c-section<\/a>; positioned head down, facing your stomach can mean painful, arduous \u201cback\u201d labour for you. Don\u2019t lose sleep over it though, there is ample time between now and your due date for baby to readjust himself in the womb to the occiput anterior position.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYour growing appetite is the result of a fetal growth spurt during the third trimester. Satisfy your unborn baby\u2019s dietary needs by choosing your meals wisely and cutting down on fast foods and desserts. Though they are deliciously tempting, they do not contain any nutrients. A healthy pregnancy diet should be diversified (fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and contain foods that are abundant in protein, vitamin C, calcium, folic acid and iron. Iron supplements can cause constipation so it\u2019s easier to get your daily requirements from foodstuff rather than a bottle. A high-fiber diet also gives your sluggish intestines and bowels a much-needed push.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many important decisions to make. Will you opt for natural childbirth or ask for an epidural? Who will be your support persons in the delivery room? Will you breastfeed? If you have a boy, will you have him circumcised? Formulating a plan now cuts down on your to-do list before baby\u2019s birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baby\u2019s World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n He is approximately the size of a small cabbage, measuring 42 cm. (16.7 in.) from head to toe and weighs roughly 1.24 kg (2.7 lb.). His skull is expanding to accommodate his growing brain. The areas of his brain responsible for intelligence and personality have become multifaceted. His testicles are descending from near the kidneys, through the groin to the scrotum. For little girls, the clitoris is exposed, as the labia is not developed enough to conceal it. His bones are stockpiling, iron, calcium, and phosphorus but will remain soft and pliable enough to maneuver through the tight birth canal. Fat stores underneath his skin are turning him into the plump, cuddly newborn you will meet when he is born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fun Fact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n From now until his birth, your baby will gain about half a pound a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Week 30<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Pregnancy week by week: You are 30 weeks pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your Body<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Do you keep misplacing your car keys or forgetting appointments? Believe it or not, research confirms pregnancy hormones decrease the volume of your brain cells. This startling fact, combined with lack of sleep and extra stress contributes to memory loss, dubbed \u201cmommy brain.\u201d Rely on to-do lists to keep on top of things and don\u2019t bother with herbal remedies \u2014 they\u2019re unsafe when you\u2019re pregnant. The good news is your brain cell count will return to normal after you give birth. The bad news is you probably won\u2019t see an improvement in your foggy mind for a few months when your wee one is, with any luck, sleeping through the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking in the mirror you may feel like you resemble the Michelin Man at times, what with your oversized belly and swollen and puffy hands, ankles and feet. Edema in pregnancy is the result of your body retaining more water and collecting it in your tissues. It can be more problematic at the end of the day and during warm summer months. Drink lots of water, put up your feet whenever you can, avoid sitting for long stretches, lie on your left side and don’t wear socks that are tight at the calves or ankles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s only 10 weeks until D-Day (delivery day) and you, undoubtedly, have been hearing a litany of delivery room war stories from other mothers. This can make your anxiety level spike (wish you could skip labor altogether and your baby take permanent residence in your womb?). They may think they\u2019re doing you a favor, preparing you for what lies ahead but the truth is no one can predict exactly what will happen during your labor and delivery (other than producing a healthy, precious baby). Thank them for sharing but tune them out if you start feeling overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baby\u2019s World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n From her crown to her feet she measures 43 cm. (17 in.) long, about the size of a bunch of broccoli, and weighs about 1.35 kg (3 lb.). Her brain is in charge of actions like breathing and temperature regulation. As she grows, thanks to insulating fat, she has less room to wriggle around and you may find her moving less often and with less force. She can distinguish between light and dark and follow a light source with her eyes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFun Fact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n When you poke or tap your stomach, baby may respond with a kick in the spot you originally touched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weeks 31 and 32<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Pregnancy week by week: You are 31 and 32 weeks pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nYour Body<\/h3>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re