The Growth and Development of Your Baby

Your baby is continuing to grow and develop. Your baby's eyes can now open and close and can sense light changes. The lanugo is starting to disappear from the baby's face. Your baby's hearing is getting better. He or she can now hear the outside world quite well over the sound of your heartbeat. The baby exercises by kicking and stretching. He or she can also make grasping motions and likes to suck its thumb.

By the end of this month, your baby will be approximately 15 inches long and weigh about 2 or 2 1/2 pounds. If the baby was born now, its chances of survival are better than last month.
 
What is Happening With You
Your health care provider will continue to check your weight gain, blood pressure, urine, the fundal height, edema, varicose veins, and any symptoms you are experiencing. He or she will also check the size and position of the fetus and the fetal heartbeat. If you haven't already, start thinking about any questions you have about labor and delivery and discuss them with your provider at your prenatal check-ups.

You are likely to still be experiencing constipation, heartburn, indigestion, flatulence, and bloating. Your lower abdomen may feel achy as well. You may have occasional headaches, faintness, and dizziness. Your leukorrhea (whitish vaginal discharge) is getting increasingly heavy. Hormonal changes may be causing nasal congestion, occasional nosebleeds, and ear stuffiness. Your gums may still be bleeding and sensitive. Other common physical symptoms include leg cramps, backaches, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, mild swelling, shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, and clumsiness. You are probably also feeling Braxton Hicks contractions that are usually painless. During a Braxton Hicks contraction, your uterus hardens for a minute and then returns to normal. Colostrum may be leaking from your enlarged breasts.

By this time, women often find themselves feeling bored and a bit weary about their pregnancy. It is normal to feel like you just want this to be over. At the same time, you may also be feeling more and more apprehensive about becoming a mother, your baby's health, and about labor and delivery. Hormonal changes may make you grumpy again and you may be a bit absentminded.
 
What is Happening With Your Partner
You and your partner are probably both fantasizing and dreaming about your baby and your baby's future. Tell each other your hopes and dreams for your child. You and your partner also should discuss any fears about the increased responsibility involved with becoming a parent. You can work together to prioritize responsibilities and decide how the two of you can share the workload.

Discomforts and Remedies
Visit the Common Discomforts section if you are experiencing any discomforts. You may or may not experience some of these discomforts and be sure to talk to your health care provider about them if you have any questions.

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