Thirty Two to Thirty-Six weeks Pregnant
As baby gets bigger, the issue of how you are going to get the baby out may start to feel more relevant. Many mothers find that they become quite preoccupied with planning and daydreaming and thinking about their impending labour. Talk to your partner or birth helper, meet with your doula. This is a good time to be taking childbirth classes.
How you might feel between thirty-two and thirty-six weeks of pregnancy:
- Your growing belly and growing baby are putting more strain on your body. You may start to feel quite weary, especially towards the end of the day. Napping is a useful skill to start cultivating now!
- Back pain, caused by the increasing weight of the baby and softening joints, may get worse. Consider seeing a massage therapist, physiotherapist or chiropractor.
- Baby is moving a lot. The baby’s movements may keep you up at night, or wake you up even. Baby’s hiccups – a little, slow, pulse-like feeling, deep inside you.
- As baby moves, and your back hurts, and you get less exercise during the day, you may start to find it difficult to sleep at night. Try having a high-protein snack before you go to bed. Practice your breathing exercises and isten to soothing music. Think of it as free time to rehearse for labour.
- Constipation may become a problem. Remember to eat lots of high-fiber vegetables and whole grains. Make sure you drink enough water too.
- Braxton-Hicks contractions, also called pregnancy contractions, may start to become more intense. Remember your uterus contracts more if you are dehydated or over-active. Take it easy and have a glass of water if the tightenings start to bother you.
Things you may do between thirty-two and thirty-six weeks weeks of pregnancy:
- Planning for your baby’s birth. What is really important to you about the experience of giving birth? Where will you give birth?
- Consider your preferences and values with regards to your baby’s birth. How would you like things to go? How would you like to cope with labour pain? What interventions would you like to avoid, if possible?
- Discuss your birth preferences and values with your partner or birth-helper.
- Gather home birth supplies and/or start to pack your hospital birth bag.
- Are you having the support of a doula? You will probably meet with her in this month, if you have not already done so.She will want to know about your plans and preferences for your baby’s birth so that she can help you carry out those plans.
- Plan for the postpartum period. Who will help with household tasks after you have the baby? Who will visit? How much time will your partner take off?
Between thirty-two and thirty-six weeks of pregnancy, your care-provider will probably:
- Be seeing you every two-three weeks at this stage.
- Weigh you at each visit and discuss healthy weight gain.
- Check your blood pressure.
- Check your urine for protein and infection.
- Palpate and measure your abdomen.
- Listen to the baby’s heart beat using a hand held Doppler ultrasound device.
- Review test results.
- Check the position of your baby to screen for breech presentation (bum first) or other variations in presentation.
- Offer screening for Group B Strep.
- Provide you with information about how to reach your care provider when you do go into labour.
- Provide information about when yo go to the hospital – if that is where you are having your baby.
- Discuss the possibility of a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) if you had a Caesarean at the end of your last pregnancy.
Your care provider is one of your best sources of information. Keep a list of questions to ask at your monthly appointments.
Things you can do for your health and your baby’s health:
- Pay attention to self-care. Take time for a massage or acupuncture session.
- A very large amount of calcium is transferred to the baby in the third trimester. Focus on good sources of calcium: dairy, tofu, leafy greens, dried fruit and nuts.
- You may want to start doing some perineal massage to increase health of perineal tissues and give you practice relaxing as perineum stretches.
- Aquafit classes or swimming really help with swollen feet and legs, and backache.
Resources:
Finding a Doula in Victoria, BC: Greater Victoria Doula Directory
Deciding where to have your baby – Hospital or Home? Hospital or Home?
Deciding where to have your baby – Hospital or Home? Place of Birth Handbook
What to pack in your hospital bag: Packing for the Hospital.
Home Birth Supplies – an example: Access Midwifery, Victoria
Group B Strep: HealthLink BC
Group B Strep: BC women’s Hospital