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Week 37 of your pregnancy

You

Well, your pregnancy has officially reached ‘full term’ now. Even though your due date is likely becoming a hugely significant circle on your calendar, try not to get too hung up on it. Your baby could arrive any time from now to 42 weeks – but only around 3 to 5 percent of babies will actually arrive on their due date.

In fact, if this is your first pregnancy, you are far more likely to go overdue than early; the average length of an uncomplicated pregnancy for a first-time mother is 41 weeks and one day, and the average pregnancy for a woman who has previously given birth is 40 weeks and three days.

If you're on maternity leave, this is a great opportunity to get some rest, to ready the house and to stockpile the cupboards. Let's face it, life will never be the same once your little one joins your family.

Baby

Your baby is stacking on weight; he is now around 48cm long and weighs about 2.8kg. Sometimes a recognisable body part will push out of your belly – a foot with little toes stretched out or a big round bottom. He will drop down into your pelvis sometime soon; while that will give you lots more room to breathe, taking the pressure off your lungs, you will probably find that your bladder is under even more pressure than before and you’ll be popping to the loo every hour or two.



Photo: Fetus at 37 weeks - Scan provided by
Sydney Ultrasound for Women

3rd Trimester Week by Week

Week 27
Week 28
Week 29
Week 30
Week 31
Week 32
Week 33
Week 34
Week 35
Week 36
Week 37
Week 38
Week 39
Week 40


1st Trimester
(Weeks 1-12)
2nd Trimester
(Weeks 26-40)


Related Articles

* Due dates: The facts
* Preparing for the birth of your baby
* Common questions: Labour and delivery
* Picking your pain relief
* Pregnancy survival secrets
* More labour and birth articles

Useful Tools

* Shopping for a baby checklist
* Hospital bag checklist




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