9 months
3rd Trimester
4 more weeks to go
At 36 weeks pregnant, you're officially nine months along, and hopefully, that hospital bag is packed! At this point, your baby is already head-down. But if not, your doctor may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version in which pressure is applied to your abdomen to try to manipulate your baby into a head-down position. For some of you, the baby may have dropped, adding an additional pressure in your lower abdomen. That might increase visits to the loo and if too low, you might feel like you are carrying a cannon ball between your legs!
तस्मिन्नेकदिवसातिक्रान्तेऽपि नवमं मासमुपादाय प्रसवकालमित्याहुरादशमान्मासात। एतवान प्रसवकालः, वैकारिकमतः परं कुक्षाववस्थानं गर्भस्य ॥ (चरक शारीरस्थान)
Ayurveda says that the period between the 1st day of 9th month to the end of the 10th month is when labour can occur naturally. Beyond this, the intrauterine stay of the foetus is abnormal.
If you have been playing the baby’s favourite music for a few months now, this is the week when he hears it best. Memories of the song have formed and he will recall it post birth.
By 36 weeks, the baby's eyelids have smooth margins and are almost fully formed. The face is fully rounded, in part because his powerful sucking muscles are now developed and ready to get to work. Although your baby's bones are hardening, his skull remains soft and flexible for his birth. Also , they are not fused together yet so the head can easily maneuver through the birth canal.
If this is your first birth, your baby may drop lower into your pelvis this week in what is called “lightening” or “dropping.” First-time moms can experience this drop 2 to 4 weeks before childbirth. The second time around, however, it might be later and not until labour begins. By 36 weeks, up to 93% of babies turn down, and after 37 weeks, 97% of babies are in the head-down position for birth.
Like her skull, most of her bones and cartilage are quite soft as well, allowing for an easier journey during delivery. But don't worry — they'll harden over the first few years of her life. Most of your baby's systems are pretty mature, at least in baby terms, and just about ready for life on the outside. Blood circulation, for instance, has been perfected and your baby's immune system has developed enough to protect your little one from infections outside the womb.
Your baby's shedding most of his downy covering of hair (lanugo), as well as the waxy substance (vernix caseosa) that protected his skin during his long amniotic bath. He swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture called meconium that will form the contents of his first bowel movements.
.png)
.png)
It’s still early, but do watch for signs of labour. Contractions may feel like a tightening or cramping in your uterus, similar to menstrual cramps. Some women feel them in their back, as well. Your stomach will feel hard to the touch during a contraction. Here is a quick guide on how to distinguish between false and real contractions.
The hormones that make your joints flexible are also responsible for your pelvic pain. That is made worse by the pressure from your baby's head digging deeper and deeper into your pelvis and your heavier uterus weighing you down. Try yoga on the iMumz App to give relief to your pelvis.
You might be experiencing gas in the abdomen, and a feeling of bloatedness. Try to eat smaller meals, which will help the heartburn, and try not to rush while eating, which will only cause you to swallow more air.
The discharge from your vagina may be increasing and getting thinner. Don’t be shocked if you notice the mucous is pinkish, red or brownish after a vaginal examination. That just means that your cervix, which is sensitive now and may be starting to dilate, has been bruised.
For a few months now, the belly has been stretching and feeling itchy. Apply coconut oil for relief. Wearing loose clothes may help prevent itching, as your clothes are less likely to rub against your skin and cause irritation.
You may also want to avoid synthetic materials and opt for natural ones, such as cotton, instead. These are "breathable" and allow the air to circulate close to your skin. You may find having a cool bath helpful. Some women find that products with strong perfumes can irritate their skin, so you could try using unperfumed lotion or soap.
Edema (pregnancy swelling) may be getting more noticeable now as your body retains more fluids. Avoid standing for long periods. prop up your feet when sitting and avoid crossing your legs, stretch often when sitting for long periods and lie on your left side when sleeping. Drink lots of water to flush out Sodium accumulation.
A 2015 study in the journal Obstetric Medicine concluded that meditation was useful to curb insomnia in pregnancy. The study said that meditation was a safe way of managing insomnia and that yoga also helped. Try Yog Nidra on the iMumz App.
Managing edema
The iMumz App has helpful tips in its feed section and the nutrient rich weekly diet plans backed by Ayurvedic science base to help you manage pregnancy fatigue.
As you enter the final weeks of your pregnancy, your doctor will want to make sure that you're attuned to your body. Be prepared to discuss:
Signs of preterm labor. Your doctor will ask if you have experienced any signs of preterm labor, such as cramping, mild contractions, or a change in your vaginal discharge. Your urinary habits. Do you leak a little urine when you cough or sneeze? Do you have the urge to go frequently because your baby is pressing on your bladder? Your doctor may be able to offer suggestions to ease your discomfort.
You will be seen every week from 36 weeks until delivery. Beginning at 36 weeks, we will check your cervix for signs of impending labor.
If not done already, at one of your appointments between this week and 38 weeks, you will have a screening test for Group B strep (also known as GBS or beta strep).
For this test, your provider will take a sample of the bacteria in your vagina and rectum with a swab. The swab will be sent to a lab to be cultured and checked for Group B strep It is commonly found in both women and men, but not everyone has it. About 25% of expecting mothers (1 in every 4) carry it. In most healthy adults, it doesn't cause any symptoms and is not harmful. However, it can cause serious infection or even death in newborns.
This week, let’s focus on Choline. Choline helps your baby’s brain and spinal cord form. How much choline do pregnant women need? Your need for choline increases somewhat during pregnancy as your baby draws on your supply. Pregnant women: 450 milligrams (mg) per day Breastfeeding women: 550 mg per day Nonpregnant women ages 14 to 18: 400 mg per day
Brussels Sprouts Stir Fry
Not a very popular veggie, this has its benefits when it comes to Choline. Add some Broccoli, and voila, you have a great Choline-packed dish!
