Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
And on the outside:
At my 36 week appt the doctor said "if we had a 'Pregnancy Hall of Fame' Wall, you'd be on it". I told her they should create one, I'd be happy to give her a photo of me!! :) Great blood pressure, no swelling, very healthy, continuing to exercise 5x a week, healthy baby, etc. So that made me feel REALLY good !! As I was checking out at the front desk she walked by and said, 'are you wearing heels? I said, yes, she said, pre-pregancy shoes? I said, yes, she said yeah... definately Hall of Fame." :) LOL.
Apple was head down, great heart beat. That's about it. No other "changes" to be noted. Which is all good.
Had lunch today with 3 girls from my pre-natal yoga class that I go to on Saturdays, we are all due on 2/2 !! And delivering at the same hospital. Would be so funny if we are all there at the same time! Party in the maternity wing!! ha ha.
36 week photo! :)
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