Week 37: Dad's Guide
Third Trimester • Baby is the size of a a duffel bag
Week 37 of 4093% there
👶 Baby Update
Size: A duffel bag
Baby is considered early-term. Practicing breathing, blinking, and turning from side to side. Baby can grasp firmly. Brain and lungs continue maturing. About 6.5 pounds.
💕 What She's Going Through
Pelvic pressure intense. Mucus plug may come out (bloody show). Braxton Hicks may be hard to distinguish from real labor. She's uncomfortable all the time.
💪 What You Should Do This Week
- ✓Know the difference: Braxton Hicks (irregular, go away with movement) vs real labor (regular, get closer together, intensify)
- ✓Keep phone charged 24/7. Baby could come any day now
- ✓Do final prep on the nursery — everything should be ready
🚫 Don't Say This
“You should try to relax.”
She's carrying 6+ pounds of baby on her bladder. Relaxing isn't possible. Help her be comfortable instead.
🧠 Dad Hack
The 5-1-1 rule: head to the hospital when contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, for at least 1 hour.