Can Scheduling An Early Birth Cause Problems For You And Your Baby
Yes. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly when you got pregnant. Even with an ultrasound, your due date can be off by as much as 2 weeks. If you schedule an induction or c-section and your date is off by a week or 2, your baby may be born too early. Ultrasound uses sound waves and a computer screen to show a picture of your baby inside the womb.
What If I Can Barely Walk At 37 Weeks Pregnant
We get itwith the pressure on your belly and pelvis, the swollen feet and the overall fatigue, the farthest you want to walk may be the trip to your couch so you can lie down. But unless your doctor advises against it, take a stroll around the block. Exercise helps with so many things in the third trimesterincluding sleep, body aches and swellingand walking is one of the best forms of physical activity because its gentle on your body.
Weeks Pregnant: What To Expect
Congrats, youve made it! If your baby was born this week, shed be considered early full term. . Full term is anywhere from 39 to 41 weeks, late-term or post dates is 42 weeks and over.
If this is your first child, odds are your baby will be post datesthe average first-time pregnancy lasts 41 weeks and one day! Only around 5% percent of women give birth on their due dates, which should really be called due estimates. Likely, this is no consolation if youre feeling antsy or youre being inundated with curious texts and emails from friends and family.
Almost all care providers will insist on induction if you go past 42 weeks, and many will only let you go to 41 weeks. Theyll probably want to see you often during this period and may prescribe a non-stress test and biophysical profile both you and your baby are doing fine. This is a non-invasive test to measure fetal movement, your babys heart rate and how much amniotic fluid you have. Doctors start to worry if the pregnancy extends for too long because the placenta can begin to degrade, your baby can get too big and amniotic fluid can start to run low.
Talk to your doctor or midwife to find out how they feel about induction and how late theyll let you go. According to a Cochrane review, there were some benefits to inducing women who went way past their due dates, however any very, very serious risk is small.
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Weeks 6 Days Pregnant
Try a perineal massage. Its certainly not the most comfortable thing in the world, but a perineal massage may save you from some burning and tearing down there. The idea is to gently stretch the perineum the area between your vagina and anus to minimize burning, pain, and tearing during delivery.
Make sure your hands and perineum are well lubricated for the massage. Insert 2 fingers 3-4 cm into your vagina and gently, but firmly apply pressure downward, toward your anus. Slowly pull your two fingers apart so that you are stretching downwards and outwards. When you begin to feel a tingling sensation, it means that you are stretching the skin. You can also stretch the perineum from the outside by gently pulling the skin outward toward your thighs.
Get your partner to help you with the perineal massage if you have difficulty doing it yourself.
Weeks Pregnant Baby Position
When does the baby head turn down? This is usually after 26 weeks. By week 37, your baby should be in this cephalic presentation. If he isnt, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.
You might be wondering how to tell if babys head is down. You can do this via belly mapping. This lets you know how the baby is positioned in your womb.
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What To Ask Your Doctor
You should feel comfortable asking your doctor about anything having to do with the rest of your pregnancy, labor, delivery, after-care, your next period, and more. Questions about your physical, emotional, and mental well-being are all equally important.
Here are some questions you can put on your list:
- What happens if I go past my due date?
- Can I walk around during labor?
- Can I eat and drink during labor?
- What are the standard post-birth newborn tests and procedures?
- At what point do you decide if I will need an episiotomy?
- Will I have lochia if the baby is delivered via C-section?
- How long will I bleed after giving birth?
- When should I be expecting my period?
Be sure to go over your birth plan with your doctor and ask about policies regarding induction, pain medication, emergency cesareans, delivery room rules , and anything else you would like to be briefed on. Make sure you have all the answers you want, because this may be your last appointment before giving birth.
You made it to week 37 of pregnancy, and for that, you should be proud! By this point, baby is feeling crowded in there and each passing day brings him closer to his big debut.
The urge to clean, organize, and get all ready for a newborn is probably very strong, but dont forget to put your feet up and relax a little before baby comes!
Tips For Making Your Pregnancy Better:
Basically, you are in a waiting game from this point on. However, just because you do not know when the big day will come, this does not mean you cannot prepare now. If there are any last-minute preparations that need to be completed before the arrival of your baby, now is a good time to finish these up. Some women also like to make sure things are in order, including cleaning the house or apartment.
When you first arrive back at home with your baby, life may feel quite chaotic. To better prepare yourself for this transition, it can be a good idea to have a supply of take-out menus available so a quick dinner can be ordered. Maybe you love to cook and can prepare several meals that can be frozen and eaten once you and the baby are back at home.
