Healthy Pregnancy Signs-See if Your Pregnancy is Going Well.
The Third Trimester
Welcome to the third trimester, which goes from week 28 to 40 -- or until you give birth. The following healthy pregnancy signs are highlighted.
Hair is Growing on Your Baby's Head Now
Week 28:
By now, your baby is approximately 15-16 inches long. You can see changes in your baby from head to toe. Also, your baby's brain is developing more fully. Hair on your baby's head is growing more and more and is really looking like a baby now!
Some women sail through the whole nine months, while others have some discomforts that may arise during this trimester. Some of those discomforts may include:
Shortness of breath -- from the loss of space your lungs due to the growth of your uterus pushing up against your lungs.
Sleep Problems -- usually due to not being able to find a comfortable position with the size of your belly, and sometimes, a baby who is active while you are trying to sleep!
Minor aches and pains in your hips, buttocks, thighs -- usually due to pressure from your uterus on the sciatic nerves.
Minor vaginal pain -- sometimes this pain is thought to be from your cervix slowly starting to dilate or getting ready to dilate.
Skin discomforts or changes -- such as dry skin on abdomen that itches, worsening stretch marks, varicose veins and vascular spiders (all from the growth of the baby and pressure from your growing uterus).
Leaking Urine -- from the pressure of your uterus on the bladder.
Hemorrhoids -- sometimes worsen in this trimester due to the pressure from your uterus.
Breast liquid (colostrum) leaking -- this is a health pregnancy sign, and it signals that your breasts are preparing to breastfeed. Don't worry if it's yellow. It's supposed to be.
Pregnancy Tip:
Depending on how much weight you're carrying and how flexible you are, you might be feeling like you just can't lean down anymore. This is normal and a healthy pregnancy sign.
Some moms we know recommend wearing strapless shoes - so you can slip your feet in and out without having to bend over your belly all the time. Whatever shoes you wear, make sure that they have good support.
Week 32:
By the eighth month, your baby is becoming a little person. Your baby weighs around 4 pounds and measures about 16 inches long.
Almost ready to make an appearance, your baby has red, wrinkled skin but would likely survive easily outside the uterus at this point in time. The baby will still continue to grow inside your uterus.
Pregnancy Tips To Get Through The Day
If you work a 9-5 job, you're worn out by noon and ready for bed by 7 p.m. If your bulging belly is affecting your ability to work, you may consider some of the following suggestions to help cope with your day a little better:
You may need to modify some of your activities if you work. If the activity requires you to lift or maintain balance , you could fall because your weight change may affect your ability to perform certain activities, due to throwing your body off its natural balance. (Falling is dangerous to you and the baby.)
Change some of your routine activities after work to be able to take a short nap, or at least lie down. It is a healthy pregnancy sign to be tired. You are carrying around an extra 30 lbs!
Get help with various tasks that you normally do, such as housecleaning and grocery shopping.
Take care of yourself by listening to your body. It is very important if you continue to work to recognize that you have to get enough rest and relaxation.
Around the 35 week mark, your health care provider will test you for Group B streptococcus, which is a type of bacteria that may be carried by pregnant women.
Pregnancy Tip:
With your due date fast approaching, you should start shopping around for a few infant essentials. For starters, you'll need a car seat to transport your baby home from the hospital.
You will need an absorbable diaper pad to put in the car, so you don't ruin your car seats when your water breaks and it is coming out all over the car on the way to the hospital.
Once home, you should have a crib or a bassinet for your baby to sleep in. Other immediate must-haves include diapers and a layette. For the rest, hope that your family and friends will throw you a shower.
Your little one weighs about 5 1/2 pounds and measures approximately 17 inches. The closer you get to your due date, the greater the size differences in babies. To find out your baby's weight, ask your doctor to feel around your abdomen and approximate it.
A healthy pregnancy sign is that you may have less difficulty breathing now, as the baby is not pushing up as much into your lungs, but more of an urge to urinate - as your baby settles down into your pelvis, getting ready to descend into the birth canal at any time.
Your Body: Changes In Fetal Movement
By this time, your baby has become so big and takes up so much room in your uterus that he/she hasn't much room to move around so much as before.
It is important to continue checking your baby's activity and make sure that he is moving on a daily basis. An absence of fetal movement may mean distress, or it may not mean anything more than a tired baby. Talk to your doctor for instruction on how to monitor your baby's movements.
Note: If you do not feel your baby's movements at all or suddenly sense frantic activity, call your doctor immediately.
Pregnancy Tip:
If you're planning on breastfeeding, now is the time to buy nursing bras. Ask for help from a sales person who is knowledgeable so you are properly fitted. You might want to get one for the day that has extra support and another one to wear at night -- without an under wire.
And don't forget to buy nursing pads, as you will leak when you are not nursing. It is a healthy pregnancy sign to leak whenever you hear any baby cry, whether its yours or not. I'd be in the grocery store and hear another baby cry, and then notice my shirt was all wet!
Your Baby is now Full-term
Week 38:
Now considered full-term, your baby may weigh anywhere from 6 to 9 pounds and measure 18 to 21 inches long.
During the last couple weeks of pregnancy, your baby might gain a very small amount of weight or may stop gaining at all.
Most first-time pregnant women feel a certain sense of panic when they think about how they're going to get that huge baby out of that small vaginal opening. Miraculously enough, most women's openings stretch out to accommodate the baby.
If the baby needs to come out quickly, before the skin has time to stretch, you may end up with an episiotomy, or a surgical incision at either side of the vaginal opening to enlarge it. It is stitched up right after you give birth.
Pregnancy Tip:
You could give birth any moment now. So it's vital to always be able to be in touch with whoever is bringing you to the hospital at all times of the day and night. Have your hospital bag packed- and remember to include a pack of diapers made especially for newborns- with the cut out for the navel.
Week 39:
A healthy pregnancy sign - you feel like an oversized beach ball now. You probably can't bend down to put on your shoes or get off the couch without help. Pregnancy Tip:
Now is a good time to get a hair cut - to a style where it won't get in your face or that needs a lot of care. Don't worry if it's not too flattering.
When you do get a chance to go out in public for the next 8 weeks- with your lack of sleep- you won't even feel like putting on makeup. So don't worry about being a beauty queen just yet.
Your Baby: Ready to Come Out
Week 40:
The average size of a full term baby is 6-9 lbs and 20- 21" long.
A healthy pregnancy sign is one many women have reported, which signals to them they know when they are going to give birth. Just before their water breaks, they have a surge of energy, and usually it is directed towards cleaning. It happens that I was washing the kitchen floor when my water broke, and many mothers will tell you that they were cleaning as well.
When your water breaks, that's when you definitely know the baby is about to be born. You need to go immediately to the hospital. Grab your hospital bag, which should be sitting by the door, and go straight to the hospital.
Pregnancy Tip:
Your water breaking may happen all at once, or it may just leak out as a steady stream. It is a good idea to line your car seat with at least 5 towels, or better yet, an absorbable diaper pad - in order to avoid ruining your car seats.
In my case, I was leaking a steady stream all the way to the hospital and was glad that I had the towels down. Later, I found out about the diaper pads, which can be bought at a baby store, are about 36" squares, used to put on a surface, or your lap when you are changing your baby. Or it could be put in the crib to absorb any diaper leaks as well.
Good Luck on your delivery!
To take a break and look at some beautiful maternity bathing suits, click here.
