Pregnancy Week 36 - Eight Months Pregnant

Your baby is getting ready to take his first gasp of air when he's born - his lungs are developed and ready to go. If he was born now, your little one would be considered moderately premature. He would be able to suckle and his digestive system is ready for breast milk.

Changes in Body:

- Your uterus is now one thousand times larger than its original volume and you’ve probably gained 25 to 30 pounds. But don’t worry: over the next four weeks, it's likely you'll only gain a few more pounds.

- As baby moves further down into your pelvis, you will probably find eating and breathing a whole lot easier and your desire to swig antacid from the bottle lessened! 

- In the weeks before your due date some women also start getting some Braxton Hicks, these are described as 'practice' contractions as you body begins to get ready for the birth.

- Your antenatal checks will be weekly now.

Your Baby:

- This week they’ll be shedding the remaining downy hair which will mix in with the remaining amniotic fluid.

- Your baby's head is specially designed to travel through your cervix and pelvis. 

- The nervous system is maturing and the fetus is getting ready for birth.

- Your baby now practices breathing movements, sucking and swallowing.

- Baby is now 46cm long and weighs around 2.5kg