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37 Weeks Pregnant: What To Expect
With labour just around the corner, by the start of your 37th week, the baby has matured most of its organs and can survive the outside world without any difficulty.
Your Baby’s Growth During Pregnancy- Week 37
Some of the developments that have taken place with your baby include:
Toenails
By now, the toenails should have grown enough to fully cover the toe. These will continue to grow so you can always expect your baby to have slightly overgrown nails when they are born.
Swelling of Mammary Glands
The placental hormones send chemical signals to the pregnant mother to begin the lactation process. These placental hormones also find their way to the baby whose mammary glands will begin to swell. These will return to normal once they are out of the womb.
Armed with Antibodies
The umbilical cord starts to pump the baby’s body with antibodies to help it fight off disease and infection after birth. This is supplemented by breastfeeding once the baby is out of the womb.
Fully Formed Lungs
The baby is ready to come out as the lungs are fully functional by this time. They will support the baby breathing the outside air by producing a lipoprotein called surfactant.
What Is The Baby Size
When you’re 37 weeks pregnant baby size is about the size of a Romaine Lettuce. She is approximately 19.1 inches long and has probably attained a weight of 2.8 kilograms. This is about the same weight as that of a baby kangaroo!
Common Body Changes
The common body changes during pregnancy in the 37th week include:
Braxton Hicks Contractions
These are practice contractions that increase in frequency by the 37th
Amniotic Fluid
There is a reduction in the amniotic fluid as the size of the baby has displaced most of the fluid.
Symptoms Of Pregnancy At Week 37
Some of the symptoms that women experience during this time include:
Heart Burn
As the uterus has expanded to accommodate the baby, it presses against many of the internal organs within the body such as the stomach. This can cause stress to the digestive system which may result in problems such as heartburn.
Spotting
Spotting or bleeding is something that is common at the 37th week of pregnancy due to the increased sensitivity of the cervix. The bleeding may have taken place due to some irritation in the region or even because of sexual intercourse.
Insomnia
Sleeplessness is something that is bound to affect all pregnant women at some point during their pregnancy. The reasons for this include urge to urinate frequently, uncomfortable sleeping position and anxiety.
What Are The Signs Of Labour?
The onset of labour is likely to happen around the 37th week and the baby is considered a term baby. Some of the signs that can help you figure out when its time include:
Regular contractions
Regular contractions begin prior to labour but they can often be confused with false contractions better known as Braxton Hicks contractions. Though these may be similar in intensity, the best indicator for labour contractions is consistent contractions over time. If they are irregular or go away if you rest, they are probably Braxton Hicks contractions.
Water breaking
This is the breaking/tearing of the protective amniotic sac that has been cradling your baby all this while. Every woman has a different experience when her water breaks as it depends on the size and area of the tear. Based on this, the amount of amniotic fluid that comes out of cervix and vagina could be a trickle or a gush.
Mucus plug
This is a type of cervical mucous loaded with antimicrobial properties to protect that baby from infection against bacteria. Once this comes out because of the baby drop, most women go into labour in the next 12 hours.
Inducing Labour At 37 Weeks
If you wish to induce labour, you can try out the below techniques to get things going. Please consult your doctor before trying out the below methods as they can recommend the most appropriate technique based on your condition.
Stimulating the Nipples
This is a time-tested way of inducing labour as stimulating the nipples releases oxytocin which helps in inducing labour. This is a powerful method to bring about contractions as they are likely to be stronger and longer in nature.
Sexual Intercourse
Sexual intimacy can help get the ball rolling as the male ejaculation contains prostaglandins that help induce labour. This may be difficult to perform for some women due to the size of their belly. One can use sex positions such as spooning, rear entry or woman on top to induce labour.
Belly at 37 weeks of Pregnancy
By this time, you would experience something called dropping. This is a phenomenon when the baby descends to the pelvic region in preparation for labour. However, this ‘dropping’ cannot be visually noticed by anyone.
37 Weeks Ultra Sound
During the 37th week of pregnancy, an ultrasound is mainly taken to see that the baby is in a head down position. Other developments can be tracked during this time such as heartbeat rate and condition of the uterus. Determining the sex of the baby at this point is difficult as the baby almost doesn’t move from here on out.
What to Eat
As you enter your 37th week pregnancy food must be classified based on three factors. Firstly, as the pregnancy is considered full term, one can begin to eat labour inducing food items which include castor oil, small amounts of spicy food, raspberry leaf and primrose oil. Secondly, as the body still experiences heartburn, trigger foods such as alcohol, fatty foods and oily foods are to be avoided. Lastly, the baby’s brain is making rapid strides in terms of development. For this, protein-rich foods like fish, eggs and milk are to be eaten.
