Short Answer: At 36 week pregnancy, your baby is about 47 cm from head to heel, roughly the size of a head of romaine lettuce, and weighs around 2.6 kg. The lungs are nearly mature, the fat layer is thick, the digestive system is ready to feed and most babies are head down with the head settling into the pelvis. The top of your womb is about 35 to 36 cm above your pubic bone. You may have pelvic pressure, backache, frequent urination, heartburn that eases as the baby drops and stronger Braxton Hicks tightenings. From this week, many doctors see you weekly. This week, have your baby’s position checked, get the group B strep swab if your hospital offers it, finish your hospital bag and birth plan, learn what happens when you arrive at the hospital and agree your plan with your birth companion. Call a doctor the same day for any change in your baby’s movements, and for bleeding, severe pain, fever, fluid leaking, regular tightenings or a severe headache with blurred vision.
Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period, not from conception. Thirty-six weeks pregnant means about thirty-four weeks since conception. You are in your ninth month, with about 4 weeks to go.
For the week before, read our guide to 35 weeks pregnant, and to follow the whole journey see our pregnancy guidelines week by week.
37 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Development, Symptoms and Tips
Week 36 at a glance
| Detail | At 36 weeks |
|---|---|
| Trimester | Third |
| Months | About 8.5 to 9 |
| Baby’s length | About 47 cm (18.7 inches), head to heel |
| Baby’s weight | About 2.6 kg (5.7 pounds) |
| Heart rate | About 120 to 160 beats per minute |
| Weeks to go | About 4 |
| Size comparison | A head of romaine lettuce |
| Height of womb | About 36 cm from the pubic bone |
Sizes differ a little between guides, because they use averages from different groups of babies. Your own scan results and your doctor’s measurements matter more than a chart.
Your baby at 36 weeks
Growth. Your baby gains about 200 grams a week, or roughly 28 grams a day, and most of it is fat. The cheeks are round, the limbs are chubby and the skin is smooth and pink. This fat will help your baby stay warm after birth. Growth in length slows now, because your baby is running out of room.
Lungs. The lungs are almost mature and make enough surfactant for most babies born now to breathe without help. A few still need short-term support. Full lung maturity is reached at about 37 to 38 weeks, which is one reason doctors avoid planned birth before 39 weeks unless there is a medical reason.
Digestive system. The gut is ready to digest breast milk. The sucking and swallowing reflexes are strong, and your baby may suck a thumb or the cord. Meconium, the first dark, sticky stool, has built up in the bowel and is usually passed in the first day after birth. A newborn who passes it before birth may have been stressed, so tell your doctor if your waters break and the fluid looks green or brown.
Brain and senses. The brain keeps growing and forming connections, and your baby sleeps most of the day in cycles of deep sleep and dream-like sleep. Your baby recognises your voice, your partner’s voice and the sounds of your home. The eyes open and close, and the pupils react to light. Newborns see best at about 20 to 30 cm, which is the distance to your face during feeding.
Skin and hair. Vernix, the white waxy coating, is thick, and the fine body hair, called lanugo, has mostly gone. Hair on the head is thicker, and the nails reach or pass the fingertips, so keep a soft nail file or mittens handy.
Bones. The bones are hard apart from the skull, whose plates stay soft and loosely joined so the head can mould as it moves through the birth canal. Your baby is still taking calcium from you.
Immune system. Your antibodies cross the placenta in large amounts in these last weeks, protecting your baby from infections in the first months. The whooping cough and tetanus vaccines add to this.
Position. Most babies are head down by now, and in a first pregnancy the head often drops into the pelvis, which is called engagement. In later pregnancies it may happen only when labour starts. About 3 to 4 in 100 babies are breech at term.
Movement. With less room, movements feel like rolls, stretches and pushes more than sharp kicks. The total amount should stay about the same until labour. Hiccups, which feel like small rhythmic jumps, are common.
