From Body Carre we are going to see two pregnancies of two friends, from two different perspectives and countries, one from Latin America and the other from Spain. I hope you like it and see if you are able to find those little differences.
At 36 weeks of gestation, the baby is already entering the 9th month and is already about 45 cm and weighs around 2,600 grams. It is already too big and the mother feels all this force in its movements. It is now a full-term pregnancy, it is no longer considered premature. If you need her to be born now, your gynecologist can make the delivery safer.
This week the baby’s skin already has enough fat to withstand the external temperature after birth, it has less vernix and the lanugo is decreasing more and more. Their hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are already in the exact spot, although some babies can be born without hair, aren’t bald babies a sweetheart?
At 36 weeks pregnant your lungs are functioning normally and can produce an average of 600 ml of urine that is released directly into the amniotic fluid . His eyes open and close and he blinks incessantly when awake, but he spends most of his time sleeping. Its development is in the final stretch and now the goal is the maturation of the lungs, which should function as expected after birth.
The size of the baby at this stage is around 45-48 cm and its weight on average 2,600-2,800 grams . It can give the signal that it is ready and wants to be born at any moment, so be alert! Your baby is big and too chubby to get into the world!
Index
The internal sensations of the mother in the 36th week of pregnancy
36 weeks pregnant. In this period, the consultations are already one a week and the slightest complaints of pain and bleeding should be notified to your doctor, so if they have not given you their emergency phone number, you should ask them at the next consultation. Have you visited the maternity ward where you will have your baby? Ask if the maternity has a program for visitors, only go to the administration to find out what days and hours are available. By the way, we recommend that you talk to Dad about assisting with the birth, many parents are afraid of fainting and others do not want to miss a thing. The mother has the right to be accompanied at the time of delivery , so if you have your baby outside of visiting hours, Dad can stay with you and even stay in the infirmary.
Your breathing is getting better and when the baby is already rearranging itself a little further from the rib area, you will have a truce with the lack of air. Visits to the toilet will increase as the baby puts more pressure on the bladder. The little baby slows down the amount of movement. You only have to worry if many hours go by without feeling anything or you notice a different appearance, call your doctor if this is the case.
Sensations and external factors in the 36th week of pregnancy
Do you miss a comfortable sleeping position? This is about to end! Eat healthy and drink plenty of fluids at this stage so you don’t feel so bloated and inflamed. Avoid eating fatty and salty foods, as well as heavy meals, eh? Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, juices, and coconut water at this stage.
Is it month 9 already? Time flies! Since your baby could really decide to arrive any day from now, try to put the final preparation into practice at 36 weeks of pregnancy. For example, if you took a childbirth class a few months ago, reread the materials you were given and practice each of the breathing techniques you learned with your partner. Review your plan to go to the hospital and everything related. Update your boss and colleagues on the status of all your work projects, so they know where to take over if you are suddenly out of the office. The 36th week of pregnancy is also a good time to enjoy a date with your partner. You probably won’t be ready to dance (we guessed that), but how about a nice dinner?
How big is the baby at 36 weeks?
At 36 weeks pregnant, your baby is as big as a papaya, measuring about 18.7 inches from crown to heel and weighing about 5.8 pounds.
36 weeks pregnant, how many months?
36 weeks she is eight months pregnant. Welcome to the first week of month 9. You are only four weeks away from your due date.
Symptoms of pregnancy at week 36
When you have only four weeks for the baby to be born, most of your symptoms have to do with the fact that the baby is almost here. Your 36 weeks pregnant symptoms may include:
- Better ability to breathe. When the baby descends into your pelvis, you will feel lighter and with more space, you will be able to breathe more deeply.
- Pelvic discomfort You are feeling take the place of breathing, now you can breathe better but your pelvis has more pressure from your baby. Watch for other signs of labor, like regular contractions.
- Trouble sleeping Get ready at 3 am to write thank you notes or rearrange your closet. We know how difficult it is to fall asleep, try to find some ways to relax, even if you can’t even close your eyes.
- Heartburn. Your growing baby is affecting your digestive system. Antacids can help (as long as your doctor has given them the go-ahead). Avoid heartburn as much as possible: try not to consume citrus, spicy, vinegar and fatty foods (not pleasant, we know, but it is worth it to avoid burning).
