What To Expect At Week 36
At week 36, your baby weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long (about the size of a head of lettuce). They are shedding most of the hair that covered their body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected their skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Most likely, they are in a head down position, but if not, your doctor may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version (ECV). In an ECV, the practitioner applies pressure to your abdomen in order to manually change your baby into a head down position. You may have less heartburn and an easier time breathing when your baby starts to drop down into your pelvis. This process is called lightening, and often happens a few weeks before labour, if this is your first baby. When your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you will probably find that you will need to urinate more often than in the past. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels like they’re carrying a bowling ball between their legs. Forgetfulness is normal during the last trimester. You may be overwhelmed or just plain distracted by the huge life changes you’re about to experience, as well as exhausted if you’re having trouble getting a good night’s sleep. You may also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now.
