Week Twenty-Nine
- Your baby's head is in proportion with body now. He appears more like a newborn each and every day!
- Fat continues to accumulate under the skin -- only now preparing for entering the *real world*.
- Your baby's brain can control primitive breathing and body temperatures.
- His eyes can move in their sockets. Soon he will be able to follow a blinking light.
- Your baby is increasingly sensitive to changes in light, sound, taste, and smell! Various studies show that your baby may indicate preferences (or disdain) for particular tastes or odors at this stage
- He is also moving from side to side, but probably still is head up. In the next few weeks, he will move to the head down birthing position. At times you may feel as if he is performing somersaults for a circus act!
- Her length is now approximately 15.2 inches (38.6cm) and weight is 2.54 pounds (1153gm)
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Week Thirty
- Did you know your baby is nearly three pounds now?
- His head is getting larger to accommodate a period of rapid brain growth. Don't forget to continue to "teach" your baby in the womb by exposing to music, literature, and simply talking to him.
- A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him. As he grows and fills your uterus, the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease. Funny, you certainly won't feel any lighter!
- She spends more and more time practicing opening and closing eyelids. Her eyes can move from side to side, following a light source. She may even reach out to touch the light.
- Early lanugo is beginning to disappear that served to protect your baby's skin from the water in the womb. Your little one's own hair may begin to appear.
- Toenails are entering their final growth stage.
- Bone marrow is now in charge of red blood cell production. These red blood cells will continue to service your child's body by transporting oxygen and removing the wastes (carbon monoxide and other gases).
- Your baby has the capability now to produce tears -- yes, within the womb.
- By the end of this week, your baby is now 15.7 inches (39.9cm) long and weighs 2.91 pounds (1319gm).
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Week Thirty-One
- The rate of physical growth slows down just a bit, but even though she doesn't get much longer, she will gain a lot of weight the rest of the pregnancy.
- Fat continues accumulating. This layer of fat turns her skin from red to the rosy pink she will have as a newborn.
- Calcium, phosphorus and iron are being stored and his bones are growing and hardening.
- Your baby is 16.2 inches (41.1cm) long and weighs 3.3 pounds (1502gm)
- His brain enters another period of rapid growth, producing hundreds of billions of new nerve cells! Amazing!
- She may move to the rhythm of music. Studies with heart rates show that she also prefers some types of music to others -- already!
- Lungs are the only major organ left to complete development. Remember, that while you may be anxious to meet your little one that these last few weeks can be vital - with each day increasing your baby's ability to breathe on her own.
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Week Thirty-Two
- Your baby is up to 3.75 pounds (1702gm) now and is 16.7 inches (42.4cm) long.
- You might notice she's not moving around as much now. Don't worry! She is fine -- just running short on room. She still has plenty of growing to do though, believe it or not!
- All five senses are working. Your little one is fascinated and practicing testing these out as much as possible!
- Toenails are completely formed even though she may not be quite ready for a French manicure.
- Hair on your infant's head continues to grow in. Will he have dad's black hair or your red hair?
- Brain scans have shown that babies have periods of dream sleep (REM) starting around the eight month. What do you suppose your son is dreaming about?
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Week Thirty-Three
- Amniotic fluid is at its highest level during your pregnancy.
- Your baby's head size has increased 3/8ths of an inch due to rapid brain growth.
- Neurons and synapses are developing in huge numbers -- forming connections in your baby's brain will give him the skills he needs to thrive as a newborn. This week, he may be able to coordinate sucking and swallowing with breathing.
- While most of his bones are hardening, his skull is quite pliable and not completely joined. The bones will be able to move slightly to make birthing easier.
- You baby takes intermittent deep breaths -- of water! That's okay, though since she gets oxygen from the placenta. This breathing exercises muscles and encourages her lung cells to produce more surfactant (a protein essential for healthy lung development).
- If your baby is a boy, his testicles will be descending from his abdomen into his scrotum. Sometimes one or both testicles won't move into position until after birth.
- Your infant is now 17.2 inches (43.7cm) long and weighs 4.23 pounds (1918gm).
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Week Thirty-Four
- Your baby acts completely like a newborn, with her eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping. You may also find her settling into more of a routine for sleeping & awake times.
- She has learned to blink. She can also see more clearly when there is a bright light on your stomach and probably has the outline of all your organs memorized!
- Antibodies from your blood are being tranferred to him. These immunities continue to build until birth. Then breastmilk will add even more protection against disease.
- Your baby may have already turned to a head-down position in preparation for birth. If he is your first baby, he may be settling into the pelvis with his head pressing against your cervix.
- Fingernails have reached the end of the fingertips now. She may scratch her face even before she is born!
- Your little one's length is 17.7 inches (45cm) and weight is 4.7 pounds (2146 g).
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Week Thirty-Five
- The average baby weighs almost five and a half pounds now.
- Most babies born now will survive and without many long-term problems.
- Fat accumulations plumps up the arms and legs this week. These layers of fat will help him regulate his body temperature. They also provide those cute little dimples on elbows and knees!
