How many months is 37 weeks pregnant?

37 weeks pregnant puts you in month 9 of pregnancy. Month 9 covers weeks 36 to 40. Providers count in weeks; months are approximate.

How big is the baby at 37 weeks?

At 37 weeks, the baby is about the size of a winter melon, roughly 48.6 cm long and around 2859 g. That is an average; healthy babies vary.

What symptoms should you not ignore at 37 weeks pregnant?

Your waters breaking, any bleeding, or a baby who is moving less than usual all need a call to your maternity unit or provider at once, whatever the hour. The same goes for a contraction lasting more than 2 minutes, 6 or more contractions in 10 minutes, or pain that never eases between them. A bad headache that won't go, vision changes, pain under your ribs or sudden puffiness in your face or hands can mean pre-eclampsia. Get those checked right away, and a fever too.

Why do I have cramps at 37 weeks but no contractions?

Period-like cramps that come and go, sometimes for a few days, are common near the end of pregnancy. In the weeks before labour, your cervix starts to soften, thin and open, and your baby may press lower down. Cramps together with diarrhoea may also mean labour is getting close. Real contractions are different: they come in a regular pattern, get stronger and closer together, and don't stop when you rest. Call your provider if cramps turn regular, or come with bleeding, leaking fluid or constant pain.

Why do I feel sick at 37 weeks pregnant?

Late in pregnancy, nausea often comes from indigestion. Hormone changes and your baby pressing on your stomach can cause heartburn, bloating and feeling or being sick, usually soon after eating. Small, frequent meals, not eating within 3 hours of bedtime and sitting up straight after meals can help, and some antacids are safe to use. Once your baby drops lower, this may ease. Get checked at once if you are being sick along with a bad headache, vision problems or pain below your ribs, or if heartburn won't settle with medicine.

Is lower back pain at 37 weeks a sign of labour?

It can be. A backache or a heavy, aching feeling is one sign that labour may be starting. Labour pains often begin in the back and move round to the front. But back pain is also common late in pregnancy, as softer ligaments strain your lower back and pelvis. Labour pain comes and goes in a pattern that builds. Everyday backache doesn't. The NHS says to contact your midwife urgently about back pain in the third trimester. This matters most if you also have a high temperature, bleeding or pain while peeing.

What position should my baby be in at 37 weeks?

Ideally head-down and facing your back, which is the best position for labour. Most babies, about 95 in 100, are already in this position. When the head moves down into your pelvis, it is called engaged, and your bump may look a little lower. If your baby is still bottom-first (breech), there is still time to turn, and some babies only move into place once labour starts. Your provider may offer to turn your baby by hand (ECV). Sitting leaning forward with your hips above your knees is harmless but not proven to help.

37 Weeks Pregnant

At 37 weeks pregnant, your baby is around 48.6 cm from head to heel and still putting on weight. This week is a turning point: a baby born from now on is no longer preterm. In the US this stage is called early term, while the NHS calls it full term, and the difference matters when a birth is being planned. Around 95 in 100 babies are now head-down. You may notice more discharge, more practice contractions and a sudden urge to clean the house. This page explains what early term means, how likely labour is this week, how to tell normal discharge from the mucus plug or your waters, and which aches need a call.

What trimester is 37 weeks?

Week 37 is in the third trimester, which runs from week 28 until birth. A due date is set at 40 weeks, 3 weeks from now.

Week 37 — third trimester, month 9; 3 weeks to go until your due date.
Baby's size — about a winter melon, ~48.6 cm.

Not sure it's 37 weeks? Try our due date calculator.

★ Early term begins (weeks 37 and 38).

How big is your baby at 37 weeks?

Size of a

winter melon

Length, head to heel

~48.6 cm

Weight

~2859 g

Up from a romaine lettuce last week to a winter melon now.

Baby development at week 37

The baby is now 'early term'. The lungs and brain are still maturing — they keep developing right up to and beyond birth — but babies born from 39 weeks tend to do better than those born now, which is why weeks 37 and 38 are called early term. Practising breathing, sucking, blinking, and gripping continue. The baby is likely head-down and settling deeper into the pelvis. About the size of a winter melon.

Is 37 weeks full term?

Not in the US. Since 2013, ACOG and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have split the old 'term' window into parts. Early term is 37 weeks 0 days to 38 weeks 6 days. Full term is 39 weeks 0 days to 40 weeks 6 days. Late term is week 41, and postterm is 42 weeks and beyond. The change came because babies' health, especially their breathing, was found to differ across the five weeks that used to count as term.

In the UK, the NHS says your baby is full term from 37 weeks and could come any day without being early. Both agree that a baby born now is not preterm. In the US, ACOG advises that a planned birth with no medical reason should wait until at least 39 weeks, because babies born in the early-term weeks have a higher risk of health problems than those born at 39 weeks. If there is a medical reason, an earlier birth can be the safer choice.

