Week 36: Time For An Emotional Check-In -- How Are You Feeling?

It’s pregnancy week 36, and here’s what’s going on…

MIND

It’s normal to have a mild case of the blues while pregnant. But if you’re really down, have insomnia you just can’t beat, and barely feel like eating, talk to your doc at your next appointment. Your doctor will be able to advise you on which blend of yoga, antidepressants, and other mood enhancers can get you feeling like yourself again. If you’re feeling blue now, you have an increased risk of developing postpartum depression, so it’s best to address these feelings as soon as they start.

BODY

Welcome to the ninth month, Scary Mommies, which brings with it weekly doctor visits and the possibility that your mucous plug could fall out of your vagina while you’re in the middle of a business presentation! True, but really it’s just some extra thick discharge, and it can come out up to two weeks before labor starts — so any time now! But it also might not come out until the very last minute, or you might not notice it at all, all of which is normal.

During an exam, your doctor or midwife might note that your cervix has begun to dilate, but don’t get too excited; that can start happening weeks before true labor begins. You might feel an achy heaviness in your pelvis as the baby drops lower (called lightening or engagement), making it easier for you to breathe and eat comfortably. If this isn’t your first baby, however, you might not get that kind of relief until labor starts, at which point “relief” won’t exactly be the word you’d use to describe it. In some women, the baby drops so low it feels like you’d be able to look down and see her smiling at you, but rest assured, you will know if her head comes out!

BABY

Your baby’s sucking muscles are strong, and your little one is just about ready to eat their first meal! So, if you’re planning to breastfeed, slip a tube of lanolin in your hospital bag; it works wonders for sore, cracked nipples (oh yes, they can crack) as your baby learns to latch properly.

NEST

Make sure you have a solid baby first aid kit. One kit usually doesn’t include everything, but some key items are: a thermometer (rectal thermometers are the most accurate), a nasal aspirator, antibiotic ointment, baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen, sterile bandages and tweezers. Often, baby first-aid kits come with important grooming items like baby nail-clippers and hair brushes.