Pregnancy Week 36 - Pregnancy Week by Week

Welcome to Pregnancy Week 36.

Changes to Mother During Pregnancy Week 36

You may experience lightening at this stage. This is a process where the baby moves down the birth canal still further.Although pressure from your lungs are released and you can breathe easier, you may still find walking difficult.

Your doctor will monitor you for polyhydramnios. A balance is maintained by the baby inside the womb as he swallows aminotic fluid and passes it is as urine. If this balance is upset in any way, you may experience polyhydramnios.

You may have to increase your daily food intake to 2400 calories from this week on to ensure the birth of a sound and healthy baby.

You may go into labour anytime from this stage. So, it is a good choice to consider packing your hospital bag and make arrangements to get to the hospital. How exactly labour is induced is not certain. Some studies say that the baby's brain sends signals when it has entirely developed so that labour can begin. Some others state that the lungs initiate labor when they have matured. Signals are sent to the uterus to start contracting. The body then starts releasing prostaglandins. Some symptoms that you may go into labour very soon are lightening when the baby drops into the pelvis, discharge of blood when the mucous plug is released or rupture of the water bag.

Changes to Baby During Pregnancy Week 36

The bones that form your baby's skull start overlapping each other when his head is inside your pelvis. This overlap is called molding and helps the baby to pass through the birth canal. He continues to gain weight like the previous weeks.