Chances at birth. A baby born at 36 weeks is late preterm. More than 99 in 100 survive in hospitals with good newborn care, and most go home within days to a week or two. These babies are more likely than term babies to have problems with breathing, feeding, body temperature, jaundice and low blood sugar, so a hospital with a newborn unit is the safest place for birth.
Your body at 36 weeks
Womb. The top of your womb is about 35 to 36 cm above your pubic bone, close to your ribs. A tape measure from the pubic bone reads about 36 cm, give or take 2 cm. If your baby has dropped, the measurement may fall slightly, and that is normal.
Dropping. When the baby’s head settles into the pelvis, you may notice easier breathing and less heartburn, a lower-looking bump, more pressure in the pelvis and rectum, a need to pass urine more often, a waddle and sharp, electric-like twinges in the pelvis or vagina. Many people feel no obvious change, and dropping does not mean labour is about to start.
Weight. Weight gain slows near the end, and some people stop gaining or lose a little. By now most people have gained about 11 to 16 kg in total. Sudden rapid weight gain, especially with swelling, needs a check for pre-eclampsia.
Blood and heart. Your blood volume is at its peak, and your heart works hard. You may feel warm, sweat more and notice veins on your legs and breasts.
Breathing. If your baby has not dropped, you may still be breathless on stairs. Sit upright, rest and avoid rushing. Call your doctor if breathlessness is sudden, severe or comes with chest pain, a fast heartbeat or a cough with blood.
Skin and hair. A glow is common, but so are acne, dry skin, dark patches on the face and a dark line down the belly. Stretch marks can appear on the belly, breasts, hips and thighs. Itchy red bumps on stretch marks, called PUPPP, are harmless but very itchy, so ask your doctor for a safe cream. Intense itching on the palms and soles needs a doctor the same day, because it can be a liver condition called cholestasis.
Breasts. They are larger and heavier. Colostrum, the thick yellow first milk, may leak. A supportive nursing bra and breast pads help.
Hands, feet and legs. Mild swelling is common, especially in hot weather. Tingling in the hands from carpal tunnel syndrome is common too. Varicose veins and piles can appear or get worse.
Tiredness and mood. Tiredness, impatience, vivid dreams, forgetfulness and mood swings are common. A burst of energy and the urge to clean and organise, called nesting, is also common. Avoid climbing, heavy lifting and strong cleaning fumes.
What “term” means
Doctors divide late pregnancy into stages, because a baby born a week or two earlier or later can have different needs. A due date is a guess, and only about 1 in 20 babies arrive on it.
| Stage | Weeks | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Late preterm | 34 weeks to 36 weeks and 6 days | Baby is almost mature, but has a higher risk of breathing, feeding and temperature problems |
| Early term | 37 weeks to 38 weeks and 6 days | Baby is mostly ready, but has a slightly higher risk of breathing and feeding problems than a baby born at 39 weeks or later |
| Full term | 39 weeks to 40 weeks and 6 days | The best time for birth for most babies |
| Late term | 41 weeks to 41 weeks and 6 days | Overdue. Your doctor will talk about monitoring or induction |
| Post-term | 42 weeks and later | The risk of problems rises. Induction is usually advised before this point |
Unless there is a medical reason, it is safest to let labour start on its own, or to wait until 39 weeks for a planned induction or C-section. A medical reason might be pre-eclampsia, uncontrolled diabetes, poor growth, a placenta covering the cervix or a breech baby.
Weekly visits: what to expect
Many doctors see you every week from 36 weeks until birth. The World Health Organization recommends contacts at about 36, 38 and 40 weeks, with more if there are problems. Keep every appointment, even if you feel well, and bring your prenatal card.
What is usually checked:
- Your blood pressure and urine for protein, to look for pre-eclampsia and infection
- Your weight and any swelling
- The height of your womb, with a tape measure, and the size of your belly
- Your baby’s position, by feeling your belly, and whether the head has dropped
- Your baby’s heartbeat
- Your baby’s movements, so tell your doctor about any change
- Your hemoglobin, if it has not been checked recently
A vaginal examination is not a routine part of these visits. It does not predict when labour will start, so you can say no. A membrane sweep, which is a gentle separation of the membranes from the cervix, may be offered from 39 weeks.