- Her hearing is fully developed, so be sure to talk to your daughter. Do you find yourself speaking in a high-pitched tone? That's okay since some studies show babies respond better to higher pitches.
- It's getting crowded! Your baby is now taking up most of the uterus and you may even feel like your chest has run out of room! Soon enough though, baby will move down and you'll be able to breathe easily again (just not walk so easily! Ha!).
- Your baby is 18.2 inches (46.2cm) long and weighs 5.3 pounds (2383gm).
- The testes have completed their descent in males.
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Week Thirty-Six
Your baby is almost ready and most likely, so are you! The only organ still to mature is the lungs. While certainly you are both growing anxious to meet, remember that each day (up to 42 weeks), that your little one stays within your womb will multiply his chances to breathe on his own.
If he hasn't already, this week your baby may drop into the birth canal. While breathing for mom becomes easier, walking may be the exact opposite! If he's not your first baby, this "lightening" may not occur until right before labor.
Fat is dimpling your baby's elbows and knees, and forming creases in the neck and wrists.
His skin is growing smooth and, shall we say it, "baby" soft.
His gums are very rigid. It won't be many months before you'll see his teeth.
She has a fully developed pair of kidneys and her liver has begun processing some waste products.
Your child's average size is now 18.66 inches (47.4cm) and 5.78 pounds (2622 g). Between now and birth she will gain about an ounce a day!
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Week Thirty-Seven
- This week, the average size is about 6.3 pounds (2859gm) now and 19.1 inches (48.6cm) length.
- She is official full term now but can still benefit from extra days in the womb.
- Your baby continues to practice breathing movements. Isn't it amazing how she can breathe "under water?"
- Grasp is firm now. It won't be long until you'll feel that strong little fist confidently grasping your finger (or tightly clenching your hair)!
- A few weeks ago, your baby would move her eyes toward light. Now she turns towards light outside the uterus.
- " As the uterine wall stretches and thins allowing more light to permeate, he develops definite daily activity cycles. You will want to be sure to establish good patterns yourself at this time, thus encouraging them in your child. Ever heard of a baby getting his days/nights mixed up? Now's the time to try to avoid that!
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Week Thirty-Eight
- If he is the "average baby," he weights 6.8 pounds (3083gm)and is 19.6 inches (49.8cm) long.
- Have you noticed she hiccups a lot? Because there is no air around her, those breathing exercises cause amniotic fluid to get into her windpipe. The result? Hiccups!
- Your child's intestines are accumulating lots of meconium. Meconium takes on the role of being your baby's first bowel movement -- removing the waste that has accumulated.
- He may have a full head of hair now -- an inch or more long! Don't be surprised if it's an unexpected color. Some blond couples have dark haired babies; some dark haired couples have red-haired babies; some couples have babies with only peach fuzz! It may just persuade you to take a closer look at your family tree!
- Circumference of head and abdomen are about the same size for your baby. No wonder it's so hard to get a t-shirt over a newborn's head!
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Week Thirty-Nine
- The lanugo has mostly disappeared, but you'll probably find a bit on her shoulders, arms and legs and in those protected little bodily creases. It will vanish completely on its own in time.
- His lungs are maturing and surfactant production is increasing and fully prepared to take on the outside world!
- Your baby doesn't have much room to move and certainly mom agrees! Did you imagine 8 months ago that this wee one would be able to hook a toe in your ribs while elbowing your bladder? She certainly has grown!
- His body continues laying on the fat stores that will help regulate his body temperature after birth. In addition to normal fat, he is accumulating a special "brown" fat in the nape of his neck, between his shoulders and around organs. Brown fat cells are important for thermogenesis (generating heat) during his first weeks.
- Your infant's weight is around 7.25 pounds (3288gm) and length is 19.9 inches (50.7cm).
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Week Forty
- Much of the vernix has vanished but you will notice traces on her body.
- 15% of your child's body is fat. Since he hasn't learned to shiver yet, these fat stores will help regulate his temperature.
- Approximately 60 - 75 percent is water!
- Your baby's chest sticks out, almost as if he's ready to strut proudly over his accomplishment!
- His lungs will continue developing until birth. They are manufacturing large quantities of surfactant which works to keep the air sacs open.
- She continues to grow; her hair and nails longer as well. You may need to trim those fingernails soon after birth or protect her face from scratches with mittens.
- Small breast buds are present on both sexes.
- The baby now weighs 7.6 pounds (3462gm) and is 20.2 inches (51.2cm) long.
- Congratulations! Any day now you will be cradling your son or daughter! Cherish the moments and learn all you can about this new personality in your life. They go by all too fast!
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3d ultrasound images reprinted with permission from Eco-3d and sonoportal.com.
Embryoscopy and fetoscopy photos appearing on this web site are reproduced under "fair use" uterms for the purpose of public education. |
Third Trimester -- Congratulations! You're in the homestretch! Right now you may be bubbling over with excitement -- this is the time of decorating the nursery, baby showers, childbirth classes, and packing that suitcase to head towards the hospital! As the anticipation rises though, so may those feelings of anxiety -- maybe even a bit of fear. Don't worry, as all these emotions are perfectly normal. 
