As you approach the end of your pregnancy journey, your 36-week appointment is a crucial check-up for both you and your baby’s health. At this stage, your doctor will monitor your baby’s development to ensure that everything is on track for a safe delivery.
During your 36-week appointment, your doctor will dilate your cervix to assess your progress towards delivery. Dilation refers to the opening of the cervix, which is a vital part of the labour process. The cervix needs to dilate to at least 10 centimetres for the baby to pass through the birth canal safely.
While dilation is a natural process, there are a few things you can do to prepare your body for it. Here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind before your 36-week appointment:
Do’s:
1. Eat a healthy diet: Focus on eating whole foods that are rich in nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats.
2. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated.
3. Exercise regularly: Engage in moderate exercise, such as walking or prenatal yoga, to keep your body strong and healthy.
4. Take your prenatal vitamins: Ensure that you’re taking your prenatal vitamins daily to support your baby’s growth and development.
5. Get enough rest: Aim to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to keep your body and mind refreshed.
Don’ts:
1. Avoid smoking and alcohol: Both smoking and alcohol can harm your baby’s development and put you at risk of complications during delivery.
2. Stay away from caffeine: Too much caffeine can lead to dehydration and increase your chances of preterm labour.
3. Skip the heavy lifting: Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise that could put undue stress on your body and baby.
4. Stay away from stress: Try to avoid stressful situations that could impact your mental and physical health.
In addition to your diet and lifestyle habits, there are also some foods and vegetables that you should consider adding to your diet to promote dilation. Here are some examples:
1. Pineapple: Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which can soften the cervix and promote dilation.
2. Dates: Dates are rich in nutrients that can help support labour, such as potassium, magnesium, and oxytocin.
3. Eggplant: Some studies suggest that eggplant can stimulate contractions and promote cervical ripening.
4. Raspberry leaf tea: Raspberry leaf tea is thought to promote uterine contractions and prepare the body for delivery.
While focusing on your diet and lifestyle habits can help prepare your body for delivery, there are also various assisted reproductive technologies (ART) available to help couples struggling with infertility. Whether it’s in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), or surrogacy treatment, ART can give couples a second chance to have a child.
IVF involves fertilising an egg outside the body before being implanted back into the uterus. IUI is a process in which sperm is inserted directly into the uterus, while ICSI involves fertilising an egg with a single sperm cell. Surrogacy is a process in which a woman carries a pregnancy for another couple.
In conclusion, your 36-week appointment is an important milestone in your pregnancy journey. By focusing on your diet, lifestyle habits, and assisted reproductive technologies, you can ensure that you and your baby are healthy and prepared for delivery. Remember to speak to your doctor if you have any concerns or questions about the process.