37 Weeks Pregnant: ‘False’ Labour vs. Braxton Hicks

Smiling at the thought of cuddling your baby in your arms very soon? Your little one may already be smiling, too! Their facial muscles are fully developed, and they’re practising tiny grins and expressions as they prepare for their grand debut.

Of course, these early smiles don’t really mean anything just yet—but within 8 to 12 weeks of being born, you’ll be able to coax your bub into smiling with delight. ([Read more about your baby’s first smile!])

Your Baby at 37 Weeks

By 37 weeks, your baby’s lungs are fully ready to breathe air. The delicate air sacs are coated with surfactant, a miraculous substance that prevents them from collapsing every time your baby exhales. (Babies born early may need a synthetic version to help keep their lungs open.)

Your baby’s grip is strong enough now to wrap around your finger—and even briefly support their body weight if you gently pull them to a sitting position. This grasp reflex is one of the checks your midwife or paediatrician will do at your baby’s very first visit, along with sucking and rooting reflexes.

Baby’s Size at 37 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby is about the size of a rockmelon (cantaloupe).

37 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?

At 37 weeks, you’re around 9 months pregnant.

37 Weeks Pregnant: What to Expect

Congratulations—you’ve made it! If your baby is born this week, they’re considered “early full term.” (Before this week, they’d still be classed as premature.) Full term is between 39 and 41 weeks, while 42 weeks and beyond is considered post-term.

If this is your first baby, there’s a good chance they’ll arrive a little late. In fact, the average first pregnancy lasts 41 weeks and one day. Only around 5% of babies actually arrive on their due date—which should probably be called a “due guess”! Of course, that’s little comfort if you’re fielding a flood of “any news?” messages from friends and family.

Most midwives and doctors will recommend induction if you go beyond 42 weeks, and some prefer not to let pregnancies go past 41 weeks. If you reach that stage, you’ll likely be monitored more closely with non-stress tests and biophysical profiles, which check your baby’s movement, heart rate, and amniotic fluid levels.

The reason for extra caution is that after 42 weeks, the placenta may start to deteriorate, amniotic fluid levels can drop, and babies can grow quite large. Chat with your midwife or doctor about their approach to induction and how far past your due date they’ll let you go. According to a Cochrane review, induction after very prolonged pregnancies does offer some benefits—but the risks of waiting are generally small.

37 Weeks Pregnant To-Do List

• Know the signs of labour: Braxton Hicks contractions feel like a tightening across your bump and come and go. False labour (prodromal labour) feels more like the real thing—sometimes painful—but contractions are irregular and unpredictable. Learn the signs of true labour so you’ll know when it’s go-time.
• Time your journey to your birthplace: Work out how long it takes to get to your hospital or birth centre in both light and heavy traffic. Plan an alternative route, too—you’ll feel calmer knowing you’re prepared.
• Try the Miles Circuit: Designed by a doula to encourage optimal baby positioning, this series of movements takes about 90 minutes (though you can build up to it). It can also help in early labour.
• Get the house in order: Many parents-to-be feel the strong urge to “nest” as birth approaches. Whether you do it yourself, ask your partner, or hire a cleaner, it’s lovely to come home to a tidy house after the birth.

Pregnancy Fun Fact

Your baby’s hiccups in the womb are part of their practice runs for breathing. Babies receive oxygen through the umbilical cord while inside, but by “breathing” amniotic fluid in and out, they’re training their diaphragm for the big switch at birth.

Pregnancy Quote of the Week

It’s a great thing about being pregnant—you don’t need excuses to wee or to eat.
— Angelina Jolie

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.