Pregnancy is a very important period for every woman. At this time, your baby’s body is forming and developing. In many ways, his future health depends on the course of pregnancy. The standard gestation period is 40 weeks. However, this period is very conditional. Doctors say that labor may begin at or at 41-42. In this case, this process will be considered normal. What did the doctors think about giving birth at 37 weeks? This is exactly what this article will tell you about. You will also learn how to induce labor and whether it is even possible to do this.

Due date

A standard pregnancy lasts approximately ten lunar months. This period is 40 weeks. It is at this time that most babies are born. However, the onset of labor can occur either at the 38th or 42nd week. In this case, we are talking about an urgent process, that is, one that began on time.

Childbirth at 37 weeks is theoretically considered premature. The rules indicate that such babies must be placed in special incubators and receive special supervision. However, modern experts have a slightly different opinion on this matter.

Childbirth at 37 weeks: doctors' opinion

Doctors say that the onset of labor can occur at completely different times. At the same time, premature babies require special monitoring and sometimes emergency assistance. Medicine has made great breakthroughs in recent years. Now even babies born after 22 weeks of pregnancy can get a considerable chance at life. However, this requires appropriate equipment and competent specialists.

Childbirth at 37 weeks may be considered urgent or premature. It all depends on the duration of the female cycle and the individual characteristics of the new mother’s body. Doctors always evaluate the baby’s condition before talking about premature birth. Let's consider two main options and find out the opinions of doctors regarding such conditions.

Urgent birth at 37 weeks

How do doctors characterize labor at 37 weeks? A process that occurred on time can be discussed in the following cases:

• If a woman has a regular short cycle, then its duration is on average three weeks. Since the expected date of birth is established using standard calculations, in this case it will be displayed incorrectly. The delivery process should begin one week earlier. That is why a baby born at 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered full-term and does not require additional assistance.
• In some cases, it happens that childbirth at 37 weeks leads to the birth of a full-term baby. It is worth recalling that in the mother’s womb all children develop unevenly. Each baby can experience so-called growth spurts. It also happens that at 37 weeks a child is born whose development and size corresponds to a 40-week-old baby.

In both of these cases, doctors recognize the birth as urgent (took place on time). Doctors say that a few decades ago this assessment and classification were not used. At the same time, the process of delivery, which began at 37 weeks, was always recognized as premature.

Early labor

In what cases do doctors talk about what happened? premature birth at 37 weeks? Initially, when a woman in labor is admitted to the hospital, doctors always make this diagnosis. However, after the birth of the baby, the conclusion can be confirmed or withdrawn. What assessments are used by obstetricians, gynecologists and neonatologists?

• Premature birth occurs when the baby is underweight and undersized. Thus, the standard reference point is a body weight of 2.5 kilograms. The length of the baby's body should not be less than 48 centimeters. In other cases, birth at 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered premature or early.
• Doctors also talk about early birth when the process has already begun, but the woman’s body is not ready for it. Thus, there is often an outpouring amniotic fluid, but the contractions are “empty”, that is, they do not lead to dilatation of the cervix.

It is worth noting that childbirth at 37 weeks of pregnancy is not a disaster. It will be much worse if the baby is born at 42 weeks, but its development will correspond to 38-39. In this case, the birth is recognized as urgent, but we are already talking about a delay intrauterine development.

Is it worth inducing labor: doctors' opinion

Doctors say that pregnancies can lead to completely unexpected consequences. The baby may appear fully viable and ready for further development in a new environment. However, in some cases the baby is born premature. This entails dire consequences. However, just one or two weeks in the mother's womb would help avoid such problems. Should I induce labor?

Doctors say that at this stage there is no need to induce the onset of labor. The baby will appear on its own at the allotted time. Outside interference in the pregnancy process can lead to complications. Doctors say that it is possible to induce labor, but this should be done only after 40 weeks of pregnancy, and then there must be good reasons for this. However, women in labor do not always listen to the opinions of specialists. The desire to quickly get rid of the belly and take their baby in their arms prompts women to resort to the most unexpected actions. Let's look at the main ways to induce labor at 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Exercise and walking

One of the effective and safe methods to induce labor is walking. It is worth noting that it only helps with full-term pregnancy. If your uterus is ready to release the baby into the outside world, then prolonged walking and physical activity will provoke contractions. When the reproductive organ is not yet ready to begin its work, these manipulations will lead to nothing.

You need to walk several hours a day. At the same time, women talk about an increased effect when climbing stairs. You can also do a lot of house cleaning. Wash the floors. Do not use a mop when doing this. Wash the windows and remove the curtains for washing. Remember not to lift heavy objects.

Miracle cocktail

One cocktail known to gynecologists helps induce labor. To prepare it, you need to mix one part each of orange and apricot juice. Also place 100 milliliters of champagne in a container. Add half the package to the mixture castor oil. And have a drink.

The effect of such a cocktail will not be long in coming. Within a few hours you will feel the urge to defecate. After thoroughly cleansing the intestines, there is a high probability that contractions will begin. An enema has the same effect. However, it must have decent volumes. To induce labor, you will have to cleanse your intestines with at least one liter of water. Remember that at 37 weeks of pregnancy this method can lead to rupture of amniotic fluid in the absence of dilatation of the cervical canal! In this case, there is a possibility of a caesarean section.

Please take into account the fact that the above methods of activating labor may leave an imprint on the health of your child. Be reasonable!

At the 37th week of pregnancy, a woman enters a completely new period - prenatal - now the baby is considered fully term, ready to be born. Some religions claim that right now the baby finds his personal Guardian Angel. There is very little time left before the baby meets his parents, and a woman is now required to have maximum patience and the ability to focus on the main thing.

Childbirth can actually occur at any moment, and therefore it is better not to plan long trips or long walks during this period.

How many months is this?

Week 37 marks the last month of pregnancy. The beginning of the 37th week is the beginning of the 10th obstetric month of pregnancy, The final stage third trimester. Nine obstetric months are behind us, or a little over 8 months according to the usual calendar calculation. Almost 35 weeks have passed since conception, and 33 weeks have passed since the missed period. There are an average of 4 obstetric weeks left before birth.

The expected day of birth is a very arbitrary date, because only about 5% of babies are born on this day. Most births occur earlier or later than PDR.

36-37 weeks of pregnancy is a very responsible and important time. A woman should know exactly what happens during this period with the baby and mother in order to be prepared for different options developments of events.

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Feelings of the expectant mother

Most frequently asked question which a woman hears at 37 weeks, when will she give birth? This question is very annoying and makes the pregnant woman nervous, because she herself would like to know when they will come, since carrying the baby is becoming more and more difficult every day. Deep down, every expectant mother is well aware that it is better for the baby to be born on time in order to be fully mature, but the desire to give birth quickly now prevails over the truisms.

The expectant mother can understand: the baby is already so big that pregnancy turns into a constant test of strength and endurance. The pain intensifies, it is almost impossible to get a full night's sleep, and you suffer from insomnia, nausea, heartburn, diarrhea and constipation. Appetite, that is, is absent. Clumsiness significantly limits the physical capabilities of the expectant mother and reduces her mobility.

For those who still find it difficult to breathe due to the pressure of the uterus on the diaphragm, this week may become significantly easier. Most pregnant women experience a drooping belly at 37 weeks. This means that the baby has dropped his head down, he has taken a position that is the most correct and convenient for birth. Its head is pressed tightly against the pelvic outlet, and the pressure on the diaphragm is reduced. The woman can breathe deeply again, but begins to experience constant pressure in the lower abdomen and an increased urge to urinate.

Many people are interested in how long after the tummy drops labor begins. There are no uniform standards in this - everything is individual. Usually, after the baby’s head drops, it takes about 2-3 weeks before contractions begin.

Fetal movements

The baby’s movements still remain a kind of “indicator” of his condition, but normally at 37 weeks they become rarer. There is no need to be afraid of this; the decrease in movements is a physiological phenomenon. The baby has become big, now he does not have the physical ability to tumble and “dance” as before, because the walls of the uterus are already tightly covering his body, he occupies almost all the free space in it.

Quantity amniotic fluid becomes smaller, the placenta begins to “thinner” and thinner, its functions are almost completed, it ages.

By the 37th week, the child had taken the only position in which he could still somehow fit in the uterus - flexion. In it, the baby's chin is pressed tightly to the chest, the arms and legs are compactly folded, and the baby himself is in a bent position. Movement in this position is very, very limited. Movements of the arms and legs now cause mom pain and discomfort.

The pregnant woman is advised to continue counting the episodes motor activity your son or daughter. Although they have become more rare, as before, there should not be less than 10 of them in half a day. They begin counting in the morning, and counting lasts on average 12 hours. If the baby hiccups, this is not considered a movement. If he makes several consecutive movements in a short period of time, this is counted as one movement. These are general rules counting.

The method a woman will use when counting can be any. This is the Pearson method, popular among antenatal clinic doctors, and the Cardiff method, and other methods and methods. The main thing is that the result is within the normal range.

If movements are less than normal, this may be a sign of prolonged and prolonged hypoxia. By reducing physical activity, the baby tries to save the oxygen he needs so much.

