What to Expect in Week 36 of Your Pregnancy

Thirty-sixth Week of Pregnancy: Week by Week

At 36 weeks, an expectant mother is entering ninth month of her pregnancy. She has crossed more than three fourth of her third trimester and now it looks as if the due date is just a step away. Babies born in this month have nearly 99% chances of survival without any unnecessary complications.

IN THIS ARTICLE

• 36 Weeks Pregnant and What Should I Expect?
• My Baby At It’s 36th week
• Pregnancy Symptoms at 36 Weeks
• My 36 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound

In cases of preterm birth, a baby generally survives if born at 36^th week of pregnancy. They may require intensive care and some external assistance in breathing.

36 Weeks Pregnant and What Should I Expect?

Feeling a bit of excess pressure in lower abdominal area is normal for pregnancy at 36 weeks. This happens because a baby drops down gradually towards belly. This process enables stomach, ribcage and lungs to stretch a little as till now they were a bit overcrowded. It helps in easing certain symptoms like heartburn and breathlessness. Its side effect is that it increases pressure upon urinary bladder and results in frequent urination.

During this last month of third trimester weight gain is bit slow as the baby is now fully developed. Breasts persist to leak yellow fluid with thick consistency as they continue to prepare for breastfeeding.

In final month of third trimester, sometimes there is an increase in energy levels and a woman finds herself working too hard. It is better to slow down and ease a bit as increase of energy levels is temporary rather than permanent.

Recommended Read: 30 weeks Pregnant Ultrasound, Baby, Fetal Development: What to Expect

My Baby At It’s 36th week

At 36 weeks almost all the organs of a baby are developed and are ready to take on their normal functions in outside world. Following changes are noticed in a baby at this time-

• Layer of fat continues to build and develop and it starts filling cheeks of a baby. It gives him a chubby and fuller look. At 36 weeks, growing fat occupies 15% of a baby’s body weight and it helps to keep body temperature as required.
• Even now a baby continues to shed downy hair and this gets mixed in amniotic fluid. A baby swallows amniotic fluid along with any other substance and later produces all this as his first bowel-movement after his birth.
• 36 Weeks pregnant baby weight is almost 2.7 kg or 6 pounds. An unborn baby at this stage has attained its normal length and is at 47.2 cm or 18.6 inches. He/she will be gaining nearly one ounce in one day from now onwards. As birth-time comes near, weight gain of a baby gradually slows down as he/she starts storing energy for his/her delivery. In case of twin babies, they tend to be smaller than a single one as they stop gaining weight a bit earlier.
• Bones in skull remain soft and flexible so that a baby’s journey through birthing canal is easier. Most bones in his body continue to be cartilaginous and soft at this time and they gradually harden over his initial years.
• A baby’s hearing continues to improve as science has proved that a baby recognizes his mother’s voice after birth. Some babies prefer their mother’s voice over any other.
• A 36 week fetus has an immune system that is fully mature and is prepared to battle against diseases and infections after coming in this world. His lungs are matured and blood circulation is fully complete. This helps a baby to survive by itself if born in 36^th week of pregnancy.
• Digestive system of a 36^th week baby is fully formed but it will not be operational until a few weeks have passed after its birth. This is so because till now a baby was receiving nutrition from umbilical cord inside a womb but after birth he has to suck and feed from his mother.
• A baby at 36^th week continues his activities by kicking and punching even though he has a limited available space. A mother feels this movements a bit lower as he is gradually moving downwards towards birthing canal. This is because as his due date is arriving near he has started preparing for his birth.
• In 36^th week, a doctor feels the belly and tries to determine a baby’s position. If he feels that a baby is in transverse or breech position he will suggest an Ultrasound.

Pregnancy Symptoms at 36 Weeks

At 36 week of pregnancy, there are certain pregnant symptoms are common in almost for all pregnant women. Some of them are mention below:-

• Numbness and tingling sensation in fingers and hands
• Hot flashes and chills
• Emotional changes and mood swings leading o depression because of either less sleep or due to unnecessary worry over delivery and labor
• Sudden and slight increase in a mother’s appetite as the baby has stopped putting undue pressure on stomach
• Insomnia because of discomfort, large belly and pain
• Varicose veins
• Itchy skin in areas near abdomen, thighs and breasts
• Stretch marks in areas near thighs, breasts and abdomen
• Constipation
• Frequent urination because a baby is putting extra pressure on urinary tract while travelling downwards towards birthing channel
• Leg cramps
• Pelvic pain
• Tailbone pain
• Back pain
• Pain in joints like thighs, groin, hips, knee and jaws
• Swelling in ankles, legs and arms
• Pain in Round ligaments

My 36 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound

A doctor advises prenatal check-up every week from now onwards. An ultrasound is necessary at this stage to determine position of a baby as by this time he has taken his birth position. He is now at hands down position with limbs crossed over his chest.
Generally if a doctor suspects a case of breech birth he will advice an ultrasound in 36^th week of pregnancy. In such cases, a doctor might try to move a baby towards his normal birth position by applying pressure at certain points on belly. If he considers it to be a risk he will go for a C-Section for successful birth.

In some cases, a doctor uses Ultrasound scans during ECV so that it may guide them through this process.