36th week of pregnancy (3rd trimester)

Interesting Facts

Your baby is the size of

Papaya

475 mm Size

2600 g Weight

Congratulations! You are at the finish line. By the end of the 36th week of pregnancy, all organs and systems of the baby are fully formed. Now he is engaged in building up fat tissue. Your task is to accumulate strength, rest at the first opportunity and tune in to a positive mood.

Fetal development

At 36 weeks of pregnancy, the baby continues to gain weight. No special changes occur. All organs and systems are almost completely mature. All that remains is to prepare for a future meeting with your mother.

The most noticeable changes in the baby's body:

• Lanugo (the fluff covering the skin) and vernix lubrication continue to disappear from the baby's body.
• Facial features are rounded.
• Fat is deposited over the entire surface of the body. The fetus becomes more and more like a newborn baby.
• The maturation of the immune and endocrine systems continues. All other organs are almost 100% ready to work independently outside the mother’s body.
• There is still a small opening between the atria (foramen ovale).

The baby's bones are actively hardening, and the cartilage is becoming denser. However, between the bones of the skull, separate islands of connective tissue are still preserved - fontanelles, which are necessary to ensure the possibility of changing the shape of the skull during passage through the birth canal.

The baby's height at this stage reaches 46-47 cm with a weight of 2.4-2.8 kg. However, these indicators can vary significantly, depending on the mother’s diet and heredity, which determines height and type of constitution.

Feelings of the expectant mother

Due to your heavier belly, enlarged breasts and stiffness in your movements, you may feel tired and overwhelmed at 36 weeks. But breathing, most likely, has become easier, and the heartburn has subsided, because at this stage the stomach drops into the pelvis, and the uterus no longer puts pressure on the diaphragm and stomach.

Precursors of labor in first-time mothers

About 2 weeks before the expected birth, instead of progesterone, estrogens begin to play a dominant role in the hormonal background, the concentration of which determines the rate of dilatation of the cervix at the onset of labor. A pregnant woman may feel the following changes in sensations and well-being:

• weight loss and disappearance of swelling - this is how the body gets rid of excess fluid before childbirth;
• changes in stool - thinning to the point of diarrhea and frequent urges - another way to eliminate fluid;
• discharge of the mucus plug from the cervical canal - this is a jelly-like discharge, light or yellowish, sometimes mixed with blood;
• training contractions are chaotic contractions of the uterus that last a few seconds; the woman notes that she is pulling in her lower abdomen, but the pain goes away on its own.

Multiparous women experience the same symptoms, the only difference is that they may appear 1-2 weeks earlier and be more pronounced also because an experienced mother can already distinguish them from other conditions.

Signs of pregnancy

A woman’s feelings at this stage can be described in one simple word – fatigue. Most expectant mothers already want to give birth faster and begin to restore their own figure. The belly continues to increase in size, which causes a lot of trouble.

Typical signs of pregnancy at 36 weeks:

• Discomfort caused by large abdominal volume. It's a little easier now though, as it starts to go down. It becomes easier to breathe, the uterus no longer puts pressure on the diaphragm.
• The load on the perineum increases. The urge to defecate becomes more frequent. They are often ineffective.
• The intensity of heartburn decreases and digestion is slightly normalized.
• The next displacement of the uterus leads to a change in the center of gravity, which provokes pain in the lower back and legs.
• The baby's movements are felt a little less frequently. This is due to its active growth and decrease in free space in the uterus.

At this stage, Braxton Hicks contractions become more frequent. They prepare the woman’s body for the upcoming birth. They are mostly irregular and painless, but can sometimes cause some discomfort. If such sensations significantly increase and pain occurs, you should consult a doctor.

What happens to the fetus

At 36 weeks of pregnancy, the baby's weight averages 2.6 kg, and it becomes increasingly difficult for him to move freely. Therefore, the mother feels all the movements and even the way the child hiccups quite clearly. Usually by this time the fetus is turned head down, arms and legs are pressed to the body. He will remain in this position until he is born.

There is less lanugo and cheese-like lubricant on the baby’s body. The baby swallows them along with the amniotic fluid, which is how meconium is formed - the baby's first stool.

Weight

By the 36th week of pregnancy, the weight gained since registration can range from 8.3 to 15 kg. In some cases, deviations from these figures are possible without concomitant pathology.