probably putting on about one pound a week during pregnancy (keep in mind, baby accumulates 50 percent of that weight). A growing baby and bump, not to mention back pain, heartburn, and frequent trips to the toilet, can only mean sleep deprivation for you as you toss and turn trying to find a comfy position to get your 40 winks. Eschew sleeping on your back (and, obviously, your stomach), and lie down on your left side, legs parallel with a pillow placed between your bent knees to support your stomach and align your hips. This sleep posture permits blood and nutrients to flow unobstructed to the placenta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nerves on edge as your due date loom closer? Practicing the breathing exercises and massage techniques you learned in prenatal class may help relax you (and possibly your partner). If you\u2019ve decided on natural childbirth, reviewing the birthing positions (sitting on a medicine ball, squatting, kneeling on all fours, side-lying, leaning against your partner) can also elevate your mood and make you feel better prepared for labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baby\u2019s World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n From her crown to the bottoms of her feet, she measures between 41 and 43 cm. (16 \u2013 17 in.), weighs 1.6 to 1.8 kg. (3.5 – 4 lb.); she\u2019s approximately the size of a pineapple. Her hard-working brain can process data from all five senses. For instance, she can clasp her hands, smell scents you inhale and taste food you eat through the amniotic fluid. Her eyeballs can rotate in their sockets, and her bladder passes urine. Her developing lungs continue to line themselves with a surfactant, a fatty material that inflates lung sacs and prevents them from collapsing after birth. She has been rehearsing sucking and swallowing for months but these reflexes do not work in tandem until at least week 32. She dreams during REM sleep and slumbers for extended periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fun Fact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Dutch researchers believe that babies are capable of retaining short-term memories as early as week 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weeks 33 and 34<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Pregnancy week by week: You are 33 and 34 weeks pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your Body<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The top of your uterus has journeyed five inches north of your navel at this pregnancy stage. As the baby\u2019s head points south, it may feel like his feet are crowding or lodging into your ribcage. You might be able to persuade your little one to move into another position \u2014 and get some temporary relief \u2014 by inhaling as you raise one arm over your head. Exhale and release the position. Repeat the same stretch using the opposite arm. In the next month, your baby\u2019s head will eventually drop into your pelvis. This frees up space so you have more breathing room and puts less pressure on your stomach (you\u2019ll notice you\u2019ll be able to eat more and your heartburn will subside). The downside is that shift in weight transfers to your pelvis and on your bladder. Don\u2019t be surprised by deep pressure, numbness and tingling deep in your pelvic region and discomfort when you walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might confuse Braxton Hicks contractions (a.k.a false labor), hardening and tightening of the uterine muscles, with true labor pains. The former are sporadic, short-lived, less than a minute or two, and relatively painless. Taking a stroll, changing your position and getting some rest can nip them in the bud. They\u2019re a dress rehearsal for active labor, which is characterized by contractions at regular intervals that increase in intensity and run along your lower back and travel to the front of the abdomen without dissipating, even if you change positions. Speaking of contractions, be diligent about doing Kegel exercises \u2014 contracting and relaxing pelvic floor muscles \u2014 25 times, three to four times a day. Strong pelvic muscles give you the strength to push during labour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should your baby be born this week, he or she would have a high rate of survival. Symptoms of premature labor include leaking amniotic fluid, passing a pink or brown discharge, period-like cramps, sometimes accompanied by nausea and diarrhea, contractions that reoccur every 10 minutes, a sensation that your baby is pushing down and low backache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baby\u2019s World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n He is between 44 and 48 cm. (17 \u2013 19 in.) long, weighs about 2 to 2.28 kg (4.4 \u2013 5 lb.), and is about the size of a cantaloupe. He\u2019s likely reached his full height; the body\u2019s priority now is plumping up baby. He will pack on 50 percent of his birth weight in the following seven weeks. Consequently, his jabs, and kicks have probably begun to hurt a tad. There is also less padding between mother and baby since the quantity of amniotic fluid has reached its peak. Fontanelles (or soft spots) on the skull are bony plates that are not fused so the baby\u2019s head can pass through the birth canal without difficulty. The bones won\u2019t join together until he is 18 to 24 months. His adrenal glands have started pumping adrenaline, a hormone and