36 Weeks Pregnant - what to expect
Now you're 36 weeks pregnant, this week is all about pregnancy cankles, bizarre baby shower cakes, buying a nursing bra and asparagus soup!
Watch our video to see what your baby looks like this week
Your baby is almost all cooked and ready to go (by 37 weeks, a baby’s considered ‘full-term’). He or she is busy practising breathing and sucking – often with the help of a thumb or two.
So what's happening to your body this week?
Well, hello pregnancy cankles! By the end of the day, all the extra fluid in your body seems to be accumulating in your feet and ankles, making them oh-so-attractively thick and swollen. And the same can happen to your fingers, too.
Happily, the best solution is to lie down with you feet up (properly propped up, so they’re above level of your heart) and have your every whim catered to by scurrying serfs (we made the last bit up but you don’t have to tell your serfs that).
If your hands, feet or face go puffy suddenly or if the swelling doesn’t go away overnight, then do call your midwife – to rule out complications such as pre-eclampsia. Otherwise, just count your pregnancy blessings that, because of your bump, you can’t see your ankles any more anyway…
Our MFMer's 36-week bump of the week
Are you taking pics of your bump's changes in its late stages? Check out other MFMers' belfies in our 36 week bump gallery.
Did you know? Your baby's now the length of... 2 lemon drizzle cakes
This week, your baby measures 47.4cm from head heel — the same as 2 of these delicious cakes...
And is around the weight of a big bag of Maris Piper potatoes
Your baby now weighs around 6lb (2.7kg)!
4 things you might need to know this week
- Waddling around like a penguin? Scientists reveal why women walk like Pingu while pregnant
- Best baby shower cakes
- Struggling to shave your ankles? Billie Faiers shares her preg razor problem
- Can raspberry leaf tea kick off labour?
Tip of the week from our community
“I'm so pleased I've got the nursery done. Every time I feel sore or tired or just grumpy about feeling like a hippo, I go in and sit in the nursery and it just makes me so happy," said Joanne, member of our MadeForMums community.
Got a nursing bra yet?
Although your baby isn't here yet, now's a good time to get measured up for a nursing bra or five, if you're planning to breastfeed. Nursing bras are clever things — letting you feed your baby without undressing or revealing too much.
You'll find your boobs will fluctuate in size but don't be tempted to buy a nursing bra with extra room in the cup — a good nursing bra will have flex and stretch to accommodate those big and bigger days.
Our preg recipe for week 36 - Asparagus soup
Why asparagus is great for your growing baby
Asparagus notches up high scores on the vitamin doors, and is rich calcium and fibre, too. It’s also famed for its diuretic effect (it makes you wee more) so it may help flush out retained water (sayonara, puffy ankles!).
Do note that it makes your urine smell a bit weird, though; you don’t want to go to for big wee, and think your waters have broken (amniotic fluid does smell different to normal wee but not at all like asparagus wee). Not that this has happened to us or anything...
See the full recipe and get cooking...
Baby namer - what do you think of these, well, beautiful names?
Have you decided on a name yet? Or are you still mulling over different options? What do you think about these two beauties?
Belle
Belle is from the French word meaning beautiful. Belle is also the bookish Disney princess in Beauty and the Beast.
Celeb baby-name-check: Holly Willoughby named her 1st daughter Belle.
Beau
Beau means handsome in French and is also used to describe a lover or sweetheart. It's pronounced 'bo' - short and sweet.
Celeb baby-name-check: Emma Bunton named her 1st son Beau.
Check out our dedicated Baby Names section for more inspiration.
So that's plenty for this week, want to take a peek at what lies ahead — or look back at last week?
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