By this week of pregnancy your baby's crown-to-rump length reaches about 13.5 inches and the total length is approximately 20.7 inches. Your baby weighs about 6 pounds now. The top of your uterus has moved further up under your ribs and is about 5.5 inches above your bellybutton. Your uterus has grown a lot in the past few weeks as your baby has gained weight. You may have gained about 30 pounds by now and it is common for your weight to stay about the same from this point onwards.
Because the top of the uterus is high as it will be, breathing may be getting very uncomfortable at times. You might notice jabbing pains from your baby's kicks. However, within the next few weeks, your baby will drop into the birth canal and this will make breathing easier again. Most doctors like to see their patients weekly from now on to check for labor progression. Your prenatal classes are probably coming to an end and you should have already made a birth plan and discussed available options for pain control during pregnancy.
Your baby's face has filled out significantly and looks smooth and plump. Because your baby has powerful sucking muscles and has had layers of fat forming for quite some time now, the cheeks have filled out like a newborn's. Your baby's skull is firm, but not hard. Every baby's head has the ability to give slightly so that there is room for her to fit down the birth canal during delivery. Some babies are born with cone shaped heads from the pressure of delivery, but this will go away after delivery. The amount of amniotic fluid is at its maximum amount now and your baby may not be moving as much as she had been. As long as you still feel her movements every day, there should be no cause for concern.
The placenta is now one-sixth of the fetal weight.
JessicaR1981 - 34 minutes ago
Ok. im losing it. for all you you yelling @ your kids and husbands- i know the feeling. i went to my dr yesterday and when she checked me she had to swab my cervix to check for amniotic fluid. i had an off PH. i am not leaking which is good. but when i got home i walked like crazy. i was told 2cm so that got my hopes up so i walked and started cramping about every 2O to 45 min apart. she told me my baby girl is head down and sometimes i feel so much pressure and it feels like i have to pee so bad and then nothing comes out hardly. then there are the times when she is not down there @ all. is it possible she is popping in and out of my pelvis? today i have had some more period like cramps to the point where i forget im pregnant and think - midol. lol and i am continuing to lose pieces of plug. yesterday i actually had some brown tinged but im assuming thats from the exam. my family and friends are driving me insane. keep asking if im in labor yet. i want to hit them with sticks and rocks. maybe next time they ask i will be like- YEAH! im in labor. maybe after i run them to the hospital a few times they will shut the hell up. lol sorry so long. just miserable like im sure you all are. off to week 37 tomorrow. good luck to all of you getting to 36 and see yall in wk 37! :)
kelley77 - 1.1 hours ago
My baby's head is sitting right on the pubic bone! He's so low and my bladder feels like it's going to burst. lol I hope he doesn't come late!
k20cl5 - 1.2 hours ago
Had lots of contractions last night. Sorta went away to where I could sleep. But they were back this am when I got up.. Finally got a nap and woke up in a sweat and now they are stronger than this am's and lastnight! I sure hope this is it! I told my hubby we wernt going to L&D till I was crying like with my last labor. When I got there with him I was 7cm.. I sure hope all this pain/contractions are the start of labor.. Oh I also had a little bloodyshow lastnight!! 7days at the most if this is not it. I hate the guessing game of the labor thing.. And getting my hopes up for the contractions to just slow up..
cecebaby267 - 1.7 hours ago
hey has any one else been having really bad back pain or am i going in to labor?? and plus realy bad cramps to.
trstbmbk - 1.8 hours ago
Felt virtually no movement since last night. Was unable to do the kick count, so I layed on this side, that side, back, poked, proded, drank ice water, and still nothing. Took a drive to the local L&D floor and thankfully everything is fine. Can't wait until she is born so this type of worrying is over! There will be a whole new set of worries then, but at least she will be here. Took 20 years to get pregnant so maybe just freaking out a little bit, but would rather be safe than sorry. Some movement today, but nothing like it used to be. I guess I just need to really pay attention and try to rest more to see if she is alright. I will go to the hospital every day if I have to!!! Poor nurses!
