1. 36th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 36
2. How your baby develops in the 36th week of pregnancy
3. This is how you feel
4. 36th week of pregnancy - symptoms and complaints
5. What you should look out for in week 36 of pregnancy

36th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 36

This means that you are already in the last week of the 9th month of pregnancy. Your little one is probably already in the birthing position and has now slipped deeper into the pelvis. In this part of our pregnancy calendar, you will find out what you can do to prepare your body perfectly for the upcoming labour.

How your baby develops in the 36th week of pregnancy

Your darling is now approx. 46 centimetres long and weighs 2700 grams. He or she will continue to gain around 200 grams per week over the next few months. As a result, your baby will put on valuable fat pads that will help him or her to regulate his or her heat balance after birth.

Goodbye cheese smears

From now on, the vernix caseosa, which has protected your baby's skin from drying out in the amniotic fluid over the past few weeks, gradually decreases. The later a baby is born, the less vernix caseosa it still has on its skin. In particularly mature babies, there is almost none left at all. The child also loses its lanugo hair. After birth, you can enjoy the baby's wonderfully soft and rosy skin.

Clever mind

Your baby's forehead is now very pronounced. This is due to the strong brain growth of the last few weeks. The skull is still flexible and pliable. The individual bones of the skull are not yet fused together so that they can push together at birth. This is the only way for the baby's head to fit through the birth canal.

Practical help for you:
Emergency service midwife Katharina explains the most important things about the maternity pass online.

How you feel in the 36th week of pregnancy

The upper edge of your uterus is at the costal arch in week 36. The uterus will not grow any higher than this. If your baby is lying head down, you will probably feel an unpleasant kick in the direction of your ribs or lungs from time to time.

On the other hand, it's fun to see how the tummy deforms when your baby moves. Isn't it marvellous to stroke these bumps and almost be able to touch your little one? These experiences with your child will certainly make up for any discomfort.

36th week of pregnancy - symptoms and complaints

Low labour in SSW 36

For many women, the contractions start around the 36th week of pregnancy. If this is not your first child, it may take a little longer. Often, the contractions only start a few days before the birth. What do these contractions feel like? At irregular intervals, you will feel a feeling of tension and pulling in your lower back, which can radiate into your thighs. While some women feel the contractions very strongly, others only feel them slightly or not at all. In any case, these contractions are an important preparation for labour. They push the baby deeper into the pelvis and bring it into the perfect starting position for the birth. This can also be seen from the outside, as the abdomen then lowers significantly. If you have pain due to the contractions, this can be alleviated with warmth, for example with a hot water bottle in your back or a warm bath.

Sciatic pain in SSW 36

Many women are affected by back pain during pregnancy. Sciatica is particularly unpleasant. This is when the baby presses on the sciatic nerve in the lower back. The result is a pulling pain that runs from the buttock down to the thigh. The pain is usually one-sided.

How can sciatica pain be relieved during pregnancy? Common painkillers for sciatica should not be used when you have a baby in your belly. If nothing helps, your doctor can prescribe paracetamol. However, it is better to deal with the pain in other ways. The following tips can help you:

- Try to avoid a relieving posture and keep your upper body upright despite the discomfort.
- If you have acute pain, you should relieve the pressure on your spine and lie down carefully. In the long term, however, movement is essential to prevent the sciatic pain from getting worse.
- Loosen up your muscles with gentle sports such as swimming, walking and yoga. Circling your pelvis also helps. This is not only a good way to make it easier for your baby to rotate through your pelvis during labour, but also helps to relieve the sciatic nerve during this week of pregnancy.
- A flat ball cushion is recommended when seated.
- Warm the painful area with a cherry stone cushion (maximum 37 °C).
- Massages, physiotherapy and acupuncture also often help.

What you should look out for in week 36 of pregnancy

How to prepare your body for the birth

Do you want a birth with as few complications and as little pain as possible? Use the following tips to prepare your body for this very special event.

