Baby development – ​​36 weeks gestation

In the 36th week of pregnancy, the baby continues to grow and already has more weight, the skin is smoother and the lanugo, which is the thin layer of hair under the skin, begins to disappear.

At this stage of pregnancy, most babies are already turned upside down, in the birth position. However, some babies may take a little longer, usually until the 37th week to turn.

During this week, the woman may continue to have symptoms of frequent urge to urinate, Braxton-Hicks contractions, or swelling in the hands or feet.

Baby development

In the 36th week of pregnancy, the main milestones in the baby’s development are:

• The baby continues to grow and its weight increases, and it no longer has as much space in the uterus to move around;
• The sleep and wake cycle is becoming more developed, having a more restful sleep;
• The baby presents rapid eye movements (REM) when sleeping, which is the important phase of sleep in the processing of memories and knowledge;
• The skin is now smoother, due to the accumulation of fat on the skin, and is starting to lose lanugo, which is a thin layer of hair under the skin;
• The eyelids are now smoother and continue to develop;
• Eyebrows and eyelashes are fully formed;
• The muscles are getting stronger and stronger;
• Memory and brain cells continue to develop.

At this stage of pregnancy, most babies are already in the birth position, turned upside down, although the head is not yet fitted into the woman’s pelvis.

However, some babies may take up to the 37th week to turn, which must be evaluated by the obstetrician until the end of the pregnancy. Check out some exercises that can help your baby turn upside down.

Baby size and weight

The size of the baby at 36 weeks of gestation is about 46.8 centimeters measured from head to toe and about 32.9 centimeters from head to bottom, being equivalent to the size of a chard.

The baby’s weight this week is around 3.1 kg.

Changes in a woman’s body

In the 36th week of pregnancy, the woman may have already gained around 7 to 11 kg, which corresponds to the weight of the fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid and uterus. Check out how many kilos you can gain during pregnancy.

Furthermore, due to the greater volume of blood circulating in the body and the weight of the uterus on the veins and arteries in the pelvic region, which can hinder circulation and the return of blood from the feet and legs to the heart, women may experience retention of liquids, which can cause swelling in the hands or feet and also contribute to weight gain.

In this week of pregnancy, the woman may continue to have symptoms of frequent urge to urinate and Braxton-Hicks contractions.

Read too: How to alleviate common discomforts at the end of pregnancy

Care during the 36th week

In the 36th week of pregnancy, some precautions are important to help alleviate discomfort that may arise, such as:

• Swelling in the legs or feet: not standing for a long time, and placing your feet higher than your body, supporting your feet when you need to sit, help improve blood circulation in your legs and help prevent swelling in your legs or feet. In addition, practicing regular physical exercise, such as walking or swimming, as advised by your doctor, can help reduce this discomfort. However, if the swelling does not improve, starts suddenly, or has swelling in the hands and face, you should seek medical help immediately, as it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia. Find out more about pre-eclampsia and how it is treated;
• Frequent urge to urinate: Do not hold urine, as leaving urine trapped in the bladder can increase the risk of urinary infection. Furthermore, despite the increase in urinary frequency due to the weight of the uterus on the bladder, women should not reduce their water intake as dehydration increases the risk of premature birth;
• Braxton-Hicks contractions: Drinking a glass of water, doing relaxation or deep breathing exercises, or taking a warm bath for up to 30 minutes can help ease the discomfort of contractions. Furthermore, it is recommended to move the body, changing positions, taking a light walk, or resting if the woman was very active when the contractions started. However, if the contraction is strong, very frequent or accompanied by other symptoms such as back pain, vaginal bleeding or liquid discharge, medical help should be sought immediately, as the woman may have gone into labor. Know how to identify the signs of labor;

Throughout pregnancy, it is important to follow medical recommendations, attend prenatal consultations, take folic acid or supplements and do physical activities recommended by your obstetrician, as these allow you to better control your weight, improve your sleep quality and strengthen your muscles.

Read too: 13 warning signs for pregnant women to go to the hospital

In addition, you should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and eat a nutritious and balanced diet, including fresh fruits and vegetables, to ensure the supply of essential nutrients for the baby’s development and help control the increase in weight. weight during pregnancy. See what nutrition should be like during pregnancy.

Main exams

From the 36th week of pregnancy, prenatal consultations should occur more frequently, at least once a week until the baby is born.

In these consultations, the obstetrician can assess the woman’s blood pressure, weight, uterine height, baby’s position, heartbeat and fetal movements, for example. Understand better how prenatal care is carried out.

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