Week by Week Pregnancy, Weeks 37-40

By weeks 37 to 40 of your pregnancy, you will soon be a "New Mom!" Your baby may be 6 to 8 pounds, 19 to 20 inches, and is considered to be "full term" now, ready for life outside of the womb!

Your doctor appointments will become more frequent during your final weeks of pregnancy, so it is a good time to bring a list of any questions or concerns that you have. Also, confirm your arrangements with the person that will be with you for support at the hospital. It is a good idea that you fully communicate to this person how they can best help you during your labor.

As your body gets ready for labor & delivery, your "water may break," making you feel like you've lost control over your bladder, but actually it's amniotic fluid leaking from your placenta (sack of fluid that contains your baby). Notify your doctor when this happens, as your baby will need to be delivered within 24 hours to prevent infection. Another sign of labor onset is the loss of your "mucus plug" that has sealed your womb. This occurs as your cervix opens and may happen from a couple of weeks before delivery to the time of delivery.

Since labor may come upon you unexpectedly, have your hospital delivery bag packed and ready to go! Carry your insurance card and other necessary papers with you so that you are not rushed & stressed, looking around for what you may need at the last minute.

Written by: Shelley Scheibel, RN, BSN

Resources:
http://www.babycenter.com/average-fetal-length-weight-chart
http://mothercare.com.mt/parentingtips/pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-37-40/