Kris1209 - 2.2 hours ago
MrsPMD - It really depends on your exposure if you should get it. I had it a couple weeks ago (no side effects - injection site was less sore than regular flu) and I am very glad I did as my 4 year old most likely had H1N1 this week. She was miserable with a 102 fever for two days, cough, stuffy nose, and upset stomach. Not something I want to go through 9 months pregnant and not able to take anything. I feel like I am getting a little of it but so far very mild. I am not going to bother getting her H1N1 boster as she is immune now(she finally got the first one earlier this week - too late).
kelley77 - 2.9 hours ago
Stephanie,that is the safest thing for the baby! He should have his own bed. Co-sleeping is a personal choice but I don't agree with it. There is just too much of a chance that something could happen. Locally, in the past few months, there have been a couple infant deaths from smothering, due to co-sleeping. Tell your husband he'll be happy with the decision b/c a lot of times, once you start this habit, it's awful to break!!
stephanie fairbanks - 3.2 hours ago
martha - its funny you say that because we actually went out this morning and bought a pack n play lol its so cute, its got winnie the pooh!! i cant wait till derrick is here!!! and just so everyone knows daddy isnt so excited to have the pack n play cuz now he knows for sure that derrick isnt sleeping with us lol
phatty00 - 3.5 hours ago
yay..last day in week 36 tomorrow:)..getting excited and anxious but still feeling quite positive:)...
nikki harms - 4.7 hours ago
martha - thankyou lol thought i was just being wierd haha, my bubba was back to back but has moved round now to normal possition so i wondered weather it may have been where she moved round in such a big movement lol, it almost stings to touch aswell :( lol xx
Martha03 - 4.8 hours ago
nikki.. i don't have that this time but I sure did with my other two.. it is the muscle pulling away from your body... due to stretching... I actually had it earlier with this one but she turned back to breech.. so now I just have a VERY itchy stomach!!!! All I want to do is scratch it!!!!! But I try to soflty run my nails over it so I don't get anymore stretch marks... hehe
Mrs Udezeh - 5.5 hours ago
Adriana: Im doing the same as you, there just is not enough research on th effects it could cause on my baby.. I have went 10 years with no flu shot and i dont get sick so i dont know how i feel about putting a dead virus in my body lol
nikki harms - 5.6 hours ago
is anyone else getting a really ore burning feeling at the top of their tummy??? i dont remember this with ellie but its not nice :( xx
adriana03 - 6.4 hours ago
I'm thinking of getting the shot after I have the baby. I figure if I have any problems at least the baby doesn't. And if there are no problems then ill be covered and won't get baby sick. I plan to limit her exposure to everyyone.
mamacas26 - 6.8 hours ago
Last day of week 36! Aagh! I can't believe it's gone so fast...and I STILL don't have the 'done' feeling!
Martha03 - 7.2 hours ago
36 weeks!!!!!!! Unbelievable.. Can't wait till Monday to see if I am getting a c-section...9 months girls!!!! YAY!
Martha03 - 7.2 hours ago
mrspdm.. I had it and so did all of my kids due to the fact that the baby will be born in flu season... it will help her immunity for 6 months! No side effects at all...
kelley77 - 7.8 hours ago
MrsPdm...I had it yesterday. No side effects at all. In fact, I asked the nurse and she said she hasn't had anyone complain of any side effects. She said I was making the best choice. I have been on the fence about it...still am but I decided to get it for the baby. It's pretty ramped around here. They aren't even allowing anyone 12 and under into the hospitals in NY state. It's scary!
*mommy*ashley*of*2*little*ones - 8.9 hours ago
36WEEKS TODAY!! WOW im 36weeks how crazy is this, it feel's like i just found out i was prego!!! lol
allsmiles - 9 hours ago
My obsessive need to organize is beginning to make me crazy! I know it's normal, but I am already like this not being pregnant it is insane now that I am pregnant. I just feel like I can't get things organized enough or clean enough. My husband is so understanding he deserves a medal....I am losing it!