Labour starting on its own this week is fairly uncommon. In England, among labours that began naturally in 2019 to 2020, 5.1% started during week 37. By the end of week 37, about 1 in 8 (12.8%) of those labours had begun, counting earlier ones. So most people still have a while to wait. Twins are different: twin pregnancies rarely go beyond 38 weeks.

Your body at 37 weeks

Increased pelvic pressure and discharge
Possible loss of the mucus plug
Stronger, more frequent Braxton Hicks
Difficulty sleeping and moving comfortably

Discharge at 37 weeks: normal, mucus plug or waters?

It's normal to have more discharge now. Healthy discharge is thin, clear or milky white, and it doesn't smell unpleasant. The mucus plug looks different: thicker, sticky and jelly-like, and clear, off-white or streaked with pink, red or brown. You may lose it in one blob, or bit by bit without noticing. Most people don't lose it until after 37 weeks. Labour can follow within hours or days, or still be a few weeks away.

Your waters feel different again: a trickle or gush of clear, pale fluid you can't hold back, which is easy to mix up with pee. If you think your waters have broken, call your midwife or provider and wear a pad, not a tampon, so the colour can be checked. Tell them at once if the fluid is coloured or smells, or if you are bleeding. Discharge that is green or yellow, smells, itches or feels sore can mean an infection, so mention that too.

Tips for week 37

Know the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labour contractions
Watch for your water breaking or a bloody show
Keep your phone charged and birth bag by the door

37 Weeks Pregnant: your questions

What trimester is 37 weeks?: Week 37 is in the third trimester, which runs from week 28 until birth. A due date is set at 40 weeks, 3 weeks from now.
How many months is 37 weeks pregnant?: 37 weeks pregnant puts you in month 9 of pregnancy. Month 9 covers weeks 36 to 40. Providers count in weeks; months are approximate.
How big is the baby at 37 weeks?: At 37 weeks, the baby is about the size of a winter melon, roughly 48.6 cm long and around 2859 g. That is an average; healthy babies vary.
What symptoms should you not ignore at 37 weeks pregnant?: Your waters breaking, any bleeding, or a baby who is moving less than usual all need a call to your maternity unit or provider at once, whatever the hour. The same goes for a contraction lasting more than 2 minutes, 6 or more contractions in 10 minutes, or pain that never eases between them. A bad headache that won't go, vision changes, pain under your ribs or sudden puffiness in your face or hands can mean pre-eclampsia. Get those checked right away, and a fever too.
Why do I have cramps at 37 weeks but no contractions?: Period-like cramps that come and go, sometimes for a few days, are common near the end of pregnancy. In the weeks before labour, your cervix starts to soften, thin and open, and your baby may press lower down. Cramps together with diarrhoea may also mean labour is getting close. Real contractions are different: they come in a regular pattern, get stronger and closer together, and don't stop when you rest. Call your provider if cramps turn regular, or come with bleeding, leaking fluid or constant pain.
Why do I feel sick at 37 weeks pregnant?: Late in pregnancy, nausea often comes from indigestion. Hormone changes and your baby pressing on your stomach can cause heartburn, bloating and feeling or being sick, usually soon after eating. Small, frequent meals, not eating within 3 hours of bedtime and sitting up straight after meals can help, and some antacids are safe to use. Once your baby drops lower, this may ease. Get checked at once if you are being sick along with a bad headache, vision problems or pain below your ribs, or if heartburn won't settle with medicine.
Is lower back pain at 37 weeks a sign of labour?: It can be. A backache or a heavy, aching feeling is one sign that labour may be starting. Labour pains often begin in the back and move round to the front. But back pain is also common late in pregnancy, as softer ligaments strain your lower back and pelvis. Labour pain comes and goes in a pattern that builds. Everyday backache doesn't. The NHS says to contact your midwife urgently about back pain in the third trimester. This matters most if you also have a high temperature, bleeding or pain while peeing.
What position should my baby be in at 37 weeks?: Ideally head-down and facing your back, which is the best position for labour. Most babies, about 95 in 100, are already in this position. When the head moves down into your pelvis, it is called engaged, and your bump may look a little lower. If your baby is still bottom-first (breech), there is still time to turn, and some babies only move into place once labour starts. Your provider may offer to turn your baby by hand (ECV). Sitting leaning forward with your hips above your knees is harmless but not proven to help.

Useful at week 37

Pregnancy discharge by trimester — which colours are normal late in pregnancy
Is Tums safe in pregnancy? — for heartburn that brings on nausea
Gestational age calculator — your exact weeks and days, and when early term ends
Is Tylenol safe in pregnancy? — the usual first choice for back pain
Pregnancy weeks to months — 37 weeks is in month 9

← All weeks: the full pregnancy week-by-week guide

Sources

Checked against the following public guidance on October 2, 2026. Advice can differ between countries; your doctor, nurse or midwife can apply it to you.