Some mothers give birth at week 36, and most of their babies grow very well. If you don’t give birth at this week, it’s more than fine - after all, a few of your baby’s organs still need some fine-tuning.

The organs of the digestive system, to be specific, may benefit from last-minute polishing. Although digestion won’t really fully mature until after delivery anyway, a few more days (or weeks!) inside your womb may be helpful.

Unlike the immune and circulatory systems which are both fully ready by now to face the outside world, the digestive system will still need some time after birth to catch up with the rest of the body systems.

Why won’t it? Your baby has relied on the umbilical cord for nutrition for nine whole months, and will breastfeed for some time before finally eating solid food.