Ailments of the 36th week of pregnancy - how to deal with them? 36 weeks pregnant - what month is it? At 36 weeks of pregnancy, are a hard stomach and the feeling of uterine contractions a cause for concern? What is the appearance and weight of the baby at 36 weeks of pregnancy, and is preterm labor associated with a high risk for the baby? In this post, we give you some useful information and tips for your XNUMXth week of pregnancy.
36 weeks of pregnancy, which month and trimester is it?
In medical terminology, it is customary to define the stages of pregnancy in weeks, so many people feel confused and wonder: 36th week of pregnancy, which month is it?
Week 36 (35.1-36 tc) is the beginning of the 9th, last month of pregnancy and at the same time the last stage of her third trimester.
A baby will be born at any moment, which is why many women during this period feel many fears related to the delivery and care of the newborn baby. In the 36th week of pregnancy, the Internet forum does not always turn out to be a reliable source of information, as it contains subjective opinions of Internet users, often unsupported by medical facts.
It is best to dispel all doubts by talking to your midwife at 36 weeks, who will give you all professional advice related to ailments and perinatal care, both for the mother and the baby.. It is also the last call to take advantage of childbirth classes (even in the form of several online meetings with the midwife). In turn, discuss any medical problems with your doctor.
What does a pregnant belly look like and what are the most common problems in the 36th week of pregnancy?
The abdomen at 36 weeks of pregnancy usually becomes quite a challenge for a woman. It's hard to bend down when you need to put on your shoes. Even during trivial activities, it starts to be short of breath, and it may also appear in some pregnant women balance disordersrelated to the forward shift of the center of gravity. It is worth getting comfortable, slip-on shoes or those fastened with Velcro. If you are out of breath and tired, do not hesitate to rest in a comfortable position, and if you have problems with balance, avoid standing on platforms that are easy to fall from (do not hang curtains and do not clean tall cabinets).
Other ailments from the 36th week of pregnancy also include:
- heartburn; back pain;
- swelling of the legs;
- or hemorrhoids.
Then it is worth using a diet rich in fiber (fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains) and eat more often, but in smaller portions. In the 36th week of pregnancy, the internet forums of many portals provide advice on counteracting leg swelling. Putting them on a platform will help for swollen legs, e.g. when you are sitting, put your legs on a stool and soaking them in cool water.
The necessity of frequent visits to the toilet due to pressure of the uterus on the bladder and urinary incontinence are also frequent symptoms during this period. It is worth ruling out any urinary tract infections by performing a urine test in the 36th week of pregnancy.
Kegel exercises (pelvic floor muscles), which also play an important role in childbirth, will help with incontinence problems.
It is enough to perform them regularly for about 5 minutes a day to feel a significant improvement. If you do not know how to practice mm. Kegel, consult a midwife or physiotherapist (especially one with urogynecology specialization). In the 36th week of pregnancy, the online forum is a good place to ask other pregnant women about recommended specialists in your city.
What is the baby's weight and body length at 36 weeks of pregnancy?
At that time, the fetus already reaches a body weight of approx. 2500 - 2800 grams and measures approx. 47 cm. Your baby's movements at 36 weeks of gestation may be slightly less noticeable as the fetus has very little room in the womb for more intense "gymnastics".
Remember that both the child's weight and height are highly correlated with his genetics, so it is not worth comparing your baby with your friend's toddler, who is also in the same week of pregnancy.
If you are concerned about anything about your baby's development, it is best to consult your healthcare professional. He will check in the percentile grids what the baby's weight should meet in the 36th week of pregnancy and on this basis he will determine if your baby is all right.
The appearance of the baby at 36 weeks of pregnancy
During this stage of pregnancy, all the systems and organs of the fetus are fully developed, only the lungs are in the final stage of maturation. The baby has hair on his head, his cheeks are plump and his nose is turned upwards to make it easier for him to breathe while sucking on the breast.
