A pregnancy of 37–38 weeks is considered full term. This means that the development of the fetus has completed, and childbirth can occur at any moment. They are urgent.
The 37th week of pregnancy with twins almost always ends with the birth of babies. The twins are already fully mature and there is no need to worry about this - the babies are able to breathe on their own.
If a woman has already given birth, then leaving the city at this time is highly not recommended. Labor can begin completely suddenly. They pass much faster than in first-time mothers - the woman simply may not have time to get to the maternity hospital.
When do the signs of labor begin?
In first-time mothers, the body’s preparation for childbirth can be monitored by certain signs called precursors of childbirth. Their manifestation is individual and depends on the physiological characteristics of the body.
There are early warning signs, which appear at the beginning of the third trimester, and warning signs of the onset of labor.
Changes in a woman’s body at the end of pregnancy are associated with hormonal changes. Progesterone, which throughout pregnancy supported the development of the child in the womb, gives way to estrogen, which is responsible for the opening and elasticity of the birth canal during childbirth.
Woman's feelings
Feelings at 37 weeks of pregnancy may vary, but some of them are typical for all pregnant women. The 37th week of pregnancy is the time when many women's bellies sag or begin to sag. Therefore, they note easier breathing and an improvement in the digestive process - the stomach is emptied faster, heartburn has almost disappeared.
But now uterine tone may occur. In addition, the woman again experiences a frequent urge to urinate, since the heavy uterus - the baby’s weight at 37 weeks of pregnancy is almost 3,000 grams - again puts pressure on the bladder.
A pregnant woman at thirty-seven weeks may experience problems sleeping - insomnia appears. And not only because a huge belly does not allow you to take a comfortable position for relaxation. In this way, nature prepares the expectant mother for night wakefulness. But a woman should try to sleep, because she desperately needs proper rest. The following recommendations will help:
- sufficient physical activity during the day;
- performing simple household chores;
- short daytime nap.
Evening walks will help you sleep better at night. Avoid late dinners and limit your fluid intake. The room should not be stuffy, so it must be ventilated. The thirty-seventh obstetric week may be accompanied by feelings of internal heat and increased sweating. This feeling is caused by increased blood volume.
Movements
Movements at 37 weeks of pregnancy can cause a woman very unpleasant and even painful sensations. There is catastrophically little space in the uterus, and the developing baby continues to grow and increase body weight. And, all the same, the child is actively moving.
If everything is fine, then during the day mommy should feel at least 10 kicks. But sometimes there may be fewer of them. There is no particular reason to worry about this, since in the last weeks of pregnancy the baby becomes less active. The complete absence of tremors should alert the mother. This may indicate oxygen starvation of the child or other problems.
What you should pay attention to
False contractions
Braxton-Higgs contractions are sudden contractions of the uterine walls. They are not uniform, without intensification or change in duration, appear in the third trimester of pregnancy (at 30-32 weeks), and sometimes last until childbirth, gradually turning into true contractions.
Primiparas often confuse false contractions with signs of labor, and this causes them to panic.
The purpose of false contractions is to prepare the muscles of the uterus for the birth process.
Features of false contractions:
- not intense (should not cause discomfort);
- uneven (the intervals between contractions can be shorter and then longer, uterine contractions suddenly begin and also end indefinitely);
- The contractions themselves are not long.
Nesting syndrome
A psychological symptom that is clearly expressed in all expectant mothers is the “nesting” syndrome.
With the onset of maternity leave, free time appears and, at the same time, the fear of pregnancy complications disappears. The maternal instinct manifests itself in all its glory - caring for the offspring. It's time to buy things for the baby, prepare a children's corner in the apartment and pack bags for the maternity hospital.
For a woman who is not giving birth for the first time, this period is pure pleasure. She rationally assesses the need for certain things for the first period. The picture is complemented by the desire to provide the future child with all the best, because at such a moment there may be unreasonable waste.
No matter how much you warn a mother about an excess of clothes for her son or daughter, citing his rapid growth, the “nesting” syndrome will not allow her to rationally weigh her decisions. Spontaneity will remain in actions.
Another manifestation of “nesting” is the pathological desire to clean everything of dust and germs, or to start a new life in everything new. During this period, general cleaning and repairs are started.
Here you should be very careful, because it is not uncommon for labor to begin not on time, but while washing the floors or hanging wallpaper. The mother's task: to keep the fetus in the womb until term!