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Your 37 Weeks Pregnant Belly
The weight gain recommendation at 37 weeks pregnant is still about a pound per week, but many parents-to-be find theyre not gaining much weight in this last month of pregnancy. Definitely talk over your weight gain with your healthcare provider, but know that its likely youve already put on enough pounds to support your babe until their arrival.
You may also notice your bump doesnt get much bigger from here on out. Thats because amniotic fluid levels start to reduce at 37 weeks pregnant. Your doc will keep an eye on your level, making sure baby still has plenty of padding.
Rd Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms
As your baby moves down into your pelvis, you may start to feel some relief from pregnancy symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion and needing to pee every 5 minutes.
Your pregnancy symptoms could include:
Your signs of pregnancy could also include:
- painless contractions around your bump, known as Braxton Hicks contractions
- darkened skin on your face or brown patches â this is known as chloasma or the “mask of pregnancy”
- greasier, spotty skin
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What Does My Baby Look Like
Your baby, or foetus, is around 48.6cm long from head to heel, and weighs about 2.9kg. That’s approximately the length of 2 cucumbers and the weight of 14 baked potatoes.
Your baby will be trying out different facial expressions, such as frowning and smiling.This is random and not linked to sadness or happiness.
Pregnancy Nutrition At 37 Weeks
As your body prepares for delivery, its important to maintain a healthy pregnancy diet. Baby will probably gain a bit of weight, so they still require a diet rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Keep eating those vegetables, and snack on fruits bursting with vitamin C. This helps your body absorb iron from food and supports your immune system. It also keeps your placenta work properly.
Calcium is important now and right through to breastfeeding. It helps babys bones develop nicely. You can get your daily requirement of calcium through your food, but if youre struggling to do that talk to your GP or midwife.
Exercise is a good way to boost your mood and a great way to prepare your body for labour. Plus, regular exercise now is said to help you recover quickly afterwards too. And, as you may be feeling fuller and eating smaller meals, its important to make sure these contain protein: avocado, chickpeas and lentils are full of healthy calories.
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Talk To Your Midwife About Group B Strep
Group B strep is a common bacteria â up to 2 in 5 people have it living in their body. If you carry group B strep while you’re pregnant, there’s a small risk it could make your baby seriously ill. Most group B strep infections in newborn babies are preventable.
For more information talk to your midwife, or visit the Group B Strep Support website.
The Size Of The Fetus At 37 Weeks Pregnant
At 37 weeks, the average fetus is about the size of a Swiss chard. Wondering how your baby may be positioned at 37 weeks? Although we canât say for sure exactly how your little one is curled up inside your belly this week, check out this illustration for a general idea of what you might see if you could take a sneak peek inside:
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All About Baby At 38 Weeks Pregnant
Like we said before, your baby is technically full term, but that doesnt mean theyre 100 percent done cooking in there yet.
While your babys critical organs are fully developed, they are still growing so as long as there arent complications, its best to let your baby stay in there until theyre totally ready to come out.
Meanwhile, your baby is starting to say goodbye to their lanugo, getting their first bowel movement prepped, and continuing to pack on body fat. Theyre probably about 6 or 7 pounds and 18 to 20 inches, but at this point in your pregnancy, there can be a lot of variation in babys height and weight .
Ideally, your baby has already moved into a birth-ready position, e.g., one facing your back with their head down and engaged in your pelvis.
Your Life At 37 Weeks Pregnant
Youre now considered early term. Cue the marching band and get ready for the final stretch.
- Top tip: Your baby could come any time nowand that includes up to a couple of weeks after your due date. Now that youve entered the last few weeks, write up a list of fun ways to occupy your remaining pre-baby time. If you need to add a few last-minute chores, go for it, but otherwise, try to come up with ideas that keep you entertained and relaxed, like nature walks, movie nights and prenatal yoga classes.
- Helpful hint: Put together your Baby Watch List with contact info for everyone you want to tell as soon as baby has arrived. Assign contacting everyone on that list to someone else, like your BFF, partner or sister.
- Get ready: While youre putting your Baby Watch List together, you can also prep the birth announcement, if you want to send them out. Create your design onlineMinted and Tiny Prints work wellthen all you have to do is insert the perfect picture when youve got it.
