36 Weeks Pregnant
You’re 36 weeks pregnant — in the third trimester, and 4 weeks to go until your due date. Your baby is about the size of a romaine lettuce this week.
How big is your baby at 36 weeks?
Size of a
romaine lettuce
Length
~47.4 cm
Weight
~2622 g
Last week your baby was about the size of a honeydew melon; this week it's grown to roughly a romaine lettuce.
Sizes are averages from standard fetal-growth references. Every baby grows at its own pace — your provider tracks yours at scans.
Baby development at week 36
The fetus is shedding most of the downy lanugo hair and the waxy vernix, swallowing both along with amniotic fluid — this forms the first bowel movement (meconium). The skull bones remain unfused and slightly movable to ease delivery. Most babies are head-down by now. The digestive system, the last to fully mature, is nearly ready. About the size of a head of romaine.
Your body at 36 weeks
Common symptoms many people notice around week 36 include:
- Lightening — the baby drops lower, easing breathing but increasing pelvic pressure
- Frequent urination
- Pelvic aches and 'lightning crotch' jolts
- Strong nesting urge for some
Symptoms vary enormously from person to person and pregnancy to pregnancy. Not having a symptom on this list is just as normal as having it.
Tips for week 36
- Weekly prenatal visits typically begin around now
- Learn the signs of labour and when to call your provider
- Install and check the car seat
What trimester is 36 weeks?
Week 36 falls in the third trimester. As a quick map: the first trimester runs weeks 1–13, the second covers weeks 14–27, and the third is week 28 through birth (a due date is set at 40 weeks). Want your own dates? Our Pregnancy Due Date Calculator shows your due date and exactly how far along you are today.
The third trimester (weeks 28–40+) is about growth and getting ready for birth. Prenatal visits become more frequent, the baby gains most of its weight, and you'll watch for the signs of labour. Tiredness and physical discomfort tend to return as the due date approaches.
Frequently asked questions
- How many months is 36 weeks pregnant?
- 36 weeks pregnant is about 9 months. Pregnancy months don't divide evenly into 4-week blocks, so week-to-month conversions are approximate — most providers track pregnancy by week, not month.
- How big is the baby at 36 weeks?
- At 36 weeks, the baby is about the size of a romaine lettuce, roughly 47.4 cm and around 2622 g. These are averages — healthy babies vary, and your provider tracks your baby's own growth curve at scans.
- What trimester is 36 weeks?
- Week 36 is in the third trimester. The first trimester is weeks 1–13, the second is weeks 14–27, and the third is weeks 28 to birth (around week 40).