Pregnancy Week 37
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Your Baby's Growth and Development
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By now your baby weighs between 6.5 and 7 pounds and is probably closer to 21 inches long. During pregnancy 37 weeks your baby is considered full term, so pat yourself on the back! You can now deliver your baby safely from here on out.
Keep in mind while most women are considered term at 37 weeks, you may not deliver your baby until 41 weeks, especially if this is your first baby. In fact, first time moms are notorious for delivering their baby's late rather than early!
Your baby is still putting on weight during pregnancy 37 weeks. These fat layers will help insulate and support your baby after his or her birth, and will help increase your baby's chances for a long and happy life.
Changes In Your Body
You probably didn't think you could grow anymore just a few short weeks ago, but look at all you have achieved by now! By pregnancy 37 weeks you are probably at the largest you will be during your pregnancy. Your baby is still growing, but your abdomen and uterus won't change too much in the next few weeks.
Your doctor will continue to measure your uterus however, which has probably reached its final height at roughly 6.5 inches above your navel. Most women will have gained around 35 pounds by now, or at least that is what the "textbooks" say. I find when it comes to pregnancy weight gain, no two women are the same.
Some women gain 45 pounds during pregnancy and lose it in the blink of an eye after delivery. Still others gain 20 pounds during pregnancy and have a really hard time losing the last ten. Remember each woman is different.
Don't expect all the weight to drop off right after delivery however! Most women are shocked to find they still look a good five or six months pregnant right after delivery. It does take some time for your uterus to shrink back down and your abdomen to "unbloat" as I like to call it after delivery.
So, if packing your hospital bag keep in mind you will need some comfortable clothing, anything you were able to wear during or around the five months pregnant mark.
I always just threw a pair of sweatpants in my bag just in case. And don't forget to pack a pair of comfy slippers or shoes. If you get an epidural, you may find your feet swell tremendously after delivery. I was not able to wear my shoes at all after delivering my first baby.
In fact, I had to walk around in my socks! While not all women will swell this much, it does help to be prepared.
Items To Have For Delivery
You'll find a million articles about what you should and should not pack for the hospital. I have to tell you, what I packed changed during each pregnancy. And, each time I delivered a baby my bag got lighter and lighter.
The one item I could not live without, if stranded in the hospital or anywhere that matter for weeks, is a full body pregnancy pillow. Snoozer Full Body Pregnancy Pillows are among the best of the best. I encourage you to read up on these remarkably comfortable pillows. If you don’t have one already, see if you can get one before you deliver your baby. You will find your pregnancy stay much more comfortable. Your partner can even use a full body pregnancy pillow if staying the night with you after delivery of your first, second or even third child. A pregnancy pillow like the Snoozer pregnancy pillow also converts into an ideal nursing support if you plan to breastfeed your baby.
Most women continue to use their pillows for years after their children are grown. These invaluable pillows are more supportive and comfortable than any other on the market… and they don’t hog the bed or take up too much space. You can even fit one into your hospital bed. Why not have one at home and pack one pregnancy pillow for the card, just in case?
You might want to pack your favorite brand of pad, because the ones in the hospital are pretty cumbersome (like diapers) and you will be bleeding, even if you have a cesarean section. A brush and some lip jam are handy, especially because your lips get chapped in the hospital and people are always wanting to take your picture.
I always brought a camera and a magazine, but rarely ended up reading the magazine because I was so excited about my baby. In fact, you'll probably find you spend most of your time cooing over your baby.
If you are a bad sleeper, consider some earplugs, because there is a lot of noise (like other women giving birth) in a labor and delivery unit!
Last but not least, bring your favorite pillow, because sometimes the hospital pillows aren't very comfy!
Read next about your baby's growth and development, as well as the changes in your body during pregnancy week 38.
