Pregnancy Week - 37 Weeks Pregnant

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Pregnancy Week 37

**Please note- Your Due Date is calculated from your last menstrual period, which corresponds to our Pregnancy Week by Week articles.

Week 37

Your Baby's Growth and Development
Congratulations! You have now entered the final stages of your pregnancy week by week. Between pregnancy weeks 37 and pregnancy week 41 most women are considered full term.

Your baby is still busy putting on weight during pregnancy week 37. The longer your baby stays in utero, the more he will weigh when born! These added layers of fat will help strengthen your baby's overall well being and increase their chances for a healthy and safe entry into the world.

Your Growth and Development
Many women start noticing that their uterus seems to stop growing at 37 weeks pregnant. May women's uteri will remain the same size from now until birth. You should measure about 6 and a half inches from the navel.

Changes in You
By 37 weeks pregnant you may have gained 35 pounds. Many women will notice a reversal of weight gain during pregnancy at 37 weeks and in the last couple of weeks of their pregnancy. Some women might even lose a pound or two.

You are now more eager than ever to meet your newborn baby. Be sure you take some time to discuss your labor and delivery preferences with your healthcare provider at this point in time. If you haven't pre-registered you should consider doing so now.

Talk with your healthcare provider about your 'plan of action' by pregnancy at 37 weeks so you have a plan when you do start having contractions. Find out when your healthcare provider would like you to phone, and when they prefer you visit the hospital.

However, when you are colonized with this bacteria during pregnancy, your baby might get infected with the bacteria during labor and delivery. Infected newborns will require close observation and treatment in the hospital. Your baby will need antibiotics if they are infected. Group B infections in newborns can cause serious infections such as sepsis, which is an infection of the bloodstream. It can also cause meningitis, a condition that affects the lining of the fluid surrounding the brain. Group B can also lead to pneumonia. Typically most newborns exposed will start showing symptoms during the first week of life, though late onset Group B disease may also develop a week or more after birth.

Fortunately, your doctor can perform a culture prior to delivery to see if you have Group B present in your body. If you do, your healthcare provider will likely set you up on a course of antibiotics before and during labor. This will help prevent the spread of infection to your baby.

Some women are more at risk than others for this infection, including women who have already had a baby with a Group B infection, women who develop a fever during labor, women who have a urinary tract infection caused by Group B or women who rupture their membranes before 37 weeks.

Researchers are currently working on developing a vaccine to treat Group B strep.

Nursing Pillow
A Must Have For Breastfeeding Mothers

The best food for your baby in the weeks following delivery is breast milk. Breast milk will provide your baby with valuable vitamins, minerals and nutrients that simply can't be found elsewhere. Breast milk also provides your baby with valuable antibodies that help guard against infection, allergies and illness.

Without proper support, you may find breastfeeding uncomfortable. Many mothers develop shoulder pain when they breastfeed without proper support for their neck and shoulders. Fortunately Snoozer Pregnancy Pillows can help! A pregnancy pillow is the perfect companion to a breastfeeding mother. With just the right firmness, a pregnancy pillow will provide your neck and shoulders the support they need so you can enjoy a long term breastfeeding relationship with your baby!
Watch our pregnancy pillows video on youtube.com.

Maternity Clothes
Modern Mom’s Go For Maternity Denim

Think you’ll miss your favorite pair of jeans once you get pregnant? Think again! Modern moms know that there is an exceptional selection of Maternity Jeans available for expectant mothers at Destination Maternity! No longer do pregnant women have to suffer wearing paneled pants with no style or class. Today’s maternity denim is made often made of breathable, stretchy fabric and comes in a variety of styles, including non-paneled versions for the fashion conscious mom-to-be!

At Destination Maternity you can typically find great looking casual wear, skirts, pants, shorts and even tops all made of denim when looking for maternity items to complete your maternity wardrobe. Most maternity denim is made of stretchy fabric that is designed for functionality as well as comfort!

Pregnancy Health Tips
At this point in time many women consider creating a birth plan. A birth plan is simply a way that you can convey your ideas and desires regarding the birthing process to your healthcare team before, during and after labor.

Birth plans are used by many women to list their expectations regarding the birth process. A birth plan can help your healthcare team better understand your needs and desires, and help prepare you properly to welcome your baby into the world in a manner you deem fit.

You don't have to use anything fancy to create a birth plan, you can simply write down your ideas on paper. There are some common things however you probably want your birth plan to address. Among the more common areas covered by a birth plan include the following:

• Whether or not you wish to receive pain relief during labor.
• What kind of pain relief you prefer.
• Whether you plan to breastfeed or bottle feed.
• Whether or not you want a circumcision performed if you are having a boy.
• If you want to listen to music or other forms of entertainment while giving birth.
• Whether or not you want to use a tub or shower if available to relax in during labor.
• Describe what positions you prefer to be in during birth.
• Whether or not you agree to an episiotomy, or if there are certain steps you would like your healthcare provider to take in order to avoid one.
• Whether or not you have any special requests related to the birth process.
• Who if anybody is allowed in the room when you give birth.

Not sure where to begin? Simply start by writing down a list of your hopes and expectations about the birth process. Then number and list them to make sure the most important of your needs gets addressed.

You should also consider having your partner contribute to the birth plan. Your partner may come up with a request or two you hadn't considered. You should be comfortable sharing your plan with your healthcare provider, nurses and anyone else that might be interacting with you during the labor and delivery process.

Remember that even with a birth plan surprises do happen during labor and delivery. You many state that you do not want a cesarean section for example, however in some cases a cesarean may be necessary to protect the well being of you and your baby. Keep an open mind about your birth plan, but also remember that you have a right to inform your team of your preferences and desires during your stay at the birthing center of your choice.

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