Pregnancy › Week by Week › Week 37
At 37 weeks your baby is about the size of a bunch of Swiss chard, and you have reached early term, close to ready and still adding the final touches.
Size
Swiss chard
head to heel
Length
19.1 in
about 48.6 cm
Weight
6.3 lb
about 2860 g
Your baby at 37 weeks
Early term begins this week, so your baby is close to ready while a few systems keep maturing.
At 37 weeks you enter what doctors call early term, which runs from 37 weeks 0 days to 38 weeks 6 days. Your baby is not counted as full term until 39 weeks, so while things are looking good, these next couple of weeks of maturing still matter and are worth keeping if all is well.
Practicing for the outside. Your baby is rehearsing the skills they will need right away, breathing motions with the amniotic fluid, sucking, and gripping with surprising strength. These reflexes are getting stronger and smoother by the day, all in preparation for feeding and settling after birth.
Rounder and firmer. Fat is still filling out the arms, legs, and face, so your baby looks rounder, and the skin is turning firmer and less wrinkled as it does. The soft downy lanugo and much of the waxy vernix are shedding, though a little often remains at birth, especially in the creases.
Getting into position. Most babies are head down and lower in the pelvis by now, with less room to move. You will feel firm rolls and pushes rather than big kicks, and the movements should still come regularly, so keep tracking them.
How big is your baby at 37 weeks?
About 19.1 inches head to heel and roughly 6.3 pounds.
Growth slows a little from here but does not stop. Your baby keeps adding fat and weight through the final weeks, which is part of why full term at 39 weeks is the ideal window when there is no reason to arrive sooner. Birth weights vary widely and normally, so try not to read too much into an ultrasound estimate.
Your body at 37 weeks
Heavier pelvic pressure, a possible first sign of lightening, and more discharge as your body preps.
Some people feel their baby drop lower into the pelvis this week or the next, a shift called lightening. It can make breathing a little easier while adding pressure below and yet more trips to the bathroom. You may also notice increased vaginal discharge, and some people pass the mucus plug, a thick, sometimes streaky discharge that can come away days or weeks before labor, so on its own it is not a signal to head anywhere.
The nesting pull often returns strongly now, and it is a joy to lean into. Getting the little corner just right, folding the tiny clothes, arranging the things you have gathered, is a warm way to spend this waiting time. Pace yourself, keep the heavy lifting for someone else, and rest when the pelvic pressure and Braxton Hicks ask you to, and if those tightenings start to feel regular you can time contractions to tell practice from the real thing.
What is normal, and when to call your provider
Many aches are expected this close to the end. Some things still warrant a same-day call, and a few are early signs of labor. Call your doctor or midwife the same day if you have any of these:
- A noticeable drop in your baby’s movements, or a pattern that feels different from usual, movement counts still matter, so call the same day
- Any vaginal bleeding, which is different from light spotting after a check or sex
- A severe headache, changes in your vision, or sudden swelling of the face and hands, which can signal preeclampsia
- A fever over 100.4°F (38°C)
A gush or steady leak of fluid, or regular contractions that get longer, stronger, and closer together, can be signs that labor is starting. Call your provider, and see our labor and birth guide for what to expect and when to go in.
Your week 37 checklist
- Keep up your daily kick counts, regular movement still matters right to the end
- Have your hospital bag by the door and the car seat installed and checked
- Keep taking your prenatal vitamin every day
- Round out your newborn essentials so nothing is missing when you get home
- If you plan to pump, have your breast pump unboxed and the parts washed
Appointments and tests around 37 weeks
Visits are usually weekly now, with routine checks and, for some, a look at how things are progressing.
Your provider will check your blood pressure, test your urine, measure your fundal height, and confirm your baby’s position. By now your Group B strep result from the swab, usually taken around 36 weeks, will be on file and used to plan your care in labor. We cover what that screening is and how the result is handled on the week 36 guide. Some providers may check your cervix at these visits, though many do not, since it does not reliably predict when labor will start. It is a good time to confirm your birth preferences and go over when to call and when to head in.
A few things worth having on hand now
A note for your partner
This is the on-call stretch. Keep your phone charged and on, know the route and where to park, and make sure the bag and the installed car seat are ready to go. Talk through the plan for when things start, who you call, and what each of you does. Then help make the waiting sweet, take on the errands, keep the fridge stocked, and enjoy setting up the last little details together.
Ready, and still baking
Early term is a lovely milestone, close enough that any day now feels real, while your baby keeps adding the finishing touches. If you are impatient, tired, and excited all at once, that is exactly right for this week. There is nothing you need to force. Rest, potter, and let your body and your baby take the time they need.
37 weeks pregnant, common questions
Is 37 weeks considered full term?
Not quite. At 37 weeks you reach early term, which runs from 37 weeks 0 days to 38 weeks 6 days. Full term is 39 to 40 weeks, the ideal window for birth when there is no medical reason to arrive sooner. Babies born at 37 weeks usually do well, but those last couple of weeks of maturing still count.
I lost my mucus plug. Is labor starting?
Not necessarily. The mucus plug can come away days or even weeks before labor begins, and losing it is not a reason to head in on its own. Call your provider if you have regular contractions, a gush or steady leak of fluid, or any bleeding beyond light streaking, and see our labor and birth guide for the signs to watch for.
What does it mean if my baby has dropped?
Lightening is when your baby settles lower into your pelvis, often felt as easier breathing but more pressure below and more bathroom trips. It can happen days or weeks before labor, and for some people not until labor itself, so it is not a reliable clock. Both dropping early and dropping late are normal.
Should I keep counting kicks this close to the end?
Yes, right up to birth. Less room changes how the movements feel, but not how often they should come. Keep to your usual routine of counting, and call your provider the same day if you notice a drop in movement or a pattern that feels off, even now.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), definition of term pregnancy and early-term care.
- Mayo Clinic, Fetal development: the 3rd trimester.
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine (NIH), Fetal development and prenatal care.
Medical disclaimer: This page is for information and education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Every pregnancy is different. Always follow the guidance of your doctor, midwife, or qualified provider, and contact them with any concerns.