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What happens to the baby at 37 weeks
By the 37th week of pregnancy from conception, the baby is considered fully mature and full-term. All systems of his body are ready for life outside of his mother’s belly.
He is intensively gaining weight, every day the child becomes heavier by 30 grams. The skin of the baby due to fatty tissue has become pale pink. The vellus hair on the body disappeared almost completely, and real hairs appeared on the top of the head.
The child has developed sense organs. He hears well and can distinguish sounds, can see objects at close range. The baby also distinguishes tastes, you will see: after birth, he will enjoy the sweet and make grimaces from the bitter.
Meanwhile, the baby’s intestines prepare for the upcoming load and make training contractions, moving the baby’s original feces to the exit.
Fetal ultrasound
– Ultrasound of the uterus, fetus and placenta is done by all pregnant women entering the maternity hospital, without exception, – explains obstetrician-gynecologist Svetlana Arefieva. – If a woman has not yet been hospitalized, but is at home waiting for contractions, then the indication for ultrasound of the fetus at 37 weeks of pregnancy from conception – 39 obstetric – is the absence of baby movements, bloody discharge from the genital tract, and sharp pains in the abdomen.
In addition, an ultrasound of the fetus at 37 weeks can be prescribed if you need to clarify the presentation of the baby, if there is a suspicion of hypoxia, as well as when the umbilical cord is entangled. During the study, among other things, the degree of maturity of the placenta and the place of its attachment are assessed.
Photo life
By this time, the baby is up to 50 cm tall, and its weight already reaches 3000-3500 grams. It is the size of a small pumpkin.
A photo of the abdomen at 37 weeks makes sense for all mothers who want to remember this time, because childbirth can begin at any moment. It is likely that this picture will be the last frame where the baby is still in the womb.
What happens to mom at 37 weeks
By the end of pregnancy, the expectant mother stops gaining weight, moreover, body weight, on the contrary, may begin to decrease, and this is already a sign of an early birth.
At this time, women may again jump hormones. This provokes the active work of the endocrine glands and, as a result, abundant discharge may appear both from the genital tract and from the nose – rhinitis of pregnant women.
The intestines also change their mode of operation. In recent weeks, a woman may notice that the stool has become more liquid. So the colon is naturally cleansed so that during childbirth, nothing prevents mom from pushing.
Now is the time to ask yourself if you will breastfeed your baby. For a baby, mother’s milk is very valuable. With colostrum preceding real milk, the baby is immune against disease. Doctors notice that breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from stomach disorders, less likely to catch infections, and catch colds less often. In addition, breast sucking is good for the baby, it stimulates the development of his teeth and jaw.
What sensations can you experience in 37 week
New sensations that a mother begins to experience at 37 weeks of pregnancy from conception usually indicate an impending birth.
If you think they are about to start, lie down and distract yourself. Perhaps this is a false alarm. If the contractions become regular, try taking a warm shower, standing on all fours. False contractions from such manipulations usually go away.
Otherwise, grab a pen, paper, and a watch. With each contraction – a pulling sensation in the lumbar region – write down the time and duration of the spasm. A few times is enough, then you can interrupt for normal business. If after an hour the sensations have not receded, again write down the interval and duration of the contractions. The interval between contractions is reduced, and their duration is increasing? It’s time to go to the hospital. As soon as you notice that the contractions are repeated every 15 minutes and last about 30 seconds, you can pack your things.
Sometimes it is possible to understand that childbirth is starting without contractions – by the outflow of amniotic fluid. This is difficult to miss, because, unlike ordinary secretions, at least half a glass leaves when the water is poured out. Stock up on diapers and do not wait for contractions, immediately call the car to the maternity hospital.
– Take documents with you to the hospital: passport, insurance policy, birth certificate, dispensary book. You need to take some clothes: a bathrobe, washable slippers, underwear, as well as personal hygiene products, such as disposable panties and diapers. For a child, take baby cream and soap, diapers – if desired. It makes sense to take vitamins and drugs previously prescribed for the treatment of concomitant diseases, recalls obstetrician-gynecologist Svetlana Arefyeva.
Monthly
Often, on the eve of childbirth, a woman may notice the appearance of bloody discharge from the genital tract. Blood sometimes occurs in the process of “opening” the cervix and with a slight detachment of the extreme sections of the placenta. In addition, the appearance of blood in the discharge may be associated with the discharge of the mucous plug. It usually goes away a couple of days before the birth.