MrsPDM - 12.7 hours ago
I just had a letter offering me the swine flu vac. Did anyone have it? Any side effects?
bowserbaby1 - 14.9 hours ago
I am an emotional wreck because I'm getting so uncomfortable...plus I have 57 pages to type for various papers that are all due on Monday. To make matters worse the computer has been not working properly for the last week making it next to impossible to work on the papers when I actually have the energy to do so. I am just so done with everything. I just want to cry because I feel so hopeless... All my hubby can say is, 'hang in there, it will all be worth it'. I don't know if I believe him anymore. I feel like everything is happening at the worst time possible and I can't catch a break. Sorry about bringing my sadness and negativity to the forum, but I don't have anyone that I can talk to about how I'm feeling...when I try to talk to everyone in my life they just tell me to buckle down and push through all of the crap...but that isn't good enough. I feel like no one truly understands how I'm feeling and the thoughts that run through my head on a daily basis or the emotions that I hold back because I don't want to upset or hurt those around me. I guess I'm just looking for encouragement and others who have felt or are feeling the way I am as well as some advice. Thanks ladies :)
Martha03 - 18.7 hours ago
stephanie.. you should go get a pack n play! They have a changing table on them and it is almost like a bassinet.. they aren't too expensive... all my kids slept in them for about 4 weeks... they are GREAT!!!! and u can put it next to the bed or bring it in the living room! Just a thought... Good luck with everything!
stephanie fairbanks - 19.1 hours ago
well the drs dont want me having the baby this early cuz hes still so tiny, i wish i was as lucky as you ladies though, my little baby boy weighs 4 lbs 11 onces yesterday, and only 25 days to go. in fact we dont even know if we have that long anymore, we moved back up to maine and the drs up here wont let me do a vaginal delivery because i had a c-section with my first son, so instead of having about 3.5 weeks left we have about 2.5 weeks left. its kinda depressing about the c-section because i was really looking forward to a vaginal delivery but its also very exciting because i get to hold my son in my arms a week sooner then planned. bad news is if we do the c-section its gonna be done between dec 7-11 and we finally decided on the crib we wanted and we ordered it this morning but because we live in the sticks now its gonna take like 2 weeks to get here so i hope its on right on time or this baby is gonna get here before the crib does lol. uh oh!!! (his daddy says thats fine with him though because he really wants the baby to sleep with us and i told him i wont allow it unless theres a wicked good reason for it, i guess the baby not having his own bed is a good reason but i think now i figured out why my hubby took so long to order the brib lol) congrats ladies, have fun!!!
Mrs Udezeh - 19.4 hours ago
I am reading so many stories on here of you ladies giving birth Congrats to you all pray for me that i am as lucky lol.. Im over this pregnancy i wanna be able to breathe again lol
kelley77 - 19.7 hours ago
Wow,many of you ladies are delivering early! Congrats to you all and good luck to those of us still waiting. :)
afford527 - 19.8 hours ago
Good Evening ladies, my wife informed me to post on here to inform you all on her progression. She was supposed to be full term tomorrow 11/21/09. Well she gave birth to our beautiful at 6:37 pm est. He weighed in at 7 lbs & 9 oz and 20 inches long. We are blessed to have a quiet son. His APGAR score was a 9. My wife came in yesterday night after some minor contractions she was only 2 cm dialated and 30% effaced. Then she called me today around at my job around 2pm today and inform me that her contractions were more severe and 3 mins apart. So I came and picked her from the house and drove her to the hospital and arrived here at 5:30pm. Once she got admitted, she went to use the restroom and thats when her water broke. Shortly after, her contractions became intense. It was too late for her to take any pain meds or epidural. She was a champ and I'm so proud of her. She delivered at 6:37 pm. We will post pics shortly.
jamielynn1980 - 21.8 hours ago
Lower back pain like crazy tonight. Had a burst of energy and so cleaned the house. Not sure if hurting from that or from possible contractions. Had some bad ones today that brought tears to my eyes at work. Time will tell.
HollyV - 22 hours ago
CMDBABY--i have to be put on monitors twice a week until our little guy is born. its called a non stress test. it monitors the baby's movements to make sure they are responding as they should and arent in any distress....my dr also checks my amniotic fluid to make sure there is enough. not sure if that is what ur having done but thats what my dr does. GOOD LUCK! :-)
lilmum2002 - 23.2 hours ago
congrats Heatshirtz! Had my dr's appointment today and I lost a pound so total gain is 4lbs I'm about a fingertip dialated and still thick which he said was normal for someone who's already had two children, but also said I could go at anytime so we'll see when she makes her appearance.