Ask at your visit:
- What are my blood pressure, weight, hemoglobin and womb size?
- Is my baby head down, and has the head dropped?
- When and where is the group B strep swab, and what is the plan if it is positive?
- What should I do if my waters break, or if labour starts before or after my due date?
- When would you advise induction or a C-section, if at all?
- Which hospital should I go to, and do I need to register in advance?
- Which doctor or midwife will be with me, and what happens if you are not available?
Write down the answers.
Is your baby head down?
Your doctor will check your baby’s position at about 36 weeks, by feeling your belly and, if needed, with an ultrasound.
| Position | What it means |
|---|---|
| Head down, facing your back | The usual and best position for a vaginal birth |
| Head down, facing your front (back-to-back) | Can mean more backache in labour. Many babies turn during labour |
| Breech | Bottom or feet are toward the pelvis. About 3 to 4 in 100 babies at term |
| Transverse or oblique | The baby lies across the womb. Uncommon, and needs a plan |
If your baby is breech at 36 weeks, you may be offered:
- External cephalic version (ECV). A doctor gently pushes on your belly to turn the baby, with ultrasound and heart monitoring. It is usually offered from 36 weeks in a first pregnancy and 37 weeks after earlier births, in a hospital that can do an emergency C-section. It works in about half of attempts, and the risk of an emergency C-section afterwards is small. It can be uncomfortable, and a medicine to relax the womb may help. It is not advised if you have bleeding, a placenta covering the cervix, twins or other medical reasons.
- A planned C-section, usually at 39 weeks, which is the safest option for many breech babies.
- A planned vaginal breech birth, in a few hospitals with experienced staff, for carefully chosen cases. Ask your doctor if this is possible for you and what the risks are.
What you can do. Walking, swimming, sitting on a birthing ball and sitting upright with a forward-leaning pelvis are safe and may help a baby settle head down. There is little proof that special positions turn a breech baby. Do not try risky methods such as hanging upside down, and do not start anything without your doctor’s advice.
If the baby is head down but facing your front, leaning forward on a ball or pillow, being on hands and knees and walking may help. Many babies turn on their own.
Group B strep swab
Group B streptococcus, or GBS, is a bacterium carried by about 1 in 5 healthy women, usually in the gut or vagina. It does not harm you, but it can pass to your baby during birth and cause serious infection, such as sepsis, pneumonia or meningitis. Most babies of carriers are healthy, but prevention matters.
Testing. Many guidelines recommend a swab of the lower vagina and rectum between 36 and 37 weeks and 6 days. It is quick, painless and can be done by you or a nurse. Some hospitals test, and others use risk factors instead. Ask your doctor what your hospital does.
If you carry GBS, you are given antibiotics, usually penicillin, through a drip once labour starts or your waters break, ideally four hours or more before birth. This greatly lowers your baby’s risk. Tell the staff that you are a carrier when you arrive. If you are allergic to penicillin, tell your doctor, because other antibiotics are available.
If you are not tested, your doctor may advise antibiotics in labour if you have risk factors: labour before 37 weeks, waters broken for 18 hours or more, a fever of 38°C or more in labour, a previous baby with GBS infection or GBS in your urine during this pregnancy.
After birth, a baby at risk is watched for 24 to 48 hours. Warning signs include fever or low temperature, poor feeding, fast breathing, grunting, sleepiness, floppiness and a blue colour. Go to hospital at once if you see them.