Tips and Care
Below are some of the things that you must be taken into consideration when you're 37 weeks pregnant:
Do’s
Chart out a route that you can take to the hospital which has the least amount of traffic.
Don’ts
Nesting phase is a time when pregnant mothers are expecting their newborn to soon and go on a cleaning frenzy. While one doesn’t need to suppress this urge, moving around can be difficult, so one needs to take rest. As an alternative, one can make somebody else do the work for you!
Limit the intake of caffeine as it will only aggravate your insomnia.
What you need to shop
As you’re full term now at 37 weeks of pregnancy, here are some of the things you can shop for:
Baby’s arrival
The baby isn’t going to be carrying a suitcase when he/she arrives so you’ll have to buy some baby essentials. These include baby pads, nappies, a blanket and unisex baby clothes.
Your comfort
The delivery process can take a while and can be uncomfortable which is why you can arm yourself with books, a comfortable pillow and your own toiletry set.
Conclusion
By this time, you’re almost towards the end of your pregnancy. The most important thing that one needs to do at this point is to watch out for the signs of labour.
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8 Common Pregnancy Complications to Watch Out For
Complications are health problems that occur during pregnancy that can involve health of the mother, the baby or both. Complications can be experienced even by women who have been healthy before, and those who have had problems before have a higher chance of experiencing them again. Complications can make the pregnancy a high-risk pregnancy that requires regular care and monitoring. Although most pregnancies are uncomplicated, it is helpful to know which ones are likely to affect expecting mothers.
The pregnancy complications list compiled here discusses various commonly occurring complications during pregnancy that all expectant mothers need to be aware of.
Video: 8 Common Pregnancy Complications to Watch Out For
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKKDiZY8nGA
1. Miscarriage
Miscarriage is a loss of pregnancy in the first 20 weeks of gestation and is also known as a “spontaneous abortion” in the medical circles. More than 80 percent of miscarriages occur within 12 weeks and about 10 -20 percent of the pregnancies that are known end in a miscarriage. It is characterized by vaginal spotting or bleeding which may be accompanied by abdominal pain and cramps. When these symptoms are observed, you must contact your doctor or midwife immediately so they can perform further tests such as an ultrasound scan or a blood test to confirm a miscarriage.
Miscarriage is one of the most common pregnancy complications in first trimester, and about 50 to 70 percent of them are thought to occur due to chromosomal abnormality in the fertilized egg such as wrong number of chromosomes in the egg or the sperm. Sometimes, problems during the critical process of early development can also lead to a miscarriage such as an embryo with physical defects or an egg that implants improperly. Factors such as age, chronic disorders, uterine or cervical problems, a history of birth defects, lifestyle choices such as smoking drinking and drug abuse are known to increase the risk of miscarriages.
2. Premature Labour And Birth
Premature or preterm labour is when women start having regular contractions that result in the cervix dilating or thinning out (efface) before they reach 37 weeks. A preterm birth is when the baby is delivered before 37 weeks and it is considered premature. However, going into a preterm labour doesn’t mean the baby would be premature. About half of the women who experience preterm labour go on to deliver at 37 weeks or later. About a third of preterm births are planned if the mother or the baby have a complication and are not doing well in cases such as severe preeclampsia or if the baby’s growth has stopped. The medical team then might induce labor early or perform a C-Section prior to 37 weeks.
The symptoms of preterm birth include:
Higher than usual vaginal discharge
Leaking watery fluid that is mucous like which is bloody or tinged with blood.
More than four contractions in an hour with or without abdominal pain, menstrual –like cramping
Pressure in the pelvic region with a feeling that the baby is pushing down
Low back pain that feels dull or rhythmic, when you didn’t previously have a back pain
3. Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is one of the high risk pregnancy complications that occurs mostly during the third trimester but can start at any time after the second half of the pregnancy or even up to six weeks after delivery. Preeclampsia leads to high blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to constrict and damage vital organs in the body such as kidneys, liver and brain. The condition may not cause any symptoms in some of the cases but can be potentially life threatening. Restricted blood flow to the uterus from preeclampsia causes problems such as too little amniotic fluid, poor growth and placental abruption. The condition can cause small blood vessels to leak fluid into body tissues resulting in a swelling (oedema) and when the tiny blood vessels leak in the kidneys, some of the protein from the blood spills into urine.
The symptoms of preeclampsia include:
Swelling or puffiness in the face and around the eyes
Swelling in hands, feet and ankles
Gaining more than 2Kg weight in a week ( which often results from water retention)
However, not all women with weight gain or swelling have preeclampsia. If you notice symptoms such as severe headache, vision changes, nausea and vomiting along with the rest of the warning signs, contact your doctor immediately.
