WEEK 36

(I am catching up for last week!!)

Your baby is continuing to put on the weight (about an ounce a day), but you most likely will not notice a change in your own weight. You may feel like there is no room left for your baby to grow and may be very tired of feeling so "big", but remember that the longer your baby is in its protective environment up until its due date, usually the better it is.

You may notice an increase in the amount of Braxton Hicks contractions that you experience. True labor will eventually follow the Braxton Hicks contractions, but many women are often told that they are actually experiencing a false alarm or false labor. While this can be incredibly frustrating, it can be a good practice run for getting to the hospital.

Your baby is likely between 17 ½ to 19 inches long and weighs 5 ¾ to 6 ¾ pounds.
The fine downy hair, lanugo, that has covered you baby’s skin is beginning to disappear, along with the vernix caseosa. Vernix caseosa is the thick, creamy substance that has protected your baby’s skin while he/she has been submerged in amniotic fluid. Both of these are swallowed by your baby, along with additional amniotic fluid, which combine together to form meconium, or your baby’s first bowel movement.
Your baby should be in the head down position, but do not panic if he/she has yet to attain this position.