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At 37 weeks of pregnancy, the sucking reflex helps coordinate breathing and swallowing [1,2]. This coordination ensures that swallowed food will not enter the lungs, where it could cause choking or breathing difficulties [3].

The fetus can grasp items firmly and turns toward light [4]. It often moves its hands at or near its head, face, and mouth [5].

This week marks the start of the “finishing period” [4]. The rate of fetal weight gain slows down, and the fetus conserves increasing energy for birth [5,6]. Babies born at this point are considered “early term” [7].

References:
1. Yoo H, Mihaila DM. Rooting Reflex. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
2. Sohn M, Ahn Y, Lee S. Assessment of Primitive Reflexes in High-risk Newborns. J Clin Med Res. 2011;3: 285–290.
3. Matsuo K, Palmer JB. Coordination of Mastication, Swallowing and Breathing. Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2009;45: 31–40.
4. Moore KL, Persaud TVN, Torchia MG. The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2016.
5. Sparling JW, Van Tol J, Chescheir NC. Fetal and neonatal hand movement. Phys Ther. 1999;79: 24–39.
6. Harms R, Wick M, editors. Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. Boston: Da Capo Press; 2011.
7. ACOG Committee Opinion No 579: Definition of term pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122: 1139–1140.

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Produced and written by: Samantha Lattof, PhD MSc
Medically reviewed by: Ayodeji Olelakan Abere, MD MBA MHA
Animation by: SciePro / Pond5
Music by: audiomarket / Pond5
Narration by: Ava / Wellsaid

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