You have now entered into your eighth month of pregnancy and the count down starts. There are some women who may experience some early contractions, these are called false labor. This is the body’s way of practicing for childbirth. You can try to reduce these contractions by changing positions every now and then. Don’t sit or stand in one place for along period of time. You can relax by taking a long warm bath, stay away from hot water. You can use scented bath oils or bath beads.

Continue eating smaller and more frequent meals and stay hydrated. You can actually avoid a lot of aches and pains of pregnancy by staying hydrated. The third trimester symptoms will continue such as heartburn, backaches and frequent urination but remember the end is in sight. The baby is still growing and you will feel uncomfortable from time to time. The idea is to get as comfortable as possible. You may feel lightheaded from time to time and that is due in part to the blood gathering more in the lower limbs because of low blood pressure.

To avoid this, you will have to keep changing your body’s position. The baby’s brain is developing quickly as the baby prepares for birth. The bones are continuing to harden and become stronger everyday. The folds in the baby’s skin will start to disappear and now the baby will start to look chubby. Many women start to project what the delivery of the baby will be like. But you don’t have to panic about it, just sit back and relax and enjoy the last month or so of your pregnancy.

Baby’s Development

The baby will keep maturing at this point in the pregnancy. If the baby was born at this week of pregnancy, they would have a 50-50 chance of surviving. The baby is now changing positions and preparing for birth. The baby will be about 16 inches in length and should weigh about 4-1/2 pounds. Don’t panic, the baby continues to gain weight as the pregnancy progresses. The baby’s skin is more of a reddish color and looks like it is wrinkles. There is the white coating called the vernix that protects the baby through childbirth.

The baby is on target to gain at least 2 more pounds before the end of the eighth month. The baby’s brain is still developing so it is important to continue to eat better and get plenty of sleep. You may not feel the baby moving as much as before. The baby is taking up much of the uterus and you will feel them kick and stretch their arms out.

The baby’s lungs are developing will soon be a 100% mature. The baby’s eyes are fully functional and can open and close at will. The umbilical cord is coated so if the baby turns while in the womb the cord will not get knotted to kinked. The baby’s skeleton is 100% formed and is still developing. The baby’s bones are a bit soft but they continue to develop and harden at week thirty-two. Experts have said that the baby is sensitive to touch and will kick the mom to be if you place a hot or very cold pad on the belly.

Changes With Your Body

To accommodate you and your baby’s growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven’t had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it’s not preterm labor that’s ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Tips/Advice

Take it easy, cut back on all physical activities that require a lot of movement. Walking is still a great way to get exercise without straining yourself.