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All about baby

Your baby's senses are forming. Nerve cells for sight, sound, smell, taste and touch are developing in the brain. When you massage your abdomen, your baby will actually feel your touch, so give your bump a soothing stroke.

The kidneys are producing urine, which is filtered from the amniotic fluid by your placenta and absorbed into your system. Your baby has started to exercise its lungs and practice breathing techniques, and is sleeping and waking at regular intervals.

  • Measures about 15cm crown to rump
  • Weighs in at around 8oz

Over to you

If you've started to notice your painless contractions surrounding your abdomen, don't panic. These are likely to be Braxton Hicks contractions and they're basically your body’s way of practising for labour. Your uterus muscles tighten and release, squeezing more blood to the back of the placenta to increase the blood supply to your baby. Unlike real labour contractions - which become progressively more intense and closer together - Braxton Hicks contractions ease off and return again, seemingly at random. Some women don’t experience them until the third trimester, but others start much earlier.

Now that you are rapidly gaining a pregnant silhouette, you might notice pink or purply lines starting to appear as your skin stretches around your growing bump. Stretch marks are another somewhat unwanted symptom of pregnancy - some women don't get them at all, some get a few towards the end and others get significantly more. After the birth they settle to more subtle silvery, fine lines.

Although you can’t prevent them entirely, you can help to minimise stretch marks by keeping your weight gain steady through a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. You can also keep your skin supple by massaging a rich oil or cream into your stomach and breasts. Try using wheatgerm oil, cocoa butter or Vitamin E cream. Some essential oil blends may also help to minimise stretch marks and there are also several creams formulated specifically for  stretch marks, which some women find help limit their appearance.

In the know

Pregnancy chic

If you're having trouble doing up the top button of your jeans or squeezing your voluptuous cleavage into your usual bras, then the time has come to pack away (most of) your pre-pregnancy wardrobe and get kitted out in something more suitable. Thankfully, mum-to-be fashion has moved on a bit from the outfits you've no doubt seen in pregnancy books, and many high street names offer their own collections. Try our top style tips for inspiration...

 

 

Our top style tips...

  • Wrap-over style tops, cardies and dresses are perfect for your growing figure
  • Invest in accessories - they'll brighten up maternity staple black and will last long after you've packed away the smocks and stretchy waistbands
  • Bump bands are a good and affordable way of prolonging the life of your favorite jeans and also work well with under-bump style trousers and skirts to preserve a bit of bump modesty. Some are even designed to help support your back.
  • Have regular bra fittings, you'll be surprised by how many times you need to go up a size - especially once your milk comes in!
  • Look into 'nearly new' at places like NCT sales and eBay, offering no longer needed second-hand fashion, which probably wont have been worn for long by its original owner
  • Think about getting a good pair of maternity pjs which will give support to your growing boobs and make night-time breastfeeds as hassle free as possible
  • Borrow from friends who've recently had babies. You can pass on the favour to future mums-to-be when you're finished.
  • Swishing (clothes swapping) parties are all the rage, so if you have a group of pregnant friends, throw your own bash and refresh your pregnancy wardrobe for free!
  • If you live in heels, you might be finding it hard to switch to flats. But remember that your back is under a lot of extra strain right now, so give it a break and save the heels for special occasions.
  • Raid your partner's side of the cupboard for bump-friendly baggy t-shirts and jumpers. Don't be too shocked if even a pair of his trousers fit surprising well towards the end of your pregnancy!
  • Cute, bump flattering outfits are all very well, but a comfy pair of stretchy tracky bottoms to slip into as soon as you get through the front door is a must...

Go to next week's article: Pregnancy Week 20

Please note that the contents of this section are for information only and are not intended as medical advice or as a substitute to your doctor's advice. For medical care and advice, you should consult your doctor on a regular basis. If you have any problem which concerns you, consult your doctor immediately.

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