I am ready now

After completing week 37, your baby and pregnancy are considered term. However, growth has not stopped. The baby continues storing fat and gains approximately 15-30 grams a day. Boys generally store more fat than girls and are therefore heavier at birth.

Your baby now has sufficient coordination to grasp objects easily. If you hold a very bright light against your abdomen, the baby will turn towards it.

Breathing movements take place inside the uterus, and seeing these on ultrasound indicates that the baby is doing well. As the baby's size increases relative to the amniotic fluid, moving becomes more difficult and you may notice fewer movements. Heart (3), aorta (2), artery (1)

Until now, your cervix and the canal leading into the uterus have been filled by a mucus plug. This protects the uterus and baby from germs and infections entering through the vagina. Passage of the mucus plug is a sign that birth is approaching, commonly called the "bloody show". It may occur a few weeks or just a few hours before labour. It is usually noticed as a bloody, mucus-like discharge.