How Your Baby Grows Inside You: Week 36

How Your Baby Grows Inside You: Week 36

12 Jan 2017 | 6 min Read

Sonali Shivlani

Author | 213 Articles

Your baby is now a growth express! S/he is gaining almost 30 grams every day and is close to 18½ inches in length. You should add that to your pregnancy week by week chart. In baby growth week by week, in Week 36, her/his skin which was covered with fine, downy hair called lanugo but now that is slowly beginning to shed. While most of the lanugo will have shed before your baby is born, some might still be visible. The remaining hair will be gone in the first few weeks after birth. Your baby will swallow the lanugo as it mixes with the amniotic fluid and this will form a black, tar-like mix in the intestine which will be passed as bowel movements on the first day of life. At Week 36, your doctor will probably conduct a vaginal exam to check for a bacteria known as Group B Streptococcus (GBS). Most women have this bacteria in their vagina and it is relatively harmless in adults. However, it can pass to the baby during the birth process and can cause serious concerns like pneumonia, meningitis or even a blood related infection.

If the test results are positive, then your doctor will put you on a course of antibiotics to clear the infection before you go into labour. So, let’s get to know about what are the pregnancy symptoms that denote 36 weeks pregnant and how your baby looks during 36 weeks. So, keep on reading to find out. 

36 Weeks Fetus Development 

Your baby’s lungs are fully developed by 36 weeks and are prepared to take their first breath after birth. If your baby is delivered now, its digestive system will be fully formed and they will be able to feed.

How Big Is A Baby During 36 Weeks Pregnancy?

Your baby is about 34 cm from head to bottom and weighs about 2.5 kg. 

36 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

As your baby’s head fixes into the pelvis, you’ll feel your abdomen sink lower. This will reduce the pressure in your upper abdomen, thus allowing you to breathe better and bring back your appetite. However, the pressure in the lower abdomen will cause you to waddle and make you use the bathroom more frequently.

This is a good time to write your birth plan if you haven’t yet. Draft one along with your partner and your prenatal instructor. List out the things that you are most passionate about – such as who you want around you at the delivery, the possibility of eating and drinking during labour, at what point you would like to consider pain relief, breastfeeding immediately at birth and more. You can then discuss the plan with your doctor at the next prenatal visit. Keep your hospital bag ready, plan different routes to the hospital and ensure that you have all back up emergency numbers on speed dial. This might help you reduce anxiety as you anxiously wait for labour to start.

Physical Development

You could be wondering about what you’ll do with all the maternity clothes after delivery. Well, you will need them around for a bit longer than you expect. After delivery, your uterus will not magically shrink; the change will be gradual. You will also have to deal with a changing breast size, so don’t think of putting away those clothes yet.

Emotional Development

You might now want to surround yourself with people you trust and are comfortable with. Catch up with your friends, go shopping and prepare your house for the baby’s arrival. Bond with your mother and mother-in-law as well. You might need their help, support and experience after your baby’s birth.

Your Body At 36 Weeks Pregnancy

Contractions and fatigue are among the signs of 36 weeks pregnancy or pregnancy month 9 that you may still be experiencing during the pregnancy.

36 Weeks Pregnant Belly Picture 

Image Credit: images.immediate

36 Weeks Fetus Picture 

Image Credit: familyeducation

36 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound: Do You Need It?

According to a study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, a routine ultrasound at 36 weeks might assist in identifying babies who are in the breech position, which can cause problems during labour. The breech position is when a baby is in the womb with its feet or bottom facing down.

Self Care Tips And Checklists For 36 Weeks Pregnancy

Here are some self care tips and checklists for leading the healthiest life possible during your 36 weeks pregnancy. 

  • You should be ready to shed your mucus plug, which will appear as a thick, yellow discharge that has blood in it. Before labour starts, it may occur weeks, days, or even hours during your third trimester.
  • Addressing all the envelopes or gathering the email lists now is a smart idea if you intend to send out birth announcements. 
  • Get plenty of B6 that ​​plays an especially big role in the development of a baby’s brain and nervous system.
  • Do light exercises or else walking to get your body moving.
  • Spend time outdoors. Not always sitting indoors.
  • Learn about the various stages of labour. 
  • Do a skincare routine at least 3-4 days a week to make your skin glowing and supple.
  • Unplug one full a week and do rest ( do not overload on the couch like a panda!) 
  • Plan your multiple marker screening, if you decide to get one.
  • Plan your amniocentesis, if necessary.
  • Treat yourself. You deserve some “me time” because you’ve been working so hard.

FAQs

Is delivery at 36 weeks normal?

Yes.

What should you be feeling at 36 weeks pregnant?

You could be anxious, exhausted, and perhaps a little impatient for the baby to come.

What should I avoid at 36 weeks pregnant?

Drinking alcohol, consuming caffeine, smoking, and taking stress.

Is 36 weeks considered 9 months pregnant?

Yes.

Is the baby fully developed at 36 weeks?

Yes. 

Takeaway

If you go into early labour, it is possible that Group B streptococcus (GBS) might be detected when your doctor does a pelvic exam to assess cervical dilation. Since there will be no time to administer antibiotics and clear the infection before the actual birth, you might be advised to opt for a surgical birth. Also, if you want to know about 37 weeks pregnant symptoms then check out this one and get all your answers. But if you aren’t still pregnant and want to conceive but unsure about when you can be intimate with your partner after or before your menstruation, then a pregnancy calculator can help in assisting you with the best date for the intimacy. Know more about it here!

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