neurotransmitter mom relies on during labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fun Fact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Sweet and sour are two flavors that baby can now differentiate between in the amniotic fluid. Some researchers reason it\u2019s how Mother Nature prepares an infant for breast milk, which contains an array of tastes from mom\u2019s diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weeks 35 and 36<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Pregnancy week by week: You are 35 and 36 weeks pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nYour Body<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Nice job, mommy, you\u2019ve carried your baby to term! She may be born within days or you might not meet her for another few weeks. Now that you\u2019ve entered your ninth month of pregnancy, your physician or midwife will want to see you weekly until you have your baby. Between weeks 35 and 37, you will be screened for group B strep (GBS), a bacteria found in the vagina, rectal area, and intestine in up to 30 percent of women. Although it has no symptoms and poses no health risk to the mom, an infection can be transmitted to the baby as she moves through the birth canal (she\u2019ll be in danger of developing meningitis or pneumonia). You\u2019ll be treated with antibiotics during labor if the cotton swab test comes back positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your health care provider will also check the position of your baby and your cervix for effacement and dilation \u2014 when the cervix stretches, thins and opens in preparation for childbirth \u2014 by doing a manual pelvic exam. Dilation is measured in centimeters; for example, you\u2019re fully dilated at 10 centimeters and ready to start pushing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider this mind-boggling piece of info: your uterus is 1,000 times bigger than its original size! Your baby is slowly dropping farther into your pelvis, a process called engagement or lightening. The pressure down below is amplified and may give you the sensation that your baby is going to fall out! Never fear, it won\u2019t happen. Offset the heaviness with pelvic tilts and cat stretches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fetus lives in and is protected by a fluid-filled amniotic sac, referred to as the bag of waters. This membrane normally breaks \u2014 sometimes when you\u2019re asleep \u2014 just before you go into labor. But it is possible for it to rupture hours or days prior to labor. You will feel a warm gush of water and then steady leaking. Once your water breaks, your baby is highly susceptible to infection so contact your doctor immediately (and refrain from bathing or having sex).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baby\u2019s World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n She is roughly 49.5 cm. (19.5 in.) long and weighs between 2.5 and 2.75 kg (5.5 – 6 lb.); she\u2019s about the size of a honeydew melon. Although she continues to put on weight, her growth has scaled back; she needs to fit through the narrow birth canal on her journey to the outside world. Her space is cramped so you might see an impression of her hand or foot pressed inside your bump. Your body is absorbing some of her amniotic fluid as it begins to decrease. Her digestive track won\u2019t be tested until she drinks breast milk for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fun Fact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As fat continues to deposit under his skin, tiny, adorable dimples are forming on her elbows, shoulders, hips and knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weeks 37 and 38<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Pregnancy week by week: You are 37 and 38 weeks pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nYour Body<\/h3>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s the best way to cope with a barrage of pregnancy signs \u2014 insomnia, Braxton Hicks contractions, an overactive bladder, backache, swelling and indigestion? Go for a massage. It may not be a cure-all but it will certainly assuage some conditions and relax you as you await the baby\u2019s imminent arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The longer baby stays in utero, the more weight he will gain. It\u2019s a different story for mom, however. If he hangs around past his due date, you may stop putting on weight and can even drop a pound or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many babies are curled into a posterior position in the uterus (the baby is head down and faces the front of your body). This can lead to lengthy, painful \u201cback labor.