Common symptoms and what helps
| Symptom | Why it happens | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Pelvic pressure and waddling | Baby’s head drops into the pelvis | Rest, a warm bath, a pillow between knees, a support belt |
| Sharp, shooting pains in the pelvis or vagina | Baby’s head presses on nerves | Change position, lean forward, rest |
| Backache | Growing womb, loosening joints, posture | Flat supportive shoes, good posture, side-sleeping with a pillow, gentle stretches |
| Braxton Hicks tightenings | Practice contractions | Drink water, rest, change position |
| Frequent urination, leaking | Baby presses on the bladder | Pelvic floor exercises, empty your bladder often |
| Leg cramps, mostly at night | Circulation and mineral changes | Calf stretches before bed, drink water, ask about calcium |
| Swollen feet and ankles | Fluid retention | Raise your feet, avoid long standing, drink water |
| Heartburn | Relaxed valve at the top of the stomach | Smaller meals, avoid spicy and oily food, stay upright after eating |
| Shortness of breath | Womb presses on the diaphragm | Sit upright, rest, good posture |
| Constipation, piles | Slow gut, iron tablets, pressure | Fibre, water, daily movement, do not strain |
| Trouble sleeping | Belly size, cramps, worry | Side-sleeping with pillows, regular bedtime, cool room |
| Tingling hands | Fluid squeezing a nerve at the wrist | Shake and raise your hands, wrist splint at night |
| Increased vaginal discharge | Hormones | Cotton underwear, no douching |
| Loose stools | Hormones that prepare the body for labour | Drink water, eat light meals. Call if severe or with fever |
Do not take any medicine, including painkillers and herbal products, without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Paracetamol at the recommended dose is generally considered safe. Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin and diclofenac unless your doctor prescribes them.
When to call a doctor
| Usually normal | Call a doctor soon |
|---|---|
| Short, sharp pulls in the lower belly | Severe or constant abdominal pain |
| Mild, irregular tightenings that stop with rest | Regular tightenings that come more often and do not stop |
| Your baby’s movements change a little with time of day | A clear drop or change in your baby’s usual movements |
| A few drops of urine when you cough or sneeze | Watery fluid that keeps leaking, or a gush |
| A pink or brown mucus show | Bright red bleeding that soaks a pad |
| Occasional headache | Severe headache with blurred vision, flashing lights or upper belly pain |
| Itchy stretching belly skin | Intense itching of palms and soles, or yellow skin |
| Tiredness, mood swings | Fainting, chest pain or sudden breathlessness |
| Mild swelling of both feet late in the day | Sudden swelling of the face and hands, or one swollen, painful calf |
Bleeding. Any bleeding in the third trimester needs urgent care, even if it is painless. Painless bright red bleeding can be a sign of placenta praevia, and bleeding with pain and a hard belly can be a placental abruption. Both are emergencies. Do not examine yourself internally, and go to hospital at once.
Pre-eclampsia. A serious blood pressure condition. Signs include a severe headache that will not go away, blurred vision or flashing lights, sudden swelling of the face and hands, pain under the ribs on the right side, vomiting and rapid weight gain. It needs urgent care.
Preterm labour. Before 37 weeks, call straight away if you have regular tightenings, more than four in an hour, a steady low backache, pelvic pressure, a change in vaginal discharge, bleeding or fluid leaking. Lie on your left side and drink water, and go to hospital if the signs continue for an hour, or at once for bleeding or fluid leaking. Call 999 if you need help getting there.
Fever. In Bangladesh a fever can also mean dengue, so do not treat it at home. See a doctor straight away.
Your baby’s movements. Keep tracking them. Learn the usual pattern, and if you want a method, count distinct movements until you reach ten, which usually takes under two hours. If you notice a clear drop or change, call your doctor the same day, and do not wait until the next day or rely on a home Doppler.
If you feel sad, anxious or hopeless for more than two weeks, tell your doctor. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, seek help right away.
Due dates, overdue babies and bringing on labour
Your due date is an estimate. It is calculated as 40 weeks from the first day of your last period, or adjusted by an early scan. Only about 1 in 20 babies are born on the due date, and most arrive within two weeks either side. First babies are often a little late.
