36 to 41 weeks of pregnancy

36 weeks pregnant: Make sure you have all your important telephone numbers handy in case labor starts.

• Your midwife or doctor should give you information about:

– feeding your baby

– caring for your newborn baby

– Vitamin K and screening tests for your newborn baby

– The ‘baby blues’ and postnatal depression.

• Your midwife or doctor should:

– measure the size of your uterus

– check the position of your baby

– measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.

• Sleeping may be increasingly difficult.

38 weeks pregnant

• Most women will go into labor spontaneously between 38 and 42 weeks. Your midwife or doctor should give you information about your options if your pregnancy lasts longer than 41 weeks.

• Your midwife or doctor should:

– Measure the size of your uterus

– measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.

• Call your hospital or midwife at any time if you have any worries about your baby or about labor and birth.

40 weeks pregnant   

• If this is your first baby, then your midwife or doctor should give you more information about what happens if your pregnancy lasts longer than 41 weeks.

• Your midwife or doctor should:

– measure the size of your uterus

– measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.

41 weeks pregnant

• If your pregnancy lasts longer than 41 weeks, you may be induced. Your midwife or doctor will explain what this means and what the risks are.

• Your midwife or doctor should:

– measure the size of your uterus

– measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein

– offer a membrane sweep.

• Discuss options and choices for induction of labor.

• Call your hospital or midwife if you have any worries about your baby or about labor and birth.