Increased movements are usually characteristic of the initial stage of oxygen starvation. The baby's restlessness, its sudden and short movements are nothing more than a way to get more oxygen for itself, so the baby massages the placenta and tries to tug at the umbilical cord.

Hypoxia can be deadly for a baby. It often becomes the cause of intrauterine death of a child. later, causes undesirable consequences for the child’s health, affecting his nervous system, the condition and performance of the brain.

The presence of hypoxia at 37 weeks is a reason for urgent delivery, without waiting for the start of independent labor.

This information is provided for reference and not as a guide to action. This means that not every decrease in movements or their increase is necessarily associated with oxygen starvation. A woman should be more attentive to changes in her baby's behavior, but do not forget about it individual characteristics, because at this stage the expectant mother is already familiar with them.

There are more active and less active children. In addition, the activity of the child in the mother’s womb is influenced by a variety of external or internal factors, for example, nutrition, weather, mood and well-being of the expectant mother.

Pain

A pregnant woman usually gets used to pain at this stage. Various discomforts are now the woman’s constant “companions,” and the pain continues to intensify. In one woman they are more pronounced, in another - less, it all depends on the individual pain threshold. But everyone has pain at 37 weeks, because the body of the expectant mother is under serious overload. Over the past months, my weight has increased noticeably, causing periodic pain in my legs, knee joints, and ankles. Often women at this stage are bothered by cramps in the calf muscles; they are associated with a lack of calcium in the body, because the child took a large amount of it.

The uterus continues to grow. This growth is now less intense than before, but the ligaments are stretched, overloaded, and this is what causes the woman to have lower back and back pain, and nagging pain in the lower abdomen. Pulling in the lower back, pain in the right or left side, not constantly, but mainly when changing body position, when staying in an upright position for a long time.

Training contractions become more intense by the 37th week of pregnancy. They are happening more and more often, but this should in no way worry the expectant mother. This is how her body prepares for childbirth.

During this period, false or training contractions may appear in women who have already given birth before. In first-time mothers, they usually start long before birth. The second or third pregnancy is characterized precisely by the fact that Braxton-Hicks spasms appear shortly before the birth itself.

If there are no false contractions at week 37, this is also a variant of the norm. There are many women in the world who do not experience such training contractions of the uterine muscles at all, and this does not in the least prevent them from carrying their babies to term perfectly and safely. Therefore, training contractions do not fall into the category of harbingers. They do not help dilate the cervix.

False contractions are very easy to recognize: the uterus becomes toned for a short time, and then relaxes. There may not be another contraction. And this is the main difference between false contractions and real ones, which occur with a certain frequency and increase in pain.

The fact that labor has begun can be judged by the frequency of contractions - they are repeated at specific equal intervals of time and intensify.

If training contractions are very disturbing by week 37, you can correct the situation by taking No-shpa, resting in a lying position, and taking a warm shower. They should be treated calmly, without panic, as if they were inevitable.

The perineum at 37 weeks hurts for two reasons: the baby’s head puts pressure on the pelvic structures if the stomach has already dropped, and the process of softening the pelvic bone apparatus is in full swing before the upcoming birth.

The bones and ligaments become more mobile in order to allow the baby's head to pass through during the birth process, allowing him to leave the uterus. A special hormone acts on the pelvic bones - relaxin, which is now produced in the body of the expectant mother in large quantities.

Pain in the perineum worsens at night. The pubic bone can slightly limit a woman's movement in the morning after waking up. It will take some time for her to step back and allow her to sit, stand, and move her legs when walking.

If the pain is sharp, does not change and does not subside, then you should visit your doctor to rule out the development of symphysitis. This is an unpleasant complication of pregnancy. With it, with a high degree of probability, childbirth will be carried out by caesarean section.

37 obstetric week- the last opportunity to cure your teeth. A visit to the dentist and any manipulations in the oral cavity at a later date become undesirable. If your tooth hurts, do not put off visiting the doctor this week, especially since it is not at all necessary to endure pain during dental treatment. A woman at such an advanced age is already allowed some painkillers and anesthetics, so the doctor will do everything possible to ensure that the treatment takes place with minimal stress for a woman in an “interesting situation.”

At 37 weeks of pregnancy, the cervix begins to actively prepare for childbirth. It gradually shortens and smoothes out, this can cause minor nagging pain, as well as the sensation of short “stabbing” lumbago somewhere in the depths of the vagina. There is no need to be scared - everything that happens is completely physiological and natural.

If you have pain of the following nature, you should call the emergency room at 37 weeks: if it is acute and severe, accompanied by bleeding or other unusual discharge, rupture of water, or discharge of a mucus plug. You cannot hesitate in this situation: the sooner a pregnant woman ends up in the hospital, the better for her and the unborn child.

Discharge

By changing the nature of vaginal discharge at 37 weeks, a woman can guess that labor is approaching or that complications are occurring. In order not to miss important things, you should use thin sanitary pads.

Tampons should not be used by pregnant women, as they cause the accumulation of vaginal secretions, which in turn promotes the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.

Controlling discharge is a prerequisite for personal hygiene during late pregnancy. The discharge at week 37 remains quite heavy, just like a few weeks ago. However, this week a woman may notice that there are mucus impurities in the vaginal secretion. This is the beginning of the passage of the mucus plug, which for nine months reliably closed the cervical canal from viruses and bacteria entering it and from there into the uterine cavity. Now the cervix begins to open slightly, and the mucus plug can no longer be held in the expanding cervical canal.

Small admixtures of mucus during the current period indicate that the plug is coming off in parts, but if a large clot with or without blood streaks is found on the pad, the plug has come off entirely. From now on, a woman should not take a bath, should limit herself to a shower, and should not have sex in order to prevent foreign microorganisms from entering the uterine cavity.

The plug does not always come out in time. Sometimes it leaves the cervical canal simultaneously with the outpouring of amniotic fluid, and then the exit of the plug may go unnoticed by the woman. The waters themselves can also recede in parts. A woman will be “indicated” of this by watery discharge.

Normally, discharge at 37 weeks should remain white or slightly yellowish, have an even consistency without clots, and have no odor. If a woman has any bloody issues on this period, you should immediately call " Ambulance».

Itching in the perineum may indicate the presence of thrush, especially if it is accompanied by white thick discharge, reminiscent of cottage cheese in its structure. Green, gray, brown discharge with unpleasant smell this week is a sign of a genital infection.

Thrush and infections should be eliminated before labor begins, so it is important to consult a doctor now, because treatment and sanitization of the genital tract will take some time.

Psychological state and mood of the pregnant woman

Fear of the upcoming birth still “rules the show” in the minds of the expectant mother, but gradually it recedes and is replaced by agonizing anticipation. Many women, tired of the heavy burden, want this “terrible” birth to begin as quickly as possible. Because of this, a woman may begin to experience slight depression, become irritable and easily excitable.

Due to the fact that many people suffer from insomnia at night, they want to sleep all the time, but only during the day. This shift in the biological cycle causes psychological imbalance; a woman may begin to feel that this period is dragging on very slowly and will never end.

It is in the last month of pregnancy that relationships between spouses, a woman and her parents often deteriorate. To help a woman at this stage, psychologists work in consultations. There is no need to be embarrassed to seek psychological help, because this is completely normal; this practice is widespread throughout the civilized world.

For the expectant mother Now she needs confidence in the future, that she and her child will be taken care of, and she also wants to feel loved and needed.

Therefore, no matter how busy the future dad is at work, he should not forget that his significant other is going through difficult times, she needs his support and participation.

Changes in the body

All systems and organs, every cell of the mother’s body begin to prepare for the upcoming birth. This is a very complex process from a biological point of view, in which many different mechanisms and substances are involved.

Uterus

The uterus occupies almost all the space abdominal cavity. The standing height of its bottom is 32-37 centimeters. From the navel line, the uterus rises 17-18 centimeters. If the baby does not drop his head down, then it is difficult for the woman to breathe, because the bottom of the uterus supports the chest and diaphragm, and compresses the stomach. It is this fact that is the main cause of that very debilitating heartburn, which is familiar firsthand to almost all pregnant women, especially at the end of the third trimester.

The uterus, which puts pressure on the diaphragm, creates the feeling that there is constantly not enough air. After the abdomen subsides, this goes away, but if at 37 weeks ptosis has not occurred and it is still difficult to breathe, you should monitor your well-being and avoid symptoms of lack of oxygen. To do this, a woman should occasionally take a knee-elbow position and take full breaths and exhalations. Such breathing exercises will help cope with oxygen deficiency and help prepare for childbirth.

Due to the large uterus and its pressure on bladder a woman experiences a frequent urge to urinate. Most pregnant women already get used to going to the toilet several times during the night by this time, but troubles like urinary incontinence can quite surprise and puzzle them. There is nothing scary or strange about this. The pressure on the bladder increases the pressure on the sphincter, and now all it takes is a sudden cough or laugh for urine to start leaking.