However, it is impossible not to attach importance to bloody discharge. Especially if they are accompanied by painful sensations. If you have a risk of placental abruption or placenta previa, any blood is a reason to call an ambulance.
Stomach ache
– Pain in the abdomen at these times must be clearly distinguished: pulling, aching and irregular pains are associated with the preparation of the uterus for childbirth, and they are not dangerous. Sharp, irregular, painful, prolonged, accompanied by an increase in the tone of the uterus can be dangerous and require an urgent examination by a doctor, explains obstetrician-gynecologist Svetlana Arefieva.
Pain due to cystitis is also possible, they will be accompanied by frequent urination with pain, pain due to osteochondrosis (they are associated with body movement and are not accompanied by an increase in uterine tone) can be one- or two-sided. All these pains require consultation of narrow specialists: a urologist and a neuropathologist.
Brown discharge
For women who are expecting their first child, the appearance of brown mucus on linen is most often due to the rejection of the cork that closes the entrance from the cervix to its cavity.
Thick brown, white or yellow mucus may contain streaks of blood. As a rule, it begins to stand out 1-2 days before childbirth. Sometimes this process is accompanied by discomfort in the lower abdomen. In those women who have already given birth before, the cork may not leave at all.
Popular questions and answers
I’m afraid of childbirth, what should I do?
First, do not listen to the stories of girlfriends and “experienced moms from the Internet.” Everything happens differently for everyone, if something bothers you, it is better to ask a doctor about it, and not in social networks.
Secondly, now many perinatal centers conduct childbirth preparation courses, including for both partners. They analyze in detail how to behave in exciting situations, how to breathe, how to calm yourself.
Thirdly, occupy yourself with something, distract from disturbing thoughts. Music, movies, friends, nature walks – all this is an excellent cure for excessive excitement.
Fourth, if the anxiety is too strong and all of the above does not help, there are perinatal psychologists. They specialize in the problems of expectant mothers and will tell you how to cope with nerves.
Should I ask for pain relief during childbirth? What are the risks?
Typically, such anesthesia is used according to indications, for example, with severe pain, high pressure, preeclampsia, prolonged labor, etc. Accordingly, for some, such pain relief is contraindicated, in particular, for those whose blood pressure drops below 100, for women with a deformed spine (scoliosis, etc.), if the fetus is large, the pelvis is narrow, and with other features.
Just like that, you are unlikely to be given anesthesia, as there is a risk of complications. Firstly, a pregnant woman stops feeling pushing, does not know when to push and when not, and this greatly complicates the process of childbirth and can be dangerous for the baby.
Secondly, there may be disturbances in the work of the woman’s heart, a drop in blood pressure, vomiting, nausea, and allergies may begin. And this is still the tip of the iceberg, as there are risks for the baby. Therefore, doctors usually resort to anesthesia only when indicated.
I want to breastfeed, what are the nuances?
Ask the hospital staff to show you how to properly attach the baby to the breast and how to control feeding, this is their responsibility.
Is it possible to have sex?
• increased tone of the uterus;
• pain in the lower abdomen;
• isthmic-cervical insufficiency of the cervix, including corrected by a suture or pessary;
• placenta previa (marginal or central).
At the 37th week of pregnancy from conception, childbirth is already considered timely, so you should not be afraid of tearing the fetal bladder. If you are still afraid, give preference to more relaxed sex.
Perhaps, in the later stages, sex will cause some discomfort, in which case it is better to wait a little with it. Why do mom and baby have unpleasant emotions?
What to do if the temperature rises?
First, immediately consult with your doctor, let him make a diagnosis. Do not self-medicate or take medications or antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription.
Secondly, if there is a temperature, try to bring it down without medication. Wipe with a damp sponge, take a shower or a cool bath. Most importantly, do not wrap yourself up and do not heat yourself up even more.
Thirdly, it is recommended to drink often (1,5-2 liters per day), warm tea or sour fruit drinks will do.
Fourthly, during pregnancy, you can gargle a sore throat with a solution of baking soda or sage, and it is better to rinse your nose with preparations based on sea water.
What to do if it pulls the lower abdomen?
How to eat right?
You also need to gradually reduce calcium, cereals, bread. But cash in on vegetables, fruits and oils. Olive, pumpkin, linseed – dressing salads with them, you help your body tissues become more elastic, which means there will be less risk of ruptures during childbirth.