🤰 Third trimester
37 weeks pregnant
Your baby is about the size of a stick of chard
By Emma Whitfield · Pregnancy & Baby Writer
Your baby at 37 weeks
The baby is now full term. They're practising breathing, sucking and gripping, and are likely head-down and ready. They can turn towards light and grasp firmly.
Your body at 37 weeks
Labour could begin any time from now. Watch for the signs: regular tightening contractions, a "show" (mucus plug), backache, or your waters breaking.
Common symptoms this week
- Full-term milestone
- Possible "show"
- Bursts of nesting energy
- Irregular tightenings
Symptom lists are typical, never exhaustive — and having none of them is normal too.
Focus this week
Know the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labour — real contractions get longer, stronger and closer together. Call your unit if unsure.
Week 37 checklist
- Learn the real-labour test: contractions getting longer, stronger, closer together
- Rest deliberately — labour is a physical event worth arriving at rested
37 weeks pregnant: common questions
What is a "show" and does it mean labour is starting?
The show is the mucus plug from the cervix coming away — jelly-like, sometimes blood-streaked. It means the cervix is beginning to change, but labour may still be hours or days away. No action needed unless there's bright red bleeding, which needs an immediate call to your unit.
How big is my baby at 37 weeks pregnant?
At 37 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a stick of chard, about 48.6cm and around 2900g. These are approximate averages — every baby grows at its own pace.
What's happening at 37 weeks pregnant?
The baby is now full term. They're practising breathing, sucking and gripping, and are likely head-down and ready. They can turn towards light and grasp firmly. For you: labour could begin any time from now. watch for the signs: regular tightening contractions, a "show" (mucus plug), backache, or your waters breaking.
Which trimester is 37 weeks?
37 weeks pregnant is in the third trimester. The first trimester runs to the end of week 12, the second from weeks 13 to 26, and the third from week 27 to birth.
Sources & further reading
This is general information, not medical advice — every pregnancy is different. For anything that worries you, and for all your antenatal care, speak to your midwife or GP. If your baby's movements ever slow down or change, contact your maternity unit immediately, day or night. Reviewed July 2026.