Ingredients
4 ounces Brussels sprouts, boiled: 32 mg
4 ounces broccoli, chopped, parboiled, and drained: 31 mg
2 ounces dry-roasted peanuts: 24 mg
Ginger-garlic paste: 1 tbsp
Tomato puree: half cup
8 ounces long-grain brown rice, cooked: 19 mg
Method
Chop and parboil the brussel sprouts and broccoli and get ready!
Heat a teaspoon of oil in a large wok over medium heat. Add the quartered brussel sprouts and broccoli florets, sprinkle some salt and stir fry till tender. This will take about 5 minutes. Once done, turn off the heat and transfer the brussel sprouts to another bowl.
In the same wok, add a teaspoon of oil over medium heat. Add the mustard and cumin seeds and allow them to crackle. Add the ginger, garlic, onions, bell pepper and saute until the onions are translucent and cooked through. Add the tomato puree, along with the bay leaf and the remaining powders for the masala and saute them for a couple of minutes until the tomato puree comes to a bubble.
At this stage add the stir-fried brussel sprouts and broccoli and toss them in the masala for a couple of minutes until it gets coated well in the masala. Sprinkle peanuts on top.
Have with rice!
iMumz provides micro nutrients week by week for your pregnancy nutrition. Diet charts and recipes are made by mothers to give your daily dose of health for your baby and you.
Backaches are usually caused by the strain put on the back muscles, changing hormone levels and changes in your posture.With the weight of your growing uterus shifting your weight forward and the pregnancy hormone Relaxin loosening your joints, back pain is a common pregnancy complaint. It often starts in the second to third trimester and gets worse as pregnancy progresses.
But, lower back pain this week could be a sign of labour. Note if the pain is in a pattern, occurring about every 10 minutes and lasting for 40–50 seconds and there are contractions.
Contractions are usually only felt in the front of the abdomen or pelvic region. Contractions usually start in the lower back and move to the front of the abdomen.
If they occur low down, just above your pubic bone, this can be a sign your cervix is dilating. It might feel something like the cramping ache you have just before, or at the start of your period. You might also feel a dull ache in the lower part of your back, which comes at regular intervals.
Vaginal swelling doesn’t harm the baby in the womb. However, if you have vaginal swelling due to a GBS infection that is Group B strep, then it may spread to your baby, too. In case you are tested positive for GBS, your doctor will administer a course of antibiotics to cure your infection. But if your baby catches this infection, then your baby may experience extreme lethargy and difficulty in feeding after birth.
Soreness of the vulvar area or perineum can also be caused by something as simple as tight pants or sitting in an uncomfortable position for too long. Intercourse without sufficient lubrication can also cause a sore perineum.
A case called ‘Generalized vulvodynia’ is a chronic pain in the vulvar area but without an obvious cause. The pain can affect the entire area, including the labia, clitoris, and perineum.
Descending perineum syndrome occurs when the perineum balloons beyond its normal positioning. This might happen if you have an ongoing problem defecating or urinating and you strain too hard. If you have a descending perineum, the first step is to determine the cause.
Let’s look at some of all the possible causes of swelling.
Increased Blood Flow
During pregnancy, blood flow around the pelvic region increases to support the growing baby. The increase in blood flow may cause swelling of the vagina.
Yeast Infection
When there is an overgrowth of the candida fungal bacteria in the vaginal area, it can lead to vaginal swelling. Symptoms include burning, redness, pain during urination, sensitive skin and thick vaginal discharge.
Poor Hygiene
Failing to clear regularly can lead to microbes and result in swelling and inflammation.
Hormonal Changes
Your body undergoes various changes during pregnancy, and changing hormones are one of them. These hormones affect the flora of the vagina and lead to various kinds of bacterial and viral growth, and in turn, swelling.
Chemical products
Use of certain products may also result in vaginal swelling. These products may trigger an allergic reaction in your vaginal region, leading to inflammation and redness.
Cysts
Cysts in the vaginal region can cause vaginal swelling, too. Sometimes, these cysts may also be cancerous. Please ask your doctor to check for these.
Inflammation in the Vaginal Region
Sometimes, the inflammation of the vaginal arteries and ducts can cause oedema. Oedema may lead to accumulation of fluid causing swelling in the vagina.
Unhealthy Foods
This may come as a surprise but it is true. Your eating habits can affect the health of your vagina. If you eat too much junk food or make unhealthy food choices, it can lead to vaginal infections and swelling.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Vaginal swelling can also occur due to bacterial vaginosis (BV). If this is the case, it should resolve on its own. Your doctor may recommend antibiotics to speed up the healing process.
The iMumz App has yoga exercises and webinars that can help you manage pain with a good sense of control and diets to manage tummy troubles.
Medication is the only way to ease labour pains.
Pain is a psycho-somatic experience and hence mind-training techniques like meditation have a proven benefit. Download the iMumz App for the preparation for labour.
Talking to the baby
The sound of your voice has the most calming effect on your unborn child. One study found that foetuses respond to their mothers’ voices by slowing their movements, while another revealed that foetal and newborn heart rates decreased when their mothers spoke , a possible sign of relaxation.
Bonding with the Dad
Babies are more attentive to lower pitched sounds than higher pitched one. Unborn babies can remember and recognise different noises in later pregnancy days. This is the good time for dads-to-be to pitch in and talk with the baby daily.
Download the iMumz app now to access pregnancy music that will make you calmer and your baby healthier and smarter!
The award-winning iMumz App is helping 350,000 + women make their pregnancies healthier and happier.
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.