The doctor must decide whether the expectant mother’s weight is normal or not, assessing the rate of weight gain, state of health, body mass index before pregnancy, etc. In some cases, if the doctor identifies a discrepancy in the numbers, dieting or hospitalization may be suggested for identifying the causes of low or high body weight.

Tests and ultrasound

The thirty-sixth week of pregnancy is the optimal time for the following studies:

• biochemical blood test - to assess the general health of the mother, hemoglobin levels, hormones, etc.;
• test for HIV, sexually transmitted infections - to determine labor tactics;
• gynecological smear - will reveal the presence of pathogenic microflora;
• A general urine test will indicate possible problems in the functioning of the kidneys and urinary system.

You will also need to undergo a CTG: the fetal heartbeat can be used to diagnose hypoxia and other disorders in a timely manner.

Ultrasound at the 36th week of pregnancy is performed according to indications, if it has not been prescribed previously or for additional diagnostics with accompanying symptoms.

Tests and studies during pregnancy

Ultrasound (ultrasound examination) - 35-36 weeks after the first day of the last menstruation.
The condition of the placenta, the height and weight of the child, its position in the uterus, and the quantity and quality of amniotic fluid are assessed. Blood test for AIDS (HIV), syphilis (RW) - 35-36 weeks after the first day of the last menstruation. These diseases can complicate pregnancy and childbirth.

Biochemical blood test - 35-36 weeks after the first day of the last menstruation. Gives an idea of ​​the general health of the pregnant woman.

Vaginal smear - 35-36 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period. Assessment of microbial flora before the baby passes through the birth canal.

Visiting a doctor monitoring pregnancy: once a week. Weighing, measuring blood pressure, measuring the height of the uterine fundus, listening to the fetal heartbeat.

General urine test - before each visit to the doctor. Indicates the quality of kidney function.

Dopplerography (a study that allows you to evaluate blood flow in the vessels of the uterus, placenta and main vessels of the child) - 33-34 weeks after the first day of the last menstruation, according to indications. The study allows you to find out whether the child is getting enough oxygen and nutrients.

Cardiotocography (CTG, synchronous recording of fetal heartbeats and uterine contractions) - 33-34 weeks after the first day of the last menstruation, according to indications. The child’s condition is assessed and intrauterine hypoxia is excluded.

Receive an exchange card with the results of tests and examinations - 30 weeks after the first day of the last menstruation. It is recommended that you always carry this document with you, which is required for admission to the maternity hospital.

Registration of maternity leave for workers - 30 weeks after the first day of the last menstruation.

What to discuss with your doctor

• If tests reveal that you have low hemoglobin levels, talk to your doctor about what medications you can take. This condition cannot be corrected with diet, and your lack of iron means the same deficiency in your child.
• Breech presentation, that is, with the buttocks toward the cervix, is the reason for cesarean section in many cases. But in general, the baby has another 1-2 weeks to roll over. Find out from your gynecologist what exercises can help with this and when you should come for a follow-up ultrasound to check how the fetus is lying.
• Is intimate relations possible at 36 weeks of pregnancy? Check with your doctor to see if you have any contraindications. Usually, experts in the third trimester advise “not to get carried away,” and also to use a condom during sex, as the risk of infection is high, especially if the mucus plug begins to come off.

Possible complications

Many pregnant women complain of the following unpleasant symptoms at 36 weeks.

Pubic bone hurts

This happens under the influence of the hormone relaxin, which prepares muscles and ligaments for childbirth, making them softer and more elastic.

The belly becomes hard at 36 weeks of pregnancy

This feeling is associated with contractions - true ones, when labor begins, and training ones. You can tell them apart by measuring the time between contractions. During childbirth, they occur at regular intervals, and the pain increases. Training sessions are usually chaotic and will soon pass on their own. Uterine tone at 36 weeks may also be associated with this symptom. It is characterized by severe and prolonged pain.

The child moves less

This feeling may be subjective and due to the fact that the baby has become more crowded in the womb. However, if you really have doubts, it is better to tell your gynecologist about it. Using CTG or ultrasound, he will be able to quickly assess the condition of the fetus.