If you go past your due date. Your doctor will watch you and your baby more closely, with checks of your baby’s movements and heartbeat, and sometimes a scan of the fluid. Between 41 and 42 weeks, induction is usually offered, because the risk of stillbirth and other problems rises slowly after 41 weeks. You can discuss the options, including waiting with extra monitoring.
Membrane sweep. From 39 weeks, a doctor or midwife may offer a sweep during an internal exam. It can raise the chance of labour starting within 48 hours, and it may cause discomfort, cramps and light bleeding. It is optional.
What is said to bring on labour, and what the evidence shows:
| Method | What we know |
|---|---|
| Walking and staying active | Safe and good for you. There is no proof it starts labour, but it may help the baby move down |
| Sex | Safe in a healthy pregnancy once your waters have not broken. The evidence that it starts labour is weak |
| Eating dates | Some studies suggest it may soften the cervix and shorten labour. The evidence is limited. Ask your doctor first if you have diabetes |
| Spicy food, pineapple, papaya | There is no good proof they work. Spicy food can cause heartburn and diarrhoea. Avoid unripe papaya |
| Nipple stimulation | Can cause strong contractions in some women. It should only be done with your doctor’s advice, because contractions can be too strong |
| Acupressure and acupuncture | Limited evidence. Use only a trained practitioner |
| Evening primrose oil | Not shown to work, and not recommended by many doctors. Ask first |
| Castor oil | Not recommended. It causes diarrhoea, cramps and dehydration, and can distress the baby |
| Herbal drinks and tonics | Can be unsafe and cause too-strong contractions. Avoid unless your doctor approves |
Do not try to start labour on your own before 39 weeks unless your doctor advises it. If you are tired of waiting, rest, sleep and prepare. The baby will come when ready.
What happens when you arrive at the hospital
Knowing the steps makes the hospital less frightening. Routines differ, so ask your hospital.
- Registration. You or your companion give your name, ID, prenatal card and test results. Say if you are a GBS carrier, Rh negative, have allergies or have medical conditions.
- Assessment. A nurse, midwife or doctor asks about your contractions, waters, bleeding and baby’s movements, and checks your blood pressure, temperature, pulse and urine.
- Baby’s heartbeat. They listen with a handheld device, or place a belt on your belly to record the heartbeat and contractions for 20 to 30 minutes. This is called cardiotocography, or CTG.
- Belly check. They feel your belly to check the baby’s position, size and how much of the head has dropped.
- Vaginal examination. They may check how open your cervix is, in centimetres. You can ask for the exam to be gentle and for an explanation. The World Health Organization advises not doing this more often than every four hours in a low-risk labour, unless there is a reason.
- Decision. If you are in active labour, with the cervix at about 5 cm or more and regular strong contractions, you are admitted. If it is early labour, you may be advised to go home, walk or rest and come back, or to stay for a while. If your waters have broken, you are usually kept in and checked. If your baby has any sign of distress, the team acts quickly.
What is normal in labour:
- Early (latent) phase. The cervix softens and opens to about 5 cm. Contractions are mild to moderate, irregular at first and then every 5 to 20 minutes. This phase can last many hours, even a day or more in a first labour, and it is not a sign that anything is wrong.
- Active phase. The cervix opens from about 5 cm to 10 cm. Contractions are strong, about 3 to 5 minutes apart and last 45 to 60 seconds. This often takes 4 to 8 hours or more in a first labour, and is usually faster after earlier births.
- Pushing. You push your baby out. This can take up to two to three hours in a first labour, and is often shorter after earlier births.
- Placenta. The placenta comes out within 5 to 30 minutes, usually with the help of an oxytocin injection given after the baby is born, which lowers the risk of heavy bleeding.
What you can ask for:
- Your companion to stay with you throughout
- To move around, change position and drink water, if it is safe
- Clear explanations, and your consent before any procedure
- Privacy, and respectful, kind care
- Pain relief options, and what each involves
- Not to have an episiotomy, an induction, a drip or a vacuum unless there is a medical reason
- Skin-to-skin contact straight after birth
When to speak up: if you feel the urge to push, if you feel a bulge, if your baby moves less, if you have bleeding, if the pain is unbearable and constant or if you think something is wrong.
