Week 36 of Your Pregnancy
Baby’s Development
For the next four weeks your baby will gain approximately 0.5 pounds per week. Not only does this help her become plump and adorable, but it increases her resistance to disease in the outside world. Your antibodies are also being passed to her at this stage as she is starting to cultivate a more mature immune system. Breastfeeding her as soon as you are able will continue to pass your antibodies into her system, greatly decreasing her chances of infection or illness.
The muscles that help her to suck are starting to fill in more this week as well. She’s probably been practicing with her thumb for the last little while, but she needs stronger muscles to master the art of breastfeeding.
If she hasn’t switched position yet, you can be confident she will soon. When ‘engagement’ or ‘lightening’ occurs, you’ll no doubt experience a greater pressure in the abdomen. Try not to get too excited however, your fetus may remain at one station and position for quite a while before deciding to arrive!
Your Body and Emotions
By this time, your baby may have ‘dropped’. When your fetus switches direction and moves into your pelvis, you may suddenly feel a great deal of relief. You can breath again! Your heartburn has lessened! However, when the baby’s head falls into your pelvis and begins to press against your cervix, a new host of discomforts can begin.
You may feel a great deal of pressure in your cervix and lower back now that your little one is engaged. Any sciatic pain or leg heaviness that you felt before may start to increase and your movements may take on the stereotypical waddle attributed to pregnant women who are ‘about to pop’. Again, massage is the key. If you can’t afford a professional masseuse, get your partner to give you some relief by massaging your lower back or legs.
Another type of massage that is lesser known but comes highly recommended by midwives and doulas is a perineum massage. When your baby’s head emerges from the birth canal, you might require an episiotomy. If your little one is too impatient to greet the world to wait, you may even sustain some serious tearing. Midwives believe that regular massage of the area between the vaginal opening and the anus can help to stretch these muscles and better prepare them for birth. Once relaxed either yourself or your partner should insert your thumb into the vaginal opening and gently massage the muscles and tissues using your fingers and thumb. A slight pulling is also recommended, as is a natural lubricant such as almond oil. Being thirty-six weeks pregnant, this idea may not appeal to you at all. However, it has shown to be highly effective, so much that it’s often practiced by nurses in the delivery room to help ease the baby out.
Dad’s Tips
Now more than ever, your partner needs to know you’re there. Going off for a guys’ weekend in Vegas or a long business trip is not recommended at thirty six weeks, for the sake of your relationship and well being. Try to remain in constant contact. If you have a cell phone, let her know you can always be reached. Make sure that she brings hers with her wherever she goes as well. Even if she doesn’t use it, it will give her comfort to know that you’ll be there should she need you. You might want to take the time to check in with her on your lunch or coffee breaks as well. Even if it’s not necessary, she’ll appreciate your concern and love you all the more for it. |
