Baby born at 36 weeks what to expect

You might be asking yourself, what if my baby is born at 36 weeks? Surely, it’s so close to the end of pregnancy, everything will be fine? That’s probably true, but your doctors will most likely want to check over a few things before you head home, and bub might take some extra time to adjust to being in the outside world.

So what should you expect when it comes to having a baby born at 36 weeks?

Here’s a guide to what you may have in store.

In this article 📝

• What does a baby born at 36 weeks look like?
• What happens if a baby is born at 36 weeks?
• Do babies born at 36 weeks need NICU?
• Can a 36-week baby go home?
• Is it safe to deliver at 36 weeks?
• Are babies’ lungs developed at 36 weeks?

What does a baby born at 36 weeks look like?

Looking for a ‘baby born at 36 weeks’ picture?

Let’s paint one for you…

A baby born at 36 weeks will probably have quite shiny, red-toned skin and have a liberal covering of body hair.

They won’t quite have the fat stores or muscle tone of a full-term infant, but they won’t be too far off from what you’d expect.

The average baby born at 36 weeks will weigh somewhere between 5.5-6.5 pounds, and be around 17.5-19 inches in length, which is very close to the weight and length of a full-term baby.

What happens if a baby is born at 36 weeks?

Babies born at 36 weeks are classed as “late preterm,” so they still fall within the preterm gestational age.

The baby born at 36 weeks survival rate is just the same as that for babies born at full term, but they are still at a slightly higher risk for some initial complications.

They may still encounter breathing difficulties, jaundice, and low birth weight, and be more prone to sepsis or other infections due to their premature arrival.

Their feeding reflex may be weak, so they could need some extra help to gain weight, too.

Do babies born at 36 weeks need NICU?

According to one study, around 5% of babies born at 36 weeks will be admitted to NICU, and the majority of these cases will be due to respiratory distress.

However, the outcomes are generally very good for babies born at 36 weeks.

Can a 36-week baby go home?

Even though many babies born earlier than 36 weeks might be ready to head home around this time, your baby still might need a bit of time in hospital before being discharged.

Your doctors won’t want to risk having to re-admit you after going home too soon, so it’s best to let your baby get the care they need now and be confident in going home when you’re all ready.

Is it safe to deliver at 36 weeks?

Unless there is a medical reason for inducing labor at 36 weeks, it’s safer to deliver your baby as close as possible to your due date at 40 weeks.

Having said that, the number of babies born at 34-36 weeks is on the rise.

34-36 weekers account for almost ¾ of all preterm births, so your baby born at 36 weeks may be in good company.

Reasons for more babies being born at this age include higher rates of maternal issues like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and more mamas-to-be being over 35.

Elective c-sections and labor inductions due to fetal concerns like growth restrictions or placental abruption can also be the reason for choosing to give birth at this point.

Are babies’ lungs developed at 36 weeks?

In most cases, the lungs are fully developed at 36 weeks, and the brain function regulating breathing has matured.

However, they would usually have a bit more time to practice in utero before being out in the big wide world, so respiratory distress can still be an issue.

Although a baby born at 36 weeks may face fewer challenges than babies born younger, they still will have some growing to do.

But your love, care, and encouragement will support them while they strengthen their muscles to feed, breathe, and move just like a full-term baby.

You might also be interested in:
Baby Born at 37 Weeks: What to Know
Premature Babies: All You Need to Know
What to Look for in a Preemie Pacifier

Pregnancy lasts an average of 40 weeks (usually between 38 and 42 weeks). A premature birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks. So a baby born at 36 weeks and 6 days is officially premature.

The degree of prematurity is often described by gestational age as:

• extremely premature – from 23-28 weeks
• very premature – 28-32 weeks
• moderately premature – 32-34 weeks
• late preterm – 34-37 weeks.

Gestational age
Gestational age is the length of time your baby has been developing in your uterus. It’s calculated from the first day of your last period.

Exact gestational age is important because the more premature babies are, the less developed they’ll be. And this means that they’ll probably need more medical support for their lungs, hearts, tummy and bowels, temperature control and feeding.

