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Pregnancy Week By Week
Week 35, Week 36 and Week 37
What's Happening Inside You?
Your baby continues to grow and mature: the lungs are nearly fully developed. Your baby's reflexes are coordinated so he or she can blink, close the eyes, turn the head, grasp firmly, and respond to sounds, light and touch.
You should still feel movement every day. Your baby's position changes to prepare itself for labor and delivery. The baby drops down in your pelvis, and usually his or her head is facing down toward the birth canal.
By the end of this month, your baby is about 18 to 20 inches long and weighs about 7 pounds.
Week 35
Baby: Your baby measures about 20.25 inches from head to toe and weighs more than 5.5 pounds. Lungs are almost fully developed, but if born now the baby would probably be put in an incubator. It still doesn't have enough fat deposits beneath its skin to keep warm outside your womb.
Mother: Your uterus is about six inches above your navel. By now your weight gain is probably between 24 and 29 pounds. Your doctor will test you for Group B streptococcus bacteria between now and 37 weeks. You may be getting more uncomfortable and not sleeping very well. You also may be getting more anxious about the labor and delivery, and you may even be moodier and more irritable.
Dad: Fade in: A dark, rainy night...
There's no shortage of movies depicting fathers rushing at 100 mph to the delivery room, at the slightest whim of the expecting mother. As Hollywood wouldn't have you believe, labors are rarely so dramatic and rushed. Here are some of our favorite climactic, tense, and oh-so dramatic labor and delivery scenerios ever:
- Delivering baby in a taxi. This is a classic example of the 'We waited too long, we didn't have a car, we couldn't find the hospital bag, we hit all the red lights, it's the peak of rush hour, and 'uh-oh', here she comes!' scenerio.
- Delivering baby in an elevator. This situation might include everyone other than the father. The expectant mother has to do some last minute business, gets in an elevator, the elevator suddenly gets stuck between floors 56 and 57, other people in elevator get involved (typical characters include: man in business suit, old woman who can't hear, electrician, and teenage kid) labor goes really, really fast, baby arrives before elevator gets fixed, everyone has a good laugh, fade to black.
- Clueless hospital staff. Laboring woman and husband arrive at hospital. Hospital staff is running around, couple feels invisible, woman starts to deliver in hospital hallway, hospital staff finally catches on.
- Intense labor pains, mother screaming obscenities at father, father feels responsible for everything. Oh wait, that might actually happen!
Take a deep breath--your delivery will likely go smooth, especially if you've planned ahead. Now's the time to relax, get some sleep, and prepare for the new baby. Leave your worries at home!
Do's and Don'ts: If you work outside the home, consider easing into your maternity leave soon. Although you may want to save your time for when the baby's here, taking some days off during the final weeks of your pregnancy will allow you to rest and gear up for what lies ahead. (After all, it isn't called labor for nothing.)
Exercise: If fatigue is setting in, cut back on weekly exercise. Three times a week should be sufficient. Or reduce the amount of time you work out (from a half hour to 15 minutes, for example). Most of all, be sure to take more frequent breaks now and stay hydrated.
Tips for this week: Be sure you've collected the necessary baby clothes, equipment -- especially a car seat -- and furniture to get you through the first few weeks, at least.
Week 36
Baby: Your baby measures about 20.7 inches from head to toe and weighs about 6 pounds. The baby may drop lower in your abdomen, usually assuming the head-down position after having frequently assumed other positions during early pregnancy. The brain has been developing rapidly, and your baby is practicing blinking.
Mother: Your uterus has grown bigger these last few weeks and is probably up under your ribs. But you're in the home stretch; after this week you'll be seeing your doctor weekly. You may be alternating between fatigue and extra bursts of energy. You may also be experiencing increased backache and heaviness, constipation, heartburn and discomfort in your buttocks and pelvis.
Dad: Were we supposed to be taking notes?
If you've been attending childbirth and prenatal classes, you're somewhat aware of what your duty is during delivery (hope you paid attention!) If you're planning on being there for mom (which we definitely recommend) it's a good time to review what's expected of you. IndianMomsAndBabies.com's packing for the hospital checklist is a great place to start.
Do's and Don'ts: Before you dive into a prebaby cleaning frenzy, read the labels on all chemicals and cleansers to make sure they're safe. Wear rubber gloves when handling liquid cleansers, and work in a well-ventilated room to reduce exposure to fumes. Better yet, ask your partner to provide the brawn while you direct.
Exercise: If it's becoming more difficult for you to go to the gym, stay home and stretch. Sit on the floor with your left leg out to the side, your right leg bent. Raise your right arm over your head as if reaching to the sky, and make a big arc as you lean over your left leg and try to touch your left foot. Bring your arm back to the original position and repeat on the other side.
Tips for this week: Start stocking your freezer with foods that can be easily popped into the oven or microwave after you bring your baby home. Chili, casseroles and many other dishes can be prepared and frozen ahead of time for use later.
Week 37
Baby: Your baby is about 21 inches from head to toe and weighs almost 6.5 pounds. Baby is getting rounder every day, and skin is getting pinker and losing its wrinkly appearance. Baby's head is usually positioned down into the pelvis by now.
Mother: Your uterus may stay the same size as it was for the last week or two. Your weight gain should be about as high as it will go, about 25 to 35 pounds. About this time, your doctor might perform a pelvic exam to help judge the progress of your pregnancy.
Dad: Buckle up daddy!
Placenta. Amniotic fluid. Prelabor. Fetus. By now, you probably know what all these pregnancy terms mean. Are you surprised? As a father who's been supportive of your partner throughout her pregnancy, you should be very proud. You'll be a great dad. Continue to show her your love throughout the next weeks, because she's going to need it. You are and have always been half of the equation, and now's the time to really show it.
Do's and Don'ts: Ask your health care provider how you can tell labor has truly begun and when you should call her. If you have any unanswered questions, such as when she'll get there and what will happen if she's not on call, now's the time to clarify those details.
Exercise: You deserve a reward for sticking to a fitness regimen throughout your pregnancy, especially well into the third trimester. After putting in your time at the gym this week, reward yourself with a movie or a good book. Or skip it altogether and pamper yourself with a manicure or a massage.
Tips for this week: Just in case you deliver early, consider packing two bags for the hospital. Pack one bag for you, with warm socks, a robe, lip balm and everything you'll want during labor. Pack the other bag with the newborn items you'll want after your baby is born.
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