- Swollen ankles and feet Less swelling is totally normal at 36 weeks gestation, but if you are pregnant with twins this week, you are more prone to this type of inflammation. Once your baby is born, this symptom completely disappears (don’t worry, it really goes away). But if you notice that the swelling is severe or sudden, this may be a sign of a serious problem, so call your doctor as soon as possible.
- Changes in the secretion vaginal. At 36 weeks, vaginal discharge is greater and will increase as your body is ready for birth. But you must take a good look, if the discharge is watery (it could be amniotic fluid, then you should make a call to your doctor). Blood (a sign of preterm labor), mucus, or blood tinged vaginal discharge, could be the mucus plug. Losing the mucous plug is a sign that the time of birth is soon.
- Contractions You are probably still experiencing pressure in your abdomen and they could become more and more intense. In fact, some pregnant women show up to the hospital thinking they are in labor. You should keep in mind that at 36 weeks pregnant, cramps that are at least as painful as menstrual cramps are mostly due to contractions. If you are experiencing something more serious, inform your obstetrician immediately.
Because signs of labor can be difficult to distinguish at 36 weeks of pregnancy, aside from the regular discomforts of pregnancy, you may want to bring your doctor up to date if anything seems out of the ordinary. It is worth the call. Even a trip to the hospital to find out it’s a false birth alarm is fine. The worst that could happen is that they send you home to relax and wait.
Development of pregnancy at week 36
At 36 weeks, your pregnant belly probably doesn’t show much change from week to week. You’ve probably gained about 25 to 35 pounds in total, the recommended total amount of weight gain during pregnancy for women with normal BMI. This is probably quite difficult. You’re not going to put on too much weight from now on, probably only about half a pound each week until your baby is born.
If you are 36 weeks pregnant with twins, you have probably gained 35 to 45 pounds in total. To say that your belly is full is an understatement. While many mothers of twins give birth around week 36, there is a possibility that you and your partner could celebrate in a few more weeks. Remember that the longer it’s in your womb, the less likely your babies will need NICU time after birth. So even if you’re feeling very uncomfortable, just wait and remember that this extra time in the womb is pretty good for twins.
Ultrasound at week 36 of pregnancy
At 36 weeks pregnant, your baby’s liver and kidneys are working perfectly. His circulation and immune system are basically normal. Now, your baby is getting closer to breathing on his own. Also, your 36 week old fetus’s skin is getting soft and his gums are stiff.
At your 36 week prenatal appointment, your OB can check the baby’s position. At this point, the baby should already be in a head-down position. If not, he or she is considered breech. Don’t panic if your baby is breech at 36 weeks. There is still a good chance that the baby will roll over naturally.
Your OB may want to do a specific procedure for a baby with a buttock, meaning the doctor will try to turn the baby by pushing and / or lifting your pregnant belly. It sounds rough (and we hear it doesn’t feel right), but don’t worry. It is a low-risk procedure and works more than half the time. Beforehand, you may be given medicine to relax the uterus. You will have a 36 weeks pregnant ultrasound, so the doctor can clearly see the position of the baby and the location of the placenta. Ultrasound can also be used during the procedure to guide the doctor’s movements. The baby’s heart rate will be monitored before, after, and possibly even during this process, to make sure everything is going well. Keep your fingers crossed
You will get a Group B Strep test around week 36 of your pregnancy. This is a test to see if you have a common bacteria called (you guessed it) Group B Strep in your body. If it does, you may never notice it, or it could cause a problem like a urinary tract infection. For the baby, however, the bacteria could cause more serious problems and could even be fatal. About 10 to 30% of pregnant women test positive for group B. Treatment is simple: You will need antibiotics during labor to significantly reduce the chances of passing the bacteria to the baby.
If you are 36 weeks pregnant with twins or have a high-risk condition, such as high blood pressure or kidney or heart disease, you may have a biopsy this week. This ultrasound and non-stress test combo gives the doctor a good picture of your baby’s development thus far, ruling out the need for an early delivery.
Considerations regarding pregnancy at week 36
- Schedule your 37-week prenatal visit.
- Finish planning your maternity leave.
- Ask all questions related to the delivery room.