For example, most babies who are born earlier than 32 weeks of pregnancy will need help with breathing. This means they’ll be cared for in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). If they’re more developed, they might be cared for in a special care nursery.

Low birth weight
Babies can be both premature and low birth weight.

Low birth weight is when babies weigh less than 2.5 kg or their weight is lower than what’s expected for their gestational age.

Low birth weight can happen because premature babies are born before they get the chance to put on weight in the last weeks or months of pregnancy. These babies have low birth weight, but their development is appropriate for their gestational age.

How premature babies look

Your premature baby’s appearance depends quite a lot on how premature your baby is.

When a baby is born at 34-37 weeks of gestation (late preterm), they’ll probably look like a small full-term baby.

As a baby’s gestational age at birth decreases, their weight and size generally decrease too.

Extremely premature babies – for example, those born at 24 weeks of gestation – will be quite small and might fit snugly into your hand. They might look exhausted and have fragile, translucent skin. Their eyes might still be fused shut.

As these tiny babies grow, parents can watch the developmental changes in their baby’s appearance, movement and ability to interact with their world.

Premature birth: risk factors

In about half of all premature births, it isn’t known why the premature birth happens.

The following factors increase the likelihood of a premature birth:

• a previous premature birth
• some conditions of the uterus or cervix, like fibroids or a weakened cervix
• a multiple pregnancy – twins or more
• a maternal infection or maternal condition that means the birth needs to be brought on quickly for the safety of mother and baby – for example, pre-eclampsia
• conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

There are also some other factors that are associated with a premature birth. These include poor or not enough nutrition, too much physical activity, smoking, alcohol and other drug use, too much stress, anxiety, depression, obesity, underweight and lack of prenatal care. Being under 17 years or over 35 years can also be a factor in premature birth.

The best way to make sure your pregnancy goes well is to go to your regular antenatal appointments and follow your doctor’s or midwife’s advice about:

Even if you follow all the pregnancy advice, you might still have a premature baby. But if you look after yourself, you’ll have done the very best you can for your baby. If you think you might be at risk of premature birth, talk to your doctor or other health professional.

Women who smoke have nearly double the risk of low birth weight and premature babies. Quitting, even just during pregnancy, will reduce the risk. If you need help to quit, talk to your doctor or midwife, or call Quitline on 137 848.

Premature labour: signs and symptoms

If you have any of the following symptoms, you should contact your midwife, doctor or hospital. These symptoms might or might not mean you’re in labour, but you should always have them checked out:

• a dull, low backache
• a feeling that your baby is pushing down or a feeling of pressure in your pelvis
• swelling in your hands, feet or face
• contractions that happen more than four times an hour
• nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• blurriness, double vision or other eye disturbances
• abdominal cramps, much like period pain
• your baby’s movements slowing down or stopping
• fluid or blood coming out of your vagina.

It might be that you just don’t feel right, even though you don’t have any particular symptoms. If this happens, trust your own instincts. See your doctor or midwife, or go to the hospital.

If you’re in premature labour, the sooner you see a midwife or doctor the better. Some premature labours can be stopped or delayed. If your baby is growing well and getting all they need from your body, the longer your baby can stay in your womb, the better.

Sometimes you might know you’re going to have your baby early, so you can prepare for your premature birth. One way to prepare is by talking to your health professionals and asking some questions about premature birth.

Premature babies: survival and development

In Australia, most premature babies survive. And survival rates keep getting better as medical knowledge gets better.

Survival is affected by how premature a baby is. For example, moderately premature babies are more likely to survive than extremely premature babies. Babies born after only 23 weeks have a reasonable chance of survival – more than 50%.

Most premature babies go on to develop like full-term babies. The longer your baby’s gestation, the less chance there is of any health or developmental concerns.

Babies who are born late preterm generally have no serious long-term problems.

Extremely premature babies (born at 28 weeks or less) have an increased risk of developmental problems. But even in extremely premature babies, severe developmental problems are still quite uncommon.

Premature babies and their parents might have an unexpected and sometimes stressful start to their life together. Yet with expert care, support and guidance, the early problems often work out and most children have typical development.