In the 36th week of pregnancy, the ninth month begins for you. Your baby is now fully developed and will continue to grow in the coming weeks. As an expectant mom, you are probably quickly exhausted now and want to rest a lot.
Your maternity leave already started last week, and you can use the coming four weeks before the birth for final preparations.
In our pregnancy calendar, we summarize how your baby is developing in week 36 and how big it is by now. You will also learn which symptoms are typical now and how you can recognize the onset of labor. We also introduce you to how the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep can support you in the months after birth.
How your baby develops in the 36th week of pregnancy
Your baby is already fully developed in week 36. All organs are functioning, and reflexes are also formed. Your baby's development in the final weeks of pregnancy focuses on growth and weight gain.
By now, your baby also has its own heat regulation. After birth, it can regulate its temperature itself, but should of course always be kept warm. This is important so that your baby does not lose its valuable fat reserves that it has built up over the past weeks.
Your baby has very little space left in your uterus in week 36. The amount of amniotic fluid continues to decrease so that your baby has enough room. Therefore, it will no longer move around too much or do gymnastics through your belly in the 36th week of pregnancy. However, you may notice its reactions to external stimuli, such as light or noise.
Size & weight of your baby in week 36
Your baby will gain quite a bit of weight and continue to grow in the final weeks of your pregnancy. In week 36, it weighs about 2,700 grams. This means it has gained around 200 grams since last week. It measures approximately 47 centimeters and is thus as big as a Romaine lettuce.
If you are expecting twins, these values may differ. Twins weigh an average of 2,400 to 2,600 grams at birth. This means they may be 1 kilogram lighter than singletons. Thanks to modern medicine, twin pregnancies are generally associated with only a low risk, and despite the lower birth weight, nothing stands in the way of normal development.
Do you notice that the birth is getting closer and want to prepare for your baby's arrival? Our automatic baby hammock is an ideal sleep aid for newborns. It rocks your baby to sleep with gentle movements. This helps your baby fall asleep better and stay asleep more easily.
How your body changes in the 36th week of your pregnancy
The biggest change to your body is your growing belly. In week 36 and the coming weeks, your baby will need more and more space, and your uterus will continue to expand. This slowly makes everyday life really arduous for you.
It is also quite possible that you occasionally feel pain. These are usually not real labor contractions, but rather lightening or practice contractions. Lightening contractions ensure that your baby slips deeper into the pelvis and further towards the birth canal. This is a contraction of the uterus through which your baby moves and the placenta is supplied with additional blood.
You can easily distinguish between birth contractions and lightening contractions. Birth contractions come at regular intervals and become stronger over time. Lightening contractions, on the other hand, occur irregularly and do not become more intense. If your baby moves closer to the birth canal due to the lightening contractions, you will probably be able to breathe better again. The shortness of breath improves, and you can take a proper breath again.
Pregnancy week 36: Symptoms & complaints of expectant moms
If you are 36 weeks pregnant, you are probably struggling with water retention. Due to the pregnancy, your body has increased blood flow. This means your veins have to work harder. Water retention develops in many pregnant women, especially in the legs and feet.
These occur mainly due to gravity when you are on your feet all day. Therefore, it is advisable to rest as much as possible and put your feet up. Lying on the left side of your body is particularly beneficial for your blood circulation.
If you have already had your first lightening contractions, you may now feel strong pressure on your pelvis. This is triggered by your baby's weight and will continue to increase in the coming weeks. It is also possible that your baby is pressing on your stomach and bladder. Heartburn, nausea, and a strong urge to urinate are not uncommon in this phase of pregnancy.
Delivery is getting closer and things are getting serious. Use the final weeks of your pregnancy to make the last preparations. Take a look at the innovative automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep. It is recommended by midwives and orthopedists as it gently rocks your baby to sleep and can contribute to better relaxation.
How to recognize an impending birth
Your baby is now fully developed and has ideally already taken its birth position. The lungs are also already functioning, it can swallow, and your baby is viable even outside your belly. You are now approaching the calculated due date in big steps. As an expectant mother, you are surely wondering how you can recognize an impending birth.
We summarize some signs for you:
Your hormones are going crazy:
In the last days before birth, your baby absorbs a particularly large amount of progesterone from the placenta. This causes your hormones to go crazy. Your own estrogen level rises sharply, and more oxytocin is released.
Nausea & diarrhea:
Your muscles are particularly stimulated before birth. This can lead to nausea, increased bowel movements, and even diarrhea. These symptoms are very common before birth and are therefore usually no cause for concern.
Back pain:
It is not uncommon for expectant mothers to suffer from severe back pain shortly before birth. This can be an indicator that your baby will soon be on its way to you.
Strong fetal movements:
Many pregnant women report that their baby becomes very active shortly before birth. It tries to push itself further into the birth canal with its feet. If your baby is suddenly doing gymnastics in your belly, labor could start soon.
As you can see, there are many non-specific features that can announce an imminent birth. As an expectant mom in the 36th week of pregnancy, you should complete the birth preparation and take the final steps. If you are not sure how to interpret your symptoms, you can seek medical advice or contact your midwife.
Automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep: Innovative sleep aid for your baby
Around four weeks before birth, your baby is already lying head down and will soon be on its way to you. By then, all preparations should be completed. Have you already thought about your baby's sleeping place? The automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep offers your baby a secure nest in which it lies closely embraced.
It already knows this position from the womb, which is why it feels particularly comfortable in the hammock. The motor rocks your baby to sleep with gentle up and down movements. Your baby already knows these too: if you walked during pregnancy, it felt similar for your baby.
This ensures that your baby feels particularly comfortable in our automatic baby hammock. It can fall asleep and stay asleep better. Even restless babies can calm down more easily in the hammock.
We have been working on our automatic baby hammock for 24 years and have now convinced more than 170,000 families. Feel free to take a look at our automatic baby hammock and prepare everything for your baby's arrival!