4. Low Amniotic Fluid (Oligohydramnios)
Amniotic fluid fills up the amniotic sac which protects and supports the developing baby. It’s function is cushioning the baby from impact, maintaining a constant temperature in the womb, protect against infection and preventing compression of the umbilical cord which would reduce the baby’s oxygen supply. Normally the amount of amniotic fluid increases until the start of the third semester and after 34 to 36 weeks it gradually decreases. When there is too little amniotic fluid, the condition is called oligohydramnios. It is measured by an ultrasound scan to check the amniotic fluid index (AFI). In the third semester, a normal measure would be between 5 and 25cm. less than 5 Cm is considered low. Low levels of amniotic fluid can cause foetal abnormalities when it occurs in the first or second trimester. Labour in induced in women who are near term with low amniotic fluid if the baby isn’t thriving well or the mother has preeclampsia.
5. Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus. This condition is potentially dangerous and must be treated immediately. Around 2 percent of pregnancies are ectopic, and since there is no way to transplant an ectopic pregnancy into the uterus, it must be terminated. It occurs when, after conception, the fertilised egg travels down the fallopian tube on its way to the uterus. If the tube is unable to propel the egg toward the womb or is blocked or damaged, the egg might implant there and continue to develop. Since most ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes, they are often termed tubal pregnancies. Unrecognized ectopic pregnancies can result in a ruptured fallopian tube causing severe internal bleeding and abdominal pain accompanied with tube damage, tube loss and can be fatal if the bleeding is heavy.
6. Gestational Diabetes
It is one of the most common problems during pregnancy and occurs when a woman who didn’t have diabetes before the pregnancy, develops it during the pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can cause the blood sugar levels to become too high and is a serious problem for the baby. Unlike other types, gestational diabetes isn’t permanent and the blood sugar levels return to normal after the baby is born. However, it puts a woman at a 25 to 50 percent risk of developing type-2 diabetes later in life. Diet Plan for Gestational Diabetes might be an option worth considering.
7. Placenta Previa
Placenta praevia is a condition in which the placenta is lying unusually low the in the uterus, is next to the cervix or covering it. Placenta under normal conditions is located close to the top of the uterus and supplies the baby with nutrients through the umbilical cord. Although it is not a problem early on in the pregnancy, if it remains dangerously low as the pregnancy progresses, it can cause bleeding and other complications. Ultrasound scans during mid-pregnancy, check for the condition and it usually corrects itself in a small percentage of women. The condition occurs in up to 1 in 200 deliveries and since the placenta is close to the cervix, the baby has to be delivered by c-section.
8. Infections during Pregnancy
The baby is well protected against most of the passing illnesses by the mother’s body such as a cold or a stomach bug. But some diseases can harm both the mother and the baby with consequences such as birth defects in the child. Some of them include:
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV): Vaginal infection linked to preterm birth and low birth weight in babies
Group B Strep (GBS): Bacterial infection that can be deadly to the baby if passed during childbirth
Cytomegalovirus (CMV): Viral infection that leads to hearing and vision loss and other disabilities
Toxoplasmosis: Parasitic infection when passed from mother to baby leads to vision and hearing loss along with other disabilities
Urinary tract infections (UTI): Bacterial infections that can cause preterm labour
Although complications are a cause for concern, they are not a cause for despair. Complicated pregnancies when taken care of, and monitored on a regular basis, can turn out well for both the mother and the baby.
Also Read:
Overdue Pregnancy
How to Prevent a Preterm Labour Read more
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Your Baby This Week : 22 Month Week 3 Old
As your little one keeps exploring, he is sure to touch many surfaces. While you can cut down on germs around your home by cleaning and sanitizing regularly, how about teaching your child a life skill that will spare him many a cold and flu in life? Teach your child the correct way to wash his hands and help him practice it enough to make it a habit, especially before and after meals.
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Starting Jan 2019, Give Up These Seemingly Harmless Habits That Are Shortening Your Lifespan
We live in a world where we believe everything that we do is right. In this day and age, watching TV shows for hours, partying till the wee hours of the morning, eating junk food late at night, or having that irresistible cup of chai at midnight come under the purview of fun in our minds. After all, life is all about having fun, right? That’s our mindset! However, these everyday habits that seem ‘FUN’ to us today, very slowly and without warning, take years off our lives.
7 Seemingly Harmless Habits That Can Shorten Your Lifespan
Find out what are these common unhealthy habits of yours that silently shave off years from your life. A devil-may-care attitude does not always bring good and these habits can seriously affect your health in the worst possible way.
1. Snacking at Midnight
We all snack at midnight - it reminds us of our good ol’ college days, doesn’t it? While midnight snacking is alright once in a while, treating yourself to sweet and salty snacks at odd hours on a regular basis can wreck your metabolism and increase your risk of developing diabetes and heart diseases. Eating late at night and sacrificing your night’s sleep may increase your triglycerides levels, thus increasing the risk of diabetes and heart diseases. Triglycerides are fats or extra calories that are stored in fat cells, and it is not easy to get rid of them. So, avoid eating late at night. If you feel extremely hungry, eat a healthy snack like makhana - but not too much. Also, get good sleep.
