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Article provided by Kidspot - http://www.kids
You are now entering your last trimester
The third trimester takes you through weeks 27-41.
Your Pregnancy - Week 27
You
One funny thing with pregnancy is what you feel like eating. Pregnant women throughout time have been known to crave weird foods, at all hours of the day. The most common offenders are highly talked about in movies, on TV and in comic strips - ice cream and dill pickles. Some women like both at the same time. You just never know. It only makes sense that if your hormones are acting up, that your taste buds will too. Keep a food diary to make sure you are eating well and to record those crazy cravings.
If you need a family project to take your mind off your food, prepare a family tree for baby's keepsake box.
Your Baby
Baby is 36.6 cm long and weighs 875 grams. This week your baby's eyelids will open for the first time. His eyelids won't remain open for too long yet, that comes later. Your baby will also begin the reflex of blinking. Baby's blink may be slow at first, but they are learning how to protect their eyes beneath. Eyelashes will be present on the ends of the lids, but not fully grown.
Your Pregnancy - Week 28
You
Have you turned into a typical pregnant woman and developed a waddle? Or you didn't even notice you waddled, until your lovely partner commented on it? You can thank your hormones for your new gait. The hormones are working to prepare your body for delivery, and one way they do so is by relaxing your joints. This allows your hips to spread, making your birth canal wider and easier for your baby to exit. Once your baby is born, the hips will tighten back up and your walk will be back to normal.
Your Baby
Baby is 37.6cm long and weighs 1005 grams. Baby's eyes will receive their colour this week. Pigment will fill in your baby's irises, and they will have colour when they are born. Caucasian babies are usually born with blue eyes, and the irises don't change into brown, hazel or green until six months after birth. Babies of other nationalities are born either blue or brown, and then can change to other shades in several months time.
Your Pregnancy - Week 29
You
With any amount of luck, your baby will turn this week or begin thinking about making a turn down. What that means is the head is down and ready to enter the birth canal. The majority of babies will turn on their own before birth, but a few will require assistance. Those that don't are considered breach, and may need to be delivered via a C-Section. Your doctor will monitor your baby's position, and can tell just by feeling if they are head up or head down.
Your Baby
Baby is 38.6cm long and weighs 1153 grams. Is your baby moving around a lot? Do you get kicked at all hours of the day, and in every place imaginable? Your baby is using those movements to gain strength and co-ordination for when they emerge from your uterus. Baby's movements are becoming less reflexive and more determined as they grow. It won't be long, however, before baby is too cramped to be able to move much at all. The kicks and pokes will become less pronounced and a little less frequent.
Your Pregnancy - Week 30
You
If you are suffering from headaches buy a wheat bag to place over your eyes for when you take a rest. It will help calm your throbbing head as you can't take aspirin or ibuprofen if you are pregnant. Consult your practitioner about which medications you can take if you're prone to severe migraines. Buy extra pillows to make yourself more comfortable in bed.
At this point in your pregnancy, your blood volume is double what it normally is pre-pregnancy as your body works to look after the two of you. Your blood is nourishing your baby and feeding the placenta with all the important vitamins, minerals and nutrients from your system.
Check that Dad has organised to take holidays once the baby is born.
Your Baby
Baby is 39.9cm long and weighs 1319 grams. This week your baby's bone marrow will begin functioning. The bone marrow's function is to make all of the blood cells for your baby. First up in the production area is the red blood cells. The red blood is what carries the oxygen and nutrients through the veins and arteries. The bone marrow won't be making white blood cells or platelets for a few more weeks.
Your Pregnancy - Week 31
You
To keep your blood supply high and in peak performance, eat plenty of iron rich foods. Some foods that are high in iron include kidney beans, lean beef, liver, spinach, asparagus, peaches, apricots, almonds, cashews, pork, turkey, tuna, trout, sunflower seeds, eggs, molasses and tomatoes.
There is one draw back to having an iron rich diet though. Too much iron and not enough fibre and water can lead to constipation. To avoid that problem, simply eat plenty of other fruits, vegetables, fibre and drink two litres of water to maintain a proper balance.
