What’s happening to me?
By week 37, all the major developmental changes and growth your baby has been undergoing are complete. From this point on your baby will be considered full-term.
There’s not much left for your baby to do but grow and add weight, and it will be practising some of the reflexes and behaviours it will need to survive in the outside world. Key among these is its breathing, which still consists of inhaling amniotic fluid. If your baby was born now they’d be able to grasp your thumb or finger if you pressed it into their palm.
An average baby at week 37 is almost 50cm in height and will weigh around 3kg. Almost all of the lanugo – that fine protective down they developed earlier – has now been shed although you might still see some patches of this visible when your baby is born.
What’s happening to me?
You might be pleased to know that because the baby is almost done, you have probably reached your peak baby size. With minor increases from now, you only have to stick it out a little while longer.
Your specialist might suggest checking on your cervix at this point because any thinning can give a good indication of when labour might occur.