36th week of pregnancy: how the fetus develops and what happens in the body

Well, the last month of the perinatal period has begun, there is very little left before the birth. Most women, exhausted by the inconstancy of their bodies, at this stage have an irresistible desire to see their child as soon as possible and as quickly as possible return yourself to your prenatal state. However, it is still too early to think about the latter, because even after the baby is born, you cannot begin strong physical activity for at least six months, especially if a caesarean section was performed.

Baby at 36 weeks of pregnancy

This week, the baby is almost completely prepared: his organs can function outside the mother’s womb, they have reached their maturity, and a sufficient amount of subcutaneous fat has formed. Now his skin has smoothed out and cute folds have appeared. Now the baby is quite heavy and large, his height is about 47 cm, and his weight can exceed 2.5 kg. But even in this situation, the body finds something that still needs to be developed.

The thyroid gland and immunity are training and preparing to launch; the liver still continues to accumulate iron. The little one himself is still training to suckle at the breast by sucking his fingers, including those on his legs, drinking and spitting out amniotic fluid.

Now the baby has the same appearance with which he will appear before his mother; nothing significant will happen for the rest of the time, except perhaps an increase in height and weight. The baby’s skull remains soft, which will greatly facilitate the birth process. After childbirth, these so-called fontanelles will heal and the bones will become stronger. Ideally, by the 36th week, babies adopt a head position, that is, they turn over with their butts up. If the baby still does not turn over, then doctors may prescribe caesarean section, otherwise the risk during natural childbirth increases.

Feelings at 36 weeks

Starting from the 36th week, you need to prepare for the fact that the labor process can start at any minute. And this will not be considered something out of the ordinary. As mentioned earlier, the baby is absolutely ready for a normal life and most babies are born at 36 weeks. Therefore, now it is especially important to listen to your feelings and not miss the beginning of real contractions.

Monitor your baby's activity; normally, he should make himself known at least ten times in 12 hours. If there is no “news” from your child for more than a day, consult a doctor immediately.

At this stage, when labor is very close, many women become very irritable and restless. And the point here is not at all about hormones, but rather about the fear and worries that are associated with the hour “X”. This is especially true for that group of ladies who have no childbirth experience and those whose previous times did not go so smoothly. And here it is important to calm down, otherwise the baby will start fussing. The last few weeks can hardly be called simple. In addition to the psychological component, physical sensations cause trouble: the back aches more, swelling, headaches, fatigue, pain in the pelvic area, because the baby has dropped down, preparing for the grand entrance.  During this period, even those who previously fluttered like a butterfly often begin to experience inconvenience.

However, there is very little patience left. Now it’s better to use your time profitably and get a good night’s sleep, because very soon this luxury will no longer be so accessible.

36th week of pregnancy - harbingers of labor

Considering that now a baby can appear at any moment, it is important for every mother to understand what signs to recognize an imminent birth.

1. The stomach drops. This is one of the most obvious signs. This happens due to the fact that the baby takes the correct diligence. But based on this sign, we can only say that the birth will be soon, but how exactly “soon” is unclear. On average, this happens two to four weeks before delivery. However, for those who give birth not for the first time, such physiology manifests itself literally the day before, two to four days before.
2. The cervix changes. It is impossible to determine this on your own. But during the examination, the doctor will definitely notice how the cervix is ​​slightly dilated; it is ripening before the birth itself.
3. An increase in the volume of discharge. The level of estrogen in the blood increases, due to which the amount of discharge increases significantly. They become more viscous, mucus-like.
4. Removal of the mucus plug. The plug can leave its place at different times, but more often a couple of weeks before the onset of labor. It can also come off in parts or entirely. In the first case, the discharge will look like thick mucus, in the second it will come out as a mucous lump.
5. Weight loss. Before giving birth, the body tries to shed excess ballast in the form of liquid, so a woman may notice that she has suddenly lost about a kilogram or two. Some mothers note that before giving birth they completely lost their appetite, so be careful.
6. The occurrence of training contractions. They appear differently for everyone, but what distinguishes them from the real ones is their chaotic nature. Ask your doctor and let him advise you in more detail about real contractions and how to count them correctly.
7. Decreased baby activity. A few days before birth, the baby becomes quieter than usual. And only in rare cases can the opposite happen, when the baby becomes more active.
8. Changes in bowel movements and urination. As the stomach drops, pressure on the bladder increases, causing the woman to run to the toilet more often. The intestines are also compressed, which becomes a problem during bowel movements, either constipation or, conversely, diarrhea appears.
9. A change in gait—it becomes like a duck’s, as the pelvic bones seem to “spread apart.”

When exactly these signs manifest themselves, over what period of time, it’s all individual. It is also worth noting that in multiparous women, all “symptoms” are much more pronounced than in those who have given birth for the first time.

36th week of pregnancy: video