At 37 weeks, you’re in the final stretch, and your main priorities are monitoring your body for signs of labor, finishing practical preparations, staying comfortable, and keeping up with your prenatal appointments. Your baby is now classified as “early term,” meaning development is nearly complete but the last few weeks still matter for brain and lung maturation. Here’s what to focus on right now.
Why 37 Weeks Is “Early Term,” Not Full Term
Doctors used to consider any pregnancy between 37 and 42 weeks full term. That changed after research showed meaningful differences in outcomes depending on exactly when a baby is born. The current designations break it down more precisely: 37 weeks through 38 weeks and 6 days is early term, 39 through 40 weeks and 6 days is full term, and 41 weeks onward is late term or post-term.
The distinction isn’t just academic. Compared to babies born at or after 39 weeks, babies born at 37 or 38 weeks have a 20% greater risk of complications like breathing problems, feeding difficulties, and trouble regulating temperature. They’re also 50% more likely to die within the first year of life. These are still relatively small absolute risks, but they’re the reason your care team will generally let labor start on its own unless there’s a medical reason to deliver earlier. Your baby can grasp firmly at this stage and may already be settling head-down into your pelvis, but those final two weeks of cooking make a real difference.
What Happens at Your Prenatal Visits Now
You’re likely seeing your provider weekly at this point. A few things are happening at these visits that weren’t part of earlier appointments.
If you haven’t already been tested for group B strep (GBS), expect it now. A provider swabs your lower vagina and anal area to check for this common bacterium. About 1 in 4 women carry GBS without any symptoms, but it can cause serious infection in newborns during delivery. If you test positive, you’ll receive antibiotics through an IV during labor. The antibiotics can’t be given ahead of time because the bacteria grow back quickly.
Your provider will also check your baby’s position, pressing on your belly to feel whether the head is down. If your baby is breech, they may discuss a procedure called external cephalic version, where a provider manually tries to turn the baby by pressing on your abdomen. This is typically done before labor starts and works roughly half the time.
Track Your Baby’s Movement
Kick counts become especially important in these final weeks. The recommended method is simple: pick a time when your baby is usually active, sit or lie down, and time how long it takes to feel 10 movements. Kicks, rolls, flutters, and swishes all count. You want to feel 10 within two hours.
If two hours pass without 10 movements, or if you notice a sudden change in your baby’s usual pattern, contact your provider. Babies do run out of room at this stage, so the type of movement may shift from big kicks to more rolling and squirming. But the overall frequency should stay consistent. A dramatic drop in activity is always worth a call.
Know the Difference Between Practice and Real Contractions
Braxton Hicks contractions are common at 37 weeks, and telling them apart from real labor contractions is one of the most practical skills you can have right now. The key differences come down to pattern, response to movement, and intensity.
- Pattern: Real labor contractions come every 2 to 5 minutes in a steady rhythm. Braxton Hicks come and go without any predictable pattern.
- Duration: Labor contractions last about 60 to 90 seconds each.
- Response to rest: Braxton Hicks often stop when you walk, rest, or change position. Labor contractions keep going no matter what you do.
- Intensity: Labor contractions build in strength over time until it becomes hard to talk through them. Braxton Hicks tend to stay weak, or they start strong and then fade.
If you’re timing contractions and they’re getting closer together, lasting longer, and growing more intense, that’s likely the real thing.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Preeclampsia can develop or worsen in the final weeks of pregnancy, and knowing the symptoms matters because it can escalate quickly. Watch for severe headaches that don’t respond to rest or hydration, vision changes like blurriness, light sensitivity, or temporary vision loss, and sudden swelling in your face or hands. Some swelling is normal in pregnancy, but a rapid increase is different.
Severe belly pain or shortness of breath also warrant immediate medical attention. These aren’t symptoms to monitor at home or sleep on. If any of them appear, go to your hospital or call your provider right away.
Finish Your Hospital Bag
If your bag isn’t packed yet, now is the time. A typical hospital stay for a vaginal delivery is about two days, and for a cesarean it’s closer to three or four. Pack with that timeline in mind.
The essentials: your ID and insurance card, phone and charger, toiletries (lip balm is easy to forget but surprisingly important during labor), glasses or contacts, comfortable clothes to wear home, and shower shoes with tread so you don’t slip. Bring two or three nursing bras or sports bras and nipple cream if you plan to breastfeed. For your baby, you need a car seat (the hospital won’t let you leave without one), at least one or two loose sleepers that won’t irritate the umbilical cord stump, and a receiving blanket.
Optional items that many people are glad they brought: a robe, a tennis ball or handheld massager for back labor, a comfortable nightgown, and something to pass the time like a book or tablet. Hospitals provide basic gowns, blankets, diapers, and wipes, so you don’t need to pack those.
Relieving Pelvic Pressure and Discomfort
As your baby drops lower into your pelvis, you’ll likely feel more pressure, hip pain, and general heaviness. A few gentle movements can help take the edge off.
Pelvic tilts are one of the simplest options. Sit on a chair or birthing ball, sit up as tall as you can to emphasize the curve in your lower back, then slouch fully and roll back onto your tailbone. Rocking through this range of motion loosens the lower back and relieves some of the downward pressure. Pelvic circles on a birthing ball, where you gently rotate your hips in small circles, work similarly.
The cat-cow stretch is another reliable one. On all fours, round your back up toward the ceiling, then slowly arch in the opposite direction. This mobilizes the spine and can ease both back and pelvic pain. Child’s pose, with knees widened to make room for your belly and arms stretched forward, gives a deep lower back stretch. You can add a side stretch by reaching one hand over the opposite arm.
For all of these, hold each stretch for 5 to 10 seconds and repeat 4 to 5 times. If anything causes pain rather than a mild stretch sensation, ease off or skip it.
Sleep Position in Late Pregnancy
Side sleeping is the standard recommendation at this stage. The concern with sleeping on your back is that the weight of your uterus can compress the major blood vessels that return blood to your heart and send it to your lower body. Many providers specifically recommend the left side, though either side is generally considered safe.
If you wake up on your back, don’t panic. Just roll to your side and settle back in. A pillow between your knees and another supporting your belly can make side sleeping more sustainable through the night. Some people find a full-length body pillow easier than managing multiple pillows.
Other Practical Things to Do This Week
Beyond the medical side, 37 weeks is a good time to finalize the logistical details that are hard to manage once labor starts. If you haven’t already, make sure your partner or support person knows the route to the hospital and where to park. Install the car seat and have it inspected if your local fire department or hospital offers that service. Confirm your birth preferences with your provider, including your preferences around pain management, and make sure they’re documented.
Stock your freezer with meals. You won’t want to cook during the first week or two postpartum, and having ready-made food eliminates one source of stress. If you have other children, confirm your childcare plan for when labor starts, including a backup option in case your first choice isn’t available.
If you plan to breastfeed, you may have heard about expressing colostrum before birth. Current evidence suggests this is safe for women with certain conditions like diabetes, where the baby is at higher risk of low blood sugar after birth. But it’s not recommended as a routine practice for everyone. Frozen colostrum loses some of its immune properties during thawing, and unsupervised harvesting can cause discomfort or anxiety about supply. Talk to your provider if you’re interested, but don’t feel pressured to do it.