{"id":1387,"date":"2022-01-12T22:58:25","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T04:58:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/?p=1387"},"modified":"2023-04-21T14:09:41","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T20:09:41","slug":"36-weeks-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/healthy-pregnancy\/week-by-week\/36-weeks-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"36 Weeks Pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"

36 Weeks Pregnant: The 36th Week Of Pregnancy<\/h2>\n

You have reached 36 weeks pregnant, and your baby could arrive at any time. We hope you enjoy these last several weeks of pregnancy. Get the Fetal Life App for Apple<\/a> and Android<\/a> endorsed by the American Pregnancy Association.<\/p>\n

What changes are occurring with your body when you are 36 weeks pregnant?<\/h3>\n

Your baby is continuing to put on the weight (about an ounce a day), but you will most likely not notice a change in your own weight. You may feel like there is no room left for your baby to grow and maybe very tired of feeling so “big”, but remember that the longer your baby is in its protective environment up until its due date, generally the better it is. You may notice an increase in the amount of Braxton Hicks<\/a> contractions you experience. Many women experiencing Braxton Hicks head to the hospital, only to be told that they are actually experiencing a false alarm or false labor<\/a>. While this can be incredibly frustrating, it can be a good practice run for getting to the hospital. True labor<\/a> contractions will eventually follow Braxton Hicks contractions.<\/p>\n

How big is your baby?<\/h3>\n

Your baby is likely between 17 \u00bd to 19 inches (44.5 to 48.3 cm) long<\/strong> and weighs 5 \u00be to 6 \u00be pounds (2.6 to 3.1 kg)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What is happening with your baby?<\/h3>\n

The fine downy hair (lanugo) that has covered your baby\u2019s skin is beginning to disappear, along with the vernix caseosa. Vernix caseosa is the thick, creamy substance that has protected your baby\u2019s skin while submerged in amniotic fluid. Your baby will swallow both of these, along with some amniotic fluid, which combines together to form meconium, your baby\u2019s first bowel movement. Your baby should be in the head-down position, but do not panic if your baby has yet to reach this position. If your baby is still not head down by next week, your health care provider may suggest trying an external cephalic version, a method to correct a breech presentation. For more information regarding this procedure, please read about breech births<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What should you plan for during the 36th week of pregnancy?<\/h3>\n

When you have your appointment this week you should be prepared for:<\/strong><\/p>\n