It's time to narrow down your list of possible baby names if you haven't already made a choice. Use our baby name finder to help you in your search. Or use our popular baby names list to get you thinking.
You might like to take a video of your stomach, capturing the baby moving.
Your Baby
Your baby's bones will begin to store up phosphorous and iron. Baby uses the phosphorous and iron to remain strong and grow during their lifetime. This is another reason why an iron rich diet is necessary - to build your baby's stores.
The cartilage that made up all of the early bones are hardening in most places on the skeleton. The one place where the bone will not be hard is the skull. Baby's skull will remain in pieces and will not fuse until after delivery. Since the head is the largest part that needs to fit through the birth canal, it is in pieces so it can compre
Your Pregnancy - Week 32
You
The hormones working hard to develop your baby may also be working on you. Don't be surprised if you discover you have leaky breasts before your baby is born. A baby crying in a restaurant might be enough to trigger a hormonal response that activates your mammary glands. It isn't harmful - but maybe a little embarrassing if you aren't expecting it. Any fluid that does leak out will just be pre-milk.
Your Baby
Baby is 42.4cm long and weighs 1702 grams. All five senses within your baby are now working. Baby can see, hear, smell, taste and touch. While it doesn't seem like there is much to stimulate any of the senses, there certainly is. Your baby can taste what you had for dinner a few hours after you eat it. Baby can hear sounds inside and outside of your body. Baby can tell the difference between light and dark. Baby's fingers are co-ordinated to reach for things to touch in utero. The one thing baby hasn't available to them is anything to smell. There is amniotic fluid, but there isn't much scent to it really. Once your baby is born, your baby will begin to understand smells.
Your Pregnancy - Week 33
You
Leg cramps may send you shooting out of bed at night and can be very painful symptom during your pregnancy, if you aren't careful. The leg cramps can happen for several reasons. One, you had a rigorous day of walking. Two, you may not have had enough water during the day to keep your muscles hydrated. Three, your calcium and potassium balance can be unbalanced. To help prevent leg cramps, take it easy while you walk by taking frequent breaks. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. And eat a banana with a glass of milk to keep the calcium and potassium balance equal.
Your Baby
Baby is 43.7cm long and weighs 1918 grams. Baby's adrenal glands have begun to work, producing the adrenaline that will cause baby to feel fear, exertion of even surprise. The adrenal glands are very small, but efficient.
Your midwife may comment on your baby's "presentation", referring to the position your baby has assumed. Babies usually settle into the head down, or cephalic position around this time. In about 3% of term pregnancies the baby remains breech, meaning that their buttocks or the feet are leading, and would be delivered first. A cesarean may be recommended if your baby is in the breech position. While vaginal breech births are possible, discuss the possible risks with your doctor.
Babies usually assume a head-down position sometime before the 36th week, although some do it even later. If you currently have a baby in the breech position, you can try this exercise to encourage your baby to rotate. Lie on your back and prop your buttocks off the floor with firm, supportive pillows. Do this exercise for twenty minutes, two to three times a day. It is best done in loose clothing a
Your Pregnancy - Week 34
You
Heartburn may be a cumbersome problem right now. You are exhausted and want to sleep, but soon after you lie down you start to feel the burn come up your esophagus. There are a few ways to try to prevent heartburn. One, watch your diet. Avoid citrus, garlic, spicy and rich foods. Second, at least an hour before you plan to lie down. Third, eat small, frequent meals to help the food digest quicker.
Your Baby
Baby is 45cm long and weighs 2146 grams. Your baby's eyes are fully open now. The eyes will only close now when our baby sleeps. And your baby is sleeping in regular patterns right now, and you may be aware of their sleep pattern. Even though your baby's eyes are open, your baby doesn't have good eyesight. Even after your baby is born, it will take several weeks for their vision to be clear and focus on objects. Your baby will rely on other senses such as hearing and smell to identify people until they can clearly focus.
