June 25, 2012 | Alinka Rutkowska | 0 Comments

Pregnancy Week 36

I’m entering week 36 of pregnancy!!! Hurray! I even found one source which states that after week 35 of pregnancy, baby is considered full term. Wow! All the other publications I’ve read consider the baby to be full term at 37 weeks but it’s great to know that she’s almost ready! So what’s going on with me? Baby is hiccuping two or three times a day and her movements are no longer kicks but rather twists and turns. I am feeling great, no more vomit problems since I am eating 1 or 2 apples a day! I sometimes feel like my belly is quite heavy even though it is pretty small comparing to the general population of pregnant women this week 🙂

What’s happening this week?

Baby’s crown to rump length is 34 cm or 13.4 inches. Baby weighs about 2.6-2.7 kg or 5.7-6 pounds.
Baby’s total length (head to toe) is 18.5 inches.
Baby’s fingernails reach the end of fingers.
The lungs are structurally complete and the air sacs, or alveoli, are producing lubricant called surfactant, which will help keep the sac open when the baby takes her first lungful of air.
The head may be starting to engage, dropping down lower in the pelvis toward the birth canal in readiness for the start of labor.
Mama’s uterus has very little remaining space, so most babies lie curled up, with their limbs folded closely against their bodies.
Don’t leave crucial arrangements until the last minutes – babies can arrive ahead of schedule. Pack your hospital bag if you haven’t yet and figure out other practicalities.
Although you might feel too big to be exercising, swimming is a great activity for late pregnancy. I recommend belly dancing.
Prepare for childbirth by reading all you can and doing important prenatal exercises.