The cervix begins to change rapidly. In the language of doctors - “mature”. Based on the condition and length of the cervix, a conclusion is now being made about the likelihood of childbirth in the near future. The cervix becomes shorter - 24-26 mm, and may become slightly dilated.

Normally, the internal pharynx begins to open first and only then the external pharynx. WITH obstetric pessary, which was diagnosed due to cervical weakness in order to maintain pregnancy at an earlier stage, is usually hospitalized at 37 weeks. Pessary after general examination the pregnant woman is removed, and childbirth then occurs within a few hours or days. If surgical stitches were previously placed on the cervix, a hospital stay is now also recommended.

The shorter the cervix at 37 weeks, the more likely it is that birth will occur very soon. Cervical ripening is an individual phenomenon, and if it has not yet begun, then there is a possibility that the pregnancy may continue and childbirth will occur after 40 weeks.

Weight gain

The weight gain at 37 weeks is already so great that a woman feels it with literally every part of her body. It became difficult to walk and toss and turn from side to side. On average, a woman gains up to 14 kilograms by this time. And it is recommended to continue weighing yourself not only on the days of your visit to the antenatal clinic, but also on your own, at home, every day. Such control will help the pregnant woman better understand the processes occurring in her body.

Thus, a seemingly unreasonable jump in kilograms may indicate the development of gestosis. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor to assess the degree and form of the complication and decide on further pregnancy management tactics.

Preeclampsia itself can be very dangerous for the mother and fetus, especially if weight gain is combined with the appearance of protein in the urine and an increase in blood pressure.

Components of total weight gain over the entire period of pregnancy with normal indicators:

• About 30% is the baby's weight.
• A little more than 10% is allocated to the weight of water and placenta.
• More than 12% is the weight of blood, the amount of which in the maternal body has increased with the advent of another blood circulation (uteroplacental).
• About 5% of the increase is the weight of the mammary glands.
• About 15% is allocated to fluid, which accumulates in the intercellular space of body tissues. If there is a lot of it, swelling appears - internal and external.

• Obese women can add 8.3 kilograms by the 37th week of pregnancy, and this will fit within the normative values.
• Thin and delicate people can normally gain about 14 kilograms.
• For women of average build - just over 12 kilograms.

Different doctors look at the rate of increase differently. This is due to the lack of uniform standardized requirements.

During one week at this time, you can add no more than 300 grams. A woman should remember that now her baby is gaining its own weight very rapidly, and in order not to cause criticism from the obstetrician-gynecologist, it is important to eat small portions of food that is not high in calories.

Many pregnant women note that weight loss began at 37 weeks, and this is also quite normal. There is less water, the placenta shrinks, and many people note that their appetite has almost disappeared.

Other changes

Complaints that now the chest hurts again, as at the very beginning of the gestation period, are quite common at 37 weeks. The mammary glands enter the final stage of preparation for lactation. The breasts become more sensitive, the nipples become rough, and may begin to peel slightly. Colostrum secretion often increases. The colostrum itself begins to become thinner and whitish at week 37, whereas previously it was thick and yellow.

By this time, colostrum is observed in the vast majority of pregnant women, but most often it accompanies the second or third pregnancy, provided that the woman previously had to breastfeed the baby.

However, the lack of colostrum should not cause questions or worries in a pregnant woman. The belief that lack of colostrum is a sign that breast milk there will not be or there will be little after childbirth, erroneous.

A large amount of circulating blood leads to instability in blood pressure levels. Therefore, it is not surprising that at week 37 your head hurts or feels dizzy, you feel hot and cold, and your heart beats faster. The woman gets tired faster, she feels weaker than before. Headaches don't need drug treatment, doctors usually recommend that a woman sleep with the window open, and also rest in a well-ventilated, darkened room.

Anemia, if there was any, begins to recede. At week 37, the level of hemoglobin in the blood of a pregnant woman increases. Estrogens, which are produced in considerable quantities, promote hair growth and not only in the scalp area. The sweat and sebaceous glands continue to work with increased activity, and therefore sweating persists. But due to a lack of calcium, nails become more brittle and fragile.

A woman's skin is now more delicate than ever. This is what causes allergies and increased pigmentation. At 37 weeks, pimples may appear, which a woman almost forgot about when progesterone controlled everything in her body. Now the hormonal levels have changed, and this can manifest itself in the form of acne.

Harbingers of childbirth

What kind of harbingers of childbirth they are is of interest to every pregnant woman. At week 37 they may not be there, but the first “swallows” may appear. Traditionally, unconditional harbingers include:

• shortening of the cervix;
• prolapse of the abdomen;
• leakage of amniotic fluid;
• gradual removal of the mucus plug.

There are also folk signs, which our grandmothers and great-grandmothers used to navigate when no one measured the length of the cervix. Precursors include the appearance of eating disorders, in particular diarrhea. It is believed that in this way the expectant mother’s body tries to “cleanse itself” before the upcoming birth. However, do not confuse precursors and elementary food poisoning. When poisoned, a woman is accompanied by vomiting.

Intensification of training contractions is a rather dubious harbinger.

Often popular rumor refers to the so-called nesting instinct as a harbinger, when a pregnant woman begins to actively arrange her home, “build a nest.” A nagging pain between the legs and insomnia are considered a harbinger. Many pregnant women claim that a week before giving birth they almost stopped sleeping at night.

Baby development

Your baby is busy with a very important task - he is building up fat and muscle mass. On average, the increase is 50 grams per day. The average weight of the fetus at 37 weeks of pregnancy is 3100 grams. The estimated weight of the fetus can be determined by ultrasound, but the doctor will definitely warn that this is a rather relative concept, and errors can vary between 300-400 grams.

The baby's height reaches 47-49 centimeters. He is already quite large and it is very difficult for him to fit into the uterine cavity. The baby looks just like a newborn, with one adjustment - weight. Otherwise, he is not much different from a newborn.

The entire small child’s body is now busy with the most important task - preparing for its own birth, adaptive abilities are mobilized, sense organs are “tuned”, the immune system is preparing to repel the attacks of the aggressive world located outside the mother’s womb.

Appearance

There were dramatic changes in the child's appearance. If before he looked thin and wrinkled, now the baby has gained noticeable weight, he already has chubby cheeks, cute plump palms and heels. This became possible due to the process of accumulation of subcutaneous fat. Because of it, the skin is no longer red and wrinkled, and thanks to it, the baby can now remain warm, which is extremely important for its successful survival after birth.

From lanugo (thin blonde hair) the baby's skin is almost free. The original lubricant is preserved only where there is still a protective need for it - in places of mechanical friction (under the arms, in the elbow and popliteal folds, in the groin). Only one out of two dozen babies at 37 weeks still has some lanugo. But there is nothing pathological about this; hairs will fall out in the first days after the baby is born.

The length of the hair on the head of some babies already reaches impressive values ​​- up to 5 centimeters; thanks to the coloring pigments, the baby can already be brunette or brown-haired, red-haired or fair-haired. The cartilages of the nose and ears have become harder. Because of this, the ears stopped sticking out funny in different directions and acquired a complete aesthetic appearance.

The child has his own individual eye color, facial structure, fingerprints, formed eyelashes and eyebrows. Small nails have grown, and now the baby can scratch herself, since the nail plates confidently rise above the boundaries of the phalanges. Body proportions have leveled out and become more balanced. The cranial bones remain mobile to facilitate the birth of the baby's head.

Presentation

Almost all children at this stage occupy a head position in relation to the exit from the pelvis. It is considered the most suitable and safe for the childbirth process. If at 37 weeks the baby is in a breech position, there is practically no chance that he will change the position of his body in the space of the uterus. At this time, a decision is made to perform a cesarean section in order to minimize the likelihood of the child receiving severe disabling birth injuries.

Breech presentation, as well as location across the uterine cavity, are indications for cesarean section. It is usually performed at 38-39 or 39-40 weeks.

Before hospitalization, an ultrasound is repeated, since medicine knows cases when babies changed their position immediately before the onset of labor, however, such stories are rare.

Nervous system

The baby's brain gained weight and noticeably increased control over the activities of the entire child's body. The cerebral cortex has convolutions and grooves, the nerve endings are myelinated. Young neurons continue to form at a very fast pace, and nerve cells form the connections necessary for the child to develop further. This process will not end after birth; the nervous system will continue its development in new conditions.

Several dozen formed reflexes will not allow the baby to disappear after he leaves the womb. All of them are now formed. These are the sucking and swallowing reflexes, the grasping reflex, and the breathing reflex. In addition, there are several dozen tendon and tonic reflexes.

Nerve endings that penetrate the tender skin, are able to provide the brain with a full report of touch or temperature changes environment. Neural connections are formed between the “control center” (the brain) and all the internal organs and systems of the child.

The senses are fully prepared for independent life baby. He hears quite well, as far as the thickness of the mother’s abdominal wall allows, sees blurry colored spots, visual acuity and focusing are a task for the near future after childbirth. He has a sense of smell and touch, the baby perfectly distinguishes tastes.

Internal organs

Internal organs The baby is fully formed, they are now only growing and increasing in size and weight. The functions of each organ are honed and debugged, the child’s entire body works smoothly, like a clock. The boys' testicles have descended into the scrotum, but if the gonads are still delayed on their way from the abdominal cavity to the scrotum, they will certainly descend in the coming days.