Abdominal prolapse
A drooping belly will also indicate the imminent birth of a baby. Doctors talk about the baby entering the birth canal when he takes a comfortable position. For those women whose child is in an incorrect presentation (sitting, horizontal or mixed), prolapse of the uterine fundus will not occur.
Sharp pain in the lower back caused by the expansion of the bones of the sacroiliac joint is also associated with the adoption of the fetus in the desired position for exit. The baby's head, located in the birth canal, puts pressure on the vessels leading to the lower extremities. Blood circulation is impaired, accompanied by swelling and cramps.
Weight loss
Immediately before giving birth, doctors especially carefully monitor the condition of the pregnant woman every week. Weighing during this period may show a weight loss of up to two kilograms.
This is due to the fluid that the body previously accumulated in order to provide the baby with a sufficient amount of amniotic fluid in the stomach. By the end of the period, excess water is not needed, so the body gets rid of it by frequent urination. Excess fluid leaves all tissues, freeing the expectant mother from swelling.
Decreased child activity
In the third trimester, the child completes development and continues to grow. He is already cramped in the uterus, so his activity decreases. From the 28th week, the obstetrician asks the expectant mother to fill out a fetal movement test form, which can be used to track changes in the baby’s behavior and thereby prevent complications.
The test consists of counting blows and jolts daily from 9.00 to 21.00. The table shows the days of the week and time of day. The women note what time the shock occurred at 10. If there were less than 10 strokes during the specified period of time, this is entered into a separate table, and the result must be shown to the obstetrician. The test is carried out until the onset of labor.
Excessive activity of the baby in the womb may be a sign of lack of oxygen.
Doctors also monitor the activity of the fetus using devices that record its heartbeat. If a pregnant woman is in the pathology of pregnancy, awaiting the due date, then obstetricians carry out mandatory monitoring of the heartbeat and activity of the fetus 2 times a day.
Decreased appetite
The grown fetus puts pressure on the woman’s internal organs. The stomach has shrunk and has been “living” in the chest for a long time. Heartburn increases, as does the desire to eat in smaller portions.
1-2 days before giving birth, the appetite of the expectant mother may completely disappear. You should not force yourself to eat through force.
The appearance of colostrum
Precursors of labor in a primigravida such as discharge of colostrum from the breast are not a common occurrence. It indicates the body’s readiness for feeding. The process is also due to hormonal changes.
In this case, a woman should pay more attention to breast hygiene:
- wash with warm water and soap;
- wipe dry with a clean, ironed towel;
- use special absorbent pads for laundry.
Plug coming out
A few weeks before giving birth (less often a month), and sometimes a couple of days or hours, the mucous plug, which protects the birth canal from the penetration of bacteria and infections, may come off.
The plug is a clear, slimy lump, possibly with red or brown veins. It can come out while visiting the toilet, which is why many people don’t notice it.
The removal of the plug means:
- labor will begin soon (you should pay attention to other harbingers, then you can predict the due date);
- the birth canal is not protected, therefore it is necessary to maintain genital hygiene and abstain from sexual activity.
Changing your posture
A large fetus, drooping belly, lower back pain - all this leads to a change in posture. Walking becomes harder, and sitting becomes unbearable. When walking, a woman slightly pushes her stomach forward, and her center of gravity shifts to her heels. To prevent premature birth, as well as to make walking easier, obstetricians may prescribe wearing a special bandage for pregnant women.
Changes in mental and physical well-being
The harbingers of childbirth in first-time mothers are physiological and psychological changes caused by them. The body begins to produce opiates, narcotic substances, which causes impaired concentration and memory deterioration in the pregnant woman.
These substances are necessary for the body to survive stress during childbirth. To reassure a woman, especially a first-time mother, who is afraid of the unknown.
Breaking of water
Separation of the mucous membrane may be accompanied by rupture of water - an uncontrolled process of fluid flowing out of the perineum in large quantities (1-2 l). This does not feel like urination, because it is not accompanied by contraction of the bladder walls.
The broken amniotic fluid indicates that it is time to go to the maternity hospital. If this happens before 36 weeks, you should immediately call an ambulance. Having a baby in the womb without water is dangerous!
Changes in urination and bowel movements
The baby's pressure on the bladder leads to frequent urination. The effect is enhanced when the fetus enters the birth canal. The hormonal background of the expectant mother leads to changes in bowel movements. If a woman suffers from constipation during pregnancy, then by the end of the pregnancy the stool becomes significantly softer and becomes more frequent. Diarrhea is possible.
Nagging pain in the lower abdomen
The causes of nagging pain in the lower abdomen can be both false and real contractions. Only the nature of the pain is completely different.
