36th week of pregnancy: just a step towards the maturity of the baby?

36 weeks pregnant. The due date is approaching.

You are now in your 36th week of pregnancy. You are just one step away from reaching 37 weeks when your baby will be considered mature. You are just 4 weeks away from your due date, which will pass very quickly.

Every pregnancy is unique. Try to enjoy it, despite the discomfort and the constant need to go to the toilet.

How is your baby developing in your tummy?

Your baby will gain a lot of weight in the last 4 weeks, up to 200-300g a week.

His approximate weight is 2620 g and length 47 cm.

Growth is slowing down and the weight gain is due to fat deposition.

It is already fully developed, although the central nervous system is still developing and the organs are being perfected.

The reflexes are already developed.

Its skin is pink. It is slowly shedding its lanugo and preparing for birth.

His hair continues to grow and can be up to 5 cm long.

His lungs are fully developed. If the baby were born now, he would be breathing on his own.

In the intestines, the baby begins to store the smolka, which is the first stool to pass after birth. The smolka is a sticky mass of green or blackish colour.

If the baby was born now, it would already be protected from infection.

Its bones and muscles are already developed.

His hearing is exceptionally acute in the last few weeks. After birth, he will know your voice and recognize favorite songs.

Your baby occupies most of the amniotic sac.

The movements are distinct. They're also becoming more painful, but they're calmer. The baby just wriggles and pushes out his limbs, which are also palpable as bumps on the abdomen.

Most babies have already assumed a definitive position in the womb. If they haven't yet, it's about time. If your baby doesn't turn its head into the pelvis even at this week, you'll probably be booked for a caesarean birth.

At the end of the 36th week, the gradual descent of the head into the pelvis begins.

The table below shows the approximate dimensions of the fetus at 36 weeks, as measured by sonography

For more information on fetal measurements, see the article:
Ultrasound in pregnancy: fetal size, what is fetal biometry?

If you are expecting twins, they no longer have enough space in the womb. Their weight is lower than babies from singleton pregnancies. They have had to divide their nutrient intake and weight gain between them.

If you've held out with the twins so far and haven't given birth prematurely, that's great news. Every day you're in the womb is a benefit to both of you. But you'd better start preparing for the birth already. It will most likely come in the very near future.

How does a woman feel at 36 weeks?

The baby's movements have eased a little due to the lack of space in the uterus. Mostly you will feel his squeezing, shifting, but the movements may also be more painful due to the growing weight and strength of the fetus.

Continue to monitor the baby's movements. If you feel that it is too still, hasn't moved for a long time, or is becoming too active, go for a check-up. The doctor will check that everything is OK. Sometimes the baby shows that something is wrong by being too active.

Your baby is probably already head down in the birth canal. If not yet, there is still a chance that she will turn this week.

Your birth canal is softening, starting to prepare for birth.

At this stage of pregnancy, the placenta weighs about 1.5 kg and its job is done.

You may experience vaginal discharge. You may notice a bloody discharge after sex. The cervix is now sensitive and may begin to thin and dilate.

You may also experience pelvic pain in this week and in the last trimester. This is caused by the pressure of the baby. Your pelvis is also preparing by the flexibility of the joints to release the birth canal. Pelvic exercises will help with these pains.

The pelvis puts pressure on the stomach, lungs and bladder. It can aggravate varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

You may still suffer from digestive problems such as heartburn, indigestion, burping. As the abdomen drops, they will gradually subside.

Constipation has probably been bothering you for some time. Especially now, focus on getting enough fibre and fluids. You will eliminate constipation and the subsequent development of haemorrhoids, which often appear especially towards the end of pregnancy.

Frequent urination becomes even more frequent with the consequent drop of the head into the pelvis and pressure on the bladder.

Itching of the skin due to reduced elasticity of the stretched skin is common. You may also develop stretch marks.

Your breasts continue to enlarge as they fill with colostrum, the first nourishing milk. They prepare for breastfeeding.

Be sure to moisturize and massage the skin sufficiently.

Hives are common in pregnancy, especially with stretch marks, on the legs, arms, face. Try using aloe vera cream or applying cold compresses to the affected area to relieve itching.

Swelling may appear on the legs, hands or face. If it appears, inform your doctor.

You may feel abdominal pain and pain in your side from the increasing pressure of the uterus and the size of the baby.

You may notice urine leakage when you sneeze, cough or laugh. Pelvic floor exercises may help. Wearing a sanitary napkin will protect you from uncomfortable urine leakage.

You may have a headache. Headaches are also caused by poor sleep quality.

You may also suffer from back pain. More demands and strain are placed on your spine.

Poor quality sleep, insomnia, waking up more often from the discomfort of a growing abdomen, and getting up frequently to go to the toilet will manifest fatigue.

Fatigue is a common accompaniment of pregnancy. Your body is put under more strain by the increasing size and weight. The body has to give off more energy because it has to nourish the developing baby as well.

Hot flashes. You probably know the feeling of suddenly being overwhelmed by a feeling of heat or even hot flashes. Hot flashes are caused by the hormones during pregnancy.

Dizziness can occur from a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when getting up abruptly.

Your movements are restricted because of the growing tummy. Even tying your shoelaces, picking something up off the floor or getting up from a comfortable chair is sometimes a big problem.

At 36 weeks, your tummy is at its highest point below your diaphragm. It is quite large and uncomfortable. But by the end of this week, maybe even earlier, your tummy will slowly begin to drop. The drop in your tummy will ease your breathing difficulties, allowing you to breathe deeply and eat more comfortably.

