You are now 36 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 37. Babies around this gestation are on average around 48 cm long (18.9 inches) and weigh approximately 2,850 grams (2.85 kg or 6lb 5 oz).
Your baby is now in normal proportions. Up until about 36 weeks their head size is larger than their belly size, but by 36 weeks this equalises and from now on, their belly size is larger than their head. At 36 to 37 weeks your baby's lungs are fully mature. However, babies of diabetic mothers can have delayed lung maturity until about 38 to 40 weeks.
Going on maternity leave? Don't forget to update your email address by using the form at the bottom of this email. This way you can keep informed during your pregnancy and baby's first year.
What is my body doing at 36 weeks?
You might be starting to feel really exhausted again so try and rest as much as you can – it’s handy that around this time you’re probably about to go on maternity leave. But some lucky mums-to-be have a real burst of energy around now. If you want to, it’s totally safe to have sex. If you’re nervous about it, talk to your midwife for advice - and don’t be embarrassed, as they’ve most certainly heard it all before.
By now your belly will be stretched so much that the skin will be feeling very dry and probably extremely itchy. Use soothing creams containing cocoa butter or Vitamin E for the best results. Or why not get your other half to rub the cream in and get him to talk gently the baby while he does it? It’s a really lovely way for him to bond with his developing baby.
Common symptoms to look out for:
Tiredness and insomnia
It is normal to feel tired and not sleep well during the final weeks of pregnancy, perhaps waking frequently because of pregnancy discomforts or needing to urinate. Lack of sleep can be quite distressing, although it is generally Mother Nature's way of preparing your body to care for your new baby!
If you are waking at night and unable to get back to sleep you may wish to try a relaxation visualisation.
Emotional reactions
Relationships change to some degree when having a new baby. Your relationship moves from being just the two of you (or perhaps an addition to be three or four) - learning about each other, falling in love, accepting each other's idiosyncrasies and qualities, exploring what works and changing what doesn't. The same process happens when you have a new baby and it will take time to adjust. Keep talking and communicate how you are feeling.
Other considerations
Vitamin K assists the body with blood clotting. All newborns have a natural degree of vitamin K deficiency (about 40 to 70% less than adult levels), which are adequate to protect them from bleeding, but can quickly deplete if the baby is unable to build up their vitamin K stores. Vitamin K supplements are generally administered soon after birth, either by one injection or as 3 oral doses (by mouth) in the first month of the baby's life.
Birth preparations
4th stage of labour
Physical recovery
The process of labour and giving birth is extremely hard physical work and emotionally demanding at times. How the woman physically recovers and feels during the 4th stage of labour will depend on how long or short the labour was, what type of birth she had, if there were any complications, if she had pain relief and how the baby is after the birth.
Emotions
Every woman reacts in a different way emotionally after the birth. As does every partner and support person. It is not uncommon to have feelings of excitement and joy, mixed with sheer relief and exhaustion that she has "done it" and the baby is here.
Support strategies
The hour after birth is a special, exciting time, full of mixed emotions and physical readjustment for the woman. After completing the amazing task of giving birth, she is still in need of physical and emotional support. She may instigate this support herself or be a little overwhelmed, needing her partner or support person to help meet her needs.
What to expect from your caregiver
Besides getting to know your new baby, the time after birth can involve some interventions and monitoring.
Your baby is now in normal proportions. Up until about 36 weeks their head size is larger than their belly size, but by 36 weeks this equalises and from now on, their belly size is larger than their head. At 36 to 37 weeks your baby's lungs are fully mature. However, babies of diabetic mothers can have delayed lung maturity until about 38 to 40 weeks.
Going on maternity leave? Don't forget to update your email address by using the form at the bottom of this email. This way you can keep informed during your pregnancy and baby's first year.
What is my body doing at 36 weeks?
You might be starting to feel really exhausted again so try and rest as much as you can – it’s handy that around this time you’re probably about to go on maternity leave. But some lucky mums-to-be have a real burst of energy around now. If you want to, it’s totally safe to have sex. If you’re nervous about it, talk to your midwife for advice - and don’t be embarrassed, as they’ve most certainly heard it all before.
By now your belly will be stretched so much that the skin will be feeling very dry and probably extremely itchy. Use soothing creams containing cocoa butter or Vitamin E for the best results. Or why not get your other half to rub the cream in and get him to talk gently the baby while he does it? It’s a really lovely way for him to bond with his developing baby.
Common symptoms to look out for:
- Not feeling hungry: It certainly makes a change from those cravings earlier in your pregnancy, but now that your baby takes up so much room, it might be hard to eat a normal-sized meal. It’s often better to eat smaller meals more frequently rather than trying to handle large portions a couple of times a day.
- Pelvic pain: Thanks to increased joint flexibility, a heavier uterus and the pressure from your baby’s head, you might now be experiencing unpleasant pelvic pain. Treat yourself to a massage to relieve the symptoms, or try to take a warm bath or to do some pelvic exercises if you can’t quite treat yourself to a spa day every time the pain kicks in!
