All about baby
Your baby’s growth in height and weight will begin to slow between now and birth. You baby is stronger than ever, and you're no doubt feeling shifts in position clearly. As the production of amniotic fluid reduces, baby's wriggling and kicking is less cushioned - you may see these movements ripple and swell across your bump.
Your baby probably has a full head of hair by now and is looking more like a newborn. Due to the deposits of white fat underneath the skin, your baby's skin is no longer red but pink. The lungs and digestive track are nearly mature, although the last few weeks of gestation are still important for lung development.
If you're having a boy, his testes will descend into the scrotum around now, and will be producing testosterone.
- Measures about 28cm crown to rump
- Weighs in at around 3lbs 5oz
Over to you
As your abdomen swells, your rib cage and pelvis may be sore as the baby gets bigger and fills up all the space you have available. When you’re feeling breathless, full up after a meal, or needing a wee, it may feel as if all your other organs are being squeezed out of the way – and you’d be right!
All of these internal adjustments can cause various discomforts at this stage. Heartburn is more common as the uterus leaves less room for your stomach. Backache can be a constant pain. And as the hormone relaxin loosens the pelvis, making it mobile in preparation for birth, you may get strong shooting pains in your legs and groin (as well as developing that infamous pregnant waddle).
It’s hardly surprising then that the final weeks may begin to drag and you may be eager for your pregnancy to be over. At the same time, you may be anxious about your baby’s arrival, especially if you’re not feeling the slightest bit maternal yet. This is a completely natural emotion and not something you should feel guilty about. For many women, genuine bonding with their baby doesn’t occur until birth - or even some days or weeks later.
In the know
Dads are now more involved than ever before in their partners' pregnancies, deliveries and with raising children - and that's a great thing. Kids benefit emotionally, educationally and financially, while dads who spend more time with their kids find their lives richer, fuller and more rewarding.
The changes that your baby's father will go through during your pregnancy (and after) may not be as visible or dramatic as your own, but it's important to acknowledge that dads are adapting and have issues too. So here’s how you can help:
- Get a little closer... Relationships take time and energy. Keeping yours healthy and positive needs to be a priority. Make time to spend together, like a weekend away just for the two of you.
- ...but allow distance too. It's normal to expect some sympathy and empathy from your man, but a feeling of distance at times is also normal. For some men, pregnancy won't seem real until there's an actual baby in the house.
- Take classes together. Antenatal classes may help your partner become more involved in your care and prepare him for what he's going to see in the delivery room.
- Talk him through your birth plan. While you focus on contractions and pushing, you'll need your partner to serve as your eyes and ears. Make sure he knows your preferences about pain relief and interventions during labour and delivery.
- Share medical appointments. Your partner may not be able to leave work to accompany you to every prenatal appointment, but your ultrasound scans will be an especially memorable experience to share.
- Agree to differ. It's unrealistic to expect your man to completely understand how you feel being pregnant - there’s no male equivalent for pregnancy, so you have to accept that you will be feeling differently right now.
- Just listen. Practice listening attentively without judging, nagging or becoming defensive. He's only human too.
Go to next week's article: Pregnancy Week 32
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.
