37 weeks pregnant
Your baby is full term.
In short
At 37 weeks your baby is about the size of a baguette, around 48.3 cm long and 2.97 kg. Your baby is full term.
- Third trimester, week 37 of about 40.
- After you go home, a public health nurse will visit within 72 hours. Your GP or practice nurse will check your baby at 2 weeks and your GP will check you both at 6 weeks.
At 37 weeks your pregnancy is considered full term. Your baby swallows amniotic fluid every day.
How big is my baby at 37 weeks?
At 37 weeks your baby is about the size of a baguette, around 48.3 cm long and 2.97 kg. Before about 14 weeks babies are measured from crown to rump; after that the figure is head to heel. These are typical figures from fetal growth charts. Your own baby may be bigger or smaller, and your scans are what count.
What is my baby doing at 37 weeks?
- At 37 weeks your pregnancy is considered full term.
- Your baby swallows amniotic fluid every day.
- Their gut now holds meconium, the sticky green substance that will be their first poo.
- Your baby may try out different facial expressions, though these aren't linked to feelings yet.
What changes for me at 37 weeks pregnant?
- You may notice more vaginal discharge and more Braxton Hicks tightenings.
- Labour usually starts by itself somewhere between 38 and 42 weeks.
- It's normal to feel both excited and nervous now.
- Your baby should keep moving in their usual pattern until birth, so contact your maternity unit straight away if movements slow down, change or stop.
What is a good tip for this week?
Learn the signs of labour: tightenings that become regular, a show of mucus, backache, your waters breaking or an urge to go to the toilet.
What can a partner do this week?
Keep your phone charged and on loud and be ready to drive or arrange a lift at short notice.
What should I know in Ireland at 37 weeks?
- After you go home, a public health nurse will visit within 72 hours. Your GP or practice nurse will check your baby at 2 weeks and your GP will check you both at 6 weeks.
When to get help: If your waters break before labour starts, call your midwife or maternity unit, as there is a higher risk of infection for your baby. HSE: when to get help.
Want these updates on your phone? The Lullagram app has a free pregnancy section with this week-by-week guide, Irish dates worked out from your due date, a contraction timer and more. When your baby arrives, the baby tracker is ready in the same app.
Sources and guidance
This page is written to be consistent with the official guidance below. It is general information for parents in Ireland, not medical advice. Links checked 23 September 2026.