With false contractions, the pain is similar to the sensations during the menstrual cycle:
- voltage;
- sensations of a rush of fluids to the tissues in the pelvis;
- located in the lower abdomen.
It is associated with softening and gradual shortening of the cervix. The pain of true contractions is caused by the tone of the uterus . Its walls strain to push out the fetus. Therefore, the sensations can also be pulling, but encircling the entire lower back and abdomen.
Atypical discharge
From 35 weeks onwards, odorless, colored discharge that does not cause itching or irritation is considered normal. This is the body preparing for the birth process. After the mucus plug comes out before labor begins, brown or bloody discharge may be observed, but in small quantities. They should not be accompanied by pain or discomfort.
Atypical discharge is a harbinger of labor in primiparous and multiparous women
Pathological discharges for which you should consult a doctor are:
- abundant bright red, which may indicate placental abruption;
- green foamy, manifested against the background of a gynecological infection;
- watery with or without odor, may indicate leakage of amniotic fluid (examination by an obstetrician and clinical analysis are required).
To control the nature and amount of discharge, you need to use cotton pads , which you can make yourself from strips of an old sheet.
Fetus at 37 weeks gestation
Childbirth, which can occur at any moment, will not be considered premature - the child in the womb is already fully formed and ready to be born. Let's take a closer look at your baby's skills at 37 weeks:
- the baby accepts, digests and assimilates food;
- villous epithelium appears on the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract (intestines and stomach) - it is necessary for absorbing nutrients from food;
- meconium is formed - the baby’s first stool;
- intestinal contractions (peristalsis) are well established;
- subcutaneous fat has completely formed, due to which the baby’s skin has become smooth, wrinkles and redness from blood vessels have disappeared;
- heat exchange processes are established - the baby is able to perfectly support and preserve the body for its vital functions;
- the sucking reflex is well developed - when born, the baby will be able to actively suck on the mother’s breast;
- the liver continues to actively accumulate iron - this is necessary to produce blood cells, which the baby simply needs in sufficient quantities in the first year of his life;
- neurons continue to be covered with protective membranes - they are responsible for coordinating movements. Nervous connections will continue to improve until the birth itself in order to function independently in the future;
- It is at 37 weeks that the body begins to produce cortisone, a hormone necessary for the full, final maturation of the respiratory system (in particular, the lungs). After birth, the little person will begin to breathe on his own thanks to the production of cortisone;
- The adrenal glands produce a specific hormone responsible for the baby’s adaptation after birth. They have noticeably increased in size and work to keep the baby's stress after birth to a minimum;
A baby at 37 weeks already has individual facial features, patterns and lines on the skin that are unique to him, and his temperament is manifested. In addition, the ear and nasal cartilages are fully formed, the nails and hairs have grown significantly.
To avoid forgetting anything, you can make a list
The cranial bones are still soft - this allows the head to be slightly deformed during childbirth, emerging from the mother’s pelvis. At the moment, the fontanelles are open - there are two of them, and they will completely close only after a certain amount of time after birth.
The specific fluff (“lanugo”) has practically disappeared, as well as the generic lubricant, the remains of which can be observed in the folds of the skin. The baby's tummy and head are now the same circumference. Parameters of the baby at 37 weeks: weight - 2 kg 900 g, height - about 50 cm. Do not forget that these data are different for each child.
Precursors visible only to doctors
An examination in the obstetrician's chair shows more accurate signs of the body's readiness for childbirth.
- Shortening of the cervix. The cervix holds the uterus during pregnancy and prevents premature birth. It is a hollow tube about 40 mm. In the third trimester, it gradually shortens and smoothes out, subsequently allowing the fetus to come out;
- Opening of the internal pharynx. The internal os is closed throughout pregnancy, protecting the fetus from external influences. Just before birth, it opens, which is assessed by 1-10 fingers. Dilatation may begin several weeks before birth by 1-4 fingers, while labor has not yet begun.
The difference between training contractions and labor contractions
Determining training contractions yourself is quite simple. Here are the main signs of training contractions:
- Unpleasant short-term contractions in the abdomen . This occurs due to some changes in the birth canal and their softening. The uterus periodically tenses and hardens, training to work effectively at the time of birth.
- Contractions cause discomfort, aching pain in the lower abdomen, heaviness, but there is no sharp or piercing pain . This symptom is one of the key ones in identifying false contractions. If a woman endures contractions relatively calmly, then they are “training”. Real prenatal ones give off sharp pain in the back, perineum and pelvis.
