Hi there,
You are now 36 weeks pregnant!
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU
Welcome to the last month of your pregnancy. You may find it very hard to get in a comfortable position! Sleeping on your side with one or two pillows between your legs and one at your back may be comforting. If you have difficulty sleeping, try drinking warm milk, chicken broth or "sleepy time tea." And then, just as you get to sleep, you might need to get up again... to use the bathroom.
You may have your first internal exam to see if your cervix has softened, thinned (effaced), dilated -- or if your baby's head is dipping into your pelvis. Keep in mind that many women go to full term despite total effacement, a centimeter or two of dilatation and a fully engaged fetal head. Likewise, a woman whose cervix is "long, thick and closed" may give birth the next day.
Many couples enjoy making love, right up to the end of pregnancy. Feel free to enjoy, as long as you have not experienced third-trimester bleeding, your placenta is high and your membranes are intact. Research actually has shown that the prostaglandin in semen may help to ripen your cervix and may start contractions -- when your baby is ready. And of course, sharing intimacy with your partner is a great way to stay connected as you both prepare for this incredible event!
