At 37 weeks pregnant you are about 8 1/2 months along and early term, with about 3 weeks to go until your estimated due date.
At 37 weeks pregnant your baby is no longer preterm: a baby born this week is called early term, and full term starts at 39 weeks. Your bump may drop and every twinge can make you wonder whether this is it.
This guide covers what early term means, development and size, symptoms, false vs true labor, tests, sleep and when to call. Every clinical detail was read in October 2026 on the primary sources named in the text.
Key Takeaways
37 weeks pregnant is about 8 1/2 months, or 35 weeks after conception (Mayo Clinic), with about 3 weeks to go.
Early term runs from 37 weeks 0 days through 38 weeks 6 days; full term starts at 39 weeks (NICHD).
Mayo Clinic says your baby can grasp firmly and the head might start moving into your pelvis.
True labor contractions come regularly about 5 to 10 minutes apart and do not stop (MedlinePlus).
Call right away for leaking fluid, bleeding beyond light spotting, fewer movements or regular painful contractions.
Table of Contents
37 Weeks Pregnant at a Glance
Quick Answer
At 37 weeks pregnant you are about 8 1/2 months along, in your 9th month, with about 3 weeks to go. You are in the third trimester and your baby is now early term (37 weeks 0 days through 38 weeks 6 days, per the ACOG and SMFM definitions reported by NICHD). Full term starts at 39 weeks.
37 weeks pregnant
What to know
Trimester
Third. ACOG, as reported by UPMC, starts it at 28 weeks 0 days; the Office on Women’s Health counts week 29 to week 40.
Month
About 8 1/2 months (your 9th month), counting 4 weeks and a few days per month. Months are a convention, not a medical unit.
Weeks to go
About 3 (40 minus 37, counted from the first day of your last menstrual period).
Term status
Early term (ACOG and SMFM, via NICHD).
Baby’s size
No week 37 figure in our sources: about 6 to 6 1/2 pounds at week 36 (Office on Women’s Health), about 6 1/2 pounds at week 38 (Mayo Clinic).
Common symptoms
Pelvic pressure as the baby drops, frequent urination, Braxton Hicks contractions, swelling, trouble sleeping.
This week’s care focus
False vs true labor, when to call, and the group B strep test if not done yet.
37 weeks pregnant: quick facts with sources.
How the weeks are counted. The Office on Women’s Health says pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, counting from the first day of your last normal period (LMP), not from conception. That is why Mayo Clinic describes week 37 as 35 weeks after conception. If an early ultrasound changed your due date, go by your adjusted dates.
Term label
Gestational age
Early term
37 weeks 0 days through 38 weeks 6 days
Full term
39 weeks 0 days through 40 weeks 6 days
Late term
41 weeks 0 days through 41 weeks 6 days
Postterm
42 weeks 0 days and beyond
ACOG and SMFM term definitions, as reported by NICHD (October 2026).
What early term means. NICHD says important developmental stages happen during the 37th and 38th weeks, and that babies born at 37 and 38 weeks are at higher risk for problems with breathing, feeding and controlling their temperature than babies born later. That is why term no longer starts at 37 weeks. It is a label, not a diagnosis: a baby born now is no longer preterm.
Your Baby’s Development at 37 Weeks
Source and timing
What it says is happening
Mayo Clinic, week 36 (34 weeks after conception)
The skin is becoming smooth as fat is added under it, and the limbs start to look chubby. Most babies have turned head down.
Office on Women’s Health, week 36
The waxy protective coating called vernix gets thicker. Body fat increases and there is less space to move.
Mayo Clinic, week 37 (35 weeks after conception)
The baby can grasp things firmly. To get ready for birth, the head might start going down into your pelvis.
Office on Women’s Health, weeks 37 to 40
At 39 weeks the baby is full term and the organs are ready to function on their own.
Fetal development around week 37, by source.
Head down or not? Mayo Clinic says that if your baby is not head down by about week 36, your healthcare professional may talk with you about ways to move the baby in that direction. Our breech baby guide explains the options.
How Big Is Your Baby at 37 Weeks?
None of the primary sources we read gives a week 37 measurement, so here are the closest figures, printed as each source wrote them.