Legs become very swollen

This is sometimes inevitable in the third trimester of pregnancy. Don't limit yourself to fluids. Contrary to popular belief, this will only increase swelling if it appears. But in this case it is necessary to reduce salt consumption. If, against the background of swelling, nausea occurs, blood pressure or temperature increases, immediately consult a gynecologist: these are symptoms of gestosis in pregnant women.

What happens in the body of the expectant mother at 36 weeks of pregnancy

The woman is already waiting and can’t wait for her due date to approach, because she is already very tired. And this is not surprising. By the end of pregnancy, my belly became large and heavy. This is not only a load on the spine and legs, but also a constant worry about not falling or colliding with someone. In addition, against the background of hormonal surges, the pregnant woman is overcome by sudden changes in mood and worries about the upcoming birth, especially if this is the first birth.

If your stomach hurts at 36 weeks of pregnancy, a woman may also begin to worry. But here we need to figure out the cause of the pain. In the case when the stomach hurts on the side, this may be due to a sprain of the ligamentous apparatus. The stomach may also ache when the tone of the uterine muscles increases.

Uterine tone at 36 weeks of pregnancy

Over the course of several weeks, you may have noticed an increase in the tone of your uterus, which even looked more like contractions. This phenomenon is also called training contractions, through which the myometrium prepares for future birth. But the tone of the uterus can increase for other reasons. Have you ever had abdominal tension after a long walk? This should not frighten a pregnant woman. In this case, you just need to find an opportunity to rest, and after a while your stomach will relax. The uterus can also “turn to stone” after heavy exertion (for example, upon returning from the store with bulky bags) or sudden movements.

If your stomach becomes stiff at 36 weeks of pregnancy, it is important not to allow the muscles of the uterus to remain tense for a long time. Find an opportunity to relax, lie down. And if you begin to feel pain and you notice specific discharge (this could be blood or watery discharge), do not hesitate and call an ambulance.

The discharge at 36 weeks should retain its properties, except that it becomes a little more viscous due to the approaching birth. Sometimes you may notice small areas of mucus in them, which indicate that the mucus plug is gradually coming off. Sometimes it may come out entirely, which indicates that you are about to give birth. Sometimes there are streaks of blood in it, which is not a pathological sign. But if blood is present in your discharge, this is a cause for concern. In this case, you need to get to the hospital as soon as possible, where you can get help.

Childbirth at 36 weeks of pregnancy

It also happens that women give birth prematurely. Childbirth at 36 weeks is premature, but it is worth noting that the closer a pregnant woman is to her 40 weeks, the greater the likelihood that the baby will not have any problems. Many maternity hospitals are equipped with good equipment and have all the necessary conditions to provide assistance to a baby born at this stage.

Sex at 36 weeks pregnant

If your pregnancy is going well, without any pathologies, you can enjoy intimacy with your partner. But don’t forget about a few rules during this period:

• The poses should be as comfortable as possible for the expectant mother.
• No pressure on your stomach!
• Orgasm causes contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, which include the uterus. Too frequent intercourse can trigger labor, so don’t get carried away.
• If your doctor has recommended that you stop having sex, it is best to follow these recommendations.

Preparing the breasts for lactation

The recommendation to “harden your breasts” by rubbing your nipples with a towel after a shower is hopelessly outdated. This method will not only not help in any way, but will also harm the delicate skin of the areola: irritation will appear, and during feeding, cracks will appear.

But what you should definitely pay attention to is the shape of the nipple. If it is flat or retracted, you will need to be patient and persistent because your newborn will have a hard time holding the breast properly in his mouth at first.

We advise you to buy a nipple shaper in advance - a shell-shaped device that will help it rise. Learn comfortable feeding positions and ways to help your baby latch on correctly.

Checklist for 36 weeks of pregnancy

• Don't miss any opportunity to relax. It is better to lie down, raising your legs or sitting on your left side. This way you will restore strength, improve blood circulation and cope with swelling in your legs.
• Install a contraction counter on your phone. Easy-to-use apps will help you differentiate between practice contractions and real ones.
• Sing, read and just talk to your child. This has a positive effect on both his well-being and your emotional state. There is an opinion that the baby, while in the womb, remembers the sounds of the mother’s lullaby, and will calm down and fall asleep easier after birth.

Do you have any questions? We will be happy to answer them during a consultation at any time convenient for you. Leave a request on the website.