The first hour after birth
The World Health Organization recommends practices for the first hours that protect mother and baby. Ask your hospital whether it follows them, and write them in your birth plan.
- Immediate skin-to-skin contact. If you and your baby are well, your baby is dried and placed naked on your bare chest, and both are covered with a warm cloth, with a cap on the baby’s head. This keeps your baby warm, steadies the heartbeat and breathing and helps feeding start. It should last at least an hour, and the baby should not be taken away for weighing, bathing or injections until the first feed is done.
- Breastfeeding within the first hour. Your baby will show signs of readiness, such as moving the head, opening the mouth and licking, and will often crawl to the breast and latch. Ask for help with the latch if you need it. Do not give honey, water, sugar water, formula or any other food before breastmilk, unless there is a medical reason.
- Delayed cord clamping. The cord is clamped and cut between one and three minutes after birth, or when it stops pulsing, unless the baby needs urgent help. This gives your baby extra blood and iron stores. Ask your doctor if your hospital does it.
- Oxytocin injection. An injection of oxytocin, usually into the thigh, is given within a minute of birth to help the womb contract and lower bleeding. It is a routine and safe way to prevent heavy bleeding after birth.
- Checks. The baby is checked with an Apgar score, usually at one and five minutes, which looks at colour, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone and breathing. Most healthy babies score 7 or more. Your baby is weighed and examined after the first hour of contact, unless there is a problem.
- Vitamin K and vaccines. Many hospitals give vitamin K to prevent bleeding in newborns. BCG is given at birth in Bangladesh as part of the free national immunisation programme. Ask your doctor what will be given.
- Rooming-in. Your baby stays with you, day and night, so you can feed on demand. Separation is only needed for medical reasons.
- Delay the first bath for at least 24 hours, to keep your baby warm.
- Observation. You and your baby are watched for at least 24 hours after a vaginal birth, if possible, since most problems appear early. Stay for the checks, even if you feel well.
Hand-expressing colostrum before birth. Some doctors advise women with diabetes to hand-express colostrum from about 36 weeks and freeze it, to give a baby who has low blood sugar. If you do not have diabetes, you do not need to. Do not do it unless your doctor advises, because strong nipple stimulation can trigger contractions.
A guide for your birth companion
A calm, supportive companion can make labour easier. Share this section with your partner or whoever will be with you.
Before labour:
- Learn the signs of labour and the danger signs, and where to go
- Know the route to the hospital, the transport and who to call
- Keep the hospital bag, documents and cash ready by the door
- Read the birth plan and understand what she wants, and what she does not
- Learn some comfort measures: breathing, massage, counter-pressure on the lower back and positions
- Charge your phone, and save numbers for the doctor, hospital, driver and relatives
In early labour at home:
- Help her rest, eat light snacks and drink water
- Time the contractions, and write down when they start and how long they last
- Stay calm. Your calm helps her
- Call the doctor or hospital when it is time, or at once for danger signs
At the hospital:
- Speak up for her, politely, if she cannot. Ask questions, such as “What is that for?” and “What are the other options?”
- Stay close, hold her hand and keep her company
- Offer sips of water, a cool cloth for her forehead, a warm cloth for her back and a change of position
- Remind her to breathe slowly, and breathe with her
- Tell her what is happening, and praise her
- Do not argue with staff during an emergency. Ask for an explanation afterwards
- Keep track of what the staff say, and write down names and instructions
- Take care of yourself with food, water and rest, so you can keep helping
After birth:
- Hold your baby skin-to-skin when your partner needs rest, and help with feeds, nappies and chores
- Watch for danger signs in her and the baby, and call for help
- Be gentle with your words. Many mothers feel emotional and tired
- Take over visitors, phone calls and cooking, so she can rest
Partners can feel anxious or helpless. Talk to someone you trust, and know that your role matters.