Source
Week
Length
Weight
Office on Women’s Health
36
About 16 to 19 inches
About 6 to 6 1/2 pounds
Mayo Clinic
38
Not given
About 6 1/2 pounds (2,900 g); some nearly 9 pounds (4,000 g) or more
Office on Women’s Health
At birth
19 to 21 inches
Between 6 pounds 2 ounces and 9 pounds 2 ounces
Baby size near 37 weeks, by source.
The Office on Women’s Health does not say how it measures length. Both sources stress that healthy babies come in many sizes. If you have a late ultrasound, ask what it found and whether it changes your plan; size estimates before birth are only estimates.
37 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms
The Office on Women’s Health and UPMC list these third trimester changes:
Pelvic pressure and lightening: MedlinePlus says the baby’s head drops into the pelvis, breathing gets easier, and you may need to pee more often. First-time mothers often notice it a few weeks before birth.
Braxton Hicks contractions: MedlinePlus says they are usually short, not painful and irregular.
Heartburn and shortness of breath: both on the Office on Women’s Health list.
Swelling: of the ankles, fingers and face. Call about sudden or extreme swelling, which may be a sign of preeclampsia (Office on Women’s Health).
Back and hip pain, hemorrhoids, leaking breasts: on UPMC’s list.
Loose stools: MedlinePlus says looser stools with a frequent urge to go may signal early labor.
Signs labor may be getting closer. MedlinePlus says bloody or brownish discharge may mean your cervix has begun to dilate, though active labor may still be days away. Read more about the mucus plug, cervical effacement and the signs that labor is 24 to 48 hours away.
Braxton Hicks (false labor)
True labor
Pattern
Irregular
Regular, getting closer together, about 5 to 10 minutes apart
Length
Usually short
30 to 70 seconds, getting longer
Do they keep going?
They come and go
They do not stop, no matter what you do
How they feel
Usually not painful
Stronger, spreading to the lower back and upper belly; talking gets hard
False labor vs true labor, as described by MedlinePlus (October 2026).
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Your bump may look lower. The Office on Women’s Health lists the baby dropping as a third trimester change, and UPMC says the head may drop lower into your pelvis around week 36. Your belly button may stick out (Office on Women’s Health).
Movements: the Office on Women’s Health says that around week 36 movements are less forceful, but you will feel stretches and wiggles. A decrease in movement is a reason to contact your provider right away (MedlinePlus, CDC).
Water breaking: MedlinePlus says fluid can come as a trickle or a gush, that for most women contractions start within 24 hours, and that you should tell your provider as soon as you think your water has broken, even without contractions.
Due dates are estimates: MedlinePlus says normal term labor can start any time between 3 weeks before and 2 weeks after your due date. At 37 weeks you are at the start of that window.
Prenatal Care, Tests and Appointments Around Week 37
What
Timing
Source
Prenatal visits
More frequent near your due date, such as every two weeks or weekly
UPMC
Group B strep test
During the 36th or 37th week, even if a cesarean is planned
CDC
Labor induction
Ideally not before 39 weeks unless health is at risk
Cleveland Clinic
Care and tests near week 37, as read in October 2026.
Group B strep. The CDC says a sterile swab of the vagina and rectum collects the sample, and women who test positive get antibiotics during labor to help protect the newborn. If you have not been tested, ask this week.
Membrane sweeps and induction. Cleveland Clinic lists several induction methods: medicines that soften and open the cervix, a small balloon placed in the cervix, a membrane sweep (the provider passes a gloved finger over the membranes connecting the amniotic sac to the uterus), breaking the amniotic sac, and synthetic oxytocin. It says providers ideally wait until 39 weeks, that earlier induction may be safest when the fetus’s health is at risk, and it names infection, uterine rupture and a higher chance of a C-section among the risks. Whether any of this applies to you is a decision for you and your provider.
What to Do This Week: A Simple Checklist
Save your provider’s after-hours number and the labor and delivery address, and share them with your support person.
Pack your hospital bag if you have not already (UPMC).
Install your newborn’s car seat (UPMC), following the seat and vehicle manuals.
