This week marks the beginning of the third trimester. The baby’s retina, which helps in receiving light images, develops its normal layers by the 27th week. The baby’s skin still appears wrinkled from floating in water. This will remain until a few weeks after birth. Your baby weighs over 2 pounds and is about 14.5 inches long. Read the rest of this entry »

The nerves in your baby’s ears are well developed and more sensitive around the 26th week. The baby is able to hear both your voice and your partner’s. He can inhale and exhale small amounts of amniotic fluid, that is crucial for the development of his lungs. These breathing movements will help him when he takes his first breath of fresh air on the day of delivery. He continues to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and his length is 14 inches from head to heel. If it’s a baby boy his testicles will begin to descend to the scrotum.

Pregnancy diet must continue to be healthy and you must consume a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Blood pressure may increase slightly in some women and it may be lower than what existed in the pre-pregnancy days. Some women experience preeclampsia a serious disorder characterized by high protein and blood pressure in your urine. Other pregnancy symptoms include swelling of feet and ankles, puffiness of face and eyes, headache etc. If you experience sudden weight gain at this stage you must consult your doctor. Some women experience blurred vision, vomiting or pain in the upper abdomen at this stage.

Your lower back may ache due to both your growing uterus that stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. The excess weight will add work for your muscles and put your joints to increased stress. Hence you may feel exhausted at the end of the day. Standing or sitting for long periods and even walking apart from bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. You can take a warm bath or hot compress that will provide relief.

You may start to notice aches and pains in some unusual places by the 25th week of pregnancy. You may experience moments of shooting pains in your legs. Doctors are still unsure about the reasons for leg cramps that appear at this stage. Changes in your circulation, pressure on nerves and blood vessels may be the causes for cramping. The added pressure of your baby may also Read the rest of this entry »

The fundus (top of the uterus) reaches just above your navel. You will experience the baby’s movements and may even be understand the sleep/wake cycles of your baby. It is important to recognize the signs of premature labor from around the 24th week of pregnancy. Premature labor can be more common in the summer months, owing to dehydration in some women, so you should consume lots of water. Contact your health care professional if you have any signs of premature labor. Pregnancy signs also Read the rest of this entry »

By the 23rd week, the baby weighs almost 1 pound and the crown to rump length is 8 inches (2o cm). Pregnancy signs include your looking more round because of the excess weight and the ideal weight gain should be around 12-15 pounds. Your baby is continuing to grow but the skin will still appear wrinkled as it will gain further weight. The facial expressions are Read the rest of this entry »

Your baby will be quite small but his facial and other features have almost fully developed at this stage. You can see more development of the baby in the next 18 weeks. His or her skin still seems wrinkly, mainly because there is not sufficient weight gain to fill the skin out. Your baby’s lips starts to become more distinct. While the eyes have Read the rest of this entry »

Your baby has grown to 8 ½ inches long and weighs 12 ounces. The eyelids of the baby are completely formed at the 21st week of pregnancy and the baby’s movements rapidly increase. He also swallows amniotic fluid while moving around. This will lead to the maturing of his digestive tract. The baby will not be in the same schedule as you are and you’ll feel the baby’s movements more significantly. Your baby will also Read the rest of this entry »

The baby’s muscles are getting stronger every day. The fetus is growing rapidly and the movements become even more complex and acrobatic. Your baby is growing quickly – by now it is about half the length it will be at birth. Some of the healthy tips include eating lots of iron rich foods, proteins and vitamins. The accelerated growth and development of the nervous system rely on your Read the rest of this entry »

Pregnancy 19th week may find you noticing several skin changes. These are hormone related and will disappear after your pregnancy and birth. Drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy diet will reduce skin dryness. Your health care provider will provide you with a suitable diet sheet. Try and avoid pregnancy complications like Read the rest of this entry »

As you go through your pregnancy stages, till you reach the 18th week of your pregnancy, you will find that your figure is continuing to change, and most people will recognize that you are pregnant. Your cardiovascular system is also affected by your pregnancy and you may experience some low blood pressure. Your body is now around 7 inches long and weighs 5 ½ ounces. As a part of your pregnancy test, you may be offered Read the rest of this entry »