36 weeks pregnant

Your baby

Your baby continues developing the coordination needed for sucking and feeding after birth. Growth and maturation are still underway; a weekly size estimate cannot tell you whether a particular baby would need support if born now. The romaine-lettuce illustration is an approximate length comparison, not a readiness assessment.

Your body

Your baby may settle lower in the pelvis, although this does not happen on a fixed schedule. More pelvic pressure or bathroom trips do not by themselves tell you when labor will begin. Keep reporting changes in your baby's usual movements and any symptoms that concern you, rather than assuming late-pregnancy discomfort explains everything.

This week

Confirming late-pregnancy tests and contacts

Ask about group B strep screening, which is generally done during the 36th or 37th week in US care. The sample is collected with a vaginal and rectal swab. A positive result helps the team plan antibiotics during labor to reduce the risk of infection in the newborn; it does not mean you feel sick. Confirm how your result will reach the birth team. Also write down your labor contact number, the intended arrival location and what to do outside office hours. Your own clinician should provide these arrangements rather than a general weekly guide.