36 weeks pregnant
The 36th week of pregnancy is the period when very little is left to carry the baby. Now the main task of a woman is to regularly visit a gynecologist and follow all his recommendations.
Not only the woman's body is actively preparing for the upcoming birth, but also the body of the fetus. The expectant mother may have more and more training contractions, and the baby continues to gain weight, accumulate subcutaneous fat and kick quite tangibly from the inside.
Content:
- What happens to a baby at 36 weeks pregnant?
- Do I need to do an ultrasound?
- What happens to the stomach?
- Sensations
- Weight
- Pain at 36 weeks gestation
- Allocations: norm and pathology
- Intimate life at 36 weeks
- What dangers can await?
- Childbirth at 36 weeks gestation
- Indications for cesarean section
- Important recommendations
- Answers to questions about 36 weeks pregnant
What happens to a baby at 36 weeks pregnant?
At this time, the child practically does not release his finger from his mouth, constantly sucking on it. Thus, he hones the sucking reflex and trains the muscles of the mouth, which in the future will allow him to take his mother's breast without any problems. The face of the baby is noticeably rounded, the cheeks become more plump.
The child is formed and almost completely ready for birth. Now he weighs about 2.7 kg, and his height reaches 46 cm or more.
The bones of the fetus have noticeably strengthened, but the seams of the skull do not overgrow, and between them there are fontanelles - large cartilaginous areas. This gives mobility for the easiest possible passage of the head through the birth canal. After the birth of the child, the fontanelles gradually ossify and overgrow.
At 36 weeks of gestation, the baby continues to actively move, although his movements are constrained, because there is very little space left in the uterus. However, he has already taken the final position. Ideally, the child should be head down. However, this is not always the case, sometimes the fetus may be in breech or lateral presentation. It will no longer be possible to change its position, so doctors will consider the question of the method of delivery. It is not worth worrying, because the child takes a breech or transverse presentation no more often than in 4% of cases. Moreover, with breech presentation, the possibility of natural childbirth remains.
The nervous, immune and endocrine systems continue to develop continuously. The work of the heart and blood vessels is being improved. The number of heart beats per minute should normally be 140. The heartbeat of the baby can be heard well with a stethoscope.
Surfactant continues to accumulate in the lungs. Thanks to him, the baby will be able to breathe independently outside the womb.
In this video you will learn how to prepare for the hospital, what to take with you and what you need to consult with your doctor:
Do I need to do an ultrasound?
An ultrasound scan at 36 weeks of gestation is usually not performed. It is necessary only if the doctor needs to clarify any data. For example, to exclude the risk of entanglement of the baby with the umbilical cord or to assess the degree of maturity and the state of the placenta.
When ultrasound is nevertheless prescribed, the doctor necessarily measures the height and weight of the child, the volume of amniotic fluid, assesses the readiness of the cervix for the upcoming birth.
If an ultrasound is not performed, then a woman will need to visit her gynecologist, donate blood and urine for a general analysis. At the appointment, the doctor will measure the abdominal circumference, the height of the uterine fundus, listen to the fetal heartbeat, weigh the woman and determine the blood pressure level. These studies are sufficient at 36 weeks of gestation.
What happens to the stomach?
At this time, the belly of most women reaches an impressive size. Many of them compare their belly to those of other expectant mothers, and it may seem to them that it has not grown enough. Indeed, the abdomen can be small due to lack of water or due to low fetal weight. However, if the doctor does not detect any pathologies, there is no need to worry. The abdomen may remain small due to the woman's physique.
Regardless of what the size of the abdomen is, by this time it most often begins to fall. The child presses his head against the pelvic floor, resulting in pain in the corresponding area. Abdominal prolapse is a physiological process, it only indicates that childbirth is approaching. However, this does not mean that they should start right now. After the belly has dropped, a woman can remain pregnant for another 1-2 weeks. At the same time, it will become easier for her to breathe, and digestive problems, including debilitating heartburn, will disappear.
The belly skin is now tight, so it may itch. At the same time, stretch marks may appear. Getting rid of them in the future will be very problematic, so you need to take care of the skin in advance and regularly apply a moisturizer to it.
Sensations
The child's movements are still very noticeable for the woman. Since the baby is already big enough, his stomach becomes cramped. But this does not mean that the child's movements have become less intense from this. Sometimes they are even capable of causing pain, especially when the baby kicks the mother in the hypochondrium. A woman must be vigilant and monitor the baby's movements. Normally, the child moves about 10 times a day.
