Week 36: Preparing for Labor
The thirty-sixth week is a time of active preparation for labor. Your baby is almost ready!
Baby size: Romaine lettuce (150-155 mm)
Baby development
Final touches before the meeting
Your baby is completing the final preparations. He continues to swallow amniotic fluid, training his digestive system, and meconium is accumulating in his intestines.
What’s happening this week:
- Position: Most babies have already taken a head‑down position and settled into the pelvis.
- Skin: It becomes smooth and pink. The protective vernix coating and lanugo fluff have almost disappeared.
- Immune and circulatory systems: They are fully ready for independent function.
- Skull: The skull bones remain flexible to ease passage through the birth canal.
Your fetus weighs about 2.6 kg and measures over 47 cm in length.
Changes for mom
Signs that labor is approaching
Your body is sending more and more signals that labor is near. It’s important to recognize these signs but not to panic.
What you may notice:
- Dropping of the belly: Breathing becomes easier, but pressure on the bladder increases.
- Loss of the mucus plug: This can happen a few days or weeks before labor.
- Increase in Braxton‑Hicks contractions: They become more frequent and intense.
- Nesting instinct: A sudden surge of energy and a desire to clean and organize may appear.
It’s important to know what to look for. Re‑read our article about signs of the start of labor to distinguish them from true Braxton‑Hicks.
Overview
Week 36: Pregnancy is considered full-term!
Congratulations! Starting this week, your pregnancy is officially considered full-term. This means that if labor begins now, your baby is fully ready for independent life and will not be considered premature.
He is now the size of a large papaya. He continues to accumulate fat, which helps him regulate body temperature. His movements may become less active because he is very cramped, but you should still feel them daily.
For you, this is the "sitting on the suitcases" time. Labor can start any day. You may feel an increase in practice contractions and pressure in the lower abdomen. The main thing now is to stay calm and rest.
Full-term pregnancy is a huge achievement for you and your baby. You have done wonderfully! Now all that remains is to wait for the most important meeting of your life.
You are on the home stretch. To know what to prepare for at this stage, read our detailed overview "Third Trimester: What You Need to Know".
Tips for mom
Rest, rest, and more rest
Your main task right now is to conserve energy. Labor is a marathon, and you’ll need all your strength.
What to do:
- Sleep whenever you can. If you can’t sleep at night, rest during the day.
- Check the birth bags again. Make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.
- Prepare simple and nutritious meals. You need energy without overloading your stomach.
- Keep yourself occupied with pleasant activities. Read books, watch favorite movies, listen to music — anything that helps you relax.
Final preparation is an important stage. Make sure everything is ready by reviewing the article "Packing the birth bag".
Tips for partner
Support crew on standby
Your readiness and calm are the best support for your partner. Be prepared to start at any moment.
Your contribution to the joint effort:
- Stay in touch. Keep the phone on and let her know where you are.
- Help her rest. Take on all household chores.
- Review your role in labor. Recall massage techniques, breathing, supportive words.
- Prepare for the first days at home. Make sure everything needed for her and the baby is available at home.
Your role in labor is very important. Re‑read the article about partnered birth to feel more confident.
Checklist
Your action plan for week 36
Starting low!
- ✅ Attend the weekly doctor’s appointment.
- 😴 Rest as much as possible.
- 👜 Place the packed bags by the exit.
- 📱 Charge all gadgets and keep a power bank ready.
- 👶 Finalize the baby’s name.
- 📚 Refresh your knowledge about the postpartum period by reading the article on physical recovery.