- Lightening: Yippee! Finally, a pregnancy symptom we’ve been looking forward to. As your baby drops into your pelvic cavity, the pressure on your diaphragm is released, and lightening happens. This means your stomach won’t feel quite so squashed anymore, and that you’ll be able to take bigger breaths and maybe even be able to eat more comfortably than before.
- Mucus plug: Be prepared for losing your mucus plug. It happens at a different time for every woman, but can happen weeks, days or hours before labour begins, and looks like a yellow discharge tinged with blood.
- Nesting: Another lovely pregnancy symptom should be prevalent this week: the nesting instinct, where you’ll feel the urge to get organised for the baby. Enjoy these moments before life becomes hectic with a newborn, and make sure you’re preparing safely, avoiding anything risky like ladders, heavy lifting or overdoing it too close to labour. Take advantage of this desire to organise to make sure your baby bag is all packed, just in case the baby decides to show up a little earlier than expected.
Tiredness and insomnia
It is normal to feel tired and not sleep well during the final weeks of pregnancy, perhaps waking frequently because of pregnancy discomforts or needing to urinate. Lack of sleep can be quite distressing, although it is generally Mother Nature's way of preparing your body to care for your new baby!
If you are waking at night and unable to get back to sleep you may wish to try a relaxation visualisation.
Emotional reactions
Relationships change to some degree when having a new baby. Your relationship moves from being just the two of you (or perhaps an addition to be three or four) - learning about each other, falling in love, accepting each other's idiosyncrasies and qualities, exploring what works and changing what doesn't. The same process happens when you have a new baby and it will take time to adjust. Keep talking and communicate how you are feeling.
Other considerations
Vitamin K assists the body with blood clotting. All newborns have a natural degree of vitamin K deficiency (about 40 to 70% less than adult levels), which are adequate to protect them from bleeding, but can quickly deplete if the baby is unable to build up their vitamin K stores. Vitamin K supplements are generally administered soon after birth, either by one injection or as 3 oral doses (by mouth) in the first month of the baby's life.
Birth preparations
Early recovery after Caesarean
For women who have a caesarean, recovering from this major operation is often a concern. The early days will require pain relieving medications and you will be encouraged to get up and move around within the first 24 to 48 hours.
Stitches
About 35 to 45% of Australian women receive stitches to their genitals after giving birth. This varies depending on the birthplace, birthing position, the speed of the birth, if forceps are used, whether this is a first or subsequent baby or if the caregiver does an episiotomy.
For women who have a caesarean, recovering from this major operation is often a concern. The early days will require pain relieving medications and you will be encouraged to get up and move around within the first 24 to 48 hours.
Stitches
About 35 to 45% of Australian women receive stitches to their genitals after giving birth. This varies depending on the birthplace, birthing position, the speed of the birth, if forceps are used, whether this is a first or subsequent baby or if the caregiver does an episiotomy.
4th stage of labour
Overview
The 4th stage of labour is the 1st hour following the birth of the baby and expulsion of the placenta. It is the time that the woman's body stabilises and the baby fully adjusts to life outside the womb. A time to rest, eat and drink for the mother, for the baby to feed, be checked, weighed and measured. It is also a time to take photos, freshen up, ring friends and relatives and perhaps have some form of celebration!
The 4th stage of labour is the 1st hour following the birth of the baby and expulsion of the placenta. It is the time that the woman's body stabilises and the baby fully adjusts to life outside the womb. A time to rest, eat and drink for the mother, for the baby to feed, be checked, weighed and measured. It is also a time to take photos, freshen up, ring friends and relatives and perhaps have some form of celebration!
Physical recovery
The process of labour and giving birth is extremely hard physical work and emotionally demanding at times. How the woman physically recovers and feels during the 4th stage of labour will depend on how long or short the labour was, what type of birth she had, if there were any complications, if she had pain relief and how the baby is after the birth.
Emotions
Every woman reacts in a different way emotionally after the birth. As does every partner and support person. It is not uncommon to have feelings of excitement and joy, mixed with sheer relief and exhaustion that she has "done it" and the baby is here.
Support strategies
The hour after birth is a special, exciting time, full of mixed emotions and physical readjustment for the woman. After completing the amazing task of giving birth, she is still in need of physical and emotional support. She may instigate this support herself or be a little overwhelmed, needing her partner or support person to help meet her needs.
What to expect from your caregiver
Besides getting to know your new baby, the time after birth can involve some interventions and monitoring.
What to do this week:
If you haven't chosen a baby's name yet, it’s high time you started thinking about it! Make a list and discuss your favourites with your partner.
If you haven't chosen a baby's name yet, it’s high time you started thinking about it! Make a list and discuss your favourites with your partner.
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