Pregnancy Week 27

~ Pregnancy Week 27 ~

It is now 26 weeks from your last menstrual period. Your baby is now at 24 weeks gestation and is almost 9 inches long from crown to rump (12 inches from head to toe) and weighs about 1 pound 12 ounces.

Your baby's lungs begin to manufacture surfactant, a substance that keeps lung tissue from sticking to itself. Your baby is developing taste buds and they appear on the tongue and inside the baby's little cheeks. Your baby's higher brain functions are becoming more sophisticated. Your baby can perceive light, smell and taste now since they eyelids and nostrils have opened.

Advice for Mom
You're doctor will likely test for gestational diabetes about this time. Although the test can be time consuming, it is easy and important! Take a good book with you to your appointment.

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Pregnancy Week 26

~ Pregnancy Week 26 ~

It is now 25 weeks from your last menstrual period. Your baby is now at 23 weeks gestation and is almost 8 3/4 inches long from crown to rump (11 3/4 inches from head to toe).

Sudden noises may cause your baby to startle -- responses have been reported when baby hears a loud noise.

Your baby's bowel now contains some meconium, a dark green tar-like substance that will be excreted during the first few days after birth.

Advice for Mom
Your uterus should measure about 9 1/2 - 10 inches and be about 3 finger-breadths above your belly button. The linea nigra is a black line that might appear from your pubic bone to navel. This is normal and will lighten about 3 months postpartum.

While most women dread stretch marks, you should be proud of them! They're like a badge of honour and are symbolic of your baby's road map to life.

To avoid varicose veins, try a support, maternity hose and/or frequent walks to increase circulation.

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Pregnancy Week 25

~ Pregnancy Week 25 ~

It is now 24 weeks from your last menstrual period. Your baby is now at 22 weeks gestation and is almost 8 1/2 inches long from crown to rump (111/2 inches from head to toe).

Baby's skin is wrinkled, translucent, and pink to red. If you could see your baby, you could see her bones, organs and vessels. Your baby will start to develop tiny air sacs called alveoli in the lungs and will start to make primitive breathing movements. Your care provider may do a cervical check to assess for risk of preterm labor.

Advice for Mom
You might want to give some thoughts now as to whether or not to circumcise your baby if it is a boy. Discuss the pros and cons with your Doctor. Circumcision is not recommended as a routine procedure.

Sciatica (lower back and leg pain) is common in pregnancy. The pain may pass as the baby changes position, or it may linger until you've delivered. A support, rest and a heating pad applied locally may help.

In your wildest dreams! Many women have bizarre and vivid dreams during pregnancy.

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Early Pregnancy Week 24

~ Early Pregnancy Week 24 ~

It is now 23 weeks from your last menstrual period. Your baby is now at 21 weeks gestation and is almost 8 inches long from crown to rump (11inches from head to toe).

Your baby is taking iron and calcium from you. Make sure you are getting enough! Your baby can hear your heartbeat and the rumblings in your tummy now.

Chomp! The buds for baby's permanent teeth are forming.

Advice for Mom
Although it will be a while before your baby is mobile, it's not too early to think about child-proofing your home.

Worried about labor and childbirth? That's very normal! If you prepare your mind and your body now, you should be able to reduce your anxiety some. Prenatal classes are wonderful, as is reading about labour & delivery.

Don't hold it in! Did you know that making a habit out of not urinating when you feel the need increases the risk that your enflamed bladder may irritate the uterus and set off contractions?

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Early Pregnancy Week 23

~ Early Pregnancy Week 23 ~

It is now 22 weeks from your last menstrual period. Your baby is now at 20 weeks gestation and is almost 7 1/2 inches long from crown to rump (10 1/2 inches from head to toe) and weighs about one pound!

Your baby is starting to develop 'brown fat' -- this specialized fatty tissue keeps your baby warm. About now, your baby is developing a strong grasp reflex.

Advice for Mom
To avoid hemorrhoids and constipation, increase your fiber intake and drink lots of water.

