Pregnancy Diary

Archive for the ‘Pregnancy Week 37’ Category

Your Baby Growth and Development

Now that you are 37 weeks pregnant, your baby is considered full-term! Your baby is anywhere from 19 to 20 inches long and weighs approximately 6.5 pounds. In fact, she will continue to develop body fat and will gain about one half an ounce each day of your pregnancy. You baby is now busy practicing her breathing. She can now respond to light and will turn towards it. She also has a fairly strong grip.

the position that he will be in when you give birth.The position of your baby right now is, At this time, your baby produces cortisone to aid his/her breathing. All of your baby’s organs are fully functional. However, the brain and lungs will continue to grow throughout the next several years of your baby’s life. The oh-so-important immune system is still developing and will continue to do so after birth.

Mom during Pregnancy Calendar Week 37

You may find that your vaginal discharge is heavier now and you will also notice more cervical mucus in your discharge. Symptoms during pregnancy calendar week 37 are similar to those throughout the third trimester of pregnancy. You may be experiencing heartburn, indigestion, headaches, backaches, constipation, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, an itchy abdomen, or occasional dizziness. You may be feeling irritable, excited, absentminded, or impatient.

During your weekly prenatal visit, your healthcare provider will check your cervix for signs of effacement or dilation. He/she may also attempt to estimate your baby’s size and position. If your healthcare provider hasn’t already discussed who to call when you think you are in labor, this information should also be covered.

Common Pregnancy Symptoms in Week 37

• Breast Changes: tenderness, fullness, darkening of the areola
• Frequent Urination
• Constipation
• Heartburn or Indigestion
• Headaches
• Stretch Marks
• Itching
• Round Ligament Pain
• Hemorrhoids

pregnant in week 37 have commonly asked Questions:

What is Effacement, Dilation and Station?

In most pregnancies, at about 37 weeks, your doctor or midwife will begin checking your cervix for effacement, dilation and station. She will then report back to you the results. You may feel very confused. Below are explanations of each stage of your body’s preparation for delivering your baby.Read more…

Is a pregnancy nine months or ten months long?

This is a popular pregnancy debate with many women across message boards and in pregnancy communities today. A pregnancy consists of the first, second and third trimester are known by most people. The definition of a trimester is “A period or term of three months”. If this is the case, why do so many people consider themselves pregnant for ten months?Read more…

Read Previous Week | Next Week

This is a popular pregnancy debate with many women across message boards and in pregnancy communities today. A pregnancy consists of the first, second and third trimester are known by most people. The definition of a trimester is “A period or term of three months”. If this is the case, why do so many people consider themselves pregnant for ten months?

The answer is simple, pregnancies are considered full term at 40 weeks, and many women count four weeks as a month while they are pregnant, making the result a ten month pregnancy. There are actually 4.33 weeks in a month, that a third of a week tends to get lost in the pregnancy shuffle for much of us.To many women, when asked how pregnant they are, to answer in weeks instead of months, because pregnancy is generally a count down. “I am 22 weeks, only 18 weeks to go!”

The Lunar calendar, which is the four weeks it takes for the moon to go from a new moon, to a full moon and back again, would make a pregnancy last for ten months. While those that live by the Gregorian calendar. Neither of these calculations is exactly accurate.
The most common way to figure out your due date is to add nine months and seven days to the start date of your last menstrual period, which would actually be a week before you would have ovulated with a 28-day cycle.

In most pregnancies, at about 37 weeks, your doctor or midwife will begin checking your cervix for effacement, dilation and station. She will then report back to you the results. You may feel very confused. Below are explanations of each stage of your body’s preparation for delivering your baby.

Effacement
As labor nears your cervix begins to shorten and thin out. This action is referred to as effacement. As your cervix begins to efface, the plug keeping the entrance to the uterus sealed is released. This is called your mucus plug and it may contain some blood.It is is generally measured in percentages by doctors and midwives from 0% to 100% which means not effaced at all to completely effaced and thin. When it is completely effaced it becomes a part of the uterine wall, allowing the baby to pass through.

Dilation
Dilation is the process of the mouth of the cervix opening and widening, which allows your baby to pass through. As the cervix dilates, some people describe cramping and pressure, similar to what you would feel during menstruation. If you begin dilating in the second trimester or at a rapid rate before the last month of your pregnancy it can be a sign of premature labor. If this is the case your doctor or midwife will advise you on what to do next.

Station
Station is referring to how far down his head has come into your pelvis. If your baby has dropped, but has not yet settled into your pelvis to begin his decent, it is measured in centimeters as a negative station goes from -3 to -1. Once your baby has settled into your pelvis, but before he starts his descent to the birth canal, it is referred to as a zero (0) station. Once your baby starts heading towards the cervix, it is referred to as a positive station from 1 to 3. During this time it is likely that you will feel an increase of pressure and pain in your pelvic bone and vaginal area.