The baby's lungs continue to accumulate a special substance necessary for survival and independent breathing - surfactant. There is now enough of it in the alveoli so that the baby can breathe if the birth occurs this week. The surfactant prevents the tiny bubbles, which are essentially the alveoli, from sticking together as they exit. These bubbles in the human body perform the functions of gas exchange - the release of carbon dioxide in exchange for oxygen.

The formation of lobules in the baby’s liver has completely completed, and the deep structures of the kidneys have also acquired their final, complete appearance. Now the kidneys produce up to 500 ml of urine per day, the baby drinks amniotic fluid and pees about once an hour. Urine enters the amniotic fluid, but the environment remains sterile due to the fact that the composition of the water is renewed every three hours.

By the 37th week accumulated in the intestines a large number of original feces - meconium. It consists of bile and lanugo particles undigested by the baby’s stomach and exfoliated epithelium. The baby begins to poop after he is born; in the first day or two, he will excrete this first feces, dark green meconium.

If a bowel movement occurs in utero now, doctors will try to speed up the birth of the baby, because meconium makes water unsuitable for swallowing, in addition, the very fact of intrauterine bowel movement is very alarming, since it very often indicates a clear problem with the fetus - hypoxia or Rh conflict.

The baby’s heart works uninterruptedly, pumping up to two dozen liters of blood per day. It knocks rhythmically, clearly and loudly. If desired, you can hear it by placing your ear to the pregnant woman’s belly.

Therefore, children who are born at this stage are under the closest supervision of neonatologists for several days; some babies need resuscitation measures and special conditions stay for several days after birth. However, often babies born at 37 weeks, in the absence of complications, are immediately put to the breast and within a day are transferred to the same room with their mother.

Even if the baby is not brought in and is kept in intensive care, there is no need to worry. He spent enough time in his mother's womb to successfully adapt to the external environment. There should be no health consequences.

Your baby on ultrasound

Ultrasound at 37 weeks of pregnancy is performed mainly for medical reasons. Such indications exist in cases where the doctor needs to know exactly the length of the cervix, the size of the fetal head, its estimated weight, if a large or giant fetus is suspected. This data is needed in order to choose the right delivery tactics. An ultrasound helps determine the degree of readiness of the baby for birth, the readiness of his lungs, and presentation.

An ultrasound at 37 weeks may be the final one, the last one for the entire period of gestation. Doing it yourself just to admire the baby or find out its gender, essentially makes no sense.

The norms for fetometry for the 37th week are as follows.

Deviation from the specified values ​​is acceptable, but not more than two weeks. If the baby is 2 weeks or more behind the norm, doctors may suspect intrauterine growth retardation. Children with values ​​that are ahead of the norm are more likely to be born large.

At week 37, it is recommended to perform not a regular ultrasound, but an ultrasound with Doppler, so that it is possible to assess the functioning of the placenta and the speed of blood flow in the uteroplacental vessels. This information is needed in order to understand how comfortable the baby feels in the mother’s womb.

A woman’s immune system continues to remain weak; natural defenses have been suppressed by progesterone for too long to recover quickly, so there is a high risk of contracting influenza or ARVI. And even a common cold can lurk at any moment. Therefore, it is now important to refrain from visiting crowded, busy and crowded places shopping centers, avoid traveling to public transport, especially if it’s an epidemic season outside.

The cold or viral infection itself no longer poses any danger to the child, but can greatly complicate the life of the expectant mother. With a runny nose and cough, if labor begins, the woman is hospitalized exclusively in the observational (infectious) department of the maternity hospital.

Treating a cold or acute respiratory viral infection at 37 weeks of pregnancy, if a woman does get sick, should be done exclusively under the supervision of a doctor, since inept self-medication can cause much more serious harm than the disease itself. The doctor will help you choose one that is safe for your child’s health. medicinal product, will tell you which ones folk remedies are acceptable. The disease can be overcome without serious complications.

A woman should not lift weights or be very nervous, because all this can lead to childbirth ahead of schedule. Even the fact that the baby is considered viable does not negate the need for the last weeks of gestation and they should not be underestimated. Stormy emotions bad habits can also speed up the course of events, and if nature intended to carry a baby for 40 weeks, then going against it is dangerous. There is no need to rush to the maternity hospital.

Quite often, at 37 weeks, a woman is haunted by a delicate and painful problem - hemorrhoids. There is no need to assume that everything will go away on its own: childbirth, as practice shows, only intensifies the manifestations of hemorrhoids. Therefore, right now you need to consult a doctor and start treatment, adjust your diet, and avoid constipation. Loose stools should also not be ignored. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration.

Analyzes and examinations

At 37 weeks of pregnancy, a woman will receive an impressive list of referrals for tests that need to be performed before giving birth: such a comprehensive check of the health of the expectant mother will help doctors better navigate the last weeks of pregnancy and the process of childbirth.

Before a planned appointment at the antenatal clinic they still take general analysis urine. It is needed in order to know how the kidneys cope with the load, whether the woman has signs of gestosis or gestational diabetes mellitus.

Basic tips for the 37th week of pregnancy are rocking proper nutrition, observing a rest regime, paying attention to changes in your own body. Besides:

if severe itching of the skin in the area of ​​the chest, abdomen and thighs is tormented, a woman should definitely use special cosmetical tools against stretch marks. You can also get by with a more economical option - after a shower, rub warmed almond, linseed or sunflower oil into the skin;

sex is not contraindicated and is even beneficial, because orgasm helps the uterine muscles prepare for childbirth, and semen contains prostaglandins, which help prepare the cervix for dilation. However, sex must be very careful.

If there is a threat of premature birth, if the plug has come off, water is leaking, sex is contraindicated.

37th week of pregnancy: precursors of labor in primiparous and multiparous women

The baby's movements may suddenly become weaker and less frequent - all these are signs of the mother's body preparing for the process of expulsion of the fetus.

37th week of pregnancy: what's happening?

At 37 weeks of pregnancy, the stomach becomes stone - not constantly, but quite often, which sometimes makes a woman worry. Meanwhile, this phenomenon is not dangerous - it only indicates that the uterus is “training” before the birth process begins.

Quite often, the lower abdomen pulls at the 37th week of pregnancy, pain is felt in the perineum. It’s not surprising: the heavier uterus stretches the ligaments, puts pressure on the pelvic bones, causing them to move apart a little. This is how the body “expands” the birth canal to make it easier for the baby to make its first journey - to be born, having overcome all obstacles. Tissues and joints soften. The hormone relaxin works in full force. Under its influence, not only ligaments and joints soften, but also bones. The pelvis expands, and the size of the legs increases.

Nausea at 37 weeks of pregnancy should not be severe and occur frequently. If this phenomenon occurs, and it is accompanied by dizziness, then perhaps increased arterial pressure. Nausea and diarrhea at 37 weeks of pregnancy, especially if there is also fever and vomiting, indicate trouble in the body: perhaps there is an intestinal infection. If you simply experience loose stools after frequent previous constipation, this may also be a sign of impending labor.

The child, as shown by an ultrasound at the 37th week of pregnancy, by this time has already taken a strong position, which does not want to change: this may be breech presentation or a more physiological position - head down. At the 37th week of pregnancy, precursors appear, but from the moment the first of them appear until the expulsion of the fetus begins, a lot of time can pass - up to 2 or 3 weeks.

37 weeks of pregnancy: baby's height and weight

The child's development continues, he is still gaining weight due to adipose tissue and the subcutaneous fat layer, although he has already become noticeably heavier in recent weeks. The weight of the fetus can reach 3 kg or more, and its height varies from 45 to 50 cm.

At the 37th week of pregnancy, precursors of labor in first-time mothers can be observed, while the birth itself is expected in about a couple of weeks. The weight of the baby at 37 weeks of pregnancy is still increasing, so the skin on the mother’s abdomen continues to stretch, stretch marks appear, and the skin feels itchy.

The baby's growth increases by 1 cm every week. He will no longer experience as much stress upon being born as if it had happened a couple of weeks earlier. His adrenal glands produce hormones that promote rapid adaptation to a changed environment.

The fetus at 37 weeks of gestation is fully mature - childbirth is a natural physiological process.

The appearance of precursors of labor in multiparous women at the 37th week of pregnancy indicates that there are only a few days left before the birth of the child. For mothers who already have one or 2 children, everything happens much faster: the body has already “worked out the scheme” last time, now it follows the same scenario.

If a woman planning to become a mother for the first time notices the following signs:

• the stomach often becomes hard;
• fetal movements became less noticeable;
• aching lower abdomen;
• the stomach drops;
• there was a weight loss of 1.5-2 kg;
• there is a little clear liquid discharge;
• the mucus plug has come off -

everything that happens should alert her and make her more attentive to herself. There are 10-14 days left before the birth.

If similar symptoms are detected by someone who is having her second or third birth, the action will unfold much faster: perhaps there are 3-4 days left before the birth. The second pregnancy and subsequent ones often end in rapid labor.