When women become mothers, it affects the whole family in many ways. Be proud of your transition! As the baby grows bigger and stronger, you may be able to see his or her vigorous kicks as well as feel them!

Itchy belly? Join the club! Pregnant bellies are itchy bellies and they can become increasingly itchier as the skin is stretched across the abdomen. Lotions or "butters" may bring relief. If you are itchy all over, check with your doctor.

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Early Pregnancy Week 21

~ Early Pregnancy Week 21 ~

It is now 20 weeks from your last menstrual period. Your baby is now at 18 weeks gestation and is almost 6 1/2 inches long from crown to rump (9 1/2 inches from head to toe) and weighs about 10 ounces.

Double trouble? If you are carrying multiples, it has usually be detected by now. Why? Your uterus grows larger than expected, iron levels drop and you feel lots of movement. Two heartbeats may be heard.

If your baby is a girl, the uterus is formed and development of the vagina has begun.

Advice for Mom
You're halfway there! If you are suffering from hemorrhoids, your not alone, it is very common in and after pregnancy.

It's not unusual to feel like you have wobbly hips during pregnancy. Hormones cause the ligaments and cartilage to relax and the bones of the pelvis to spread in preparation for delivery.

Remember that there is no safe level of alcohol for use in pregnancy, so it's best to avoid it all together.

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Early Pregnancy Week 22

~ Early Pregnancy Week 22 ~

It is now 21 weeks from your last menstrual period. Your baby is now at 19 weeks gestation and is almost 7 inches long from crown to rump and weighs about 14 ounces. During the next few weeks, your baby will grow to about 10 inches long and reach half of the length it will have at birth.

Advice for Mom
If you haven't already, now's a good time to register for a childbirth education program or a refresher course.

If you have been exercising during your pregnancy, keep it up despite feeling a bit awkward or bulky. Swimming is a wonderful choice!

One of the most common complaints of pregnancy is backaches. A support may do wonders for you! While backaches are common in pregnancy, a dull, low backache, especially if it comes and goes or develops a pattern, may be a sign of pre-term labor. A call to your doctors office is in order.

A body pillow can be your best friend! Many women find that sleeping with a body pillow along side them and between their legs can ease their fatigued body and lead to a more restful nights sleep.

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Early Pregnancy Week 20

~ Early Pregnancy Week 20 ~

You're halfway there now!

It is now 19 weeks from your last menstrual period. Your baby is now at 17 weeks gestation and is almost 6 inches long from crown to rump (8 inches from head to toe) and weighs about 8 ounces.

Did you know that your baby receives his nutrients 1-2 hours after you eat? If you feel gentle rhythmic movements in your abdomen, chances are your baby has the hiccups! This is nothing to be concerned about.

Advice for Mom
You may want to start thinking about how you will feed your baby -- which is best for you both -- breast or bottle?

Although your libido may lessen with pregnancy, unless your doctor says no (due to bleeding or possible pre-term labor), you can say yes!

If you are experiencing leg cramps at night, try taking a calcium supplement that does not contain phosphorus since it is believed that an excess of phosphorus and a shortage of calcium may be the cause of the leg cramps.

Heartburn is very common now as your stomach is getting compressed. Eating small, frequent meals may help. Please check with your doctor before taking any antacids.

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Early Pregnancy Week 19

~ Early Pregnancy Week 19 ~

It is now 18 weeks from your last menstrual period Your baby is now at 16 weeks gestation and is almost 5 1/2 inches long from crown to rump (7 inches from head to toe).

A cheesy coating called vernix is beginning to form on your baby to protect his skin from the amniotic fluid. Your baby's body growth is now catching up to his or her head. Believe it or not, if your baby is a girl, early ovaries contain early follicles with early eggs.

Advice for Mom
Many women have trouble sleeping at night about now.

Even if you were very athletic before your pregnancy, you maybe should avoid activities such as jogging, water-skiing, diving, downhill skiing, bicycling, and contact sports. A nice brisk walk is a better choice now. Talk to your doctor about other options.