During the 36th week of pregnancy, 3D or 4D ultrasound pictures will show us the image of a fully formed little man. Although they are not necessary for medical reasons, they are a unique memento from the period of pregnancy. In the 36th week of pregnancy, the child still swallows the amniotic fluid intensively (even 0,5 l a day), which contains, among others, particles of its epidermis, fluid, fluid. The first stool is formed in the baby's intestines from these biological particles. the so-called mastic.
At 36 weeks of pregnancy, do uterine contractions and hardening of the abdomen mean labor is about to begin?
In some women at 36 weeks, the abdomen begins to lower slightly, which is caused, among others, by the movement of the baby down the birth canal. The little man is preparing for childbirth. At this stage of pregnancy, it is completely normal and does not necessarily mean that any day will happen.
In turn, such ailments as uterine contractions occurring in the 36th week of pregnancy can be both predictive contractions (Braxton-Hicks) and contractions of the first phase of labor. How to tell them apart?
Predictive contractions
They are irregular and slowly fade away when you rest or after taking a warm (not hot) shower.
Labor contractions
These contractions at 36 weeks of pregnancy are regular, becoming more painful, and they do not go away with rest. They can radiate to the loins and groin. As time goes on, they begin to be separated by ever shorter intervals. They are usually accompanied by other symptoms of the commencing labor, such as mucosal plug breakup, breakage of fluid, diarrhea, vomiting, or blood spotting.
If you have a hard stomach at 36 weeks of pregnancy, it can mean both predictive contractions, spinning, and too much stress and effort in your life. First of all, rest and watch your body. If your belly hardens many times a day, please report it to your doctor.
Is delivery considered premature at 36 weeks of pregnancy?
Physiologically, the pregnancy lasts a full 40 weeks, while a full-term pregnancy is considered a pregnancy when it turns 37 weeks (i.e. a minimum of 36 weeks and 6 days). A premature baby of the 36th week of pregnancy is therefore a late premature baby, but is still considered by doctors as a child requiring increased medical supervision and, for example, respiratory support (although this happens much less often than in babies born earlier in pregnancy).
This is why giving birth in the 36th week of pregnancy is still considered a premature birth. It very often occurs during this period in women with multiple pregnancies, because babies in their mother's uterus have very little space and are almost ready to be born. Therefore, in the case of such a pregnancy, giving birth in the 36th week of pregnancy is considered safe, both for the mother and the children.
Medical visit at 36 weeks of pregnancy
During this time, the pregnant woman should visit her gynecologist, min. every 2 weeks, unless he or she recommends more frequent visits. In addition to the ultrasound examination to assess the well-being of the fetus and the assessment of the length of the cervix, the doctor will order standard research, such as:
- blood count
- and urinalysis.
If the following tests have not been done before, the gynecologist will also recommend additional diagnostics (for the period 33-37 tc):
- HBs antigen;
- HIV;
- vaginal and rectal culture (GBS)
- and VDRL and HCV testing in women at risk.
What if the baby is not growing in the 36th week of pregnancy?
It will certainly be professionally assessed by the attending physician, but you need to know that during this period of pregnancy, the child mainly gains weight, but does not grow so quickly in length (as in the earlier stages of pregnancy). If, on the other hand, at 36 weeks of pregnancy you are worried about little movement of your baby, remember that this is a normal symptom. Due to the small amount of space, the fetus mainly restricts its activity to sleeping and sudden but less frequent 'kicks'.
It is good to monitor your baby's movements: 3 times a day, after main meals, preferably lying on its side. Count the baby's movements. You should feel them within an hour or so. If they occur sooner, you can stop observing. Remember, if anything about the fetal physical activity causes you anxiety (too few movements or abnormally increased activity) do not hesitate to go to the hospital, where the doctor will assess the child's well-being based on CTG examination.
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Senior specialist in the Department of Assessment and Cooperation Development, Institute of Mother and Child
Konsultation:
Ph.D. n. med. prof. IMID Tadeusz Issat - Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the Institute of Mother and Child;
Maria Krowicka-Wasyl - resident physician in the course of specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Mother and Child.