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WEEKLY
PREGNANCY CALENDER GUIDE - TRIMESTER 3 |
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Week
by Week Pregnancy Guide - Trimester 3
Note: "CRL" stands for "Crown-Rump
Length" (length from head to baby's bottom) and "CHL"
stands for "Crown-Heel Length" (length from
head to heel). |
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| Week
27 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
1.95
lbs |
886g |
| Length
(CHL): |
13.9" |
35.3cm |
| Heart
rate : |
142
bpm |
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| • |
At
the beginning of the third
trimester, your baby looks
similar to what he or she will
look like at birth, except
thinner and smaller. |
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| • |
Eyelids
are now open more, and your
baby can distinguish between
light and dark more easily. |
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| • |
Eyelashes
are growing, as is more hair
on the head. |
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| • |
Although
the sense of hearing is now
well-developed, sounds may
be muffled, as the ears are
still covered with vernix (see
Week 19). |
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| • |
Lungs continue
to grow and prepare for functioning
outside of the womb. |
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| • |
Congratulations!
You have reached the final
trimester! |
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| • |
You
may find yourself gaining
weight faster than before,
but this will slow down around
Week 35. This gain also reflects
the weight gain of the baby. |
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| • |
By now,
you've probably put on 15 to
20 pounds (around 7 to 9 kg),
and this trimester you will
probably put on another 11
pounds (around 5 kg) or so. |
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| • |
You may
find yourself increasingly
short of breath, as your uterus
is pressing against your rib
cage preventing your lungs
from fully expanding. Thankfully,
pregnancy hormones cause your
circulatory system to work
more efficiently. |
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| Week
28 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
2.20
lbs |
1000g |
| Length
(CHL): |
14.41" |
36.6cm |
| Heart
rate : |
142
bpm |
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| • |
If
your baby is born now, the
chance of surviving is quite
high. |
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| • |
The body
is getting plumper, though
it is still mainly being
filled out by muscle tissue
and bone, with around 2-3%
body fat now. |
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| • |
Eyebrows
and eyelashes are now very
noticeable! |
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| • |
Your little
Einstein's brain continues
to develop and expand, and
has the characteristic folds
and grooves on the surface.
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| • |
Lungs are
capable of breathing now, and
the muscle tone is improving.
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| • |
Your
uterus is around 3 inches
(around 8 cm) above your
navel. |
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| • |
Your
doctor may suggest that you
make visits every two weeks
now, and every week from
week 36 onward. The doctor
will check the height of
your uterus, weight, and
blood pressure, as well as
your urine. Vaginal examinations
to check cervical dilation
may also be done closer to
the due date. |
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| • |
From any
time now your doctor may ask
you to do a fetal kick count.
During the time of the day
your baby is most active, the
number of kicks, turns, or
moves over a one-hour period
should exceed 10 times. |
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| Week
29 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
2.55
lbs |
1156g |
| Length
(CHL): |
14.96" |
38.0cm |
| Heart
rate : |
141
bpm |
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| • |
Your
baby is starting to feel
cramped in there as there
is less and less space to
move! |
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| • |
Despite
having less space, your baby
continues to be active and
may give you hard jabs and
kicks in addition to little
flutters of movement. |
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| • |
The eyes
start to be able to move
in the sockets. |
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| • |
The brain
can now regulate the body temperature
itself.
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| • |
Your baby
is even urinating about half
a liter of urine into the amniotic
fluid everyday. Don't worry,
amniotic fluid is completely
replaced several times a day. |
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| • |
As your
pregnancy progresses you
will feel your baby's movements
become stronger and even
painful. It is not uncommon
for pregnant women to feel
pain under the ribs and in
the lower abdomen |
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| • |
It
is not unusual to experience
constipation. Be sure to
eating plenty of fiber, found
in fruit, vegetables and
whole grains. |
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| • |
Have you
decided on having a natural
birth of a cesarean? The goal
is to have a healthy baby and
mom, and choosing a cesarean
is nothing to be ashamed of.