Food, exercise and sleep
Food. Eat small, frequent meals, with protein, iron-rich foods such as leafy greens, lean meat and lentils (with lemon or guava for vitamin C), calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt and small fish eaten with the bones, whole grains, fruit and vegetables and plenty of water. Take iron-folic acid and calcium as prescribed, at different times, and use iodised salt. Limit caffeine to about 200 mg a day, and avoid alcohol, tobacco, raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs, unpasteurised dairy, unwashed produce, large predatory fish and herbal tonics your doctor has not approved. Keep your energy up in early labour with light snacks and water, unless your doctor says not to.
Exercise. Keep walking, about 30 minutes on most days. Gentle yoga, swimming, sitting on a birthing ball and pelvic floor exercises are good. Avoid hot yoga, lying flat on your back during exercise, contact sports and heavy lifting. Stop and call your doctor if you have pain, bleeding, dizziness, trouble breathing, regular tightenings or fluid leaking.
Pelvic floor. Squeeze and lift the muscles you use to stop urine flow, hold for a few seconds and release. Do 10 repetitions a few times a day, and practise relaxing fully after each squeeze, which helps in the second stage of labour.
Perineal massage. If you plan a vaginal birth and your doctor agrees, daily gentle perineal massage from about 34 to 35 weeks reduces the risk of deep tears, especially for first-time mothers. Ask your doctor first if you have a low-lying placenta, bleeding, an infection or waters broken.
Sleep. Sleep on your side, with a pillow between your knees and another under your belly. Sleeping on your back in the third trimester is linked to a higher risk of stillbirth. If you wake on your back, turn onto your side. Do the same for naps. Rest as much as you can, because labour can start at night. Keep a fan, loose cotton clothes and water by the bed in hot weather.
Posture. Stand tall, keep your shoulders back, avoid high heels and use a chair that supports your lower back. Lift by bending your knees.
Last-minute preparations
Hospital bag. Check it now, and keep it by the door.
| For you | For your baby | Papers and extras |
|---|---|---|
| Loose cotton nightgowns or front-opening tops | 4 to 6 soft cotton baby suits and caps | Prenatal card, test results and ultrasound reports |
| Underwear and maternity or sanitary pads | 2 to 3 soft cotton wraps | Your National ID and your partner’s ID |
| 2 nursing bras and breast pads | Newborn nappies and wipes, or cotton cloths | Mobile phone, charger and a power bank |
| Toiletries, towel and slippers | Socks, mittens and a going-home outfit | Cash, because some hospitals ask for payment in advance |
| Snacks and a water bottle | A baby nail file | A note of your blood group and your doctor’s number |
| A change of clothes for going home | A car seat if you travel by car | A copy of your birth plan |
Transport. Know the fastest route to the hospital, and a backup. Fill the vehicle with fuel, or agree with a driver who can come at any hour. Save the numbers of the driver, an ambulance service and a neighbour. In heavy traffic, rain or floods, allow more time, and leave earlier if you live far away.
Emergency plan. Know your blood group, arrange two or three healthy adults with a matching blood group as donors and keep money and documents ready. Agree with your family that if there is bleeding, fluid leaking, a drop in movement, severe pain or a severe headache, you go to hospital at once, with no waiting for permission or for morning.
Numbers to save: your doctor, the hospital, an ambulance, your driver, a relative, the national emergency number 999, the government health call centre 16263 and the national helpline 109 for violence against women and children.
Home. Set up a firm, flat sleeping space with a mosquito net. Wash newborn clothes and wraps with mild soap, rinse well and dry them in the sun. Stock easy, nutritious food for the first weeks. Remove standing water around your home.
Help. Arrange who will look after other children, the house and visitors when you go to hospital and after you return. Ask relatives to take shifts in the first weeks.
After the birth. Plan your postnatal checks, contraception and the first 40 days of rest. See our guide to 35 weeks pregnant for what to expect.
Birth registration. Register your baby’s birth with the local authority. It is free within 45 days, and the certificate is needed for school and many services.
