Week 36 of Your Pregnancy

At 36 weeks, you're nine months pregnant. Keep reading to learn more about week 36 of pregnancy, including symptoms, baby development, and common questions.

Pregnancy Journey Week 36

Design By Alice Morgan / Illustration by Tara Anand

It's week 36 of your pregnancy, and your baby's movements may be less frequent but more forceful now that they have less space in the womb to maneuver around. You may also have started to feel rather uncomfortable as your body changes to accommodate your growing baby. Hang in there! You're almost to the finish line.

Pregnancy Week 36 Quick Facts

  • At 36 weeks, you're nine months pregnant
  • You have four weeks until your due date
  • You're in the third trimester

Your Unborn Baby's Size At 36 Weeks

Your baby is now the size of a head of romaine lettuce. They weigh approximately 5.78 pounds and measure about 18.66 inches.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 36

As you get closer to your due date, you may experience these pregnancy symptoms below:

  • Braxton Hicks contractions
  • Heartburn and indigestion
  • Back pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue and insomnia

At 36 weeks pregnant, those Braxton Hicks contractions show no sign of letting up. In fact, they are likely even more intense and frequent than in previous weeks. Experts recommend drinking water or changing position if they become too uncomfortable. 

Another symptom you might still be experiencing is heartburn and indigestion caused by your growing uterus putting pressure on your stomach. Experts recommend eating smaller meals and avoiding certain foods as well as carbonated drinks. 

For back pain, experts recommend wearing supportive shoes, stretching, and avoiding lifting heavy objects. You may also experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing as your growing baby and uterus push upward toward your lung area. Try slowing down, adjusting your body position or posture, and practicing breathing exercises.

Along with the above symptoms you may experience fatigue and insomnia as your body works to support the growth and development of your baby and you experience disrupted sleep while searching for a comfortable sleeping position. Try limiting your caffeine intake and resting during the day or even taking a nap if possible. Getting to bed early a few nights a week can help too!

Remember that every pregnancy is different and you may not experience all these symptoms during pregnancy or experience them in different ways than others or even prior pregnancies.

Developmental Milestones

At 36 weeks pregnant, fetal development is nearing completion. Your unborn baby's digestive system is fully developed and they can digest and process nutrients. 

Their lungs are almost fully developed and able to function on their own. If you were to go into early labor, be induced, or need an emergency C-section at this point, steroids would be given through a leg muscle injection to speed up your unborn baby's lung function. 

Your unborn baby's bones are stronger, translating into more coordinated movements.

Pregnancy Journey Weekly Reminder

Design by Alice Morgan

Prenatal Tests and Doctor's Appointments

At 36 weeks pregnant, your health care provider may recommend the group B streptococcus (GBS) screening. It's a swab test to screen for a type of bacteria in the vagina or rectum and determine if you'll need antibiotics during labor to prevent transmission to your baby. A pelvic exam may be performed to check for cervical dilation and effacement, which can help predict when labor may start. However, some pregnant people choose to opt out of this test.

Your health care provider may also recommend a biophysical profile. This test combines an ultrasound and non-stress test, a non-invasive test that measures the baby's heart rate in response to movement. The biophysical assesses your baby's movements, muscle tone, breathing, and amniotic fluid levels. It can also help your health care provider detect any potential problems, which might necessitate additional testing or delivery. An ultrasound can also detect any potential issues, such as low amniotic fluid and problems with placental function or the baby’s growth.

In my case, an ultrasound revealed that my unborn baby's abdominal circumference was measuring small, in the bottom 3%, alerting doctors that there was a breakdown in the placenta or other issue. She was given a diagnosis of fetal growth restriction, which I learned can lead to serious issues in fetal development, especially if it occurs early in pregnancy. The non-stress test didn't indicate any fetal distress, but my doctor agreed to let me bump up my weekly monitoring to twice a week for the remainder of my pregnancy to ensure fetal well-being.

Common Questions at This Stage of Pregnancy

How can I tell the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and real labor contractions?

Real labor contractions are more regular than Braxton Hicks contractions and they usually last around 30-70 seconds. They get stronger, longer, and closer together as you near labor. They don't disappear when you change positions or activity levels. Finally, they are often accompanied by other signs of labor, including cervical exam changes.


My baby dropped! Does this mean I will be going into labor early?

Your baby dropping into the pelvis area is called "lightening" because you can breathe easier. However, you will instead feel increased pressure in your pelvis. That said, baby dropping isn’t always a sign labor is near. This can happen days or weeks before labor begins.


My baby is breech, what can I do to help them make the flip so they are head down?

You can see a chiropractor that is skilled in the Webster method, an acupuncturist who is skilled at using moxibustion to stimulate the BL57 acupuncture point, and/or a doula to instruct you on spinning babies techniques. 


Those who are still breech at 37 weeks may be candidates for an external cephalic version, to be performed by an OB-GYN. This is performed by strategically placing the hands on the abdomen and applying pressure to encourage the fetus to move into the vertex position. This can be attempted for fetuses in the breech, transverse, or oblique positions and has the potential to decrease cesarean delivery rates.


"In my experience, this is a tricky procedure because the more you try to manipulate the uterus the more it tenses up, making it harder to rotate the fetus,” says Gene Frank, OB-GYN formerly with Lutheran General in Chicago, and now attending physician with Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “An epidural can be given to relax the uterus."

Things You Might Consider This Week

At 36 weeks pregnant, you should be aware of the signs of labor, including contractions, water breaking, and vaginal discharge, and when to notify your health care provider at the onset of any of these symptoms. Effacement and dilation of your cervix can also indicate how close you are to labor if you choose to have your health care provider conduct a cervical exam. 

You may also lose your mucus plug just before labor. During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus keeps bacteria from gaining access to the uterus via the cervical opening. When your cervix begins to thin and relax, however, pink or blood-tinged mucus or discharge releases, called the "bloody show."

Support You Might Need This Week

You may benefit from attending a nursing class or the guidance of a lactation consultant or a doula if you are planning on breastfeeding or chestfeeding. It's important to make sure you are all set up and ready to go with supplies, including a pump. Amber Knowles, certified birth and postpartum doula in Chicago and owner of Lorelei Lu Doula says, "Get a pump before your baby is born so you can learn how to use the pump, sterilize parts, and set it up when you aren't overwhelmed and tired while caring for a brand new baby." 

I wasn't aware of how difficult breastfeeding could be and found myself struggling postpartum, including with very painful edema and an inability to breastfeed for a few days. Working with a lactation consultant and having a doula who could teach me how to hand massage breast milk for my baby was invaluable until the swelling and pain went down.

If you are in need of free or low-cost services to assist you during the postpartum period, there is support available. Medicaid provides free or low-cost health care coverage for pregnant people, including postpartum care. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal program that provides free or low-cost nutritious food, nutrition education, and support to pregnant people, new mothers, and young children. Also, be sure to check local health clinics, pregnancy resource centers, and non-profit organizations for services offered in your area. Some doula services also offer free or low-cost support to postpartum individuals.

Head over to week 37 of pregnancy

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