Do your research on the pros
and cons of each and decide
which is best for you. |
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| Week
30 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
2.87
lbs |
1303g |
| Length
(CHL): |
15.34" |
39.0cm |
| Heart
rate : |
140
bpm |
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| • |
Your
baby looks less and less wrinkly
as layers of fat continue to
accumulate. |
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| • |
The eyes
are now far more active, especially
in observing light sources,
and the eyelids frequently
open and close. They may even
produce tears! |
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| • |
Your baby
is also much more aware of
the surroundings in the form
of sound, taste, and smell. |
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| • |
Lanugo (fine
hair that protects the skin
from the water in the womb)
starts to disappear. |
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| • |
The head
is getting larger as brain
growth continues. |
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| • |
Your abdomen
may be aching more and more
often now as your uterus continues
to stretch. |
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| • |
As
the strain on your body increases,
remember that a good posture
will help to decrease the strain
body, and that exercise (like
walking, swimming, yoga) will
help improve blood circulation
and improve your general well
being. |
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| • |
If you experience
sudden weight gain, headaches,
or changes in vision, let your
doctor know. These could be
signs of a dangerous condition
called pre-eclampsia. |
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| Week
31 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
3.25
lbs |
1476g |
| Length
(CHL): |
15.94" |
40.5cm |
| Heart
rate : |
140
bpm |
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| • |
Your
baby starts to look more pink
and less red as white fat continues
to be deposited under the skin. |
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| • |
Your baby
can now feel pain as the nerve
cells and connections are functioning. |
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| • |
The lungs
are the only major organ left
to complete development. |
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| • |
Physical
growth starts to slow a little,
but the brain continues to
develop rapidly. |
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| • |
Your baby
may start to respond more to
music, even move to the rhythm! |
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| • |
Toenails
have almost reached the end
of the toes. |
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| • |
You may
find your breasts starting
to produce colostrum. This
is the thick, yellowish milk
that will provide your baby
with calories and nutrients
for the first few days before
your "regular" breast milk
is produced. |
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| • |
If
your breasts leak colostrum,
you may want to purchase disposable
or washable breast pads to
contain the leak. |
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| • |
During the
final month, you may well feel
quite immobile, so if you haven't
done so already, now would
be a good time to get all the
things you will need for your
baby after birth like milk
bottles, and deciding on the
sleeping arrangements. |
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| Week
32 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
3.62
lbs |
1640g |
| Length
(CHL): |
16.42" |
41.7cm |
| Heart
rate : |
139
bpm |
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| • |
From
now on and over the next two
months, around 40-75% of your
baby's brain cells will begin
to die. These are mainly cells
which have not received enough
stimulation to have formed
connections with other cells. |
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| • |
Your baby's
movements will probably peak
around this week. |
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Your baby
has been putting on a lot of
weight recently, mainly in
the form of fat and muscle
tissue. |
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Your baby
spends most of the time sleeping,
like a newborn. |
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Brain scans
have also shown that babies
have periods of dream sleep
(REM) starting around now. |
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| • |
There may
already be quite a lot of hair
on the head. |
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You may
feel parts of your body (especially
your feet) start to swell.
Your shoes may be difficult
to put on, and tight clothing
such as socks and stockings
are leaving indentations in
your legs. This is because
your body has been producing
a lot more blood and body fluids
for your baby's needs, and
some of it may leak into your
body tissues. |
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| • |
If
you are planning on a natural
birth, you may want to look
into pain relief methods. Read
about natural childbirth preparation
techniques such as Lamaze and
the Bradley method, pain-relief
medications, and epidurals.
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| Week
33 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
4.18
lbs |
1896g |
| Length
(CHL): |
16.85" |
42.8cm |
| Heart
rate : |
138
bpm |
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| • |
Space
becomes increasingly limited,
and your baby is probably curled
up into the fetal position,
with arms and legs crossed. |
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| • |
From now
on, you might start to notice
less movement than before,
though the kicks might remain
just as forceful. |
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| • |
Neurons
and synapses in your baby's
brain are developing in huge
numbers. |
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| • |
The vernix
that your baby started developing
earlier is getting quite thick
now. |
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| • |
The lungs
are still not fully mature,
but your baby is practicing
using them by "breathing" the
amniotic fluid. |
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| • |
Your uterus
now sits about 5 inches (around
13 cm) above your bellybutton,
and exerting pressure on your
organs causing heartburn, constipation,
indigestion and breathlessness. |
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| • |
You
might now be able to distinguish
your baby's knee from the elbow,
even though the movements are
smaller. You may also notice
rhythmic "beats" caused by
your baby's hiccups! |
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| • |
You may
want to discuss with your doctor
and learn more about the procedure
called "episiotomy", which
is an incision made from the
vagina toward the rectum, typically
performed during a potentially
difficult delivery. |
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| Week
34 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
4.53
lbs |
2057g |
| Length
(CHL): |
17.28" |
43.9cm |
| Heart
rate : |
137
bpm |
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| • |
Your
baby may have already turned
to a head-down position in
preparation for birth, with
the head pressing against your
cervix. |
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While most
of the bones are hardening,
the skull remains not completely
joined, and can move slightly
to make birthing easier. |
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The eyes
blink periodically, and are
open when awake and closed
when sleeping. |
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If you are
having a boy, the testicles
are descending into the scrotum. |
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Your baby's
eyes will appear blue now,
regardless of what color they
will finally end up being. |
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| • |
Braxton
Hicks contractions may intensify
now. Do not confuse these painless,
irregular contractions with
labor contractions which are
painful and regular. |
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Labor
usually starts with regular
contractions that increase
in frequency and intensity.