Kate72 - 23.6 hours ago
I love reading all your posts. Thanks everyone for making me feel normal. I have been feeling so tired, sore, frustrated, teary and morning sickness seems to have found me again. I read your posts and it reminds me that I am not the only person going through this. Thanks everyone. Not too long now.
kirstyloo - 1 days ago
I am so glad to read everyone else is feeling CRAZY with their emotions! I came into my kitchen yesterday and saw how messy it was and said to my husband 'WHY don't you care if the house is clean?! WHY do you not notice?!' And I said it with such desperation...I was about to cry over it, not freak out. But he somehow knew to just keep his mouth shut, and he cleaned up and broke out the Christmas decor to cheer things up. :-)
heatshirtz - 1 days ago
water broke at 4 am had baby at 9 am 5 pounds 6 ounces 18 inches long mom and baby doing great
cmdbaby - 1 days ago
Well, talk about misery loves company - I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels like exploding on EVERYONE! I just found out today, that we will be induced on Dec 3rd. I have mixed feelings - 1/2 of me is so glad and the other 1/2 needs more time. My husband has been 'nesting' he decided to sand and strip our hardwood kitchen floor. Great dust is everywhere, Thanksgiving is in less than a week, and having baby in 2 weeks. Also having another ultrasound on Wed and Dr wants to see me on Friday to hook me up to a machine to run all kinds of tests, anybody have any clues as to what that means?
MrsPDM - 1 days ago
So baby has dropped today, heavy and hurting. Its my Mums Birthday tomorrow and I really don't want him to have to share. Cross your fingers ladies.
nikki harms - 1 days ago
trinap - yes i know what you mean, sometimes i can feel baby moving its feet and rubbing them together really hard and it makes a horrible cracky noise lol is rather freaky lol.
had midwife today and really pleased baby doesnt have her back against mine anymore YYYYYYAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY was soooo worried as i have a very straight forward and simple (as simple as it CAN be)labour and was scared stiff of having sucha slow painful one and with forceps!! :( and baby is also starting to engage so im a very happy lady... trampoline for me tonight hehe xxx
trinap - 1 days ago
does anyone else hear what sounds like their baby's bones cracking when he/she moves? is this normal?
JessicaR1981 - 1 days ago
Just left my appt. i will be 37 weeks sunday. i am dilated 2 cm. no thinning yet. my ph was off so they checked me for fluid leaking. its not. i was kind of disapointed cause i am so ready to get her out. they are guessing wt between 6.5 to 7lbs which is about right for me. my first was 6lbs 12.5 oz at 4O weeks. guess im going to go home and WALK MY BUTT OFF! that seems to be working. gonna get some raspberry lead tea today too.
jamielynn1980 - 1 days ago
Christinaa > I hear you. While my husband isn't on the road for his job, he does work a completely different shift so we communicate through notes and 'honey do' lists. I left him a SHORT (2 items) of things to do and he did NONE of them. I flipped because he has NO problem sitting on facebook playing freaking games. I've always been a tidy person and he's not as much. I really have had an issue lately with things laying around as I don't want to be in the hospital with my house a mess and come home with a C-section and not be able to clean. I want to come home to "My home, clean and how I like it". Then I have a 4 year old that has been whiny. I've used the Santa is going to not come about 25 times so far. I even sent a FROM SANTA letter to her in the mail reminding her she needs to be good. We will see if it works. I'm exhausted when I come home from work and then cook supper, pick up the house, try and unwind myself while having contractions. I blew at her the other night and I felt so bad because I yelled and screamed so much I think I scared her. I don't ever do that. She told me I was hurting her heart and I just started crying. I'm about crying now thinking about the look on her face. It's about over. We'll get through it.
