36th Week of Pregnancy
36th Week of Pregnancy
By 36th week of pregnancy most of the expectant moms will get Braxton Hicks contractions more often. Many times true labor pains start after Braxton Hicks contractions but there are great chances that you will be told by your health care provider that it is a false labor or false alarm once you reach hospital. Do not be frustrated if you get to hear this and sent back to your home.
Your baby is now around 17 ½ to 19 inches long and her weight is around 5 ¾ to 6 ¾ pounds. Each pregnancy is unique and so is every baby’s growth. Therefore it is good not to compare your baby’s growth with other’s babies. Your baby is now putting on weight during these last few weeks of pregnancy. Your baby’s meconium i.e. dark greenish feces that have collected in the intestines of an unborn baby and are released shortly after birth, is being collected. Your baby may pass motion during delivery or right after birth.
Your baby would have descended down in your pelvis. If the process of lightening has not begun, your health care provider might propose version i.e. manipulation of a fetus to change its position in the womb, e.g. so that your baby can be delivered safely. Between 35th to 38th weeks, your health care provider may suggest GBS (Group B Strep) to rule out bacterial infection. If you test positive you will be given IV antibiotics during delivery.
Keep your hospital bag ready. Remember to keep following things in the bag:
Nursing pillow
Your and your baby’s clothes
Slippers or slip-ons
Toiletries like toothpaste, toothbrush, soap etc
Sanitary pads
Books or magazines
Health insurance card
Infant car seat
Diapers and wipes etc
You need to pack a few things for your partner too. His clothes, shaving kit and other toiletries, some snacks, camera with charged batteries and charger, cell phone or quarters for pay phones are some of the required things for your partner. If you have older kid/s, then packing a special gift or two for them will be very helpful for better bonding between the siblings.
As you enter the ninth month of pregnancy, you will notice increase in heartburn and indigestion. Drink plenty of water to decrease heartburn and stay well hydrated. Sometimes dehydration causes contractions which may end up as false alarm for you. If there is reddish or greenish vaginal discharge, contact your doctor right away. If your water sac ruptures, rush to the hospital immediately.
If you start getting contractions, try changing your position. If it is false labor, then you might get some relief from contractions. However if it is true labor then the contractions will not subside by changing positions. Do not hesitate to call even if it is late night as your doctor is prepared for such calls from women in their last weeks of pregnancy. Prepare yourself mentally for birth of your child and assure yourself that everything will be alright.
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