Another leading woman's feeling is the fear of the upcoming birth, this is especially true for those who give birth for the first time. The closer the date of the first meeting with the child, the more alarming it becomes in the soul. Therefore, many women by 36 weeks of pregnancy become more irritable, anxious and moody. Coping with these feelings is difficult, but necessary. It makes no sense to dwell on your own fears, because this harms not only you, but also the child.
The last weeks of pregnancy can be regarded as the most difficult physiologically. It becomes difficult for an expectant mother to do her usual household chores, and sometimes even walk. Therefore, you need to rest more, but you should not forget about physical activity.
It is good if a woman manages to occupy herself with useful things. These include, for example, walking in the fresh air.
Weight
The woman's weight is constantly increasing. By this time, the increase can be 13 kg, which is the norm. Deviations up or down with a difference of 2 kg are not critical.
You should not worry about the weight gained, since most of it will go away immediately after childbirth. After all, it is formed mainly not from adipose tissue, but from the weight of the child, amniotic fluid, placenta, etc. Only the blood in the body of the expectant mother began to circulate a liter more.
It is also worth getting ready for the fact that the weight will still grow, because pregnancy normally can last up to 41-42 weeks. Therefore, it is important to continue to monitor your diet.
Pain at 36 weeks gestation
Most women experience painful sensations of various localization precisely in the last stages of pregnancy.
To understand when pain is a physiological phenomenon, and when medical assistance is required, one must try to determine their cause, among those:
- A shift in the center of gravity due to an enlarged abdomen. For this reason, back and lower back pain may occur. As a rule, they have a pulling character and completely disappear after rest in a comfortable position.
- Preparing the body for childbirth and softening the joints and ligaments. For this reason, pain may occur in the hip joints, in the pubic region, in the lower abdomen. These pains are usually not too intense and bother with periods.
- Pain in the anus is most often felt due to exacerbation of hemorrhoids. You should not endure such pain, you must definitely tell your doctor about your problem.
- Due to the increased tone of the uterus, pulling pains in the lower back may occur, and the abdomen becomes as if stone. This can be dangerous, so it is imperative to consult a doctor.
- Sometimes women have leg pains. They can be caused by swelling. A slight swelling that appears in the morning is normal. However, sometimes the swelling grows sharply and does not go away for a long time. This may be a symptom of gestosis, a dangerous complication of pregnancy. In addition to edema, gestosis is characterized by such signs as the detection of protein in the urine and an increase in blood pressure. The doctor should immediately be aware of such violations in the woman's body.
Allocations: norm and pathology
The discharge should normally be clear or milky white. They should not emit an unpleasant odor. Sometimes mucus may be present in the discharge - this gradually comes out of the mucous plug. Although often it leaves completely, and sometimes it persists until the very birth.
If curd clots are found in the secretions, you need to consult a doctor. If symptoms such as swelling of the external genital organs and itching are added in parallel, this will indicate thrush. You need to try to get rid of it before the onset of labor, so as not to infect the baby.
A venereal disease may be indicated by yellow or green discharge with impurities of pus, with foam, with a fetid odor. Such discharge clearly indicates an infection that requires specific therapy.
Sometimes a woman discovers streams flowing down her legs. They can be transparent or slightly yellowish. This is a drainage of water, which indicates the imminent onset of labor. In this case, it is impossible to hesitate to call the ambulance brigade. Sometimes water is withdrawn in portions, which indicates a thinning of the placenta. This situation should not be ignored. A woman should immediately see a gynecologist.
Intimate life at 36 weeks
There is no absolute prohibition on intimacy at 36 weeks of gestation. The question of the possibility of entering into sexual relations should be decided by the woman and the doctor together. When the doctor does not see any obstacles to this, then there is no need to give up intimacy.
It should be borne in mind that a female orgasm can provoke childbirth. But at 36 weeks, they are expected, especially if this is not the first child in the family. Therefore, sex at this time is quite acceptable.
What dangers can await?
- The main danger at such late stages of pregnancy is gestosis.
- If a woman does not control her diet, then significant weight gain is possible.
- Sometimes women notice that they have more hair on their bodies. This is a consequence of the activity of hormones in the body. After giving birth, everything should return to normal.
