Week 36
Your baby is now about 46.2 cm (18 in) long and weighs around 2.4 kg (5.3 lb). Babies vary, and from here on the differences between them grow. Most of the work left is laying down fat, which keeps your baby warm after birth, and fine-tuning the lungs, gut and brain. The skull bones stay soft and loosely joined so they can mould during birth.
Your body is getting ready too. Some time in these last weeks your baby may settle lower in your pelvis, and you may feel the change in your breathing and your bladder. This week looks at that shift, the urge to nest, and the choices you have for managing pain in labour.
Day 246 · 35 weeks 0 days
Your baby may be settling lower
Many people notice a moment, late in pregnancy, when the bump seems to have slipped down. This is called lightening, or "dropping". Your baby's head moves deeper into your pelvis, ready for labour. In a first pregnancy it often happens a few weeks before birth. In later pregnancies it may not happen until labour starts.
The change can bring welcome relief. With less pressure under your ribs, breathing may feel easier and heartburn may ease. Eating a full meal may feel possible again.
There is a trade-off. With the head lower, your bladder has less room, so the trips to the bathroom come more often. You may feel more pressure low in your pelvis, and walking can turn into a bit of a waddle. Some people feel sharp twinges as the head presses on nerves.
Dropping does not mean labour is about to start. It also does not matter if you never notice it. Your midwife or doctor will check how far down the head is at your appointments. They may describe it in fifths, or say the head is "engaged".
Try this: Stand sideways in front of a mirror today and take a photo of your bump. Compare it with one from a few weeks ago and see if the shape has changed.
Day 247 · 35 weeks 1 day
Pressure down low is common, and usually harmless
As your baby grows heavier and settles deeper, your pelvis takes much of the load. A dull, heavy feeling between your legs is common now. So are brief, sharp, electric jabs in the vagina or pelvis, which some people call "lightning crotch". They often come when the baby moves or when you change position.
These sensations are usually your baby's head pressing on nerves and ligaments. They can be startling but are not a sign that anything is wrong. Changing position, lying on your side, or getting on your hands and knees for a few minutes can take the weight off. A pregnancy support belt helps some people.
Pressure can sometimes signal something else, though. Before 37 weeks, regular tightening or a new, persistent low backache can be signs of early labour, as you read in the second trimester.
Call your care provider if the pressure comes with regular contractions, bleeding, fluid leaking from your vagina, a fever, or pain that does not ease with rest. Also call if you feel pain or burning when you pee, which may be a urinary tract infection.
Try this: When the pressure builds, try five minutes on your hands and knees, gently rocking your hips forward and back.
Day 248 · 35 weeks 2 days
The urge to get everything ready is normal
You may find yourself folding tiny clothes for the third time, cleaning the oven at night, or rearranging the kitchen cupboards. This burst of energy is often called nesting. It is common in the last weeks of pregnancy, though not everyone feels it, and that is fine too.
Nesting can be useful. It is a good time to wash baby clothes and bedding, stock up on basics, and set up a place for the baby to sleep. It can also help you feel more in control as the birth gets closer.
Keep it safe. Avoid climbing ladders or standing on chairs, since your balance has shifted. Skip heavy lifting and moving furniture, and leave that to someone else. Open a window when you use cleaning products, and avoid harsh fumes such as oven cleaner and paint stripper. Take breaks, drink water and sit down when you feel tired.
Some people feel the opposite: flat, tired and not at all ready. Both reactions are normal. Your baby does not need a perfect nursery. They need you, a safe place to sleep, a car seat and a few basics.
Try this: Make a short list of three nesting jobs that really matter, and hand anything that needs lifting or climbing to someone else.
Day 249 · 35 weeks 3 days
There are many ways to cope with labour pain without medication Labour pain is real, and you have choices about how to handle it. Some people plan to use no medication. Others want an epidural as soon as possible. Many sit in between and decide on the day. Knowing the options ahead of time makes any choice easier.
Non-medication methods work best when you practise them before labour and have support. Slow, steady breathing helps you stay on top of each contraction. Moving around, swaying, leaning forward or using a birth ball can ease pain and may help labour progress. Warm water, in a shower, bath or birth pool, relaxes many people. Massage, firm pressure on the lower back, and heat packs can help too.
A TENS machine sends mild electrical pulses through pads on your back. Some people find it helpful in early labour, though the evidence for it is mixed. Having a calm, continuous support person by your side has some of the strongest evidence of all. It is linked with shorter labours and fewer interventions.
These methods can be used on their own or alongside medication. Using one does not rule out another.
Try this: Practise slow breathing today: in through your nose for a count of four, out through your mouth for a count of six, for two minutes.
Day 250 · 35 weeks 4 days
Medical pain relief is safe and effective for most people
If you want more help with pain, there are several options. Which ones are offered depends on where you give birth, so ask your care provider what is available.
Nitrous oxide, often called gas and air, is a mix you breathe in through a mouthpiece or mask. It takes the edge off contractions, wears off quickly, and you control it. It can make you feel lightheaded or sick. It is common in some places and not offered in others.
Opioid medications can be given by injection or through an IV. They can help you rest, but they may make you drowsy or nauseated. If given close to birth they can make the baby sleepy, so timing matters.
An epidural is the most effective form of pain relief in labour. A thin tube is placed in your lower back, and medication numbs the nerves to your belly and legs. Most people get very good relief. It can lower your blood pressure, cause itching, make pushing take longer, and you may need a catheter to empty your bladder. It does not raise the chance of a caesarean birth. It is not available everywhere or at every moment, so it helps to ask about how it works where you are.
Try this: Write down two questions about pain relief to ask at your next appointment, such as "Is an epidural available at all hours?"
Day 251 · 35 weeks 5 days
Your appointments now come weekly
Around this point, many people start seeing their midwife or doctor every week until the birth. The visits may be short, but they cover a lot. Your care provider will usually check your blood pressure and urine for signs of pre-eclampsia. They will measure your bump and feel your belly to find out which way your baby is lying and how low the head is. They will listen to the heartbeat and ask how your baby is moving. If you have not yet had your Group B strep result, or if your baby is breech, you may talk about what happens next.
This is also your time to ask questions. Bring up anything on your mind: pain relief, what to do when labour starts, who to call, or how you are feeling. No question is too small. Many people find it helpful to keep a running note on their phone.
If you have a birth plan, now is a good time to go over it together. Your care provider can tell you which parts are routine where you will give birth, and which are worth talking about further.
Try this: Bring your birth plan to your next appointment and ask which parts are routine where you will give birth.
Day 252 · 35 weeks 6 days
Plan how you will cope when labour feels hard
You read in week 31 that fear of birth is common and that talking about it helps. As labour gets closer, it can help to plan for one specific moment: the point when it feels like too much. Almost everyone reaches it, often near the end of the first stage. Knowing it is likely makes it less frightening, and it is often a sign that things are moving.
Think now about what might help you then. Some people want calm, firm guidance. Others want quiet, a hand to hold, or someone to breathe with them through each contraction. Agree on a word or phrase that means "I need things to change", so your support person and care team know to pause, check in, and talk through options with you, including pain relief. If you had a difficult birth before, ask your care provider whether you can go through those notes together. Understanding what happened, and what could be different this time, can ease a great deal of fear.
Call your care provider if fear or anxiety is keeping you from sleeping, eating or enjoying anything, or if you are having panic attacks. You do not need to wait for your next visit.
For your partner: Ask what would help most when labour gets hard, and write the answer down so you remember it on the day.