Your Little One's Progress
At thirty-seven weeks your baby is considered full term.  What that means, basically, is that her lungs are mature enough at this stage to survive on their own outside of the womb.  However, the longer she’s in the womb the better, as she is in the most safe and sanitary environment for the fattening up she still wants to do. 

What’s Happening in Mommyland?
A month left to go! Nervousness and anxiety are at an all-time high now that the birth is almost here.  If this is your first time, every little twinge or pain could make you think this is it! People start telling you stories of their experiences, and you watch the Discovery Channel searching for clarity.

Each week now, you will have a doctor’s appointment, where you will be checked for how the baby is measuring. In this month, the doctor will also check if you are dilating and the percentage which your cervix has become effaced. Effacement is the thinning of the cervix as it prepares for delivery. Your doctor may say, “you are 50 percent effaced, and 1 centimeter dilated." This does not mean that you are going into labor just yet, though, Mama!

Make sure you are getting plenty of rest in these last few weeks, mostly likely your nesting phase has kicked in, and you are reorganizing the garage, or cleaning behind the refrigerator. That’s all good and fine, as long as you are still taking time to relax every day, which need now, because once Baby’s here, it’s a whole new ballgame!

Fitness Tips – Birgitta Lauren
• Continue any and all exercises you still feel comfortable doing.

HB Pregnancy Checklist 
√ Make a checklist of things you may have overlooked.
√ Pack your hospital bag and your spouse's for anything you may need during and after delivery.
√ If you have help being offered after you arrive home, be sure to take it! The new stresses of becoming a parent can be quite overwhelming, and having a helping hand will really bring you relief. 
√ Make sure pets are taken care of and considered.
√ If you are using a diaper service be sure you have plenty of diapers ordered, as you will need more than you probably realize.
√  It’s also a good idea to pre-prepare some meals for once you are back, so you can just pop them in the oven and enjoy.  
√ Line up your Labor Team. Put together a list of on-call friends or family members who are willing to help assist you when you go into labor. Always plan ahead as if any complications were to arise and your stay in the hospital happens to be longer than anticipated, your labor team will be ready to help with all your regular daily tasks.
√ Make a list of any regular obligations you currently have and delegate your responsibilities between your Labor Team.