Sensitive gums bleed often and quickly after brushing your teeth.

If you notice a mucus-like bloody discharge of a thicker consistency, you probably have a loose mucus plug.

However, you don't need to worry that labor has just begun. It's just your cervix preparing for labor. Labor after the mucus plug has come off can occur in a few weeks.

Read more about the mucus plug in our article: mucus plug in pregnancy: when does it form, what does it look like and how does it go?

Messenger contractions (Braxton-Hicks contractions) become more frequent as the due date approaches. They stop after a change of position or rest.

It may happen that your amniotic sac ruptures and the amniotic fluid drains or you start having contractions. It is a good idea to start watching them and find out at what intervals they come.

Sometimes babies choose to come early. The contractions may start to feel like the pain of menstruation. Some women also start to feel pain in their back. During contractions, you may feel sick to your stomach and have a hard time.

If real contractions come and not just messengers, you will know it.

Each contraction will build up and increase in intensity and subside again.

Watch the time and length of the contractions. If they last about one minute and come every 5 minutes, visit the nearest hospital. Many women confuse contractions with messengers. Unlike true uterine contractions, messengers do not build in intensity and do not last as long.

The first sign of labor beginning can also be the passing of a mucus plug, the draining of amniotic fluid, and the beginning of contractions.

Watch yourself and also your symptoms from the upcoming birth.

What to watch out for:

• Uterine bleeding - don't wait and visit the nearest hospital immediately
• Amniotic fluid outflow
• Discharge of a different colour and smell
• Swelling
• Severe headache and changes in vision
• Pain and burning during and after urination

In these cases, contact your gynaecologist immediately and then visit the nearest hospital.

What can you notice?

You may have noticed vaginal discharge. Discharge is a sign that your body is preparing for childbirth.

What kind of discharge can appear in the third trimester and whether it is okay according to its color, consistency , read in the article.

Are you starting to wonder how the birth will go? Do you feel fear and anxiety?

Don't be afraid of childbirth. Try to think that in just a few days or weeks you will see your baby. You will finally see what he really looks like, what his nose, his mouth, his little fingers look like.

A woman's body is unique. It can adapt enough to cope with childbirth. If there's a problem, the hospital won't let you worry unnecessarily and will help you.

So cheer up! Think that giving birth can be a wonderful experience for you. After the baby is born, you will be overwhelmed with an indescribable feeling of happiness.

To ease your anxiety and ease your fears, going for a walk in nature will help you. You will recharge your energy and come up with other ideas.

Do you feel like you have to clean and sort everything?

You're experiencing the nest preparation syndrome, also known as nesting syndrome.

But don't overdo it. Remember to relax and enjoy these last weeks of pregnancy.

What tests are you going to have at 36 weeks?

From week 36 onwards, a visit to the antenatal clinic is once a week.

Between 35 and 38 weeks, a vaginal swab is taken for the presence of streptococcal infection.

If you have already had a smear in the previous week, you will have a routine examination this week. Your weight will be measured and recorded, your blood pressure taken, a urine sample checked for protein, presence of swelling, and the size of your uterus checked. The gynaecologist will ask you about the regularity of your movements and abdominal hardening.

Your gynaecologist will check by vaginal examination the openness of the cervix, the intactness of the amniotic sacs and the urging of the foetus towards the birth canal.

He or she will check the fetus, its position, heart rate, perform ultrasound flowmetry (measurement of flow through the umbilical cord) and monitor the amount of amniotic fluid. Insufficient flow may reveal stunting caused by insufficient placental function.

If you experience swelling, headaches, discharge or changes in vision, inform your gynaecologist.

From 36 weeks onwards, a CTG (cardiotocography) is performed every 7 days. This exam monitors the baby's heartbeat and also records uterine contractions.

What if the baby is born prematurely?

Always be prepared. Only 5% of babies are born at term, the rest are born earlier or later than the calculated due date.

Your baby is already developed. Although babies born before the end of the 36th week are considered borderline immature, they are capable of ectopic life.

If the baby were born at 36 weeks gestation, it would have made the adjustment without any problems. Depending on its development, it might have been placed in an incubator for a few more days to prevent it from getting cold. In the incubator, it would have been monitored to see if everything had developed properly.

If you were expecting twins and they were born now, they would be in the incubator for some time to maintain their body temperature. In multiple pregnancies, babies are insufficiently coated with fat.

What can we recommend?

Remember: The better nourished the body is, the better it will recover after birth.

• Rest and prepare your strength for childbirth.
• Take in plenty of protein. This is especially important during this period when the baby's brain is developing rapidly.
• Vitamin B6 helps in cell formation. It plays a big role in brain and nervous system development. B6 is found in bananas, avocados, brown rice, oatmeal, tomatoes, spinach and meat.
• High levels of omega-3 fatty acids affect brain development and reduce postpartum depression. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish such as salmon, anchovies and sardines, as well as eggs, nuts and seeds.
• Keep your body adequately hydrated with fluids.
• Try to avoid stress.
• Don't forget to take walks, which help relieve stress and remove anxiety.
• Talk and sing to your child.
• Regularly massage the skin with creams.
• Try to relax more. It will help not only you, but also the baby.
• Use sanitary pads to help prevent uncomfortable leakage of urine or amniotic fluid.
• Breast pads will save you from stains on your shirt, from dripping colostrum.
• Check your maternity bag to make sure you haven't forgotten anything.

Read more about the next weeks of pregnancy in the summary article.