Childbirth at 37 weeks of pregnancy: doctors' opinion

Childbirth at this stage is accompanied by no more complications than “planned” ones - those that occur in the 40th week.

The child will have to go through the birth canal and adapt to the world around him. The following should cause concern:

• the child moves very much;
• observed;
• there is severe pain in the perineal area;
• installed low placentation(by ultrasound);
• noticeable;
• There is brown discharge, even painless;
• high blood pressure in a pregnant woman.

In all these cases, the woman is placed in the maternity hospital in advance to prevent the possibility of complications.

Sex at 37 weeks pregnant

Close marital contacts at this time are quite possible. True, it is not always possible to find a position that is comfortable for a woman, but some couples continue to have sex.

Vivid orgasms lead to hormonal surges, the cervix becomes elastic - in a word, the task of preparing for the birth process becomes easier. But for this you need to be sure that there are no contraindications from doctors. Remember that sex at 37 weeks can stimulate the onset of labor.

Discharge at 37 weeks of pregnancy

Any unusual discharge at 37 weeks of pregnancy should alert the pregnant woman. There should be no white cheesy discharge - thrush should be treated with topical medications by this time. Brown and bloody discharge indicates trouble.

Mucous discharge may indicate the passage of the plug, and very abundant liquid discharge may indicate the release or leakage of amniotic fluid. With polyhydramnios (even moderate), the water can even frighten a woman with its volume. After the water breaks, you need to immediately call an ambulance, because the child begins to experience oxygen starvation.

Edema at 37 weeks of pregnancy

Swelling, accompanied by the appearance of protein in the urine and nausea, is not a good sign. In this case, there may be no pain, no diarrhea or vomiting. But the pressure rises, there is itching, fatigue - all this.

If you do not pay attention to the development of gestosis in time, it can lead to preeclampsia, and this condition is already very dangerous for the mother and fetus. Therefore, women with this diagnosis are sent to a hospital for observation and measures, including induction of labor or cesarean section.

The whole body swells, including the nasal mucosa, but in fact it is not. Therefore, do not rush into self-medication, but consult a specialist.

Heartburn at 37 weeks of pregnancy

When the stomach drops, it becomes easier for a woman to breathe. But until this moment, the expectant mother continues to be accompanied by unpleasant symptoms: heaviness in the stomach, constipation becomes more frequent. The reason is that the child puts all his weight on the organs of the digestive system, making it difficult to digest food and evacuate the contents of the intestines.

You can cope with this by adjusting your diet: you should not limit yourself to breakfast, lunch and dinner, but give yourself additional snacks and eat little by little - 5-6 times a day. In this case, the usual portions need to be reduced. Even with low weight The fetus can notice all these annoying phenomena that complicate life.

A woman’s sensations and conditions requiring medical supervision at 37 weeks

Towards the end of pregnancy expectant mother may get acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections. Needs to be removed high temperature, treat cough and runny nose. A cold weakens the body, and this is extremely undesirable at the stage of preparation for childbirth.

There may be pain in the teeth. This is understandable: the baby systematically “took” calcium throughout the entire pregnancy, so the occurrence of caries is natural. should be done before birth.

Periodic uterine tone is possible; papaverine is sometimes prescribed to relieve it. The stomach often feels hard, the chest hurts, colostrum is released - these sensations are normal at 37 weeks.

When will labor begin? The woman is waiting for them, she is already tired. But you can’t fool nature: the child himself “knows” when it’s time for him to be born. Therefore, all you have to do is arm yourself with patience and wait a little longer. Soon there will be a meeting mother and baby - and it will begin new stage in family life, restless and very interesting.

During this period of pregnancy, the baby continues to grow. Now his height is about 49 centimeters, and his weight is around 3 kilograms. Due to such a mass of the toddler, movements at the current stage will become more rare.
The fetus is already quite strong, but it needs a little more time to fully adapt. During weeks 38 and 39, your baby's brain and lungs will continue to mature.

In general, the baby at 37 weeks of pregnancy is almost fully formed. If for some reason you have to induce labor, this will not harm the health of the baby.

In the mother's belly the baby sleeps and is awake. At week 37, the baby already has a unique routine. He rests and indulges at approximately the same time. In addition, the little one reacts to light and perfectly senses the mother’s mood. Stay in a good mood, read inspiring books, listen to good music and sing to your baby.

At this point in pregnancy, the baby is already listening carefully to external sounds. The baby is completely ready to eat and will be able to maintain a comfortable body temperature in the future. The baby's ear and nasal cartilages have already hardened. The baby's body will begin to become covered with hairs. From the baby, substances enter the mother’s bloodstream, thanks to which labor can begin.
Photo of an ultrasound scan of a fetus at 37 weeks of gestation.

Do you think there is still a lot of time before giving birth? Your baby may think differently.
If the baby suddenly decides to appear earlier, be one hundred percent prepared for this. Now pack your things for the maternity hospital. A robe, nightie, slippers, socks, nursing bra, toiletries, and clothes for the newborn must be in your bag. Also pack what you plan to wear on the day of discharge.

Prepare your home for your baby's arrival. Remember that you are only allowed to exercise moderately. It’s not an option to lick everything and climb on all fours. This position can trigger premature labor. Let you still have a week or two of pregnancy left, or even more.

Feel

At such a late stage, pregnant women do not always feel ideal. They are in full swing preparing the birth canal. Women complain of fatigue, slowness, and problems sleeping. Many record weight loss. At the stage of the body’s adaptation to childbirth, this is absolutely normal. Now your pelvis has practically rebuilt itself for childbirth, and your breasts are ready to feed your baby. More and more pain in the lower abdomen. During the current period, attacks of nausea sometimes occur, and in some cases vomiting is possible. During weeks 37 and beyond, you may break into a sweat frequently. More will start soon copious discharge. The baby's movements will be felt less frequently.
If you are having twins, try to recognize the warning signs of labor. Download the pregnancy calendar, it will help you navigate by week.

At this stage, expectant mothers feel discomfort inside their tummies. There may be several reasons. A strong, mature baby continues to gain weight. This week the baby feels a bit cramped in the mother’s belly. A pregnant woman feels this, especially when the baby is in a playful mood. Because of the baby's kicks in the tummy, a woman sometimes experiences pain.

With the increased weight of the baby, it becomes more and more difficult for the mother to walk. The skin of the abdomen becomes tense, and unpleasant sensations of itching and even pain may occur. The body itches, the navel transforms.

At 37 weeks pregnant women may experience a drooping belly. For those who are carrying their first child, this happens a couple of weeks before giving birth. For multiparous women - before the birth itself. During the process, women often feel that their stomach is pulling. This means that the process of training the uterus for childbirth has begun. Get ready for the big day. If it pulls below, the moment of meeting the baby is very close.

For some, heartburn attacks gradually disappear from the 37th week of pregnancy. Finally! Absence discomfort significantly brightens up the days of waiting for childbirth. The uterus is now below and ceases to put pressure on the stomach and diaphragm. On the one hand, it becomes easier, but new symptoms appear. Sometimes it starts to feel nauseous.

The prolapsed uterus begins to put pressure on the bladder. Frequent urges will irritate both day and night. But still, try not to be nervous before giving birth. Stay calm no matter what happens.

Every female body prepares for childbirth in her own way. Therefore, not everyone’s stomach drops. This is also the norm. At this stage, a woman especially feels her body and notices the slightest transformations. Sometimes the expectant mother complains of a strange feeling of petrification in her stomach. It is quite possible that this is uterine tone or false contractions. Talk to your doctor and make sure your baby is okay.

Uterine tone

Even at a decent period of 37 weeks, uterine tone is possible. The reproductive organ increases significantly during pregnancy, so its muscles contract. Also, tension in the uterus is possible due to a better supply of blood to the pelvic organs during gestation.

Childbirth is in the near future, the little one has grown up. And the reason for the tone of the uterus may even be the size of the baby. During this period, the stronger baby takes up space in the lower abdomen and puts pressure on the uterus.

Uterine tone at 37 weeks of pregnancy is also possible due to the abnormal structure of the organ itself. Tone is usually caused by oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios.
The upcoming birth is an exciting event. Constant worries provoke muscle tension, so the uterus can be in good shape. Problems with the intestines are also dangerous. Constipation is one of the reasons for tone. Uterine contractions are possible due to colds, flu, and ARVI.

Childbirth at 37 weeks of pregnancy occurs quite often. This means that tone sometimes plays the role of a harbinger. Be on the lookout! It’s quite easy to identify tone. You will feel a pain in your lower back and a tightening in your lower abdomen.

Due to the lack of room for maneuvers, the baby moves less often than in previous weeks of pregnancy. It is necessary to clearly monitor the movements of the toddlers. It is the presence of movements, their nature and quantity during each week that make it possible to determine the condition of the fetus.

Timely detection of abnormalities reduces the risk of serious complications during childbirth. Sometimes the expectant mother feels that the movements are too active, feels pain because of this, and sometimes records minimal mobility of the baby. In any of the options, it is better to see a doctor. If there is no movement at all, you need to go to the doctor immediately.

