Take your time with this information
Week 37
Three more weeks to go until your due date!1
Your body
At this stage of pregnancy, you are considered early-term, despite being a few weeks from your due date.2 However, labour could happen at any stage between weeks 37 and term (40 weeks).1 Better health outcomes for newborns are associated with closer-to-term deliveries.2
Therefore, you may want to start preparing your body for birth.
Injuries to the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus) occur in over half of women and birthing people experiencing a vaginal delivery.3 However, perineal massage is a simple, yet effective strategy to help reduce the risk of perineal injuries during vaginal births,3 and can help reduce the risk of needing an episiotomy (surgical cut in the perineum to help with delivery).4
Before starting perineal massage, always check with your healthcare provider.
How to perform perineal massage:4
- Perform 1–2 times per week and each session should last no longer than 5 minutes
- You can sit, stand, or lie down whilst performing a perineal massage
- Wash your hands before and after each session
- Use water-soluble vaginal lubricant or a natural oil
- Gently insert your thumb approximately 3–5 cm into your vagina
- Gently apply pressure down towards your anus and to the side of the vagina
This may cause some discomfort at first, but should ease over time
- Hold and stretch for up to 2 minutes at a time and then release
DO NOT perform a perineal massage if you have any known or suspected sexually transmitted infections, bleeding, or vaginal infections, such as thrush.
Symptoms1
- Back aches and sciatica5
- Leg cramps and restless leg syndrome6
- Breast changes
- Pelvic pain
- Insomnia
- Heartburn and indigestion
- Leg cramps and varicose veins
- Vaginal discharge (with or without spotting)
- Foetal movement
Your baby
At 37 weeks gestation, your baby is roughly the size of a melon, measuring around 48 cm and weighing just under 3 kg.1
During the final weeks of pregnancy, your baby develops more dexterity in their fingers,1 whilst their toenails have now fully grown to the end of their toes.7
Things to remember this week
- Try to remember your prenatal vitamins8,9
- Staying active and keeping a healthy weight can help support overall health10
- Pack your hospital bag
- Count the kicks11
- Be aware of the main symptoms of pre-eclampsia. These include:16
Persistent high blood pressure
Protein in urine
Severe headaches
Visual disturbances
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Swelling in hands and face
Contact your antenatal healthcare provider if you have any symptoms of pre-eclampsia for immediate medical attention.