\u201d Your midwife or doctor can suggest exercises to coax your baby into turning his head towards your spine. If this does not work, your prenatal teacher can provide strategies for dealing with back pain during labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re right on schedule if your pregnancy nesting instinct, a burst of energy coupled with a strong urge to clean and reorganize your home, kicks in now (some moms-to-be start nesting months earlier). There\u2019s nothing wrong with reorganizing closets and cupboards, making things clean, spotless and fresh for the newest member of your family, it\u2019s actually a primal instinct. Just remember to pace yourself and conserve your energy because labor day is just around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baby\u2019s World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n He\u2019s about the size of a watermelon, measuring 49.5 to 50 cm. (19.5 – 20 in.) from crown to feet and weighing 2.95 to 3.2 kg (6 – 7 lb.) He will swallow amniotic fluid and the lanugo body hair and vernix coating he\u2019s shedding. This waste will be passed in his first bowel movements (meconium) outside the womb. If he\u2019s hiccupping more than usual it\u2019s due to the amniotic fluid he\u2019s breathing \u2014 his windpipe is still air-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fun Fact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The circumference of your baby\u2019s head and tummy will (almost) match by this stage in pregnancy, allowing him to move smoothly through the tight passageway from the uterus to the cervix and vagina during birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weeks 39 and 40<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Pregnancy week by week: You are 39 and 40 weeks pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nYour Body<\/h3>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve reached the end of the third trimester of pregnancy, a colossal physical, mental and emotional achievement. You\u2019re eagerness and excitement about seeing your little girl or boy may be tempered by frustration. Sooo, when is my baby going to make an entrance, you\u2019re wondering? It\u2019s frustrating playing the waiting game, sitting at home fielding calls, emails, Facebook messages and Tweets, asking, \u201cHave you had the baby yet?\u201d Not to worry, close to 50 percent of pregnancies last longer than week 40; however, your caregiver will probably want to induce you if you are overdue (i.e. before you go beyond 42 weeks). You can also experiment with natural remedies for inducing labor like nipple stimulation, drinking red raspberry leaf tea (a herbal tea safe for pregnancy), walking, and have sex. There\u2019s no guarantee you will see results, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the interim, enjoy your freedom. Soon you and your partner will be busy feeding, burping and rocking your beautiful newborn to sleep, changing diapers and doing laundry. Keep yourself occupied so you\u2019re not dwelling on the fact that you\u2019re still not a mother. Try to go about your normal routine (we understand it\u2019s a struggle moving around with your giant bump): see a movie, treat yourself to a mani-pedi and relax on an outdoor patio. Pack your hospital bag<\/a> and finish last-minute touches to the nursery but delegate strenuous chores to your significant other. Your ultimate goal is to be well-rested before labor begins. Before you know it, you\u2019ll be holding and kissing your infant.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBaby\u2019s World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As your baby bids goodbye to her watery home, she weighs 7 – 7.5 lbs. and measures between 20 \u2013 20.5 in.; she\u2019s approximately the size of a pumpkin. Soon a nurse will place her on a scale, and you\u2019ll find out precisely how much she weighs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of her organs are completely developed and ready to function outside mom\u2019s body. Exactly one minute and five minutes after birth her Apgar score will be tested. It provides a quick overview of her condition and assesses her color, muscle tone, reflexes, breathing and heart rate, in case she needs treatment for anything after emerging from the birth canal. At one minute, a healthy newborn normally scores a seven or higher; at five minutes, it increases to nine or 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fun Fact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n In utero, baby\u2019s body temperature is regulated \u2014 she\u2019s been floating in 37\u00b0 degree water for nine months. As a newborn, she will have difficulty regulating her own body temperature so \u201cbrown fat\u201d has formed around her neck, shoulders and main organs to help her out in the weeks following her birth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Week-by-week pregnancy symptoms calendar: Here’s your one-stop resource for everything you need to know and what to expect about being pregnant and growing a baby as the weeks go by. Weeks 1-4 Pregnancy week by week: You are one week pregnant. Your Body Your pregnancy is calculated not from the day your baby was conceived, … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":8120,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Our Week-By-Week Pregnancy Calendar | The Baby Post","_seopress_titles_desc":"Week-by-week pregnancy calendar: Here's everything you need to know and what to expect about being pregnant as the weeks go by.","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[12],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/pregnancy-calendar-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/pregnancy-calendar-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Marianne Litman","author_link":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/author\/mariannebabypost-com\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8075"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8075"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12766,"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8075\/revisions\/12766"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babypost.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}