Your Pregnancy - Week 35
You
How can you tell a Braxton Hicks contraction from a real contraction? Braxton Hicks will be irregular in length, irregular in their timing and not get stronger. Real contractions will get closer together, last longer each time and get progressively worse. If you still aren't sure, take a hot shower. Hot showers usually ease Braxton Hicks and false labour, while it may aid true labour.
Your Baby
Baby is 46.2cm long and weighs 2383 grams. The lanugo is wearing off now. With less lanugo on your baby, it means its fat is developing. Your baby will weigh anywhere from 2 to 3 kilograms this week. Your baby will continue to add a quarter of a kilo of pure baby fat each week until delivery. And just because your baby is putting fat on doesn't mean that you should. Continue to eat a healthy diet so that the weight will be easier to lose after delivery.
Your Pregnancy - Week 36
You
Your doctor will perform a Strep B test during the next checkup. Strep B is bacteria in the genital region of adults and is quite harmless. Your doctor will simply take a swab and send it off to the lab for results. If you are positive, you will simply need to take an antibiotic to clear it up before delivery.
Your Baby
Baby is 47.4cm long and weighs 2622 grams. The gums inside your baby's mouth are very hard. The teeth buds are inside of the gums and it will be four or five months before the first tooth will emerge. But until the teeth do emerge, their gums need to be able to mash up the first solid food you feed your baby. Your baby will also need strong gums to suckle, whether it is from a bottle or breast.
Your Pregnancy - Week 37
You
You are now considered to be full term. Relax about the due date. Only 5% of babies arrive on their due date. If your baby were to be born this week, there should be little chance of complications. All systems are go - from circulatory, to the senses, to the muscles. The only organ that may require assistance is the lungs, if they are immature. And if they are, don't worry. The hospital will have all the assistance your baby will need to thrive.
Your Baby
Baby is 48.6cm long and weighs 285
Your Pregnancy - Week 38
You
Is your cervix thinning and dilating? That is great news. The thinning is your cervix spreading out as a result of having the baby's head pressing on it. When it is thinned it will be easier for it to dilate. If it has already thinned, it may even be slightly dilated. Your cervix will dilate between 1 and 10mm. When you hit 10, you are ready to deliver. Take it easy. Your heart is pumping more than 45% extra blood around your system.
Your Baby
Baby is 49.8cm long and weighs 308
Your Pregnancy - Week 39
You
You will feel less movement and more forceful kicks as your baby has less room to manoeuvre. Your uterus is stretched to the maximum, you are carrying a lot of amniotic fluid, and baby has used up all the space available, leaving no room for gymnastics. That may be a good thing. If you can, settle in for some restorative naps. Enjoy the less chaotic rumblings inside of you. In the days before labour begins you can expect to experience the following, although they are not always accurate predictors of when labour will begin:
Your Baby
Baby is 50.7cm long and weighs 328
Your Pregnancy - Week 40
You
Remember only 5% of babies are born on their due date, so don't be too disheartened you are still pregnant, take advantage of this time and rest. Also, finish any last minute projects before the hectic pace of life with a newborn settles in.
If you have older children, spend some extra time with them to reassure them that you haven't forgotten about them. This may help to settle future jealousies in those first few weeks when baby comes home. Extra rest is very important, balance your bout of energy with naps.
Your Baby
Baby is 51.2cm long and weighs 346
Your baby's immune system is still immature and receives antibodies from the placenta and after birth your baby will receive antibodies continually from your breast milk. Most of the lanugo has fallen off your baby's body, although you may still find some hidden spots, particularly in the creases, and around the shoulders or ears when you finally meet him or her.
Your Pregnancy - Week 40
You
You probably thought you wouldn't need to read this, but don't be worried, only 5% of babies are born on their due date. It's common for the due date to be miscalculated. You will be seeing your doctor or midwife more frequently once you pass 40 weeks, and having regular tests to ensure your baby isn't under any stress and the placenta is still healthy. The good news is that no matter what, you only have one week left of your pregnancy. Make sure you keep drinking lots of water and try to have a daily walk.
Your Baby
Baby is 51.7cm long and weighs 359