Expectant mothers are sometimes bothered by nausea at 37 weeks of pregnancy. Here are the reasons why toxicosis occurs in late pregnancy:

1. Until the abdomen drops, the uterus puts strong pressure on the stomach.
2. A feeling of nausea may be a sign of the onset of a cold. Take care of yourself. Now is definitely not the time to be sick.
3. Poisoning of the body. Nausea, vomiting and stomach upset are a set of symptoms that require a trip to the hospital.

The doctor will prescribe a series of tests. It is important to understand what exactly causes the feeling of nausea. The most important process – childbirth – is just around the corner. Be especially careful at this stage of pregnancy. notice everything, pay attention to whether there are movements.

Even if you only feel sick periodically, still run to the doctor. Accurate diagnosis is necessary to ensure that the child is ultimately healthy.

If you are told that nausea is caused by the very process of preparing the body for childbirth, then there is no reason to worry.
Try to relieve unpleasant symptoms.

To help get rid of nausea during pregnancy:

1. Eating food in small portions. Due to overeating, the stomach, on which the uterus presses, will suffer even more.
2. Avoiding difficult-to-digest foods will help you cope with nausea. Your ideal option is steamed dishes. The baby will thank you for them.
3. A reliable helper against nausea is mint or lemon balm tea.

Pain in late pregnancy

Childbirth is just around the corner and the body is in a hurry to “arrange” everything for the comfortable birth of the baby. During this process, the woman may feel pain. They are periodic and are mostly normal at the current stage of pregnancy.

Many people experience false contractions. At 37 weeks they last longer and cause more discomfort than before. Pain appears in the abdomen, back, and groin. Expectant mothers sometimes even feel like labor has begun. In fact, this is how the body checks whether the tone is in order.

When the stomach drops, a series of changes occur. The baby's head puts pressure on the pelvis, on the muscles and even on the ligaments of the pregnant woman.

A couple of weeks before giving birth, women may complain of pain between their legs. This is a very unpleasant feeling. The pain is specific, has a shooting character and indicates a divergence of the hip joints.

Sometimes the child puts pressure on the mother’s sciatic nerve and provokes severe pain. In such a situation, it is not easy not only to stand, but also to lie down. A feeling of relief can only appear if the child changes position. Although often the pain goes away only after childbirth.

Food also affects your well-being. Due to an incorrect nutritional system, pain in the intestines often occurs that radiates to the perineum. The feeling is not pleasant. To avoid pain, eat small portions of food. Eat 5-6 times a day. Thanks to this, nausea at 37 weeks of pregnancy will also go away.

Very sharp pain in a pregnant woman can be a sign of appendicitis, which is also indicated by nausea, vomiting and fever.
Painful contraction of the muscles in the lower abdomen in tandem with cramps often indicates the onset of premature labor. If they happen at this time, everything will be fine with the baby.

Do you experience severe nagging pain or any other symptoms? Pull yourself together! Do not panic. Don’t think too much, go for a consultation with a doctor and make sure everything is fine. The body that is about to give birth may react in different ways. The occurrence of unusual sensations does not always indicate something bad.

Discharge

At 37 weeks of pregnancy, the discharge is ideally whitish, homogeneous, slightly mucous with a sour aroma.
Pathological discharge (such as thrush) is not characteristic of late pregnancy. They are usually treated before labor begins.

Colorless discharge and discharge with pinkish mucus indicate the passage of the mucus plug. In the body of a pregnant woman, it prevents harmful microorganisms from entering the uterus. If you have similar watery discharge, it means that moment X is approaching. But the removal of the plug does not guarantee that labor will start right away. It may take several hours or even days. It is not recommended to have sex from the moment the plug comes out until childbirth. The nature of the discharge in the later stages says a lot about the condition of the expectant mother. The quantity, color, smell, and consistency should be normal.

Sometimes at 37 weeks blood appears in the discharge. This is a reason to urgently consult a doctor. In some cases, bleeding appears after the plug comes out. This may indicate future complications.

Very soon a miracle squared will happen to a pregnant twin. But now she is not entirely happy. At this stage, a woman often complains of insomnia, swelling and nagging pain in the lower back. Also, in the later stages, the stomach may feel tight. Nausea is often a concern.

The expectant mother really needs vitamins. A woman should eat well so that her babies gain weight normally. This is fundamentally important in this moment pregnancy. If labor begins now, the children should be as prepared as possible.

If you have twins, consider: multiple pregnancy develops more rapidly. The volume of the uterus increases more actively and reaches normal faster. Watch for changes in sensations, do not forget to count the movements.

If you are expecting twins, giving birth at 37 weeks of pregnancy is not uncommon. Women, including multiparous women, are usually admitted to the hospital at this stage. Now it is very important to be under the constant supervision of a specialist.

A few days before giving birth, twins stop actively moving. No need to worry. This is fine. Interestingly, in some cases, it is the increased frequency of movements that indicates that labor is approaching.

If there has been calm inside your stomach for a whole day, go to the hospital. We need to find out the reason why neither the first nor the second child moves.

How the babies are born mainly determines the position of the twins in the womb. Most often, these children are born by Caesarean section.

Dangers during pregnancy with twins

In the third trimester, pregnant women with twins may be at risk of miscarriage. Often the culprit is tone. Women experience severe pain in the lower abdomen and back pain. When this happens, the doctor prescribes treatment. Thanks to special medications, the uterus relaxes during this and subsequent weeks of pregnancy. To have a cesarean section or to give birth naturally is usually decided during this period.

Twins and twins may come into this world weakened. Even if the babies weigh less than two kilograms, they will be able to leave. The main thing is not to be nervous. The babies will quickly gain weight and get stronger. Twins are rapidly catching up in development with their peers who matured alone in the belly. Nature itself took care of this. Twins have a much higher ability to adapt after childbirth.

Very soon your little ones will grow up. And you will be surprised how they fit inside your belly.

37 weeks of pregnancy. Harbingers of childbirth

Week 37 is a period that can be called the time of the harbingers of labor. This term describes symptoms that indicate the imminent arrival of a baby. Among them:

1. Presence of periodic pain in the lower abdomen. Pronounced contractions of the uterus, even in the middle of the night. By the way, Braxton-Higs training contractions are not a harbinger.
2. Stomach upset, nausea at 37 weeks of pregnancy, frequent urge to urinate.
3. Weight changes. Before giving birth, several kilograms are often lost.
4. Nesting. There is a great desire to thoroughly prepare the house for the arrival of the baby.
5. Among the harbingers this week are nagging pain in the lower back.
6. Too active movements of the fetus can sometimes indicate that labor will begin very soon.

There are a lot of symptoms, but nulliparous people cannot always recognize them. If you are 37 weeks pregnant, signs of labor will appear gradually. They will start to cause anxiety and force you to constantly be at a “low start”. To avoid worrying again, listen carefully to your own body.

During the first pregnancy, warning signs appear two or even three weeks before birth. For multiparous women, the situation is a little different. If a woman already has children, the warning signs can begin in as little as 24 hours.

In multiparous women, the precursors differ slightly in character and intensity. Week 37 is a comfortable time for the onset and pronounced manifestation of symptoms. Please note the following:

1. In multiparous women, the lumen of the uterus is wider, so the harbingers of labor are much brighter.
2. After previous births, the cervix of multiparous women remains slightly open. Therefore, before the second birth, it opens faster. The removal of the mucus plug is the first warning sign.
3. Women experience more abundant discharge during the final stretch of pregnancy.
4. Contractions preceding labor begin earlier in this case.
5. Diarrhea, nausea, urge to urinate.
6. Weight loss.
7. As for multiparous children, they are often born from the 37th week. Pregnant with your second or third baby, usually over thirty. They treat pregnancy especially responsibly.

Caesarean

At the current stage, in multiparous women and in pregnant women with twins, labor can begin at any time. In certain situations, the optimal solution would be a cesarean section at 37 weeks of pregnancy. Indications for surgery include breech presentation of the baby. In the case of twins, a caesarean section will probably be ordered even if only one of the babies is in the wrong position.

The main task now is to reduce the risk during childbirth. Both the doctor and the expectant mother must understand this. By the way, some hospitals prohibit natural births of breech babies. Another reason to do a cesarean section is polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios. Too much narrow pelvis women in labor are the next sign of an upcoming operation. Too heavy weight a baby is also a reason for a cesarean section.

If a woman has had a cesarean section more than twice, the third birth cannot be natural.