Perineal massage
The perineum is the tissue between the vagina and anus. This area is put under a lot of strain during labour when the baby's head pushes through the vagina. This can lead to tears. Sometimes it is necessary for the doctor or midwife to cut the perineum. To make the perineal tissue more elastic for the birth, you can massage this area with a little oil (e.g. almond, St John's wort or wheat germ oil) in the weeks before the birth. The Perineal massage helps to make the tissue more resilient. Although it is no guarantee of an injury-free birth, it can reduce the risk of perineal tears. However, always pay attention to your well-being. If the massage feels uncomfortable or even painful, it is better to avoid it. The best prophylaxis for perineal tears is the upright birthing position or the four-footed position. This is not only easier for your baby. The perineal tissue is best protected in these positions.

Hay flower bath
Pregnant women are often recommended to take a hay flower steam bath to prepare for labour. This involves adding dried meadow flowers and herbs to hot water. The resulting steam is said to loosen the pelvic floor and promote blood circulation. Midwife Katharina advises against it. Firstly, the medicinal effect has not been proven. Furthermore, the hay flowers harbour a risk for pollen allergy sufferers. At the same time, the hot vapour can cause burns to the labia.

Better: a hay flower bath. You can relax comfortably in the bath and don't have to worry about scalding. The warm bath also helps your baby to slide more easily into its birthing position during the contractions. If you are allergic to hay flowers, you can also treat yourself to a soothing bath with a few drops of lavender oil.

Raspberry leaf tea
Drinking raspberry leaf tea to prepare for labour is also recommended. This is said to promote blood circulation, loosen the muscles of the pelvic floor and soften the cervix. Although the effect of raspberry leaves has not been pharmacologically proven, many midwives and mums swear by it. Raspberry leaf tea is also known for its detoxifying effect. As it stimulates the intestines, it is also thought to stimulate the uterine muscles, which may explain the labour-promoting effect. In any case, the tea is healthy and you can drink about three cups a day during the last weeks of pregnancy.

Schuessler salts
Schuessler salts are also often taken to prepare for labour. These are the body's own mineral salts in homeopathic doses. As the body uses a lot of magnesium during the expulsion phase of labour, midwives often recommend magnesium phosphoricum (No. 7). Calcium fluoratum (No. 6) is also considered helpful as it is said to make the pelvic floor elastic. Although many people are convinced of the positive effect of Schuessler salts, their effect has not yet been scientifically proven. In any case, you should seek advice from your midwife before taking them.

Acupuncture
You can have a pre-natal acupuncture performed by specially trained doctors or midwives. This technique, in which small needles are inserted into certain acupuncture points on the body, is part of traditional Chinese medicine. On the one hand, acupuncture is intended to reduce stress and anxiety before the birth. Furthermore, this technique is said to have a positive influence on the course of the birth, reduce the need for painkillers and shorten the duration of labour.
One session lasts about 20 to 30 minutes. Most pregnant women have around three sessions before the birth. Bear in mind, however, that antenatal acupuncture is not covered by statutory health insurance, which is why you usually have to pay the costs out of your own pocket.

Aromatherapy
The last few weeks before giving birth are pretty exhausting, aren't they? Movements become increasingly difficult and the thought of the impending birth causes tension and anxiety for many women. Added to this is the fact that your life will soon change completely and you will be responsible for a little one. Aromatherapy can be a great help in keeping calm amidst all the uncertainty and excitement.

Essential oils are used in a variety of ways to alleviate discomfort during pregnancy. Before the birth, essential oils can provide pleasant relaxation. For example, let your partner pamper you with a soothing massage. You can use neutral almond oil to which you add a few drops of an essential oil. Jasmine, lavender, rose and cedar oil are ideal for relaxation. As an alternative to a massage, you can also treat yourself to a warm bath and add a few drops of an essential oil to the bath water.

These tips will help you prepare your body for the birth. If you have any more questions about this big day, our Online birth preparation course can help.