Week 36

You'll have an antenatal appointment around now with your doctor or midwife. This will check on your blood pressure, urine, and the size of your bump.

You may not feel like going, as it's such an effort to get anywhere, but make them a priority.

These appointments save lives as they can pick up on changes in your body that you might not be aware of, such as very high blood pressure.

What's happening in my body?

Your baby may already have moved head down into your pelvis, which means that they're in position for labour (or "engaged"). However, this doesn't mean that labour's on the way – it could still be weeks away.

If your baby's not head down yet, then you may be offered external cephalic version (ECV).

This is where your doctor or midwife gently applies a helping hand to your bump to encourage the baby to turn – it's successful around half the time.

RSV vaccination

Have you had the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine? It's usually offered at around week 28 but can be given later if needed, right up until you go into labour.

Having the vaccination can lower your baby's risk of a severe lung infection called bronchiolitis, which can make it difficult for your baby to breathe and feed. If you've not had it yet, speak to your midwife or a GP.

Common ways that babies are born

Here are the main ways of giving birth.

Vaginal delivery

Around 6 out of 10 births in England are vaginal births. This is the most common way that babies are born.

You may need help getting the labour started. This is called induction and can be done by breaking your membranes and/or drugs. You will then go through 3 stages of labour:

You will feel contractions as your cervix opens up (“dilates”) to around 10cm. This stage lasts 6 to 12 hours.
Your baby moves down the birth canal towards the opening of your vagina. You may get the urge to push. Then your baby comes out. This stage lasts up to 3 hours if it's your first baby, or 2 hours if you've had a baby before.
Your womb contracts and the placenta comes out through your vagina. This could happen naturally, or you may need an injection of a drug called oxytocin to speed it up. This stage is usually over within 30 minutes.

Caesarean section

Nearly 3 out of 10 babies are delivered by caesarean. This is a procedure that is ideally planned, but it can also be carried out in an emergency. A 10 to 20cm cut is made in your stomach and womb.

Your baby is delivered through the opening and brought over to you, which will require stitches. You will be offered an injection of oxytocin to help your womb contract and reduce blood loss. The procedure takes 40 to 50 minutes. You may need to recover in hospital for a few days.

Assisted delivery

Just over 1 in 10 births are "assisted", which means that the baby needs some help getting out with the use of a ventouse (suction cup) or forceps (surgical tongs). You will be offered a local anaesthetic or epidural (injection in the back) for pain relief. Some women will need an episiotomy (cut) to make it easier to get the baby out. If you tear, or need a cut, you will need stitches.

Vaginal birth after a caesarean section

It is possible to have a vaginal birth after a caesarean section – it depends on why you needed a caesarean before.

If there's no medical reason to stop you, then your chances of having a vaginal birth this time around are very good. Talk to your doctor or midwife about the pros and cons.

Baby sling safety

Many parents use a sling or baby carrier instead of a pram to keep their baby close to them.

If you decide to use a sling, make sure you know how to use it safely, as a small number of deaths from suffocation have been linked to slings.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) advises the safest slings are the ones that hold your baby solidly against your body, in an upright position.

Make sure you can see your baby, that their face is not restricted, and their airways are always clear.

The "Ticks" rule to keep your baby safe when wearing a sling or carrier is:

T – tight
I – in view at all times
C – close enough to kiss
K – keep chin off the chest
S – supported back

3rd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 36 weeks)

Have you noticed a bit of wee leaking out when you laugh or cough? This is your body's way of preparing for the birth by relaxing the pelvic floor muscles around the bladder.

It may help to wear maternity pads – it's a good idea to stock up now as you'll need some after the birth. Also try to practise your pelvic floor exercises.