- Must-have product: Before you go into labor, book it to the pharmacy or Amazon for a bottle of Colace. After delivery, the last thing you want to do is put any undue strain on your lower abdomen or nether regions. These mild stool softeners can ease postpartum bathroom anxiety and discomfort.
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Pregnancy Niggles In Week 37
As you come to the end of your pregnancy its very likely youll get some swelling in your fingers, feet and ankles, especially if it’s hot. Your blood volume, which increased with the demands of carrying and nutritionally supporting a baby, means that fluid seeps out of the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues and pools there for a while. Everything will be back to normal after your baby is born but until then you may need new shoes .
Its all usually nothing to worry about, although if you also have headaches and blurred vision these can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, which needs urgent treatment. So if your swelling has any other symptoms alongside it do see your doctor, pronto.
Mom’s Body At 37 Weeks Pregnant
Are you wondering how many months along you are at 37 weeks pregnant? Because pregnancy doesn’t divide neatly into months, itâs possible youâre either 9 or 10 months pregnant at this point. At 37 weeks pregnant, your cervix may be beginning to dilate. When this starts to happen, you may lose the seal that protected your uterus from infection throughout your pregnancy. This seal is known as the mucus plug. If, at 37 weeks pregnant, you notice some extra vaginal discharge that is clear, pinkish, or slightly bloody, this may be the mucus plug. Seeing this mucus discharge is an indication that labor is starting or is not far off. Keep in mind, you can lose the mucus plug hours, days, or even weeks before labor begins. Some moms-to-be donât notice it at all. At 37 weeks, if you do notice the mucus plug on your panties or on the toilet paper after you wipe, or if you are unsure if this means your labor has started, you may want to call your healthcare provider for advice on what to do next.Twins and triplets are more likely to be born earlier than a single baby, so keep an eye out for signs of labor if youâre 37 weeks pregnant with twins or more.
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Symptoms And Body Changes At 37 Weeks
As the 37th week of pregnancy comes and goes, you may be experiencing more and more pressure on your pelvic bones if the baby uses them as a pillow. As your weight increases, you may also be feeling the effects of gravity. Exhaustion is expected, so dont think you need to be super mom just yet. There will be plenty of time for that in the near future.
As your waistline has been expanding, so have your breasts. They are full of milk, ready for feeding, and beginning to secrete colostrum. Leakage from your breast is a common occurrence. At this time your breasts may be sensitive and painful to the touch. This is normal. You may notice stretch marks around your breasts and waist, as well as in your hip region. You can expect to continue experiencing all the aches, pains, and emotions that come with full term pregnancy. Hang in there, Mom!
You At 37 Weeks Pregnant
Its common to have trouble sleeping.
You probably need to go to the toilet several times a night, and your babys movements might be keeping you awake too. Sleep and rest when you can during the day.
Sleep on your side when you can to reduce your risk of stillbirth. You can sleep on either side. Its OK if you wake up during the night on your back. Just roll over to sleep on your side again.
You might notice a bit more vaginal discharge around now.
Feeling low or worried Every now and then, you or your partner might have days when you feel flat or irritable. Thats OK. But if youre more than a bit teary or you feel sad, anxious or flat for more than 2 weeks, get help.
Antenatal anxiety and antenatal depression can get in the way of your daily life. If you feel like youre not coping or youre worrying about how youll cope after your baby is born, this is another good reason to talk to someone you trust.
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Pregnancy Week 37 Tips
Try to relax. As you travel through the final weeks of your pregnancy, its crucial that you rest as much as possible. As always, when you lie down, try to stay on your left side. Light exercises can help relieve pain if you have the strength to do so. Continue eating small meals, multiple times a day. Fruits and vegetables in your diet will help to maintain a healthy balance of nutrients for you and your baby.
Make sure you are prepared for labor and childbirth by packing a bag or making arrangements to get to the hospital if your partner is at work or unavailable when your water breaks. Having a birth plan prepared can also help ease your mind if unexpected events cause childbirth to stray from the vision youve been playing out in your head. Discuss with your caregiver what to do when your contractions start or your water breaks. Knowing what to expect from now on will prevent anxiety or panic.
First, you may feel your baby dropping. after this the pressure will be lower, in your pelvis and bladder rather than under your diaphragm and ribcage. This happens as your baby descends into your pelvis in preparation for the voyage out, a few weeks before birth if it is your first pregnancy, but perhaps not until you actually are in labor if it is not your first time. Your Braxton Hicks contractions may be stronger and more frequent. This is normal. If you are concerned or not sure about what to do, call your doctor.