christinaa - 1 days ago
I screamed at my daughter almost the entire way to daycare this morning and now I feel like a total a-hole. She cries and whines the entire time and I just couldn't take it this morning. My husband has been out of town since Wednesday morning and I'm just at my wits end. I don't have anyone to help me. My closest family member lives 2 hours away. Last night I had a work 'shower' dinner thing and it was nice but I had to bring the baby and that was ok except its a lot of work to take a 16 month old out to dinner. She climbed in and out of the high chair and onto the table at least 20 times. So after dinner we were both exhausted, not to mention I had worked all day and could barely walk from the pain and pressure of being pregnant. When we got home I still had to give her a bath and put her to bed. So that finally happened at 8:40. But I still couldn't lay or sit down because I had to carry three large heavy trash cans and the recycling through the hosue and out to the curb. No one there to help me and just started to get so angry. So when I wake up this mornig and call my husband to make sure he's up and on the road he doesn't answer the phone. I called 7 or 8 times. I had to walk the dog this morning which always sends me over the edge anyway because I have to put everyone in the car, drive to the park, get him out and walk him around while the baby screams in the car. Then everyone gets back in the car and I drop the dog back off at home and then finally get on the road to go to work. So he's not answering the phone and she is crying the entire time in the car seat and I just lost it. I have my midwives appt today. God help them if they don't check me or if they're mean to me. Its going to take everything I have not to explode on someone today. I need to not be pregnant anymore.
JessicaR1981 - 1 days ago
Good morning everyone! just wanted to share something i saw on the Today show this morning. Santas are not being given priority on h1n1 vaccines. sounds weird i know but those of you with older children who take them to see santa be extra careful. the santas they interviewed said they are not really concerned with getting it themselves but are worried about kids spreading it to each other. kids like to use his suit as a hankie. so be careful. personally i think we are just going to send a letter this year. lol
MrsPDM - 2 days ago
k20cl5 - I had the same conversation as I have been contracting on and off since week 31. They said they would break my waters if I get dilating, is that what you've been told? I asked about the distress thing and they said it should not matter too much to baby, its just me thats tired. I have pulled muscles from a cough too so this could be one painful labour once it gets going!
bibblebop - 2 days ago
Natalie hope you feel better soon, sounds like you've had a rough time, rest up and take care x
Berrymama - 2 days ago
Any ideas for a shower or no shower since the gender is not known..Please comment on my poll. Thanks
PokeysMum - 2 days ago
Natalie, that sounds horrendous. Hope you and the bump both make a speedy recovery.
Natalie-and-Bump - 2 days ago
Hello ladies. Please be extra careful about what you eat at this stage. I'm recovering from a really nasty bout of food poisoning. With our babies now being so big, I can't describe the pain and discomfort of having a churning stomach, baby's kicks, contractions and an exploding bowel all at once. I couldn't even keep water down, so had to be admitted to hospital and put on a drip. I don't even know what caused it, but have thrown out everything I've been eating the last few days and restocked the cupboards... In other news, I'm having contractions every 8 - 10 minutes now, and am effaced but not dilated. My chances of being allowed a natural birth seem to be shrinking as baby grows - they've estimated baby's now 10lbs, but couldn't be too sure as I was too dehydrated for a clear scan. They'll try again next week. This is turning into a long post - if you 're still reading, please, please do be extra vigilant about what you eat. Sickness and diarrhea really isn't fun at this stage. Take care. Xx
k20cl5 - 2 days ago
Mrs Udezeh-- she is inducing me cause I'm contracting every min like clockwork. And have been since 33wks.. They aren't changing my cervix much but they are very hard contractions.. On the monitor they go up to 60 or higher and my body is getting worn out... Plus if it goes on too long Lilly will start to stress, she already doesn't move as much but so far she is fine.. But doc doesn't want her to stress or my body to be to worn out for labor...
afford527 - 2 days ago
Hey Ladies, I see everyone is getting anxious to hold there little ones. I'm so excited that I'll be considered full-term on Saturday. I just got back from the hospital about 30 minutes ago. I lost my mucus plug earlier today and then the bloody show came along with 9 minute apart intense contractions. I'm currently 3cm dialated and 50% effaced. The ran a IV and the contractions stopped. My husband was excited but he wants him to come out in December since it will be his mother only grandchild born in that month. The Doc explain that everything looked and felt normal with no concerns.
The due date from members in week 36 is from Sunday 13 December 2009 up to & including Saturday 19 December 2009. See the full timeline here
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