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It’s the final countdown to B-Day – the scary, but exciting, day you meet your baby for the first time!
The third and final trimester of pregnancy stretches from week 28 until you give birth, which tends to be around week 40. You’ll feel tired and heavy as your bump grows – could it really get any bigger?
This is the stage to prepare yourself for labour: keeping up with antenatal appointments, writing a birth plan and packing your hospital bag. Put your feet up and chill out whenever you can. You’ll also be gearing up for baby, buying everything from super-cute sleepsuits to nappies, nursery essentials and more. Find out about what’s to come, for you and your growing baby, with our week-by-week guide.
What’s happening to my baby
Welcome to your final trimester. Things are moving on apace by week 28 of your pregnancy. Your baby’s eyelids may have already opened (after months of being fused together to allow the eyes to develop). Your little one may even be blinking and dreaming during periods of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
What’s happening to me?
Your body will be pulling off some amazing feats, too. With your bump already well above your belly button, it may feel it’s expanded as much as it can, but you still have around 10 weeks of stretching ahead. So take a load off when you can. And don’t forget our pregnancy accessories, all designed to make things that little bit easier. This final stretch is different for every pregnancy, but it’s often a precious time for mums-to-be as your body starts to prepare itself for the big day.
What’s happening to my baby?
At around the weight of a small bag of sugar (just over 1kg) and 39cm from crown to heel, your baby has plenty of growing to do. Baby’s chances of surviving outside the womb are improving all the time. Branches of those little lungs have been developing (although they’re still not quite ready to work on their own), their eyes are becoming more sensitive to light, and their hearing is more able to distinguish different sounds.
What’s happening to me?
Although your due date is a couple of months off, you may begin to experience ‘false’ labour pains at this stage (or may already have felt them). Braxton Hicks, or ‘practice contractions’, are your body’s way of preparing for birth.
What’s happening to my baby?
Your baby’s brain is growing fast this week. It’s taking on new roles (such as controlling body temperature) and getting ready for the years of learning ahead.
What’s happening to me?
You’re probably thinking about getting sorted for B-Day. After all, babies don’t respect due dates: a full-term delivery can happen any time from 37 weeks. Time, then, to start planning baby’s arrival. You can download your birth planner and start creating your hospital bag checklist with one click.
If you’re shopping for the baby, give yourself plenty of time to find the best buys for your budget. You won’t need a cot until baby outgrows the Moses basket, but you’ll definitely need a car seat if you’re planning to bring them home in a car.
What’s happening to my baby?
Your baby is using new brain connections to process signals from each of the senses. Sound, for instance, is no longer a vibration, they can now recognise individual sounds – including your voice. Your baby’s movements increase until around 32 weeks, after which they stay roughly the same until birth. Don’t get hung up on numbers though – the old advice was to count the kicks but that isn’t recommended now, as every baby’s movements are different. What’s important is that you get to know the pattern of your baby’s movements, and monitor that.
What’s happening to me?
As for you, you might want to treat yourself to a pregnancy massage around now: it’s one way to ease pregnancy backache, which can become an issue as your load increases. You could try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs, plus don’t spend long periods standing and continue getting some gentle exercise.
What’s happening to my baby?
You’ve entered the final phase now, and your baby’s busily getting ready for the big arrival day. You may feel fit to burst, but your little one is still getting plumper. They’re also honing skills for life outside the womb, such as breathing, sucking and swallowing.
What’s happening to me?
Chances are, you’ve got some last-minute tasks, too. But if things are getting hectic, don’t forget to take a breather now and then – the right relaxation techniques can help restore your calm in a matter of minutes. You may even want to take a few non-essential chores off your to-do list, and focus on the fun stuff – like choosing a name for your baby. But don’t worry if you can’t decide now. After the birth, you’ll have six weeks to choose a name and register it.
What’s happening to my baby?
Your little one is gaining weight fast. There’s less wiggle room for daily acrobatics, but don’t expect the kicks to let up. In fact, with less amniotic fluid acting as cushioning as your baby starts to take up all the space, you’ll probably feel each movement more.
What’s happening to me?
Although your baby is now tipping the scales at around 2kg, the eventual birth weight could be more than double that. If you’ve been pondering the possibility of delivering a little bruiser, you may have been thinking about your pain relief options during labour. Discuss your options with your midwife well before your due date.
Decisions about controlling labour pain are up to you, but if you are considering drug-free relief, Boots can support you with our TENS range. TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and works by stimulating your natural defences against pain.
What’s happening to my baby?
You’ve come a long way, baby. Now that you’re 34 weeks pregnant, your little one will probably have a good crop of hair, fully grown fingernails, and organs that are almost completely developed, apart from the lungs.
What’s happening to me?
Meanwhile, your own body is getting ready for labour. Your pelvis has expanded and you could be feeling ‘practice’ contractions. At the same time, you’re probably making sure you’ve got everything you need to bring your baby home.
Stave off last-minute jitters by double-checking your kit against our baby essentials buyer’s guides. It can be tricky to know how much of everything you’ll need. Take nappies, for instance. Newborns need up to 12 fresh ones a day. But before you buy up all the newborn nappies, remember they’re sized by weight, and babies double theirs by about six months! We suggest having about 90 nappies for the first week.
What’s happening to my baby?
‘Not long now!’ No doubt you’ve heard that phrase a lot lately. At this point in pregnancy, you may even be willing the big day on. Your baby is preoccupied with preparations, too. The brain and nervous system are fully developed and bones are continuing to harden. And if your little one hasn’t already manoeuvred into a head down position, that’s probably next on the agenda.
What’s happening to me?
With just a month or so to go you may want to celebrate the journey so far. If you haven’t planned a baby shower yet, why not have a relaxed get-together with friends? See our guide to successful baby showers for ideas. (And if your friends are asking what to bring, point them to these gorgeous gifts. Hint, hint.)
What’s happening to my baby?
Congratulations – you’ve made it to month nine. Your little one will continue growing and developing, but it’s almost ‘all systems go’. Even your baby’s digestive system is nearly ready to spring into action with your newborn’s first drink of milk.
What’s happening to me?
That first feed may be on your mind, especially if this is all new to you. If you’re considering breastfeeding, it’s good to read up on how to get going.
The Department of Health recommends exclusively breastfeeding until your baby is six months old. Breastfeeding gives your baby a great start in life, but it can take some getting used to – discover the accessories designed to make feeding easier.
What’s happening to my baby?
On paper, at least, you’re full term by week 37 of your pregnancy, although you may have weeks of waiting yet. In the meantime, your baby will keep plumping up and getting ready for birth. This includes thumb-sucking, your baby’s way of practising for that first suckle at your breast.
What’s happening to me?
In the coming weeks, you may notice signs that labour is getting closer. Needing to pass urine more often can mean that your baby’s head has engaged. This is when your baby settles into position for labour, and it can happen weeks or hours before labour. The same goes for the ‘show’, which is when you lose the mucus plug sealing your uterus.
While you’re waiting, check out our buying guides for baby basics, from nappies and monitors, to car seats and pushchairs.
What’s happening to my baby
Your baby’s seeing to some last-minute business this week, getting ready to come out. If born today, your baby would be ready for the world.
What’s happening to me?
The big day could be very close now – or weeks off. Be prepared (and if you’re still waiting at 41 weeks, your midwife or doctor will meet with you to discuss what happens if you’re overdue). Don’t forget last-minute essentials for your hospital bag, like batteries for your camera and little luxuries for you (we love a cooling facial spritzer). Enjoy these final weeks, and good luck!
