Week by Week Pregnancy, Weeks 37-40

By weeks 37 to 40 of your pregnancy, you will soon be a "New Mom!" Your baby may be 6 to 8 pounds, 19 to 20 inches, and is considered to be "full term" now, ready for life outside of the womb!

Your doctor appointments will become more frequent during your final weeks of pregnancy, so it is a good time to bring a list of any questions or concerns that you have. Also, confirm your arrangements with the person that will be with you for support at the hospital. It is a good idea that you fully communicate to this person how they can best help you during your labor.

As your body gets ready for labor & delivery, your "water may break," making you feel like you've lost control over your bladder, but actually it's amniotic fluid leaking from your placenta (sack of fluid that contains your baby). Notify your doctor when this happens, as your baby will need to be delivered within 24 hours to prevent infection. Another sign of labor onset is the loss of your "mucus plug" that has sealed your womb. This occurs as your cervix opens and may happen from a couple of weeks before delivery to the time of delivery.

Since labor may come upon you unexpectedly, have your hospital delivery bag packed and ready to go! Carry your insurance card and other necessary papers with you so that you are not rushed & stressed, looking around for what you may need at the last minute.

Written by: Shelley Scheibel, RN, BSN

Resources:
http://www.babycenter.com/average-fetal-length-weight-chart
http://mothercare.com.mt/parentingtips/pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-37-40/

                                               Week by Week Pregnancy, Weeks 33-36

From weeks 33 to 36 of pregnancy, your baby may grow to 18 inches in length & 6 pounds in weight. By the end of 36 weeks, your baby's respiratory and digestive system should be fully formed, allowing for normal feeding and breathing outside the womb.

By the end of this stage of pregnancy, your baby may begin to "drop," as their head lowers into your pelvis in preparation for delivery. Although this makes more room for your lungs, allowing you to breathe easier, the pressure of your baby's weight can impact your lower circulatory system causing your legs & ankles to swell. Taking frequent rest periods to raise your legs may help decrease the swelling. During this time, you will find yourself needing to go to the bathroom more frequently as your baby's weight presses down on your bladder, too.

In addition, many find it difficult to sleep well during the final trimester, not only from being uncomfortable, but also from their minds being preoccupied with a strong desire to clean and organize the home in preparation for the baby's arrival, called the "nesting syndrome." During these weeks, begin to pack an overnight bag to take to the hospital. Some items that you may want to pack are personal toiletries, a maternity hospital gown, a comfortable going home outfit for you and your baby, and a nursing bra, if you plan to breastfeed. If you have other children, this is a good time to make arrangements for their care. Since most women do not know the exact day and time that they will go into labor, preparing for the arrival of your baby, well in advance, will help you feel more at ease as you approach your baby's due date.
 
Written by: Shelley Scheibel RN, BSN

Reference Articles & Video:
http://babyworld.co.uk/2011/07/pregnancy-timeline-33-36-weeks-pregnant/
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pregnancy-weeks-33-34-35-36.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI0mFY4swb4

                                                 Week by Week Pregnancy, Weeks 29-32

By the end of the 32nd week of your pregnancy, you may begin to feel your uterus contracting at irregular intervals for 10 to 30 seconds at a time, these are called Braxton Hicks Contractions! If they become regular and are occurring more than a couple times in an hour, play it safe and call your pregnancy doctor.

By week 32, your baby will have grow to about 17 inches in length and be 5 pounds in weight, increasing in size to that of a small cat! At this time, the fine hair on your baby's skin (lanugo) begins to fall off and his or her lungs are usually developed enough to sustain life outside of the womb.

At this stage of pregnancy, most women grow tired of being pregnant and are excited to meet their baby! You will probably find that your mind is solely focused on decorating your baby's nursery and shopping for final baby essentials and that the other things which used to occupy your time will feel much less important!
 
Written by: Shelley Scheibel RN, BSN


References:
http://www.fitpregnancy.com/unsorted/month-8-weeks-29-32

                                               Week by Week Pregnancy, Weeks 25-28

During weeks 25 to 28 of your pregnancy, you will begin to feel your baby moving and kicking regularly! Your baby will grow to about 15 inches in length and 2 pounds in weight, increasing in size to that of a football! During these weeks, your baby's skin becomes less translucent as a layer of fat develops underneath.

As your belly grows larger, your center of gravity is altered, therefore some women find that moving about is more awkward during this stage of pregnancy. In most cases, exercise is okay to continue, unless otherwise advised by your healthcare provider. However, it is advised to take greater measures during exercise to avoid injury to you and your baby.

During these weeks of pregnancy, a blood glucose (sugar) level is taken to test for gestational diabetes. If you test positive for this condition, it is very important that your pregnancy doctor helps you regulate it. In most cases, it can be controlled by diet and exercise and resolves after pregnancy. In addition, iron levels may be drawn to test for anemia. If your iron levels are low, your doctor may advise iron supplements. Since constipation is often a common side effect of these supplements, drink plenty of water, exercise (as advised by your doctor), & increase your fiber intake (oat bran is helpful and can be sprinkled on yogurt & salad, or prepared as hot cereal). Your pregnancy doctor will have suggestions, too!

