Week 36
About the size ofa small watermelon
Your baby is now 45 cm and 2900 grams.
Between 34 and 37 weeks your baby’s head will engage (move down) into the pelvis. With a first baby this usually happens earlier than with a second or third. In a later pregnancy engagement often takes longer, because your abdominal muscles have already been stretched more and your baby still has room. Some babies do not engage at all during pregnancy, but only during labour. Your baby’s skin is still covered with a thick layer of vernix, which protects it against infection. Around the thirty-fifth week most bits of vernix come loose. These are the flakes you can see floating in the amniotic fluid. If your waters break, look at the colour of the fluid. Clear or light pink fluid is normal. If it is green, brown or bloody, or smells bad, call us straight away. Also call us if the fluid is clear: see the call instructions.