2. Binge-watching Your Favourite Shows
We all have done this and we still do - binge-watch our favourite shows on Netflix till our eyelids become heavy. Yes, we understand that some series have cliffhangers in each and every episode, and you and your partner can’t seem to give it up in between, but sacrificing your sleep for these series won’t do you any good. Binge-watching till late in the night can affect your sleep quality and make you feel tired all day long, every day. It may also affect your eyes, brain, and overall health. You may have too many shows to catch up on, but don’t watch them for 3 hours at a stretch. Limit yourself to just an hour of watching any show - just the way you set rules for your kids, set them for yourself too.
3. Eating Too Much SALT
If you are someone who loves to eat your daal, sabzi, or salads with an extra pinch of salt, you may be jeopardizing your health and reducing your lifespan - and we are not kidding, not in the least. Eating too much salt can damage your heart and kidneys. Consuming too much salty or processed foods is also one of the causes of high blood pressure. So, limit your salt intake; avoid sprinkling extra salt on cooked food.
4. Not Playing Safe in the Bedroom
Yes, nobody likes being advised on their bedroom habits, but it is just a gentle reminder to ensure that you stay healthy and happy for long. Having unsafe sex can compromise your health. Unprotected sex can put you at the risk of developing incurable diseases like HIV, AIDS, or Hepatitis. Although these diseases are no longer a taboo subject and can be treated to an extent, it is best to be on the safer side. So, make sure to use protection while having sex.
5. Biting Your Nails
It may seem like just another harmless habit which you may not accept in public, but it can actually reduce your lifespan. Nail biting can introduce bacteria (hidden under your nails) into your bloodstream and may cause ‘sepsis’, a life-threatening blood infection. So, the next time you take your fingers to your mouth to bite your nails, control the urge.
6. Skipping Your Breakfast
Who has the time for breakfast? You manage to get up at 7 in the morning and in the rush to reach your workplace on time, you miss the most important meal of your day. You may not be paying heed to this habit of yours now, but do know that in the long run, it will affect your health. A healthy breakfast can regulate your appetite for the day; if you skip it, you may end up eating more during the day, which in turn increases your chances of weight gain. And we all know that weight gain or obesity can lead to severe health complications, like high blood pressure, heart problems, etc. So, never head out of your house without having breakfast.
7. Poor Hygiene
Do you forget to wash your hands after you have been outside? If yes, then know that this small carefree habit of yours is ultimately reducing your lifespan. Not washing your hands properly or not using an antibacterial hand wash can leave you susceptible to germs and many food-borne illnesses. Similarly, not flossing your teeth can not only affect your oral health but also can affect your heart health. Gum diseases are linked to heart problems, and thus, may have fatal consequences. For most Indians, flossing is not a part of their daily oral care routine, but it should be because regular flossing can increase a person’s life expectancy by six years. Now, maybe you’ll give flossing a serious thought.
So, these are some habits that seem harmless but are rather detrimental to your health. This new year, give up these habits to lead a healthy life.
Also Read:
Habits of People Who Always Stay Fit
Everyday Activities That Can Put Your Health on Risk Read more
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
4 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts advice some parenting hack.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. regarding what ok repeat question. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Nikitha has added a new answer
Father of a Newborn child
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what is the best time to keep baby in the sun and for how long?
Nikitha
Mom of a 9 yr 5 m old boy
3 hours ago
A. hello in the morning around 7 to 9:00 a.m. for 10 minutes you can get your baby exposed to the sunlight which would be safe on baby so the child will also get the vitamin d naturally which should be good and nothing to worry about
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. currently I'm in 25th week of my pregnancy. I would like to when is my 7th month or red trimester is going to start?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. you had to complete 28 weeks ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts I am having vaginal infection from last 2 months my doc have given me antibiotics meds but still I am having it …. 8 months pregnant I am ….is anything I am doing wrong that’s y I am having this infection
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. ok cd. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
3 hours ago
Q. Hlo sir / madam
I m 36week 6 days pregnant
My baby’s head doesn’t fix into the pelvis
Lightening or baby dropping not happend
My AFI is 18 (mild polyhydroaminous)
What should I do?? Normal delivery possible?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. your treating doctor will advise accordingly ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Heenuchauhan has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
1 hour ago
Q. I got a very pinkish line in t from 2 test which I took after 7 days of missing period am I pregnant?????
Heenuchauhan
Guardian of 2 children
26 mins ago
A. yeah postive
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