All babies born between weeks 37-42 are considered carried to term, so from now on, you’re good to go! So just in case, we suggest packing a bag for the hospital now, so you don’t forget anything important when the time comes.
On time
All babies born between weeks 37-42 are considered carried to term, so from now on, you’re good to go! Your baby is still busy growing and gaining weight to have some resistance to the outside world.
During week 37 of your pregnancy, your baby will grow to measure around 48 centimeters and weigh approximately 3200 grams.
Packing the go-bag
You never know exactly when you might go into labor, so it’s a great idea to be prepared and pack a go-bag for the hospital now, so you don’t have to run around your house looking for the nursing bras or shampoo when the time comes.
Hospitals may have different services and products available for you after birth, such as baby diapers, nursing pads and incontinence pads, but ask your midwife and check which services your hospital offers, so you can make sure to bring everything you might need, without wasting space on unnecessary things.
Think you might be forgetting something? We have a great list of what to pack for the hospital, with all the essentials.
Activities for maternity leave
Oh, maternity leave. Every mom experiences it differently; some absolutely love it and enjoy every moment of it, while others feel like they’re close to dying out of sheer boredom. Especially the waiting period, until your baby decides to make their grand entrance, can often feel very slow. But don’t worry, we have some ideas for activities:
- If you’re the creative type, you can make your own baby clothes! Knit, crochet or sew your way out of pre-baby boredom and make some adorable and unique outfits, sweaters and bibs in the process.
- Get ready for those first weeks with your newborn by food-prepping! Make lots of easy dinners and meals and freeze them. Trust us, you’ll be SO happy when you don’t have to cook after the baby comes.
- Sort your photos. You probably have hundreds of photos on your phone, just taking up space. Take the time to sort them out and transfer the ones you want to save to your computer or an external hard drive; that way, your phone will be ready for all those (many, many, many) baby photos coming soon.
- Enjoy the peace and quiet! Take a nap and eat some snacks, read the book that’s been sitting in a pile for months, and binge some of those movies and shows you never got around to watching.