36 weeks pregnant means you have reached the ninth month of your pregnancy journey. This week, along with your baby, your body and mind are also in constant flux.
Don’t worry! The good news isn’t more than a few weeks away as your baby will be here soon and will be in your arms before you know it. But, you have entered the period where you can deliver your baby anytime in the next three weeks. (Babies born before 37u week of pregnancy is considered preterm or premature).
At this stage, pay attention to your baby’s changes and the changes happening inside your body.
How is your baby growing inside you?
This weekwhen you visit the doctor to check your baby’s weight and position, you will be able to learn several fetal developments. A combination of ultrasounds and stress-free tests can give you a clear picture of the baby inside you:
- Your baby looks less wrinkled than last week and looks fuller and fatter. They’ve gained a pound or two more than last week (with cheek fat and strong sucking muscles), weighing just under 6 pounds. From head to toe, the baby is 34 cm.
- Although the baby has grown quite a bit and is now healthy, it has taken over the entire uterus (womb). The baby’s movement may have slowed down due to this confined space, but you still feel some movements inside.
- The bones of their skull have formed, but they have not yet fused. Instead, the bones of the skull overlap and move. This movement of the bones is also known as molding. In this case, if your child is born vaginally, your little one’s head may be slightly deformed. (However, during the first two years of your child’s life, you will find that your baby’s head slowly becomes regular and round).
- Your baby inside has already started to shed the fine hair, along with the vernix caseosa or the white and oily substance that covers the baby’s body. If your baby was born now, it may leave patches of oily skin after birth. Your baby can swallow the hair as well as the skin and digest it. This will remain as meconium (a dark green substance) in their intestines until they are born. Meconium is the first plug after the baby leaves the womb.
- In the 36 week pregnancy ultrasound, it will be seen that the baby has taken the head down position to come out of your womb. But, if the scan shows that your baby is breech or sideways in your womb. an Emergency C – Department would be needed. If the baby is in the head-down position and the baby is assumed to have been delivered vaginally, the health care provider will place their hands on the baby’s abdomen and apply gentle pressure. This process is known as External Capital Issue.
- A baby’s brain and nervous system are developing rapidly. Their sense of hearing will also become very acute. Therefore, they will be able to hear noises from outside. If you deliver your baby at this stage, they will be able to recognize your voice and your partner’s.
- The baby’s blood circulation has improved by now and soon they will be able to breathe independently.
- The immune system is also developed to protect your little one from infections.
- The baby’s liver and kidneys are now functioning.
- The baby’s skin has also become soft and smooth.
- Their gums are stiff.
This is the ideal picture of your baby inside your womb at 36u week of your pregnancy. That’s not all! Your baby’s growth has affected your body in a number of ways.
How your body is developing this week
During the 36u week after your prenatal doctor appointment, your provider will properly check you for any health conditions you have – high blood pressure or blood pressure (Preeclampsia), weight, etc.
Apart from that, once your baby is in the breech position and there is pressure on the pelvis and bladder, you will see many things change in your body.
- As your baby gradually moves down and engages in the pelvic area, you will feel a lot of pressure on the lower part of the uterus and there will be an uncomfortable snapping or latching sensation. But because of the “falling baby”, your breathing will be easy.
- As your baby engages in your pelvis and puts pressure on your bladder, it is uncomfortable to visit the bathroom quite often, so you urinate frequently.
- At 36u week into your pregnancy, as your body prepares for labour, you may look out for signs of a watery or vaginal (bloody) discharge (mucous plug). Watery discharge is the breaking of the water ((the dripping amniotic fluid). This is the beginning of labor. However, there is an increase in vaginal discharge with a streak of blood. This means that when your baby’s head presses against your cervix, it becomes tender and begins to dilate, resulting in vaginal (bloody) discharge.
- Braxton Hicks (false labor) contractions are now getting stronger.
- As your body retains more fluid during this time, your ankles, feet, face, hands and fingers will be swollen.
- As a result of the increased pressure on your pelvis and uterus preparing you for labor, you will also have a feeling of numbness and pain near your legs as well as in your lower back. You can feel this pain while sitting, standing or climbing stairs.
- Your growing belly will stretch marks and make your skin feel itchy.
- As your stomach is pushed up by the uterus, it can prove to be a strain on your digestive system. You may feel like eating less for fear of heartburn, constipation, and passing gas.
- You will feel physically and emotionally tired as a result of discomfort around your body.
- You will have trouble sleeping. Maybe write “thank you” notes or rearrange the closet as your nesting instinct may be high right now.
How to deal with this situation?
There are a few things to consider when dealing with 36u pregnancy week symptoms
- Keep your hospital bag packed. Don’t forget to carry the umbilical cord blood collection kit in your bag, in case you have decided to bank umbilical cord blood for the safety of you, your baby and the rest of your family. Umbilical cord blood is rich in blood-forming stem cells that will help treat more than 80 life-threatening diseases.
- Track your baby’s movements every day. Count 10 moves in two hours. Don’t be surprised if fetal movements change.
- Keep your legs elevated while sleeping. After all, your swollen feet need some relief.
- If the baby is pushing on the pelvis, you can invest in a sling or band to support your tummy.
- Apply moisturizing lotion to your itchy belly.
- You shouldn’t wait too late for dinner. You can’t stop the urge to get pregnant, but you should avoid spicy or processed foods. Also, eat small meals. This will improve your digestion and slowly reduce pregnancy constipation. You can have high energy snacks to give you strength during labor contractions and have ghee or butter to ease your labor.
- Just because you need to visit the bathroom quite often, that doesn’t mean you should limit fluids. Keep yourself hydrated. Fluids can also help reduce swelling.
- Keep yourself physically active. Go for a brisk walk. Perform Kegel exercises with proper care.
- Keep emergency phone numbers ready.
- You should not work in closed spaces without proper ventilation and try not to skip meals. Remember that the growing baby gets nourishment from you.
- Rest as much as you can.
The ninth month of your pregnancy is the most critical. It is essential to take the right steps to improve your physical as well as emotional well-being. So, eat right, exercise daily, keep yourself stress-free and stay hydrated.
You must feel tired, but at the same time, you are very excited to give birth. It’s challenging, but also beautiful.
