36 Weeks Pregnant

Baby’s Development

Your baby has grown to about 47 centimeters — roughly the size of a head of romaine lettuce — and weighs approximately 2,600 grams, or about 5.7 pounds [1]. Your baby’s lungs are now fully mature and ready for that first breath of air. The skin is smooth and plump, the vernix is mostly gone, and the lanugo has shed completely. Body fat now makes up about 16 to 20 percent of your baby’s weight, and the brain continues forming neural connections at a rapid pace. Most babies are in the cephalic (head-down) position by now. You may experience “lightening” — also called engagement — when your baby drops lower into your pelvis and the head engages. This can make breathing easier for you, though it often brings more pelvic pressure [2].

Body Changes

Your uterus measures about 36 centimeters in fundal height, and a weight gain of 28 to 36 pounds by this point is typical. Your bump is large and may have “dropped” as your baby engages lower in your pelvis. You may notice stretch marks, the linea nigra, melasma, more visible veins, and varicose veins. Your breasts may have grown by two or more cup sizes, and colostrum may leak occasionally. The “pregnancy mask” (melasma) can appear on your face, and swelling in your feet and ankles is common. Your cervix may begin effacing and dilating — softening, thinning, and opening in preparation for labor [2].

Tips for Week 36

• Address pelvic pressure with Kegels, side-sleeping, a support belt, pelvic tilts, and prenatal physical therapy, and avoid standing for long periods.
• Finalize your postpartum plan — decide who will be helping, how meals will be handled, who will care for your dog, how to prepare siblings, and how work leave will work.
• Address anxiety about labor by talking to your provider, attending a class, hiring a doula, reading evidence-based birth stories, and visualizing the day.
• Do a hospital bag check — make sure your go-bag is packed, the route is mapped, parking is planned, a backup driver is lined up, and child or pet care is arranged for the hospital stay.

Things To Do (Checklist)

• Get your GBS test if it has not been done yet
• Address pelvic pressure with Kegels, PT, or a support belt
• Finalize your postpartum support plan
• Address labor anxiety
• Do a final hospital bag check
• Fetal position; cervix check (only if indicated); GBS result

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is “lightening”? A: Lightening is when your baby drops lower into your pelvis. You may find it easier to breathe, but you will likely feel more pelvic pressure and need to urinate more frequently. For first-time moms, this can happen weeks before labor; for subsequent pregnancies, it often happens during labor itself [2].

Q: I lost my mucus plug. Does that mean labor is starting? A: Not necessarily. The mucus plug can regenerate, and losing it can happen days or even weeks before labor begins. A bloody show — blood-tinged mucus — is a more reliable sign that labor is approaching. Call your OB to report what you have noticed [1].

Q: Is sex safe at 36 weeks? A: Yes, if you are having a low-risk pregnancy and your provider has not restricted it. Some couples use sex at term to help encourage labor, since semen contains prostaglandins and orgasm can cause uterine contractions. Discuss it with your OB if you have any concerns [1].

Sources

1. ACOG — How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy
2. Mayo Clinic — 36 Weeks Pregnant
3. Expecting Better — Emily Oster (Chapters 15-16: Third Trimester)