Your pregnancy: weeks 33 to 36

Your baby

Now your little one has smooth skin and chubby arms and legs. It’s a good thing your baby is almost ready for life outside the womb, because it’s getting a little crowded in there.

What's happening this week?

Week 33 A spaghetti squash
hands holding 3 spaghetti squashes

33 weeks pregnant

Proud parent-to-be moment: As of this week, my baby has an independent immune system. We’ll both be ready for anything on delivery day!

  • Your baby weighs up to 5 pounds and is about the size of a spaghetti squash.
  • Your little one acts more like a newborn now, closing their eyes when sleeping and opening them when awake.
  • Your baby is taking up most of the space in the amniotic sac as they get bigger, so there’s less fluid to cushion kicks. Are you feeling your little one’s movements more sharply?
Week 34 A pineapple
hand holding a pineapple

34 weeks pregnant

My little one should hit the 5-pound mark this week. Grow, baby, grow!

  • Your baby is about the size of a pineapple.
  • Fingernails and toenails have grown out to the tips of tiny fingers and toes.
  • The soft, downy hair that protected your baby is almost gone.
  • Your baby is around 18 to 20 inches long.
Week 35 A cantaloupe
hands holding a large cantaloupe

35 weeks pregnant

My little one is growing every day. It’s almost time to move out of my belly and into the big, wide world!

  • Your baby is about the size of a cantaloupe.
  • Your little one’s skull remains soft to allow them to pass through the birth canal.
  • There’s no more room to move around in the uterus. That means your baby’s almost ready.
Week 36 A head of romaine lettuce
hands holding a head of romaine lettuce

36 weeks pregnant

It’s the final countdown. One month to go!

  • Your baby is as long as a large head of romaine lettuce.
  • By now, the lungs are fully developed and ready to breathe.
  • The white covering that protected your baby’s skin from long exposure to amniotic fluid is almost gone.

Your body

Frequent trips to the bathroom, leg cramps, breathlessness, trouble sleeping — even Braxton Hicks contractions. They’re all signs that your baby is preparing to make their way into the world. Your body needs rest, so take naps when you can. And continue to eat a diet that includes omega-3 fatty acids from foods like salmon and walnuts. They’re especially good for your baby’s brain and vision development.

At 36 weeks, you may be waddling when you walk, and you may experience pain or discomfort as your baby’s head, along with your larger uterus, makes walking uncomfortable. These symptoms should improve when your baby drops farther into your pelvic cavity and your body gets ready for childbirth.

Your to-do list

  • Pack your hospital bag.
  • Wrap up loose ends at work.
  • At your next appointment, talk to your doctor about what kind of newborn testing is required in your state.
  • Practice the breathing and relaxation techniques you learned in childbirth class.
  • Track your baby’s movements.

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