1. Download the pregnancy calendar.
2. Find out how childbirth goes. Get answers to all your questions. Just in case, find out how to prepare for a caesarean section.
3. Now decide on the maternity hospital and the doctor who will deliver the baby.
4. Decide whether you want someone to support you during labor.
5. Nagging pain is a reason to visit a doctor. Make sure the uterus is not toned. Especially if there is a strong pull in the lower abdomen and lower back pain.
6. Choose the right sleeping positions. Don't rest on your back. In this position, the weight of the uterus will press on the aorta.
7. Remember that if you are expecting twins, your water may break as early as 37 weeks. The same applies to multiparous women.
8. Don't be afraid of contractions. Childbirth at 37 weeks' gestation is no longer considered premature.
9. Weight loss is normal. Don't sound the alarm.
10. Take care of your health. There should be no blood in your discharge.
11. Take a walk accompanied by your loved ones. Before giving birth, it is better to avoid walking alone.
12. Get regular checkups. During this week, the ideal height of the uterine fundus is 37 cm. A significant deviation from the norm may indicate oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios.
13. If you feel nauseous, try to eat often, but in small doses.
14. Notice the pattern of fetal movement. Pay attention to the number of these movements. Keep in mind that shortly before giving birth, the baby does not toss and turn as often.
15. Are you having twins? Eat healthy meals every day to help your children gain weight well.
16. Caesarean is not a death sentence. Don't insist on independent childbirth if there is a risk.
17. Remember the last weeks of pregnancy, take photos. A drooping belly will relieve you of many unpleasant sensations and allow you to enjoy the anticipation of meeting your little one.
18. Harbingers are your friends! Listen carefully to your own body, especially at the end of pregnancy.

And no matter how hard it is for you, remember - everything will pass: both discharge and excess weight, and pain below, and nausea. Childbirth will change a lot both physically and mentally. Don't get mad about the huge size of your belly right now. You may not be able to tie your shoelaces yet, but in a couple of weeks or even sooner you will feel like the happiest person on the planet. Very soon you will hold a baby in your arms, who will teach you to love even more.

In the thirty-seventh week of pregnancy, incredible things happen. The baby is moving with all his might, and the mother’s body is preparing for childbirth. Here you see the harbingers of childbirth, and the baby hiccups and pulls in the lower abdomen. What happens to the body? What is the child's weight and height? Why does breech presentation occur and why does the stomach become stone? Despite the diarrhea and discharge, you are looking forward to giving birth, which is coming soon.

Intrauterine development of the fetus continues, although the birth canal is ready for the process. What happens to the baby and mother? Let's watch the process.

The baby's skin becomes thicker. It smooths out because fat cells accumulate underneath it. The lanugo fluff is no longer there, except that it still remains on the back and shoulders. The original lubricant remains only between the folds on the body. Nails are visible at the tips of the fingers.

Changes also affected cartilage tissue. The nose and ears are hard, the ear shells bend because they have become denser and more elastic.

The skull becomes ossified, leaving two areas soft. These are fontanelles that allow the head to slip through the birth canal. The fontanelles are soft, but then they will close, and the skull will ossify.

The lungs have already formed, so at birth the baby will take its first breath. Cortisone is a hormone for development respiratory system- is produced in full, as is surfactant - a substance that helps the lungs not to stick together.

The adrenal glands produce adrenaline. You will need it to save nervous system from the stress of birth.

The nervous system will continue to develop after birth, but sucking and grasping reflexes are already working.

IN gastrointestinal tract villi appear. They cover the mucous membrane in certain areas digestive system to absorb nutrients from food. The ventricle makes the first contractions in order to digest food in the future, and the first feces - meconium - appear in the intestines. He will be out a couple of hours after birth.

We are asked: 37 weeks of pregnancy is how many months? We answer: tenth. Gestation of a baby takes 280 days. The fetus appears, ripens and prepares for birth. An obstetric month has 28 days or, if counted in weeks, 4 weeks. Thus, 37 weeks is the tenth obstetric month or the ninth calendar month (but it still turns out to be a little more than nine). To give birth, the mother goes for a full 9 obstetric months and completes another one - the tenth. From the 37th week, the last tenth obstetric month begins, so you can already prepare to give birth.

How does mom feel at this stage?

Since the child is big, there is not enough space for him and the mother feels this. The stomach drops - childbirth is coming soon. Read in detail, you will need it.

When your tummy drops, you will breathe deeply for the first time in 9 months. This is an indescribable feeling, but don’t expect it on purpose.

Child's weight and height

37 - 38 weeks of pregnancy is the period at which the baby is ready to be born, and in obstetric practice, birth at this period is full-term. The baby's organs are formed and ready to function independently.

During this period, the child’s standard height reaches 48 cm, but also reaches 50 cm. The child’s weight reaches 2.8 kg.

Mothers worry about breech birth. What is it and why is it important?

Breech presentation of the fetus is the position of the fetus in the womb.

Why know how the baby lies? If the fetus is turned with its legs down, then the mother herself will not give birth. Medical intervention occurs in 5% of cases.

The normal position of the baby is considered to be head down.

Why does the child change position? Reasons according to doctors:

• too narrow pelvis and other similar anatomical defects;
• low position of the placenta;
• baby's head is too big;
• problems associated with the tone of the uterus or malformations;
• a large volume of amniotic fluid and, as a result, high fetal activity;
• The fruit is too small.

The position of the baby is also different, not necessarily feet down. The doctor will examine and say one of the following:

• partial position - buttocks forward, while legs are placed upward along the body;
• incomplete position - legs are bent at the knees, and the buttocks are closest to the birth canal;
• full location - legs in the birth canal;
• knee position - the legs are also closer to the birth canal, but at the same time they are bent at the knees.

Breech presentation is a signal for the doctor to prescribe further procedures and prepare for a cesarean section.

How is breech presentation determined?

• the doctor probes the child’s head through the stomach;
• determines the baby’s heartbeat, normally above the navel on the tummy;
• vaginal determination method;
• Ultrasound is the most accurate way to make a diagnosis based on location.

If breech presentation is determined at 37 weeks, then labor will not go away on its own. Perhaps the doctor will decide to take such a step if you have a wide pelvis or the size of the baby is not large. In other cases, in order to protect both you and the child, the specialist will take other measures.

What do you need to do?

The 37th week is no longer the period when radical measures are taken - giving birth soon. For the future: there will be no diarrhea, nausea, if you follow the golden rules. And the vitamin and mineral reserves will completely protect against pathologies:

• eat wisely, focusing on the usefulness of the product, and not on serving sizes (read);
• monitor your weight and gain safely;
• do not neglect rest and sleep, without them the body cannot recover;
• improve abdominal tone.

What does a gynecologist do?

If you are already in the third trimester, the doctor sends you for conservation. After the tests it will become clear whether you need to undergo C-section or you will give birth on your own.

Don't be afraid of anything, but be careful. The outcome of the situation depends on the strength of spirit and a positive attitude.

37 weeks pregnant: questions

A stone belly is normal. In the article we wrote that the firmness of the abdomen is a toning of the uterus, which is preparing for the upcoming birth.

When the abdomen hardens, the uterus expands to its limit, and the baby still grows. Mom feels Braxton-Higgs contractions, these are training or false contractions. The good news is that you will not feel any discomfort or discomfort. Protect yourself from stressful worries and relax, after all, soon you will plunge headlong into new life where physical endurance is needed.

If your stomach turns to stone regularly, but you also experience slight nagging pain, then childbirth is coming soon. Take a warm shower and relax. You still have time. Contact your doctor to reassure you that there is nothing to worry about.

Go to the hospital if abdominal hardness is accompanied by pain in the lower back or in the abdomen itself. Reinsurance is not unnecessary.

If the child moves actively

At 37 weeks the baby is actively moving. So much so that mom doesn’t sleep or eat. But don't worry if the movements are strong. There is little room left in your stomach, and the baby is cramped.

At this stage you should feel 10 movements in 12 hours.

The gynecologist will confirm that there are no abnormalities in the movements. Rest and tune in.

If your lower abdomen is tight

What happens if at 37 weeks of pregnancy there is a pull in the lower abdomen? When the stomach drops, all the heaviness is directed downward, hence the pain. If the pain is not sharp or intense, then rest assured that these are harbingers of labor.

Along with nagging pain, the skin on the abdomen is stretched to the limit, causing it to itch and the navel to turn out. After childbirth, the symptoms will disappear and the body will return to normal. Be patient, there's not much left.

Nagging pain also indicates the release of the mucous plug. Another signal of imminent birth. The mucus plug protected the fetus from external substances and dirt, but now the baby is asking to come out.

Another reason is banal poisoning from expired products. In this case, loose stools are accompanied by fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches.

Diarrhea occurs when using medications and vitamin complexes. Check side effects medications to be sure.

If none of the above is your case, then diarrhea is a harbinger of labor. A kind of diarrhea is a way of cleansing the mother’s body before the process of giving birth to a child. This will make the upcoming event easier.

Only diarrhea from mild poisoning will go unnoticed. If the intestines contract for a long time and intensely, and there are no harbingers of labor yet, then diarrhea will cause contractions when the body is not yet ready for childbirth.

Diarrhea is also dehydration, so a doctor should monitor the situation.

Without finding out the causes of loose stools, further treatment is wrong.

First of all, the doctor will prescribe you a diet where the diet is dominated by fresh foods with a strengthening effect:

• porridge;
• boiled potatoes;
• drying.

As for medications, their prescription is controlled by a doctor.

This is useful to know: diarrhea is the overly rapid digestion of food with the same quick disposal from its remains. Processing food in the digestive tract usually takes up to 72 hours for nutrients and water to be absorbed, and if the food is stale, the body turns on its defenses - loose stool With elevated temperature to destroy germs.