Your signs of pregnancy could also include:

painless contractions around your bump, known as Braxton Hicks contractions
sleeping problems (week 19 has information on feeling tired)
stretch marks (week 17 has information on stretch marks)
swollen and bleeding gums (week 13 has information on gum health during pregnancy)
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles (week 22 has information on piles)
headaches
backache
indigestion and heartburn (week 25 has information on digestive problems)
bloating and constipation (week 10 has information on bloating)
leg cramps (week 20 has information on how to deal with cramp)
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections (week 15 has information on vaginal health)
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair

You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:

mood swings (week 8 has information on mood swings)
morning sickness (week 6 has information on dealing with morning sickness)
weird pregnancy cravings (week 5 has information on pregnancy cravings)
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts (week 14 has information on breast pain) – a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Read Tommy's guide to common pregnancy symptoms.

What does my baby look like?

Your baby, or foetus, is around 47.4cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of a romaine lettuce.

By now, your baby's lungs are probably mature enough to breathe outside the womb without any help.

Your baby will also be able to suck and digest breast milk. If you're not sure about breastfeeding yet, read about the benefits of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is good for your baby, as it helps to fight off infections. It's great for bonding and also burns around 300 calories a day. There's no reason the size of your breasts should affect your ability to breastfeed.

Composite. One side shows a foetus attached to the placenta by the umbilical cord. The foetus is recognisable as a baby. Other side shows a person holding a large romaine lettuce in 2 hands. — Your baby is about the size of a romaine lettuce.

Action stations

You should start to prepare the things you will need during the birth now.

Make sure that your bag is packed and you have written down your hospital reference number and important phone numbers. Keep your notes where you can quickly grab them.

This week you could also...

Think about stopping work

Start doing pelvic floor exercises

Antenatal classes

Ask your midwife or doctor about online antenatal classes – they may be able to recommend one. The charity Tommy's has lots of useful information on antenatal classes and preparing you for birth.

Ask your partner if they would like to take part in the antenatal classes. Even if you've had children before, antenatal classes are still worth going to as you can meet other parents-to-be.

The NCT offers online antenatal classes with small groups of people that live locally to you.

Smoking, drinking and caffeine in pregnancy

Vitamins in pregnancy

To keep bones and muscles healthy, we need vitamin D.

From late March/early April to the end of September, most people make enough vitamin D from sunlight on their skin. However, between October and early March, you should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement because we cannot make enough from sunlight.

Some people should take a vitamin D supplement all year round, find out if this applies to you on the NHS website.

You just need 10 micrograms daily (it's the same for grown-ups and kids). Check if you're entitled to free vitamins.

Exercising in pregnancy

Healthy eating

There's no need to eat for 2.

Now you're in the 3rd trimester, you may need an extra 200 calories a day, but that's not much. It's about the same as 2 slices of wholemeal toast with margarine.

You just need to eat a healthy balanced diet, with a variety of different foods every day, including plenty of fruit and veg. Have a look at our guide to healthy eating in pregnancy.

You may be able to get free milk, fruit and veg through the Healthy Start scheme.

Emotional and mental wellbeing

How are you today?

If you're feeling anxious or low, talk to your doctor or midwife, who can point you in the right direction to get all the support that you need. You could also discuss your worries with your partner, friends and family.

You may be worried about your relationship, or money, or having somewhere permanent to live.

Don't keep it to yourself – it's important that you ask for help if you need it.

Contraception

Talk to your midwife about newborn screening

You will be offered newborn screening tests for your baby soon after they are born.

These screening tests are recommended by the NHS because they can make sure your baby is given appropriate treatment if needed.

Your decisions about whether or not you want these screening tests will be respected, and healthcare professionals will support you.

Ask your midwife or doctor for more information about newborn screening.

This week's treat

How would you like to take a little holiday today?

One way of escaping, without leaving home, is to practise anxiety control. This can help you to relax your body and mind, and give you a release from the stresses of life.

Our Mental wellbeing audio guides will teach you the basics. Listen to this every day – and soon you'll find that you can take a mini break, whenever you choose.

Bon voyage!

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Week 36

What's happening in my body?

RSV vaccination

Common ways that babies are born

Vaginal birth after a caesarean section

Baby sling safety

3rd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 36 weeks)

What does my baby look like?

Action stations

This week's treat

More in week-by-week

Week 37

Week 38

Week 35

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