What is happening in week 37
Doctors count pregnancy weeks from the first day of your last period, so week 37 sits in the third trimester (week 28 until birth). That is about 3 weeks to go until week 40, and about 8.5 months by a rough conversion. In week 37 the baby is about 48.6cm long and most babies are head down by now.
Your baby
The NHS guide gives about 48.6cm, the length of a leek. About 95% of babies are head down by now, and may already be engaged. The baby practises facial expressions such as frowning and smiling, which are not tied to emotion.
Your body
Braxton Hicks contractions, more vaginal discharge and a sudden urge to clean (nesting) are possible. As the baby drops you may get relief from heartburn and need to pee more.
This week’s to-do
- Rest as much as possible and finish your hospital bag.
- Know the signs of labour: regular tightenings, a show of mucus, back pain, an urge to use the toilet, or your waters breaking.
- Plan how you will reach the hospital, including at night.
When to call
Call your doctor or hospital if your waters break, you have regular contractions, or any bleeding.
Chaitanya Hospital in Kadapa, near RTC Bus Stand, Simhapuri Colony, provides delivery and emergency care 24/7. Our antenatal check-ups team can answer questions about your own pregnancy.
Use the week-by-week guide to jump to your week, or the due date calculator to work out your dates. Timings for scans and tests come from NHS guidance in the UK and can differ from your doctor’s schedule, so always follow your own doctor’s advice. This page is educational and not a substitute for a doctor.
Sources
Text on this page is paraphrased from the sources above. Sizes are averages and vary between babies.