It is a great time to sign up for Baby Registries so that you can share this information on your baby shower invitations.


Written by: Shelley Scheibel RN, BSN

                                                  Week by Week Pregnancy, Weeks 21-24

During weeks 21 to 24, you are officially half way through your pregnancy! Your baby will grow to about 12 inches in length and 1 to 1-1/2 pounds in weight, increasing in size from a banana to that of a cantaloupe!

During these weeks, your baby's respiratory system is developing lung tissue & specialized cells, that secrete the substance needed for your baby to breathe on his or her own. Your baby can open & close its eyelids and has fingernails and toenails, too!

Most women begin to experience greater energy during this stage of pregnancy and find that it is a great time to start planning the baby's nursery!

While you may be feeling better overall, you may begin to notice fluid leaking from your breasts, have troubles sleeping, and develop leg cramps & stretch marks. Talk with your pregnancy doctor about these concerns as helpful solutions are often available.

Written by: Shelley Scheibel RN, BSN

References/Articles/Videos of Interest:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pregnancy-weeks-21-22-23-24.aspx
https://www.kpwomenshealth.org/maternity_care_20-24weeks.asp
http://www.countdownmypregnancy.com/pregnancy/week-24.php
http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/24-weeks-pregnant.aspx

                                                  Week by Week Pregnancy, Weeks 15-20

Congratulations! You are nearly half way through your pregnancy now! During weeks 15 and 20, your baby will grow from 4 inches to 7 inches and more than triple his or her weight from 2.5 ounces to 10 ounces! Your baby will grow from the size of a naval orange to that of a banana!

During this time, your baby's nervous system will rapidly mature as nerve connection between his or her brain and lower extremities develops. Read and sing to your baby, as sensory development of hearing is in full swing!

Around 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, two very exciting milestones will occur! First, you will feel fluttering, as your baby moves about, called "quickening." And, upon sonogram, your baby's gender can be revealed!

Written by: Shelley Scheibel RN, BSN

References/Articles/Videos of Interest:

http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/20-weeks-pregnant.aspx
http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-15-weeks

                                         Week by Week Pregnancy, 9-12 Weeks Gestation

By the end of week 12, your baby will be about the size of a plum and 2 inches in length! He or she now has visible ears & eyes, organs, & functioning joints to move about, even though you will not feel your baby's movement for another month or so. A sonogram may show your baby sucking his or her thumb and responding to stimuli! While your baby's critical development is complete by the end of week 12, the growth and maturation of your baby's systems will continue during the following weeks.

You should begin to feel less tired and nauseated by the end of week 12 in your pregnancy, but may now feel light-headed and develop headaches from changes occurring within your body. Continue to drink plenty of fluids, get rest, and eat healthy as your body is adjusting to many new changes. Finally, it is very important that you communicate with your pregnancy doctor about symptoms that you are experiencing for your and your baby's health and safety.

Written by: Shelley Scheibel, RN, BSN

Resources & Articles of Interest:
http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-10-weeks
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pregnancy-weeks-9-10-11-12.aspx#close
http://www.thebabycorner.com/pregnancy-calendar/week-9/
http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/12-weeks-pregnant.aspx

                                                            Week by Week Pregnancy

Let's assume that your menstrual period occurs every 28-30 days and on a particular month you don't start your period as usual. Being 2 weeks late for your period,  you begin to think that you may possibly be pregnant, and sure enough you test positive by a home pregnancy test! Now 4 weeks late for your period, you go to your pregnancy doctor for an appointment and discover that you are already 8 weeks pregnant! How is it that you are 8 weeks pregnant already, only 4 weeks after your missed period?

Calculating pregnancy weeks can be very confusing! But, consider that week 1 of your pregnancy is calculated as the first day of your last period. So, based off of the traditional 40 weeks of pregnancy calculation method, at the time of conception (day 14 of your cycle, when egg and sperm unite) you are already 2 weeks pregnant, even though you are not!

For a clearer understanding, view the fictitious week by week pregnancy scenario below:

June 1-8:   (Week 1)- Menstrual period began on June 1, marking day 1 of cycle.

June 9-15: (Week 2)- Conception (egg released from ovary & united with sperm) occurred on
                                  ~June 15, marking day 15 of cycle.

June 16-23: (Week 3)

June 24-30: (Week 4)- Period expected to start ~June 30th, but didn't!, marking day 30 of cycle.

July 15: (Week 6)- 2 weeks late for period. Positive home pregnancy test. Scheduled appointment
                              with pregnancy doctor to confirm pregnancy.

August 1: (Week 8)- Pregnancy confirmed by doctor, saying you are 8 weeks pregnant!
                                 You get to hear your baby's heart beat & could have heard it even
                                  2 weeks ago!

Week by week, you will have exciting moments to look forward to in your pregnancy...

October 5 (Week 18): You may feel "quickening" (1st movements of your baby)!

March 7, 2014 (Week 40): Your baby's due date!


Written by: Shelley Scheibel RN, BSN

References:
http://3dpregnancy.parentsconnect.com/
http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/pregnancycalendar/l/blpregcalc.htm
http://saymommy.com/weeks/week-1/