Third trimester
Week 36 of Pregnancy
🥬
About the size of a romaine lettuce
18.7 in · 47.4 cm · 5.78 lb · 2.62 kg (head to heel)
Your baby this week
- Most babies settle head-down by now, ideally facing your back.
- Sucking muscles in the cheeks plump up, ready for feeding.
- Meconium continues accumulating — the first diaper will prove it.
What you may be feeling
- Pelvic pressure and the 'waddle'
- Bursts of nesting energy
- Light, broken sleep
Gentle tips for this week
- Weekly prenatal visits typically begin now through delivery.
- The GBS swab is usually done between 36 and 37 weeks.
Common question for week 36
What is the GBS test?
A gentle swab for group B strep, a common bacterium that is harmless to you but can affect newborns. If positive, you will receive antibiotics during labor to protect the baby.
Every pregnancy is different. Sizes are averages, symptoms vary widely, and none of this replaces the guidance of your own provider.