Work, leave and money
- Maternity leave. Under Bangladesh’s labour law, working mothers in the private sector are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, eight weeks before and eight weeks after the birth. Government employees receive six months. If you are still working, confirm your leave start and the paperwork in writing.
- Money. Budget for delivery, newborn care, a possible hospital stay and emergencies. Ask the hospital for a written estimate that includes tests, delivery and complications, and what is paid in advance. Some low-income mothers may qualify for a maternity allowance or other support, so ask your local health worker or the upazila women’s affairs office.
- Care options. If you cannot afford a private hospital, government district hospitals, medical college hospitals and upazila health complexes provide delivery care, including C-sections, at low or no cost. Do not delay going to hospital because of cost.
If you feel unsafe at home, tell your doctor or a trusted person. In Bangladesh you can call the national helpline 109 for support with violence against women and children. It is free.
Checklist for this week
- Keep your weekly visit, and check your blood pressure, weight, womb size, baby’s position and hemoglobin
- Ask about the group B strep swab and the plan if your baby is breech
- Ask about the whooping cough and tetanus-diphtheria vaccines if you have not had them
- Take iron-folic acid and calcium as prescribed, at different times, and use iodised salt
- Keep tracking your baby’s movements, and call the same day if the pattern changes
- Sleep on your side every night, including naps
- Learn the signs of labour and the danger signs, and when to go to hospital
- Check your hospital bag, documents, cash and transport, and fill the vehicle
- Confirm your hospital, doctor or midwife, and who will be with you
- Share the guide for birth companions with your partner
- Write down your birth plan, including skin-to-skin, delayed cord clamping and breastfeeding in the first hour
- Arrange blood donors, family help and care for other children
- Plan your first 40 days after birth
- Tell someone if you feel low or anxious
- Save your doctor’s number and the nearest hospital’s emergency number
FAQ
How big is the baby at 36 weeks?
About 47 cm from head to heel and 2.6 kg, roughly the size of a head of romaine lettuce. Sizes vary a little between guides and between babies.
Is 36 weeks full term?
No. Full term is 39 to 40 weeks and 6 days. A baby born at 36 weeks is late preterm, and a baby at 37 to 38 weeks and 6 days is early term. Most babies born at 36 weeks do well in hospitals with good newborn care.
Can a baby survive if born at 36 weeks?
Yes. More than 99 in 100 survive in hospitals with good newborn care, and most go home within days to a week or two. They need watching for breathing, feeding, warmth, jaundice and blood sugar.
What does it mean if my baby is breech at 36 weeks?
The baby’s bottom or feet are toward the pelvis. Your doctor may offer an external version to turn the baby, or a planned C-section. Many babies turn on their own earlier, but few do after 36 weeks.
What is the group B strep swab?
A quick swab of the vagina and rectum at 36 to 37 weeks to see if you carry a bacterium that can infect newborns. If you carry it, you are given antibiotics in labour.
Will labour start soon if the baby drops?
Not necessarily. In a first pregnancy, the baby often drops two to four weeks before birth. In later pregnancies, it may happen only in labour.
What should I do when my waters break?
Note the time, colour and amount of fluid, wear a clean pad and go to hospital straight away, even if you have no contractions. Go at once if the fluid is green, brown or bloody, or smells bad, or you see or feel the cord.
Is it safe to try to start labour at home?
Walking and resting are safe. Castor oil, strong herbal tonics and nipple stimulation are not advised without a doctor’s guidance. Do not try to start labour before 39 weeks unless your doctor advises it.
Is it safe to exercise at 36 weeks?
Yes for most healthy pregnancies. Walking, swimming, gentle yoga and pelvic floor exercises are good. Avoid contact sports, heavy lifting, hot yoga and lying flat on your back during exercise.
Note: This article gives general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different. Call your doctor or go to a hospital if you have bleeding, severe pain, fever, fainting, fluid leaking, a change in your baby’s movements or any symptom that worries you.
