Week 36, third trimester
36 weeks pregnant: baby's position, signs of labour and getting ready
At 36 weeks pregnant your baby is about 47cm from head to heel and weighs around 2.6kg. They’re nearly ready for birth and are mostly putting on fat now. At your 36-week NHS appointment your midwife will check which way your baby is lying. If they’re breech, you’ll be offered options. It’s also time to have your hospital bag packed and to learn the signs of labour.
| At a glance | 36 weeks pregnant |
|---|---|
| Trimester | Third trimester |
| Baby’s length | About 47cm (head to heel) |
| Baby’s weight | About 2.6kg |
| NHS appointments | 36-week midwife appointment, baby’s position checked |
| Full term | From 37 weeks |
How is my baby developing at 36 weeks?
Your baby is now gaining around 25 to 30g a day, mostly as fat, which gives them their rounder newborn look. Their lungs are almost mature, and their digestive system is ready to start feeding after birth. Much of the lanugo hair covering their body is starting to disappear.
In a first pregnancy, your baby’s head may start to move down into your pelvis around now. This is called “engaging”. In later pregnancies it often happens nearer to labour.
What happens at the 36-week appointment?
Your midwife will feel your bump to check your baby’s position, and check your blood pressure, urine and bump size. They’ll also talk to you about:
- your birth preferences and what happens in labour
- feeding your baby
- vitamin K for your baby after birth, which helps prevent a rare bleeding disorder
- looking after yourself and your baby in the first few days
What if my baby is breech?
A small number of babies are still breech (bottom or feet first) near the end of pregnancy. If your baby is breech at 36 weeks, you’ll usually be offered an external cephalic version (ECV), where a doctor gently presses on your tummy to try to turn your baby head-down. It can be a little uncomfortable, but it is a safe procedure, and it often works.
If your baby stays breech, your midwife or doctor will talk you through your options, including a planned caesarean section or a vaginal breech birth.
What are the signs of labour?
Labour can start at any time from now, so it’s worth knowing the signs:
- regular contractions that get stronger, longer and closer together
- your waters breaking, either a gush or a slow trickle of fluid
- a “show”, when the plug of mucus in your cervix comes away
- backache or period-like cramps
Call your maternity unit if your waters break, you’re having regular contractions, or you’re unsure. Call straight away if you have any bleeding, if your waters are green, brown or smell unusual, or if your baby is moving less than usual.
What should I be doing this week?
- Pack your hospital bag. The NHS suggests having it ready at least 3 weeks before your due date. See our hospital bag checklist.
- Fit the car seat. You’ll need it to drive your baby home from hospital, and it’s much easier to work out before the day.
- Save your maternity unit’s number in your phone and your birth partner’s phone.
- Plan your journey to hospital, including where to park.
How might I feel at 36 weeks pregnant?
- Breathing easier, if your baby has dropped into your pelvis.
- Needing to wee more often, for the same reason.
- Pelvic pressure and discomfort, and difficulty sleeping.
- More Braxton Hicks contractions.
What’s coming next?
From 37 weeks your baby is considered full term. You’ll see your midwife again at 38 and 40 weeks, and at 41 weeks if you haven’t had your baby by then, when you’ll discuss options including membrane sweeps and induction.
Appointments and key dates this week
- RSV vaccineFrom 28 weeks
- 36-week appointment
Day by day this week
- 36 weeks 0 days (day 252)All pregnant women need support in the final weeks, but if you're single it can be even more important.
- 36 weeks 1 day (day 253)You're in the home stretch and may start maternity leave soon, which can be a relief but also a time of mixed emotions.
- 36 weeks 2 days (day 254)Have you started nesting? The need to provide a safe, comfortable space for your new baby is a primitive urge.
- 36 weeks 3 days (day 255)Your beautiful belly is intruding on your life more and more, affecting how you move and eat.
- 36 weeks 4 days (day 256)Your baby is losing the downy hair he's had for weeks, but if he's born now some may still be visible.
- 36 weeks 5 days (day 257)Don't worry about embarrassing yourself in labor; your caregivers have seen it all before.
- 36 weeks 6 days (day 258)If you're short of energy, try carb loading, which also works well in the days leading up to labor.
Common questions
What happens at the 36-week appointment?
Your midwife checks your baby's position by feeling your bump, as well as your blood pressure, urine and bump size. They'll talk to you about preparing for labour and birth, feeding your baby, vitamin K for your baby and looking after yourself after the birth.
What if my baby is breech at 36 weeks?
If your baby is bottom or feet first, you'll usually be offered a procedure called external cephalic version (ECV), where a doctor tries to turn your baby by pressing on your tummy. If your baby stays breech, you'll talk through your birth options, which include a planned caesarean or a vaginal breech birth.
Is 36 weeks full term?
No. A baby born from 37 weeks is considered full term. Babies born at 36 weeks are slightly premature, though most do very well.
When should I call the maternity unit?
Call if your waters break, you have regular painful contractions, you have any vaginal bleeding, your baby is moving less than usual, or you're worried about anything at all. Maternity units would always rather hear from you.
Sources
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.