a good week after having your baby too.

This is also your birth partner's last chance to brush up on how to help you.

You’ve probably already discussed your birth plan, but it’s a good idea to let your birth partner know what's most important to you, just in case things change during your labour and birth.

In the last few weeks, every little twinge made me think ‘is this it?!’ But trust me, when the contractions get going for real, there’s absolutely no mistaking it!

Natasha

Your at term pregnancy to-do list

If you’re planning to breastfeed, see our complete guide to learn all you need to know before you start. If you’re opting for formula, find out how to make up a bottle safely.
Worried about tearing during labour? Learn how adopting upright birthing positions can reduce your risk, and discover how to cope afterwards if you have a tear that needs stitching.
If eating a full meal is tricky, have smaller portions, more often. For inspiration and information about eating and drinking in labour, see our guide to eating well from 37 to 40 weeks.
Top tips for birth partners: show your birth partner this video to help them prepare for the big day.

Check out the BabyCentre podcast!

The Parent Pod is BabyCentre’s brilliantly entertaining and informative podcast series. Join hosts Claire and Lucy as they walk your exciting journey with you each week from early pregnancy until your baby is 12 weeks old. Subscribe now on the usual channels. Learn more

Sources

BabyCentre's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organisations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

Hill MA. 2019a. Fetal development. University of New South Wales Embryology. embryology.med.unsw.ed.auOpens a new window [Accessed December 2019]

Hill MA. 2019b. Integumentary system - nail development. University of New South Wales Embryology. embryology.med.unsw.ed.auOpens a new window [Accessed December 2019]

Hill MA. 2019c. Gastrointestinal tract - postnatal. University of New South Wales Embryology. embryology.med.unsw.ed.auOpens a new window [Accessed December 2019]

Lopez-Teijon M, Garcia-Faura A, Prats-Galino A. 2015. Fetal facial expression in response to intravaginal music emission. Ultrasound 23(4):216-23. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.govOpens a new window [Accessed December 2019]

MedlinePlus. 2019. Nailcare for newborns. US National Library of Medicine. www.medlineplus.govOpens a new window [Accessed December 2019]

Moore KL, Persaud TVN, Torchia MG. 2019a. Integumentary system. Chapter 19 in The developing human: clinically oriented embryology. 11th ed. Elsevier

NHS. 2018. You and your baby at 37 weeks pregnant. NHS, Health A-Z, Your pregnancy and baby guide. www.nhs.ukOpens a new window [Accessed December 2019]

Ogo K, Kanensihi K, Mori N, et al. 2019. Change in fetal behavior in response to vibroacoustic stimulation. J Perinatal Med 47(5):558-63

RCOG. 2019. Information for you: your baby's movements in pregnancy. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. www.rcog.org.ukOpens a new window [Accessed December 2019]

Reissland N, Francis B, Mason J, et al. 2011. Do facial expressions develop before birth? PLoS One 6(8):e24081. www.ncbi.nlm.govOpens a new window [Accessed December 2019]

Tommy's. 2018. Baby movements in pregnancy. Tommy's. www.tommys.orgOpens a new window [Accessed December 2019]