37th week of pregnancy: how the fetus develops and what happens in the body
Childbirth is already very close, the exciting and important moment will come very soon. But it’s still interesting how the baby feels now, sitting comfortably in the womb. In this article we will talk about the baby at 37 weeks of pregnancy, and about the feelings of the expectant mother.
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Baby at 37 weeks of pregnancy
Despite the fact that a period of 38-42 weeks is considered normal for childbirth, the majority of doctors consider childbirth at 37 weeks to be completely natural. As practical experience shows, by this time the baby is ready for a normal life outside the womb. His digestive system functions perfectly; villi have appeared on his stomach and mucous membranes, which are capable of absorbing nutrients, which indicates his readiness to digest food.
Newborn feces have been formed and will leave the baby’s body immediately after birth. However, it also happens that the baby is freed from it while still in the stomach. Then he will be born in green mucus.
During this time, the baby’s body has accumulated a sufficient amount of fat, which makes the skin smooth. He has enough strength and if the child wants to be born in the near future, he will already be able to take the breast. By this time, the baby’s heat exchange has been adjusted.
In addition to the readiness of the lungs, a hormone begins to form in the baby’s body, which is a building material for the high-quality functioning of the respiratory organs. However, at this stage, the child’s development is still ongoing, despite the fact that he is almost ready. But childbirth at 37 weeks does not entail any consequences; he will not be subject to excessive stress, thanks to hormones specially produced by the adrenal glands.
The liver begins to work actively, accumulating iron for the subsequent formation of blood cells. Until the moment of immediate birth, and then a year after, the central nervous system responsible for coordination will develop.
The formation of nails and hair is coming to an end (sometimes babies are born without hair). His facial features are formed, the cartilages of the ears and nose become hard. The fluff comes off completely, and the generic lubricant remains only in the formed folds.
The skull bones are not yet completely hard, but this is quite natural, since such an anatomical feature makes it easier to pass through the birth canal. Height and weight parameters are individual for each baby, but on average it is 48 cm and about 3 kg.
37 weeks of pregnancy - harbingers of labor
Precursors of labor begin about a month before the onset of labor, and the closer the due date, the stronger they become. Obvious signs of imminent delivery include a drooping stomach, a feeling of pain in the lower abdomen and the appearance of training contractions. It is also worth noting that for those giving birth for the first time, the signs of imminent labor are much more pronounced than for current mothers. Therefore, the latter have to listen more carefully to incoming signals.
There is no one sign by which one can say for sure that everything will happen soon. This is a whole complex of beacons.
As the body prepares for the arrival of the baby, it tries to create the most comfortable conditions for this. For this reason, the joints and ligaments become much softer, which causes discomfort and pain for the expectant mother. The baby himself descends closer to the birth canal, which also cannot but make itself felt.
Changes are also observed in terms of women’s psychology. So, for example, suddenly a desire appears clean your home until it shines, organize a reshuffle to make it better prepare the house for the arrival of the baby. This is especially noticeable against the background of the fact that before this the woman experiences a feeling of apathy and constant fatigue. It is useless to fight a new feeling, you just need to endure it.
In about a week to a week and a half, the mucous plug comes off, which serves to protect the baby from various types of external infections. It may come out in parts or entirely. In the latter case, it is a lump of mucus that cannot be confused with anything. In the first, it is a mucous discharge of a colorless and yellowish tint with possible bloody inclusions. These can be distinguished from ordinary discharge by their thicker structure.
Childbirth at 37 weeks of pregnancy
The approaching date of birth worries expectant mothers. Those giving birth for the first time are worried about their feelings, wondering whether the whole process is very painful, etc. This is not the first time that those giving birth are also worried, because childbirth is a crucial moment, and if something goes wrong, it can result in unpleasant consequences. However, it is quite possible to prepare your body for this by learning how to breathe correctly.
Don’t force yourself into fear and panic, don’t push yourself too hard. Now the baby feels the same as the mother. And if she is nervous, then the baby begins to behave restlessly. Just understand that childbirth is a natural process that many women go through. So gather your courage and listen to your body in anticipation of a future meeting.
