37 weeks pregnant
Your baby is the size of

37 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby’s Development

He or she will continue gaining 14 g (0.5 oz) of fat per day to help regulate body temperature and keep blood-sugar levels even. The brain and skull also continue to grow.

Ease on down. Is your baby sitting lower these days? This dropping–also called lightening or engagement–can occur a few weeks before your baby is born. The new, lower position may take some pressure off of your lungs and diaphragm, making it easier for you to breathe.

37 Weeks Pregnant: Your Symptoms

The trade-off. The good news about your baby dropping is that you can breathe again. The flip-side is that you may feel extra pressure in your lower abdomen and pelvis. Also, your centre of gravity changes–again–when your baby drops, so you may be a little clumsier than you were before.

Bag it! Only five per cent of babies are born on their actual due date, so it's handy to have a packed bag waiting by the door in case your little one comes early. Stick to the essentials: a comfortable night-dress or night-shirt, a comfy robe, non-skid slippers or socks, a well-fitting nursing bra, toiletries and going-home outfits for yourself and the baby.

Close scrutiny. Your healthcare provider may start performing pelvic exams at your weekly pre-natal visits. He or she will check to see if your cervix is dilated (opening up) or effaced (thinning), and will look for any signs of labour. Many women start to dilate weeks before actually going into labour, while some don't show any signs of labour until it's time to go to the hospital.

Did you know? You may hear that at 37 weeks, your baby is considered “early term.” Even though he or she is mature enough to live outside the uterus, baby needs the next three weeks to gain weight and give the lungs and brain a little more time to mature.

37 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

• Notice your baby "sitting" lower, which will likely relieve some pressure

• Pack your hospital bag and have it ready by the door

• Stock your freezer with meals you can heat up after the baby is born

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