37 week of pregnancy: what happens to mom and baby

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

In terms of obstetric terms, the 37th week of pregnancy is already considered the ninth month of a special condition for a woman. Most of the deadline is behind, but it is important to continue to take care of your he alth and listen to the behavior of the crumbs.

The condition of the expectant mother

What happens at 37 weeks pregnant with the expectant mother? If everything is normal, then the woman:

• Gaining weight at this point up to 13.5 kg. The abdomen at 37 weeks of gestation may be lower, under the weight of the fetus. And this makes mom feel better by relieving some internal organs from pressure.
• A woman's bladder also gets a lot of work, she needs to go to the toilet often.
• A new stage in the state of the placenta - she is aging, although she continues to fulfill her duties.
• A woman may experience intense heat, it becomes very stuffy, for this reason, sweating increases. This is because the last stages of pregnancy are the time when the amount of blood increases significantly in volume.

Must beattentive

37 weeks pregnant is a dangerous time for vaginal bleeding. These are the last dates, each woman passes them in her own way. As a rule, the cause of bleeding is the incorrect location of the placenta or the process of its detachment.

If there is spotting, the first thing a woman should do is secure herself in a prone position and call an ambulance. With timely medical care, the pregnancy will be able to develop further, and everything will be normal again. If the problem is ignored, serious complications can arise. The doctor will determine what happens to the mother at the 37th week of pregnancy in this situation. He may raise the issue of a caesarean section or recommend that the woman lie down for preservation. For many women at this time, childbirth is quite normal.

If it's time to give birth

Manifestation of signs of preterm labor can be different. It is important for the expectant mother to notice them in time.

There are several reasons to urgently see a doctor or call an ambulance:

• The sagging stomach led to an increase in pain in the back and pressure on the perineum. The woman felt relieved. Such symptoms mean that the process of moving the fetus to the exit has begun. And this process never happens in reverse.
• The appearance of problems with the digestive system, nausea, diarrhea. The reason for this is the cleansing function of the body, which seeks to remove “everything superfluous” before an important moment in life.
• Exit the mucus plug. In appearance, it is a colorless or slightly yellowish mucus, with slight additions of blood. It will come off all at once or in parts and become a sign of the opening of the cervix.
• Reduce fetal movements. A grown child is cramped in the mother's womb. Training contractions already familiar to a woman become constant, pain is present.

How does the expectant mother feel

What happens at 37 weeks pregnant with a woman? The expectant mother is feeling more and more tired. There is a desire to lie down and relax. And you need to listen to your desires, break for rest at least every 20 minutes. Do not forget that an active lifestyle remains relevant at the 37th week of pregnancy. After all, every woman wants childbirth to be easy and successful.

Remember to do small workouts, watch your diet, spend more time outdoors.

The nature of the feelings of the expectant mother

37 week of pregnancy is marked by further changes in the body of the expectant mother. We will study the manifestations of physical sensations that may be present at this time.

Pain at 37 weeks pregnant is related to hormonal activity:

• The height of the uterus will not change its position, it is high. There should be 37 cm between the pubic symphysis and the uterus, while the distance to the navel is 17 cm. The mass of the uterus increases and is about 1 kg with a volume within 5 liters.
• The size of the abdomen remains the same, it is no longeris growing. Now only there is an active process of development of the baby, actively gaining weight. He feels more and more embarrassed. There are women who already notice that their stomach has dropped. This is a sign of an upcoming birth. But such signs are not natural for everyone. Sometimes abdominal prolapse occurs just before labor begins.

When the tummy of a future woman is constantly growing and changing its shape, this leads to sensations of itching. To avoid stretch marks, you need to use cosmetics specifically designed for pregnant women. Do not worry about the navel, which can turn out. Everything will fall into place when the baby is born.

Features of training bouts

Reviews of the 37th week of pregnancy indicate that training contractions have become longer and stronger. There are sensations of contraction of the uterus, alternating with subsequent relaxation. Training bouts are characterized by short duration. If they are more intense, this may indicate the onset of labor.

Extraction analysis

It is important to observe the color and intensity of the discharge. Normal if they are:

• light;
• no impurities;
• have a uniform consistency;
• sour in smell.

The appearance of red streaks, an increase in mucus may indicate the process of rejection of the mucous plug. The result of this phenomenon is the opening of the cervix.

If you noticedin the discharge of blood, perhaps the placenta begins to exfoliate. Then you need to urgently call an ambulance.

Character of pain

Pain at the 37th week of pregnancy can be observed in the perineum, in the lower abdomen. The reason for this is a drooping belly. What physical sensations are typical for this period:

• If the lower back, legs and womb area hurt, it means that there is a divergence of cartilage and ligaments. They soften, preparing for labor.
• Some women experience intense pain in their legs. As a rule, this is most noticeable if the woman walked a lot.
• The occurrence of severe pain in the lumbar, dorsal and sacral region is also acceptable for this period.
• The preparation of the breast is complete, it is able to fulfill its main mission - breastfeeding the baby. Breast size has noticeably increased, there is swelling of the nipples, their slight stretching. This period is characterized by the appearance of colostrum.
• The nature of the movements has changed, they are no longer so smooth. Often such activity of the baby causes severe pain to the mother. It is important to control the frequency of movements. They should not be less than 10 times a day.

What are the emotions of the expectant mother

Pregnancy 37 weeks is a very emotional time. Most women begin to worry about future sensations. Sometimes it even manifests itself in the form of nightmares.

