All about baby
Your baby is busy gaining fat in order to keep warm, yet still has lots of room and amniotic fluid in which to move around, spin and somersault – and you’ll most likely be feeling your baby’s gymnastic activities quite strongly from now until the final month of pregnancy.
Baby's sleep and wake cycles don’t necessarily coincide with yours so you may notice that your baby is more active when you are resting and is still when you are on the move. Unfortunately, this can also mean that when you go to bed, your baby gets a wake-up call, so neither of you sleeps very much!
Your baby can hear your muffled voice by now, so you can talk or sing to your bump and your baby will be listening. Your baby can also swallow amniotic fluid, which may provide some essential nutrients.
- Measures about 17.5 cm crown to rump
- Weighs in at around 14 oz
Over to you
Your bump – as measured from the pubic bone to the fundus (upper uterus) – will be just over 20cm by now. In a strange coincidence, this measurement will roughly equal the number of weeks of your pregnancy, eventually stopping at 35 to 40cm by your due date.
The size of your baby can be estimated by measuring your fundal height, however if you’re carrying a lot of amniotic fluid, or your baby is in an unusual position, this measurement might give the impression that the baby is growing more rapidly that it actually is.
Whatever the size of your bump, your waistline will be truly disappearing as your uterus starts to move up above your navel and it should be quite obvious that you are pregnant. As your skin stretches over your bump, it might start to itch.
In the know
Being pregnant may give you a luminous pregnancy glow - a dewy, youthful look all thanks to hormones increasing the blood flow to your skin. On the other hand, you may be one of the unlucky few who spend pregnancy fighting one teenage-level acne breakout after another. Every woman's skin reacts slightly differently to the hormonal effects of pregnancy.
If pregnancy has made your skin oilier, the good news is that breakouts usually get better after the first trimester. However, if you have dry skin, that's likely to continue throughout your pregnancy. Some pregnant women experience both situations: oily and dry skin in different places with outbreaks of rashes. All you can do is change your skin care regime to accommodate. It may just be a matter of switching to a gentler cleanser, moisturising what's dry, or washing carefully to avoid blocked pores if your skin is oily.
Skin care tips
Nutrition and vitamins Vitamin C and folic acid may help to lessen some pregnancy skin problems, so try to eat foods rich in these.
Go mild If you develop skin rashes, try switching to a milder facial cleanser, moisturiser, shampoo, bubble bath and deodorant. Don't forget all other products that your skin comes into contact with like fabric softeners and laundry detergents, as these might cause you problems too. Go for fragrance-free varieties and use gloves when washing up.
Moisturise Apply moisturiser after bathing and choose a lightweight moisturiser and foundation for your face.
Check before you apply Avoid skin products containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or steroids without first consulting your doctor or midwife.
Safe in the sun Use a sunscreen that is at least SPF 15 and also offers broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays to keep skin pigmentations from getting darker.
Itch solutions Skin lotions may help to soothe your dry itchy abdomen and breasts, and you can also try over-the-counter anti-itch remedies, such as calamine lotion.
Be bump aware It's best to wait to have moles, freckles and other pregnancy-related skin changes treated until after your baby arrives. But always watch out for moles that darken and develop uneven borders, or show up as scaly, bleeding patches or pearly pimples that stay around instead of healing.
Go to next week's article: Pregnancy Week 22
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.
