36 weeks pregnant
Your baby is about 47 cm and 2.6 kg; most babies are head down.
Week 36 is one of the last weeks before birth. Most babies are head down and start to move down into the pelvis.
This week’s ultrasound image
Expected ultrasound appearance and measurements at week 36 (illustrative, to-scale drawing).
Abbreviations on the screen
- GS
- Gestational sac diameter
- YS
- Yolk sac
- CRL
- Crown–rump length
- NT
- Nuchal translucency
- BPD
- Biparietal diameter (head width)
- HC
- Head circumference
- AC
- Abdominal circumference
- FL
- Femur (thigh bone) length
- EFW
- Estimated fetal weight
- FHR
- Fetal heart rate (beats per minute)
- GA
- Gestational age (weeks + days)
- UA PI
- Umbilical artery Doppler resistance (PI)
Length (head to heel)
47 cm
Head diameter
90 mm
Head circumference
323 mm
Femur length
69 mm
Estimated weight
2622 g
Heart rate
134 bpm
UA PI
0.82
How big is your baby this week?
About the size of a romaine lettuce
What can be seen on the ultrasound?
BPD is about 90 mm, HC about 323 mm, AC about 320 mm and FL about 69 mm. Your baby’s position is checked.
Your baby’s development
Your baby is about the size of a romaine lettuce. The fine body hair is shed, and sucking and swallowing grow stronger. The skull bones stay flexible to make birth easier.
Changes in your body
As your baby drops, breathing becomes easier, but you need to pass urine more often and pelvic pressure increases.
Check-ups at this stage
- Weekly check: blood pressure, weight, urine
- Baby’s position (discussing the options if breech)
- GBS test (if not yet done)
Tips for this week
- Get the documents you need for the birth ready
- Learn how to time your contractions
- Learn about breastfeeding positions
When should you see your doctor?
Go to the hospital if your waters break, or if you have bleeding, regular contractions, reduced baby movements, a severe headache or blurred vision.
Growth by week
Values are averages; differences of a few days or a few millimetres between babies are normal.
| Pregnancy weeks | Crown–rump length (cm) | Weight (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Week 4 | — | — |
| Week 5 | — | — |
| Week 6 | 4 mm | — |
| Week 7 | 10 mm | — |
| Week 8 | 16 mm | 1 g |
| Week 9 | 23 mm | 2 g |
| Week 10 | 32 mm | 4 g |
| Week 11 | 43 mm | 8 g |
| Week 12 | 55 mm | 14 g |
| Week 13 | 68 mm | 23 g |
| Week 14 | 85 mm | 43 g |
| Week 15 | 100 mm | 70 g |
| Week 16 | 115 mm | 100 g |
| Week 17 | 128 mm | 140 g |
| Week 18 | 140 mm | 190 g |
| Week 19 | 152 mm | 240 g |
| Week 20 | 25.6 cm | 300 g |
| Week 21 | 26.7 cm | 360 g |
| Week 22 | 27.8 cm | 430 g |
| Week 23 | 28.9 cm | 501 g |
| Week 24 | 30 cm | 600 g |
| Week 25 | 31.9 cm | 660 g |
| Week 26 | 33.8 cm | 760 g |
| Week 27 | 35.6 cm | 875 g |
| Week 28 | 37.5 cm | 1005 g |
| Week 29 | 38.8 cm | 1153 g |
| Week 30 | 40 cm | 1319 g |
| Week 31 | 41.3 cm | 1502 g |
| Week 32 | 42.5 cm | 1702 g |
| Week 33 | 43.6 cm | 1918 g |
| Week 34 | 44.8 cm | 2146 g |
| Week 35 | 45.9 cm | 2383 g |
| Week 36 | 47 cm | 2622 g |
| Week 37 | 48 cm | 2859 g |
| Week 38 | 49 cm | 3083 g |
| Week 39 | 50 cm | 3288 g |
| Week 40 | 51 cm | 3462 g |
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my baby is breech?
Your doctor will assess the options – turning the baby from the outside (external cephalic version), vaginal birth or a planned caesarean – based on your and your baby’s situation.
What does it mean when the bump drops?
It means your baby’s head is settling into the pelvis. In a first pregnancy this happens a few weeks before birth; in later pregnancies, often as labour starts.
Your pregnancy care at SoftCare Clinic
Book an appointment with our specialist doctors for your ultrasound check-up and any questions you may have.
The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not replace a medical examination. Measurements are average values; please discuss your own results with your doctor.
Medical content editor: Op. Dr. Şükrü Sanus