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Early Pregnancy Week 17

~ Early Pregnancy Week 17 ~

Your baby is now at 14 weeks gestation and is about 4 1/2 inches long from crown to rump (5 1/2 inches head to toe) and weighs about 3 ounces. Your baby can now move his or her limbs and the movements become coordinated. From now on, the baby will continue to grow and refine his or her features. The baby has fingernails, toenails and its own unique fingerprints and footprints!

Your baby's eyes are now more forward rather than to the side of the head. Slow eye movements begin about now. As your baby continues to grow rapidly, he adds blinking to his list of reflexes.

Advice for Mom
Have you heard of cholasma ('the mask of pregnancy')? This is where irregular pigment deposits can occur on your face. Avoid sunbathing as this can emphasize this temporary condition.

You may start to feel some swelling in your hands and feet. Combat this by drinking lots of fluids.

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Early Pregnancy Week 18

~ Early Pregnancy Week 18 ~

Your baby is now at 15 weeks gestation and is about 5 inches long from crown to rump (6 1/4 inches head to toe) and weighs about 4 or 5 ounces. Your baby may be sucking his thumb and swallowing small amounts of amniotic fluid about now.

Advice for Mom
You may notice your breasts enlarging -- many women have an increase of one or two cup sizes. A good support bra is a wonderful investment now. Keep in mind though that your breasts and rib cage may change even more.

You should be scheduled for an ultrasound within the next few week. Ask if you can bring a video tape to tape it! Imagine showing those home movies!

Now is also good time to take a tour of the birthing center or hospital. Ask about labor routines, visiting restrictions and rooming in.

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Early Pregnancy Week 16

~ Early Pregnancy Week 16 ~

Congratulations -- you are in the second trimester! Your baby is now at 13 weeks gestation and is about 4 inches long from crown to rump (5 inches head to toe) and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces.

About now, a small amount of hair is growing on your baby's head and eyelashes and eyebrows start to emerge.

Your uterus is approximately half way from your pubic bone to the umbilicus.

Advice for Mom
Your uterus may practice contracting about now. These are called Braxton Hicks contractions. They usually just feel like a tightening around your midsection. If you have more than 5 in an hour or experience severe backache or cramping, contact your doctor.

You may have trouble concentrating, you might drop things, forget things. Sometimes you feel "not all there". If you are feeling angry or emotional, it is normal!

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Early Pregnancy Week 15

~ Early Pregnancy Week 15 ~

It is now 14 weeks from your last menstrual period. Your baby is now at 12 weeks gestation and is about 8.7 cm from crown to rump (11 cm or 4 1/2 inches head to toe) and weighs 45 gm.

Great News! The risk of miscarriage is now reduced substantially.

Lanugo, a soft downy hair, is beginning to grow and cover the baby's body

Advice for Mom
Pregnancy requires that you take in about 60-80 grams of protein per day. Make sure you are getting enough.

You may want to discuss the 'Triple Screen Test' with your doctor. If you decide to have this test, the best time to do it is between 16 and 18 weeks from your last menstrual period.

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Early Pregnancy Week 14

~ Early Pregnancy Week 14 ~

Your baby is now at 11 weeks gestation and is about 2 1/2 inches from crown to rump (3 1/2 inches from head to toe) and weighs about 1 ounce.

Remember when we told you about the intestines forming outside the body? Well, they are now contained within the abdomen.

Your baby can smile now!

Advice for Mom
If you haven't already, you may want to consider buying some maternity clothes for yourself. It will help you feel better about your changing shape while providing style and comfort! You can look good!

Morning Sickness may be settling down this week, although many women do experience it longer than others.

If you're over 35, your doctor may offer amniocentesis. It is usually scheduled between 14 -18 weeks from the start of your last menstrual period.

Traveling by car? Weather it's a trip around the block, across town or across the country, always wear your seat belt.

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