Preparing For Labor When You Are 36 Weeks Pregnant

Congratulations for coming this far into your pregnancy. You are now 36 weeks pregnant and after this week your pregnancy will be considered full term and you will be ready to deliver your baby anytime after that.

There are a number of problems a lady faces at this time. If you find it difficult to eat your normal meal, try smaller but frequent meals so that you do not under nourish yourself and your baby. However, the good news is that your heartburn and acidity will reduce at this point and you may feel a bit lighter on that front. By the end of this week your baby will drop to your lower abdomen, putting more pressure on your lower abdomen and back. This may mean vaginal discomfort and a frequent need to pee.

You might feel continual contractions in the uterus which may or may not be labor pains. If you feel these contractions four or more times in an hour consistently, you need to consult your doctor.

Some Interesting Things About The Stages Of Labor

If you are a first-time mother-to-be, I must tell you that this phase of your life can give you feeling of proud that your have delivered such a beautiful creation. Pregnancy is all about three phases.

The first stage starts with early labor and ends with active labor. Here, you have contractions that increase progressively. Your cervix is effaced and is fully dilated eventually. However, early labor is difficult to detect because it is difficult to tell actual labor from Braxton Hicks. When the cervix has contracted to almost 4 centimeters, the early labor ends and you get into active labor. Your contractions at this stage become better, stronger, and longer.

Finally, when your cervix is about 10 centimeters dilated, it marks the beginning of your second stage of labor. This is the phase when you actually start pushing the baby to come down. This can last a few minutes to a few hours.

The last stage will begin when the crown of your baby's head is visible and in the last contraction you will push your baby out. The doctors will then rotate and turn the baby out to hold him from the shoulders once his head is out. Then the doctor or the midwife will clear his nose and mouth through suction and will undo the umbilical cord from his neck. They will then cut the cord and clean the baby.

After the baby is born, you will experience a range of emotions. You may be completely drained and exhausted and may feel tremendous burst of energy. This may be accompanied with a strong urge to sleep. Starting with relief to relaxation to happiness to awe and finally euphoria, you will feel them all!

This all is more likely to happen after the 37th week. However, you need to be prepared for child birth as soon as you are 36 weeks pregnant. Knowing these stages is very important as it will help you to be ready for the birthing process and make certain decisions related to pain relief and management during child birth.