- The pain does not intensify , and after a while it disappears completely. If you feel any discomfort subsiding, feel free to stay home. Lie down on your back, relax, or distract yourself with something interesting. This will help reduce discomfort. Very soon such fights will disappear.
- There is no clear rhythm in the contractions ; they are chaotic. If you do not observe the sequence and clear rhythm of contractions, then this is not yet childbirth. And it’s too early to fly headlong to the hospital. Prenatal contractions always occur at regular intervals. They cannot be stopped, no matter what you do.
- The uterus does not open. The dilatation of the uterus, of course, can only be determined with the help of a specialist, so it is very important to report each contraction to the doctor you are seeing.
Most primiparous women do not understand the changes occurring to them and often confuse training contractions with real labor contractions . They regard every new and unusual sensation as the beginning and prematurely panic, thereby exacerbating the already difficult prenatal condition. Women with false contractions are often admitted to maternity hospitals, but the longer the woman in labor spends in her usual environment, the easier and more natural the birth will be.
In order not to worry ahead of time, remember the main signs of labor pains . They are very different from training ones.
- Pronounced pain.
- The pain spreads throughout the abdomen and radiates to the lower back.
- Rhythmicity of pain.
- Discharge of mucus plug and amniotic fluid.
- Diarrhea, sometimes vomiting.
- Each contraction is longer.
- Dilatation of the uterus.
- Increasing intensity of contractions and reducing the intervals between them (for example, first every 15 minutes, then 10, then 5).
- Stages of labor pains.
What to do when warning signs appear
Throughout pregnancy, a woman constantly listens to her feelings and notes changes in her body.
By the end of the third trimester, you should be more attentive to yourself, and if you find signs of warning signs, follow the rules:
- Do not panic! Calmness is the key to a favorable birth at the right time;
- Note the time and intensity of contractions;
- Maintain personal hygiene, monitor vaginal and breast discharge;
- Pack things for the maternity hospital according to the list;
- To relieve stress, do special exercises for pregnant women;
- After the amniotic fluid has broken, go to the maternity hospital.
A few recommendations
The 37th week of pregnancy has arrived on the calendar, and there is just a little time left before the start of the “X” hour. Now a woman needs to monitor her weight gain with special care. The diet should contain as many protein products as possible - milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, fish - and a minimum of carbohydrates.
If a pregnant woman experiences constipation, it is necessary to exclude flour products. The use of laxatives is highly undesirable. 37 - 38 weeks of pregnancy is an important period. The woman is already preparing for the upcoming birth and, most likely, knows what it will be: natural or a caesarean section is planned.
When to go to the maternity hospital
Sometimes obstetricians recommend waiting for the birth in a supervised unit. But if there are no indications for premature hospitalization, then there is no need to rush.
It is necessary to go to the maternity hospital when:
- water broke;
- contractions began (at least 3 in 10 minutes).
In some cases, against the background of pain from infrequent contractions, weakness, nausea and vomiting may be observed. Then you should immediately call an ambulance and go to the maternity hospital.
Primiparous women should be attentive to the harbingers of labor. They will become assistants in the last trimester of pregnancy. They will tell you what is considered normal for an expectant mother, how to behave and when to go to the maternity hospital.
Sex
The statement about the dangers of intimacy at 37 weeks of pregnancy is erroneous and has no serious arguments. If both partners are healthy, there are no serious contraindications due to the current condition of the pregnant woman - sex is possible and even necessary!
The main thing is to choose a suitable position, because a large tummy can interfere with many of the usual ways of making love. There is a theory about the beneficial effect of male semen on the elasticity of the walls of the uterus: it helps the cervix open during labor.
Spend more time with your family
How labor begins
Despite the fact that childbirth occurs differently for each woman, there are several common points. So, at first you feel short and rare contractions. Then you notice that the time between contractions is clearly decreasing. The pain in each subsequent contraction intensifies and lasts longer than the previous one. All. It's time to get ready.
You will now go through the three stages of labor pains.
- Initial. Its duration varies individually, from 7 to 8 hours. During this time, the uterus dilates up to 3 cm. The contraction lasts about 30–45 seconds, with an interval of 5 minutes.
- Active. Lasts 3–5 hours. Uterine dilation is up to 7–8 cm. The contraction lasts about 60 seconds and repeats every 2–4 minutes.
- Transitional. This is the shortest phase. Lasts about 1 hour, contractions last 70–90 seconds. The uterus dilates 8–10 cm.