Is there any way to prevent diarrhea? Yes, you can. Check the suitability of products, monitor the heat treatment of meat, dairy and fish products. Wash your hands before and after eating, especially when in public places. Check your prescribed medications for side effects.

Discharge at 37 weeks of pregnancy

Discharge is a way to understand what is wrong with your body. Healthy discharge is transparent. If they are white, then this is thrush and is treated by a doctor so as not to infect the baby with a fungus during childbirth.

At 37 weeks pregnant, monitor your discharge. Excessive watery discharge at this time may be water leakage. Refrain from intimacy with your husband and go to the doctor.

You may also see a lump of mucus coming out. This is a traffic jam. Sometimes it comes out in parts, then you will see white pieces of discharge. The color can be different - creamy, bloody, translucent. After the plug comes out, be careful, childbirth is coming soon, so refrain from intimacy, do not take a hot bath or shower under running water - there is a high risk of infections.

It happens that the plug does not come out. Or rather, she comes out, but already with water, so she is not visible.

The usual amount of mucus plug is 2 tablespoons.

The most undesirable is brown discharge. They may indicate pathologies with the placenta, so go to the doctor.

The color, character, and consistency of the discharge varies depending on a number of individual factors. Be careful. At this time, they indicate the course of further events.

Hiccups start from conception, so they can appear in the womb. It is at 37 weeks that mothers complain of hiccups or what they interpret as hiccups.

What can you feel? Barely perceptible tremors - rhythmic and short. But it can also be spasms, tapping, or incomprehensible twitching. The duration of hiccups is from 5 to 30 minutes. Often the mother does not feel anything, but the child hiccups.

There are three versions of the reasons for a baby’s hiccups:

1. Hiccups are caused by the contraction of the diaphragm, which releases the compression of the vagus nerve if it occurs.
2. The second version is copious swallowing of amniotic fluid. If a baby swallows water, his body removes the excess with hiccups. This usually happens if mom ate something sweet.
3. The third case is hypoxia, but only if the hiccups are very long.

If your baby hiccups, stand in a knee-elbow position. Sometimes it helps.

Sex at 37 weeks pregnant

At the 37th week of pregnancy and in general in the third trimester, sex life fades into the background for spouses. Now more attention is focused on the precursors of childbirth, the physiological discomfort of the mother. For her sexual attraction decreases, because the size of the abdomen, swelling, high blood pressure - all this creates inconvenience that can hardly be avoided during sexual intercourse.

In any case, you need to be careful with excessive physical exertion, pressure on the stomach and too deep penetration - this imposes great restrictions, leaving little room for fantasy. On the other hand, all this is temporary and will soon pass.

The optimal postures during this period are the side position, the transverse position and sitting - these are safe options.

Will the parents' sexual relations harm the baby? Doctors say no. The baby is protected by a thick wall of uterine muscles, the amniotic sac and the mucus plug. But once the plug is out, you can’t have sex.

If you are worried that the baby feels everything, then this is partly true, but he is more likely to react to his mother’s heartbeat and therefore moves more actively, and he also enjoys the pleasure hormone - endorphin.

If fears overly constrain you, then opt for lighter forms of intimacy that do not involve penetration.

Do orgasms cause premature labor? If the pregnancy is proceeding normally and there have been no precursors of labor yet, then uterine contractions will not lead to the onset of labor. But immediately before childbirth, it is sexual intercourse that causes contractions. Sometimes the doctor himself pushes his patients to be intimate with their husbands in order to speed up the process, but this is individual. If it's too early, nothing will happen.

When is it better to refuse sex:

• with a real threat of miscarriage;
• if the mother previously had miscarriages;
• presentation;
• multiple pregnancy.

It’s the 37th week of pregnancy, the harbingers of labor appear and then disappear, and so on for 3–4 days in a row. The sensations change before your eyes - from fatigue and cumbersomeness to a Superman burst of strength for washing windows.

The human body is a wonderful machine with complete self-control. The main thing is not to disturb him. He himself will warn you about the upcoming event, and you watch and prepare.

The mucus plug has come off

In the section about Discharge at 37 weeks of pregnancy, we talked about what the plug looks like and what it looks like when it comes out. Its purpose is to protect the cervix and when the cervix ripens, the plug comes out. The discharge usually ranges in color from white to pinkish and contains blood.

The plug comes out differently for everyone: in parts, at the time of birth, 2 weeks before birth.

First contractions

Primiparous women have difficulty distinguishing false contractions from real ones, although multiparous women also have problems with this. Real contractions gradually intensify and cause increasing anxiety. Pain will occur in the calves, hips, lower back - everywhere at once or somewhere separately - this is individual. There are times when contractions go unnoticed.

Water broke

The amniotic sac ruptures and fluid leaks out. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt and is perceived as a gushing stream, although in some cases it drips a little - it depends on the specific location of the bubble rupture.

The broken water cannot be confused with anything - it will flow without your consent or warning. Urine can be controlled, water cannot.

If contractions have not started and your water has already broken, then use sanitary pad(not a tampon), and go to the maternity hospital. Be sure to tell your doctor about the characteristic color of the water. Light and slightly runny is the norm. If the waters are greenish, then the baby is oxygen deprived and the doctor needs to know this in order to induce labor, because it is impossible to delay.

If you are 37 - 38 weeks pregnant, when will labor begin? After the release of amniotic fluid within 24 hours. So, get ready.

When the membranes burst, contractions become intense. This is due to the pressure of the child directly on the os of the uterus - after all, there is no longer a cushion of water.

The release of the mucus plug, contractions and the breaking of water are three signs of impending labor. If the warning signs appear before the 37th week, then you are in premature labor and need to go to the maternity hospital.

Precursors of labor in first-time mothers

If it’s your first time, it’s especially exciting - there’s nothing to navigate yet.

What exactly does the birth process involve? Everyone will tend to trigger a complex of physical, emotional and external circumstances, starting with the waxing moon and ending with the doctor’s arrival from vacation. Yes, this also happens - the baby does not want to be born until the mother’s doctor returns to work.

Observations have shown that stress and anxiety delay childbirth, and good location on the contrary, it speeds up the process. From an esoteric point of view, the baby will be born when family tension is resolved - he is like a welcome guest who will reconcile everyone and cool the situation.

Physiologically, everything looks simple - the uterus reaches its maximum limits, and the baby has grown critically and is ready for independent existence.

So, you are 37 weeks and contractions have started. How can you tell if they are real? Last months During pregnancy, you will often feel contractions, but at first they may be training contractions (Braxton-Hicks). They are also called false. They happen so often that they become a habit and the mother does not notice that everything is no longer for fun. By the way, false contractions can also grow, becoming more intense.

Please note the following:

• contractions became natural;
• contractions appear several times every hour;
• their duration lasts 30 – 60 seconds.

What does it mean? It's time for you to give birth.

If contractions are isolated, not intense and frequent, then they are false. For first-time mothers, these sensations will be extremely annoying, but you should be more tolerant of the body - it is preparing for battle.

So, be prepared from week 37 for what will happen soon. Your stomach will drop, light nagging pain will appear in the lower abdomen, the mucus plug will come out, contractions will begin and your water will break. This will not happen in an instant, but the harbingers and the first signs of this, so that you tune in and prepare, are coming soon.

If the pregnancy is already 37 weeks old, the second birth will be the same as the first - with the same signs. In some cases, all signs appear faster, but this is not a trend, but individual characteristics.

Remember how you felt the first time and listen to your body. There should be no excitement - just concentration and calm. Multiparous mothers are more sensitive to false contractions, so they may not notice how real ones appear, so watch your body - it will tell you everything.

Additionally, note that you have nesting syndrome and slight weight loss. In the second case, this is due to a decrease in swelling - the body seems to lighten up in order to prepare. As for the nesting instinct, the recently lethargic mother who falls asleep on the move has the energy to tidy everything up, complete it and go give birth.

Childbirth at 37 weeks of pregnancy

Childbirth at 36 - 37 weeks of pregnancy. If on the 37th, then this is normal, the baby will be full-term. Labor begins when the uterus contracts at certain regular intervals. When the muscles of the uterus contract for 20 seconds, you will feel a dull pressure in the lower abdomen. Don't worry, you won't miss them - they will wake you up even in a very deep sleep.

If you are giving birth for the first time, the frequency of contractions will increase slowly. First-time mothers can labor for 12 hours. Repeated births are shorter – from 6 hours. There are also rapid births - 3 hours.

When contractions are repeated every 10 minutes and their duration is no less than one minute, then you should be in the hospital by this time. At least go to the maternity hospital. Before the trip, take a shower, but it is not advisable to eat.

Giving birth at 37 weeks is quite normal if there are no pathologies. The baby is ready for childbirth, as is the mother herself, if there have already been warning signs.

Week 37 is the time when it’s time for any mother to prepare for childbirth. Most often, childbirth occurs at this stage or during a second pregnancy.

We talked about the most important and painful questions for mothers. If you missed anything about week 37, then ask us in the comments. Share the article on social networks if you found it interesting and take care of yourself.