The development of the fetus week 37

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by a doctor from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Fetal development at 37 weeks, or 35 weeks after fertilization, is generally quite complete. Currently, the mother's pregnancy is almost full term, the baby is big and sturdy. The 37 week fetus has turned its head is not a common question at this stage.

1. Overview of fetal development at 37 weeks

37 weeks fetus weight how much? With a weight of about 2800g and a length of 48.3cm, the baby is now equivalent to a small bowling ball, a bunch of vegetables or a melon. Your baby will grow from 14g per day to about 200g per week.
The fetal head at this stage is already very large, with a circumference equivalent to the chest circumference when the baby is born. You will also find your baby quite chubby with fleshy lines at the elbows, wrists, and knees, as well as small marks in the neck or shoulder area.
Mother's labor day is coming very close, exactly the baby will be born within 3 weeks, but the baby can still be born earlier on any day from this time. If the mother is planning to have a cesarean section, the obstetrician will not schedule a cesarean section before week 39, unless there are unusual circumstances that require earlier medical intervention.

2. Details of 37 weeks fetal development

The fetus may have turned its head, 37 weeks pregnant, has it turned its head yet? In preparation for birth, the baby's head may begin to move into place in the mother's pelvis and cause abdominal prolapse. For some cases, the fetus has not yet returned to this stage, the obstetrician will inform the situation and discuss with the mother about ways to solve this problem.
Immune system Your baby's immune system is also developing and will continue to mature until after your baby is born. Exclusive breastfeeding is one of the simplest yet effective ways to boost your baby's immune system.
Lungs and brain Although the fetus now looks like a normal newborn, in reality, the baby is not completely ready to adapt to the outside world. The lungs of the fetus, although developed, are not yet complete and need more time. Specifically, in the next two weeks, your baby's lungs and brain will fully mature. So even though the due date is near, doctors won't say the baby is full term until 39 weeks of pregnancy.

Practice It's still early if your baby is born this week. From now until week 39, your baby will spend time training his airways by inhaling and exhaling through the amniotic fluid, blinking or opening his eyes, and turning from side to side.
Grasping The baby's fingers have developed more dexterity. At this time, the fetus can grasp small parts of his body such as his nose or toes.
Thumb sucking It is likely that your baby will suck his thumb a lot these days in preparation for sucking after birth.
Baby hair Some babies are born with short or very little hair, but conversely many babies have quite a bit of hair, with a length of 1-4cm. Sometimes the baby's hair is not the same color as the parents. This is a normal phenomenon, there are cases when the baby's hair falls out completely and grows back with a different color.
Continuous kicks Because the baby is already tightly packed in the womb, he can't roll or move much anymore, but he still continues to kick or kick. If you feel your baby is too quiet at this stage, you should contact your obstetrician to conduct an examination.

3. Notes for moms at 37 weeks

37 Weeks Fetal Stiff Abdominal contractions At this stage, Braxton Hicks contractions (false pain) may appear more often and last longer, causing a lot of discomfort to the mother. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a clear obstetrician for guidance on the exact signs of labor as well as when to hospitalized.
Vaginal discharge with blood Mom will notice an increase in vaginal discharge. But if the mucus is tinged with a small amount of blood, it could be a sign that the due date is coming. In case the mother has more severe bleeding, she should go to the obstetrician's hospital immediately.
Replenish Water Although your body is already quite heavy, do not forget to continue to add more fluids to your body. Experts recommend that mothers drink enough 8 glasses of water a day to help reduce swelling.

Selecting some exercises Mothers can refer to how to practice with a ball or massage the perineum in the days leading up to birth. These movements work to strengthen the abdominal muscles, as well as provide relaxation and lightness during the impending labor.
In addition, the mother should also complete the decoration of the newborn room or experience the plaster abdomen service to save the mark of the 37th week of fetal development. Don't forget to relax and get maximum rest, both physically and mentally, in order to give your baby the best chance to be born healthy and avoid premature birth. When seeing a 37-week pregnancy, the mother needs to distinguish between false contractions and accurate signs of labor in order to have appropriate and timely treatment.
In order to prepare for a successful birth, in the last 3 months of pregnancy, the health of both mother and baby needs to be closely monitored and checked. Pregnant women firmly grasp the signs of skin transfer, differentiate amniotic fluid leakage, signs of premature birth, monitor physiological contractions, and go to the hospital early. In fact, in the last weeks of pregnancy, it can be difficult for the mother to distinguish the above signs, there have been many unfortunate cases that happened just because of these small mistakes. Therefore, in the last weeks, in addition to the regular antenatal check-up according to the doctor's appointment, the mother needs to actively choose reputable and well-trained hospitals to perform the delivery.
To help mothers get rid of the fear of childbirth, Vinmec now offers a package Maternity program with a complete "painless delivery" service during and after birth using membrane anaesthesia. non-morphine stiffness and neuraxial anesthesia. During the birth process, the mother will be guided by the midwives on how to push and breathe properly, the baby will be born in just 10-15 minutes. After birth, the baby will perform skin-to-skin contact with the mother, newborn screening,... For the mother, after giving birth, she will stay in a high-class hospital room that meets international hotel standards, 1 mother 1 room with Fully equipped with modern amenities. Mothers will be consulted by nutritionists on how to feed the baby before being discharged from the hospital. Postpartum follow-up with both mother and baby with leading Obstetricians and Pediatricians. Therefore, the mother and the whole family can be completely assured of the medical procedures and services that Vinmec is implementing.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: Webmd.com; Babycenter.com.