Pregnancy week 36: Your week by week pregnancy guide

At pregnancy week 36, your baby will realign himself/herself in the head-down position. Your little bundle of joy’s body is developing super fast at this stage, and his/her internal organs are pretty close to being fully developed, but still have a bit of a way to go.

How Big is Your Baby?

Your little one is now 36 weeks old, and he/she should be the size of a canary melon, or about 33cm, and weighs 2.75kg.

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Your Baby’s Development

In this week by week pregnancy guide, you’ll learn that:

• Your baby has started to shed off the covering of his/her downy hair as well as the waxy coating that was protecting him/her in the womb. Interestingly these things will get mixed with the amniotic fluid and be swallowed by your baby. 
• He/she has started to move towards your pelvis.
• By now, your baby will realign himself/herself in the head-down position.
• He/she has fully developed blood and immune system.
• His/her digestive system hasn’t fully matured yet.

Pregnancy Symptoms

• Since your baby has occupied more than half of your stomach, you will find it difficult to finish a regular-sized meal all by yourself.
• Your backache will be at its worst level.
• At pregnancy week 36, you may experience bloating and constipation.
• Your vaginal discharge will thicken and may even be tinged with blood.
• Due to the downward movement of the baby at pregnancy week 36, you will experience extra weight around the lower abdomen, making it difficult for you to walk in ease. This may also lead to some pelvic pain.
• However, the downward movement will relieve the upward pressure on the diaphragm. This is called lightening. The result: you can now take longer and deeper breaths. This pressure will also force you to pee more.
• An itching belly is something that is common to almost all pregnancies.
• Braxton Hicks contractions, which are mild contractions that occur in preparation of labour, will become more frequent.

Pregnancy Care

• Avoid flying during this month and onwards.
• To ease pelvic pain, you may indulge in warm baths and do some pelvic exercises.

Your Checklist

• It’s time to create birth announcements.
• Ensure your nursery is fully set up as early as now so you won’t have to worry about it when the baby arrives.
• Install your baby’s car seat, especially since you can’t drive your baby home without it. It can also be more complicated to install than you’d think.

Your next week: 37 weeks pregnant

Your previous week: 35 weeks pregnant

Do you have questions on this week by week pregnancy guide? What are your current concerns, mums? Leave us a comment below!