Your baby is full term at 37 weeks pregnant but the closer to 40 weeks that the baby is delivered the better the baby will do. If you start labor at 37 weeks the physician will probably not intervene to stop the labor. Some of the signs of labor are cramping or contractions that last longer while the time between the contractions decreases. You will probably notice the loss of the mucus plug or the breaking of the amniotic sac.
When you have reached this point in the gestation period you may not gain more weight. Your baby will continue to grow about one half pound per week until delivery. Because of the size of your uterus you will find sleeping difficult. If you sleep on your left side you will relieve the pressure on the vena cava, a major artery. This will allow both you and the baby to receive unrestricted blood flow. The ligaments that support the uterus may be painful as the heavy uterus stretches them to a maximum. If you have not seen the appearance of stretch marks on your skin you may begin to see them.
There are ways for you to help speed the delivery of your baby at this time. Having sexual intercourse can be difficult but it is possible. The sperm contains hormones called prostaglandins that help stimulate contractions. If your physician is in agreement with early labor, he can strip the membranes inside your cervix. This scraping will also release prostaglandins that prepare your body for delivery.
As you walk your hips swing and this helps to guide the baby into the birthing position. Gravity pulls the baby into the pelvis. If you are having minor contractions and want to strengthen the contractions, this can be a way to do so. A medication used to induce labor is called pitocin. If you massage your nipples you can produce oxytocin which is the natural form of pitocin. You must speak with your physician before doing any of these suggestions. Nipple massage will cause strong contractions that can slow the heart rate of your baby.
An old wives tale suggests taking castor oil. The belief is that castor oil causes the muscles of the intestines which surround the uterus to cramp and may start the labor process. Mix one to four ounces of castor oil with six ounces of juice. Drink without stopping because the taste is not very pleasant. You are at 37 weeks pregnant and without doing any of the above suggestions to start the labor process; you may find that your body will begin the process on its own.