- Low water. If a woman's amniotic bladder contains an insufficient amount of amniotic fluid, this can negatively affect the intensity of labor. It also increases the risk of adhesions forming inside the uterus, which can affect the baby and entangle the umbilical cord. Therefore, lack of water should be identified in a timely manner.
Childbirth at 36 weeks gestation
If labor begins at 36 weeks, it will be considered early or premature. As a rule, the second and subsequent children are born at such periods. Therefore, if a woman has contractions that are not training (their intensity increases, and the rest interval decreases), then it is necessary to go to the hospital.
Chronic diseases of the genital tract, any acute infectious processes, fetal malformations, alcohol intake and smoking during pregnancy can provoke childbirth at this time. At risk are women under 18 and over 40, as well as those mothers whose previous birth was also premature.
Harbingers of an imminent birth
No doctor can determine the exact date of birth.
However, you can understand that this day or hour is approaching by the following signs:
- The belly sank, the woman began to breathe easier, but at the same time the urge to urinate became more frequent;
- Training contractions began to occur more frequently;
- The woman's weight stopped at one mark, or completely decreased by 1-2 kg;
- The mucous plug has come off;
- Frequent mood swings occur.
Early forerunners of childbirth are better able to notify a woman of an impending meeting with a baby than any calculations.
In this video you will learn how to prepare for the hospital, what to take with you and what you need to consult with your doctor:
Indications for cesarean section
About a third of all pregnancies end in a caesarean section. In this case, the child does not pass through the birth canal in a natural way, but is removed from the uterus through an incision in the abdominal cavity. The caesarean section operation has clear indications and no doctor will do it just like that. Caesarean section can be scheduled or emergency.
When a cesarean section is necessary:
- The woman has a very narrow pelvis;
- The woman has suffered injuries to the spine or pelvic bone;
- There is a tumor in the birth canal;
- A complication such as placental abruption develops;
- There is a risk of rupture of the uterus or the threat of divergence of the old suture;
- The woman's uterus is underdeveloped;
- The fetus experiences hypoxia;
- A woman has diseases of the cardiovascular system, organs of vision, kidneys;
- The fruit is too large;
- The fetus is transverse to the abdomen.
If the doctor insists on a caesarean section, then you should not refuse. Remember that modern medicine allows this operation to be carried out with minimal risks to the health of women and children.
Postpartum procedures with a child:
Important recommendations
- To reduce the severity of edema, it is necessary to control the volume of fluid you drink. This is especially true for the evening.
- It is useful to walk a lot in the fresh air. Thanks to this, the blood is enriched with oxygen, which also gets to the child.
- It is worth paying attention to your diet. It is important that the menu is balanced. The child now especially needs calcium, vitamins and protein. You should not get carried away with carbohydrate foods. The menu must include such products as whole grain bread, fresh vegetables and fruits. In no case should you starve.
- Relaxation should not be forgotten. Sleep should be of high quality and complete.
- The hospital's belongings must be collected. The same rule applies to all required documents. Keep the bag in a visible place.
- At such a late date, a woman needs to be as careful as possible. You can not make sudden movements, hurry and hurry. Even getting out of bed should be systematic and measured.
- You can't wear heels now. You need to choose shoes that are comfortable, with a slight rise.
- All the forces and thoughts of a woman should be directed to preparing for the upcoming birth. This concerns not only the arrangement of the apartment for the arrival of the little new settler, but also the maintenance of one's own health in the norm.
Answers to questions about 36 weeks pregnant
- At 36 weeks of gestation, a breech presentation of the fetus was diagnosed. Is there still a way to turn it over? No, the baby takes the final pose at this time. However, you should not worry about this, because with a breech presentation, natural childbirth is quite possible. Therefore, you just need to consult with your doctor.
- At the 36th week of pregnancy, I got sick: I have a cough, a runny nose and a fever. What medications can I take now? Until the woman consults a doctor, no medication should be taken. Any medication during pregnancy must be prescribed by a doctor. It is important to clarify the diagnosis and only then select the treatment.
- If there are no contraindications, is it possible to have sex at 36 weeks of gestation? Yes, it is possible, especially if the doctor sees no obstacles to this. However, both partners need to be careful. Any pressure on the abdomen and abrupt movements should be abandoned.
From this video you will find out what happens to the body of the mother and baby at the very end of pregnancy:
The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist
Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.