Psychologists recommend not to surrender to unpleasant emotions and think in a positive way. After all, childbirth is a natural process thatcharacteristic of all women. Without enduring these moments, you will not be able to feel the full joy of the birth of a baby.

Be patient, stock up on optimism and positive thoughts. A little time will pass, and the main meeting of your life will take place - with a newborn baby.

At this time, it is important that parents have full understanding. After all, the child feels the emotions of the mother and the people around her. He must know that the outside world will meet the baby with care and attention.

Baby condition

What happens to the baby at 37 weeks pregnant? He evolves to see the world in full readiness. If the intrauterine development of the crumbs took place against the background of positive emotions, it will be more viable.

What is typical for a baby at 37 weeks:

• There is an intensive development of internal organs and systems.
• If the baby gets enough oxygen, this allows the baby to actively develop.
• Child's frequent smiles appear when the mother is cheerful and joyful. A baby at 37 weeks pregnant scans her mom's mood.
• The size of the child's body is approximately 48 cm with a weight of 3 kg. Typical daily weight gain of 30 g, each 15 g of which is subcutaneous fat.
• Belly and head have the same circumference.
• Changes in the skin are its density and the acquisition of pink color.
• The baby already has its own face, the skin has an individual pattern.
• Developmentthe pulmonary system passes in the baby quickly enough, but so far without connecting to the circulatory system. During childbirth, the heart valve opens, which will lead to the flow of blood to the lungs, and it will be saturated with oxygen. At the moment, the baby's lung system is characterized by the production of surfactant, which ensures the breathing of the baby when he is born. After all, when the baby breathes, it becomes possible for the amniotic fluid to enter his lungs when exhaling. For this reason, the baby sometimes begins to hiccup.
• The neurons of the brain begin the process of forming the myelin sheath, which is a kind of protective sheath with a huge number of layers of membrane cells. The duration of this process is the first year of life. The myelin sheath is needed to coordinate the movement of the crumbs.
• The development of the grasping reflex is completed, the baby is playing with the umbilical cord, pulling it.
• The ossification of the skull is not yet completed, 2 fontanelles remain open. It will take two months for these areas of the skull to heal after the baby is born. Due to the softness of the bones of the skull, the head will be able to successfully move along the entire length of the birth canal.
• The strengthening of the nasal and ear cartilage continues. The child can hear not only the sounds inside the mother's body, but also from the outside.
• Changes in the nature of the baby's sleep are the appearance of a slow phase. Prior to this, there was only fast. Now the child can relax. He calms down, as the uterus does not press so hard on the body of the crumbs. The duration of the slow phase is 40% of all sleep. But handleinformation received from outside the child can in a dream.
• Eyebrows and eyelashes are drawn, making the face similar to the image of a person. Hairs grow on the head, sometimes reaching 0.5-4 cm.
• Original lubrication remains either on the entire body of the child, or covers only skin folds.
• It is noteworthy that the baby independently provides the temperature for his body. The nature of its heat exchange processes equates a crumb to an adult. The temperature at 37 weeks pregnant is the same as that of the mother.
• The readiness of all the baby's systems to fully work is noted.
• For the intestines, the appearance of accumulations of the first feces, which will be black in color and is called meconium, is characteristic. The inner part of the intestinal mucosa is already covered with a layer of villi. The intestines and stomach are moving. This will help the baby move safely along the length of the digestive tract, showing readiness for acceptance and assimilation of food.

If the birth of a child happens exactly at this time, it will not become a strong stress for the baby. This was taken care of by the greatly increased size of the adrenal glands. Intensively producing a hormone, they will ensure that the baby adapts to a new form of existence.

Doctors advice

The presence of some problems can be solved by listening to the advice of experts:

• If a pregnant woman at 37 weeks is worried about insomnia, she needs to be more active during the daytime. A woman should not avoidsimple homework, walks in the air. Try not to sleep during the daytime. It is not advisable to eat or drink immediately before going to bed. Before going to bed, take care of airing the room.
• It is important to attend courses for pregnant women, study thematic literature in order to prepare for an important event. This will distract the woman from disturbing thoughts.
• Constant control over nutrition should not stop in this period. The need for a balanced diet is important for a woman and her baby. Control the amount of food, consider its calorie content. Overeating can be caused by heartburn.
• It is important to consume daily fermented milk products in the form of natural yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, cheese, curdled milk, sour cream. Including them in the daily diet will help provide the body of mother and child with calcium. Vitamin C and iron should also be present in food.
• There is no prohibition for intimate relationships if everything is within the normal range. Sometimes it helps relieve stress. Choose a position from behind so that the woman does not feel discomfort. It is even useful, because with the help of male sperm, the cervix becomes more elastic. This will help with the birth process.

Summarize

Harbingers of childbirth at 37 weeks of gestation - a sagging belly, the presence of spotting and more frequent contractions. A woman can give birth to a full-fledged child in this period and should be ready for a trip to the hospital. All things have long been folded, a dowry for the long-awaited baby has been prepared.

But if inthere are no tangible changes in the woman's condition, she can continue to enjoy pregnancy. It is important to monitor nutrition, lead an active lifestyle, alternating it with rest, and spend more time in the fresh air. There should be order in the emotional sphere of the expectant mother, since the baby inside her hears and understands everything. The support of loved ones is very important.

Take care of yourself and your child, try to experience only positive emotions. Soon the pregnancy will end happily with the birth of a lovely baby.