Choose a pediatrician. UPMC says the first visit is usually two to three days after you get home from the hospital.
Review your birth plan with your provider and arrange childcare for older children (UPMC).
Ask about your group B strep result.
Sleep at 37 Weeks Pregnant
Trouble sleeping is on both the Office on Women’s Health and UPMC lists. Heartburn, bathroom trips and practice contractions all compete with rest.
Sleep position. UPMC says that as your belly grows you should avoid sleeping on your back, because the weight of your uterus can compress a blood vessel that supplies blood to the uterus. If you wake on your back, roll over.
Contractions at night? Time them. Short, irregular tightenings fit false labor; contractions that keep coming, get closer together and get stronger fit true labor (MedlinePlus). If unsure, call.
For Partners: How to Help at 37 Weeks
Learn the call list below so you can make the call if she is mid-contraction.
Time contractions on your phone: start time and length of each.
Plan the route to the hospital, including parking and the night entrance.
Take over heavy jobs like laundry, groceries and the car seat.
Looking Ahead: What Comes Next
Week 38: Mayo Clinic says the toenails reach the tips of the toes and most of the lanugo is gone. See 38 weeks pregnant.
Week 39: full term begins (NICHD). Mayo Clinic says fat is being added all over the body.
Week 40: your due date; Mayo Clinic says many people give birth before or after it.
Contact your provider right away for any of these (MedlinePlus), or for any other reason if you are unsure what to do:
Leaking amniotic fluid.
Decreased fetal movement.
Any vaginal bleeding other than light spotting.
Regular, painful contractions every 5 to 10 minutes for 60 minutes, or contractions lasting 60 to 90 seconds.
Urgent maternal warning signs. The CDC says to seek medical care immediately for these, because they can signal a life-threatening condition:
A severe headache that will not go away or gets worse, especially with blurred vision or dizziness, or vision changes such as flashes of light or blind spots.
Fainting, ongoing dizziness, a fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or sudden or extreme swelling of your hands or face.
Trouble breathing, chest pain, or a racing or irregular heartbeat.
Severe belly pain that does not go away, or severe nausea and vomiting.
Your baby’s movements slowing or stopping, heavy vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid or foul-smelling discharge.
Severe swelling, redness or pain in a leg or arm, overwhelming tiredness, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
The CDC says to tell whoever you speak to that you are pregnant. If you cannot reach your provider quickly, go to labor and delivery or the nearest emergency room, and call 911 in an emergency such as severe chest pain, severe trouble breathing or heavy bleeding. This article is general education, not medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 37 weeks pregnant full term?
No. Under the ACOG and SMFM definitions reported by NICHD, 37 weeks 0 days through 38 weeks 6 days is early term, and full term starts at 39 weeks 0 days. A baby born now is not preterm, but NICHD says early term babies have higher risk of breathing, feeding and temperature problems.
How many months is 37 weeks pregnant?
About 8 1/2 months, which puts you in your 9th month, counting 4 weeks and a few days per month. You have about 3 weeks to go until your estimated due date. Months are only a convention, which is why providers count in weeks.
How big is a baby at 37 weeks?
Our sources give no week 37 figure. The Office on Women’s Health says about 16 to 19 inches and 6 to 6 1/2 pounds at week 36, and Mayo Clinic says about 6 1/2 pounds at week 38. Healthy babies vary a lot in size.
What are the signs of labor at 37 weeks?
MedlinePlus lists the baby dropping, bloody or brownish discharge, loose stools, your water breaking and contractions. True labor contractions come regularly about 5 to 10 minutes apart, last 30 to 70 seconds and do not stop no matter what you do.
Can I be induced at 37 weeks?
Cleveland Clinic says providers ideally wait until 39 weeks to induce labor, and that earlier induction may be the safest choice when the baby’s health is at risk. NICHD notes babies born at or after 39 weeks have better outcomes. Talk it through with your provider.
When should I go to the hospital at 37 weeks?
Follow your provider’s instructions. MedlinePlus says to call right away for leaking fluid, decreased movement, bleeding beyond light spotting, or regular painful contractions every 5 to 10 minutes for 60 minutes. Call any time you are unsure what to do.
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