Weeks 34 to 36 of Your Pregnancy: Care Instructions

Your belly has grown quite large. It's almost time to give birth! Your baby's lungs are almost ready to breathe air. The skull bones are firm enough to protect your baby's head. But they're soft enough to move down through the birth canal.

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  Choose what type of pain relief you would like during labor. You can choose from a few types, including medicine and non-medicine options. You may want to use several types of pain relief.

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  Know how medicines can help with pain during labor. Some medicines lower anxiety and help with some of the pain. Others make your lower body numb so that you will feel less pain.

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  Tell your doctor about your pain medicine choice. Do this before you start labor or very early in your labor. You may be able to change your mind during labor.

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  Learn about the stages of labor.

  • The first stage includes the early (latent) and active phases of labor. Contractions start in early labor. During active labor, contractions get stronger, last longer, and happen more often. And the cervix opens more rapidly.
  • The second stage starts when you're ready to push. During this stage, your baby is born.
  • During the third stage, you'll usually have a few more contractions to push out the placenta.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.