The pregnancy timeline weeks 37 to 41

As 37 to 41 weeks pregnant approaches, so does your big day. And it may be time to do some practice runs to the hospital and also discuss at length how you want things to go once you're in labour.

Week 37
At week 37 your baby's length from crown to rump is 35cm. As your baby engages you'll feel a relieving sensation known as 'lightening'. The pressure on your ribs and organs will ease, making breathing and eating easier. You'll probably need to urinate more though, and your uterus is pressing down harder than ever on your bladder. Basically your baby has finished developing and is getting ready for the birth. If it's your first pregnancy, you're more likely to go full term than if you've had children before or are expecting twins.

Week 38
At week 38 your baby's length from crown to rump is 35cm. You might get false labour contractions that are nearly as strong as the real thing, but they rarely become regular and disappear if you move about. Your baby's building up green-black waste in its intestines right now called meconium. It's made out of cells shed from the intestine lining, blood and skin and the amniotic fluid it's swallowed. This is the first waste it will excrete.

Week 39
At week 39 your baby's length from crown to rump is now 36cm. Right now your baby's boosting its immune system with antibodies that you're passing through your placenta. You'll know when you're going into labour because you'll get strong contractions that get worse when you move around and more regular and frequent over time. Your waters will break and the bloody plug of mucus that has sealed your cervix will become dislodged. When this happens, contact the midwife or your hospital. This is usually known as the first signs of early labour.

Week 40
Your baby's length is now 48-51cm. Most women's official due date falls this week, so get ready! Make sure everyone involved knows your birth plan, but be flexible should events unfold differently to how you'd expected. They often do.
When you finally meet your baby, it's bound to look a bit strange. When it comes out it will be a blue, purple or pale yellow colour and covered in blood, vernix and possibly languno (very fair hair on their body). The head may have a squashed appearance for a few days, and remember newborn babies usually have swollen genitals because of high levels of hormones. Your baby will probably cry once delivered but don't worry if it doesn't: it could be dazed as its system is flooded with hormones called endorphins after the ordeal of birth.

Week 41
If you run past your due date, you may get some post date foetal checks. If you're one or two weeks overdue, your doctor or midwife will discuss induction with you and check your baby's size and heart rate to make sure all is well. Your baby's still putting on weight, so post mature babies can be quite cuddly. It may also have more hair than usual, no vernix covering and therefore have dry skin on its hands and feet. Consider an epidural if you are induced as induced labours are usually more painful.