Then comes the
"transition phase," which is
marked by immediately successive
but weaker contractions, at
the end of which your cervix
will be completely dilated
(open). Then you will be pushing
your baby into the world! |
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This is
a good time to ask your doctor
how to time your contractions. |
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| Week
35 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
4.93
lbs |
2234g |
| Length
(CHL): |
17.64" |
44.8cm |
| Heart
rate : |
136
bpm |
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| • |
Babies
born now usually have fairly
well-developed lungs, and can
survive outside the womb without
extensive medical intervention. |
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Fat deposits
continue, this time plumping
up the arms and legs. |
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By now,
your baby will be resting on
the walls of the uterus rather
than floating in the amniotic
fluid. |
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Your baby
is now taking up most of the
uterus and you may even feel
like your chest has run out
of room. |
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Note that
the "breaking of water" can
happen at anytime during your
pregnancy, and not just near
the time of labor. When water
breaks, there is typically
a gush of amniotic fluid, followed
by a leaking of small amounts
of fluid. |
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| • |
The
amniotic fluid is usually clear
and watery, though sometimes
it may appear bloody, or yellow
or green in color. |
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If your
water breaks, tell your doctor
immediately. Avoid sexual intercourse
at this time as it increases
the possibility of infection
for your baby. |
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| Week
36 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
5.54
lbs |
2514g |
| Length
(CHL): |
128.04" |
45.8cm |
| Heart
rate : |
135
bpm |
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| • |
Coming
up to the last lap now! |
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| • |
Your baby
is now putting on more fat
on the cheeks, making the face
fuller. |
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| • |
The accumulating
fat is also causing dimples
to be formed on the elbows
and knees, and creases on the
wrists. |
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| • |
Your baby
will move lower into the pelvic
region any time now and you'll
be able to breathe more easily
again. However, walking around
will become more difficult
and pressure on the bladder
increases. |
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| • |
You might
become aware of your baby's
hiccups more often starting
from now. |
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You'll probably
be visiting your doctor once
a week at this point, and he/she
may be examining your cervix
for signs of effacement (thinning)
and dilation (opening) in order
to see what position your baby
is in. Your cervix is fully
dilated when the opening measures
10 centimeters. |
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| • |
Your
baby should have turned head
down by now, but this does
not happen in about 3% of all
pregnancies (known as a "breech
position"). There are ways
that can help make the baby
turn around. |
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| • |
Have you
given thought to breastfeeding?
The benefits are many, including:
fewer allergies, better immunity,
higher IQ, reduced risk of
SIDS, etc. |
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| Week
37 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
6.18
lbs |
2803g |
| Length
(CHL): |
18.43" |
46.8cm |
| Heart
rate : |
134
bpm |
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| • |
Your
baby is building up strength
day by day. |
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| • |
The stretching
of the uterine wall has allowed
more light to permeate into
the uterus, thus your baby
is developing daily activity
cycles based on night and day. |
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Flashing
a light at the uterus will
also cause your baby to turn
towards the light source, instead
of only turning the eyes. |
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The hormone
called cortisone is also being
produced, which helps the lungs
to be mature enough to breathe
air independently. |
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This may
be the week where you feel
your baby "drop" (also called
"lightening"), which is when
your baby's head drops into
your pelvis/birth canal in
preparation for labor. This
is give you more room to breathe
and improve your appetite,
but there will be more pressure
on your bladder and rectum,
and walking may be more difficult. |
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| • |
Vaginal
discharge may be heavier now,
and you may lose the mucous
plug (that sealed off your
uterus from infection and bacteria)
as the cervix dilates. The
mucous plug is thick, yellowish,
and may be tinged with blood,
and can be lost a few weeks,
days, or hours before labor.
This is not your water breaking. |
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| Week
38 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
6.73
lbs |
3053g |
| Length
(CHL): |
18.78" |
47.7cm |
| Heart
rate : |
133
bpm |
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| • |
Congratulations,
your baby is now officially
considered "full term"! The
vast majority of babies born
now would have no problems. |
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| • |
Your baby's
growth rate has slowed right
down and may even have stopped.
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Your baby
may have a full head of hair
now and long fingernails. |
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The circumference
of the head and abdomen are
actually around the same at
this time. |
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Your baby
has been accummulating a lot
of waste ("meconium") in the
intestines, which will be part
of your baby's first bowel
movement after birth. |
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| • |
You may
feel electrical sensations
down your legs and inside your
vagina. This is caused by your
baby hitting nerves when settling
into your pelvis. |
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Be
aware of the difference between
false and true labor contractions.
False contractions are irregular
and can be very painful, and
may be felt in various parts
of your body like your back,
lower abdomen, and pelvis.
True labor contractions start
at the top of your uterus and
then spread over the entire
uterus, through your lower
back and into the pelvis. |
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| Week
39 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
7.06
lbs |
3204g |
| Length
(CHL): |
19.02" |
48.3cm |
| Heart
rate : |
132
bpm |
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| • |
Your
baby can barely move now! |
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| • |
Most of
the vernix (white substance),
as well as the lanugo (fine
hair) have disappeared.
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| • |
The umbilical
cord is about 20 inches long
and half an inch thick, and
may be knotted or wrapped around
your baby. |
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| • |
Your baby's
lung will continue to develop
until birth. They are still
manufacturing surfactant which
helps to keep the air sacs
open. |
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| • |
Elective
cesareans are usually performed
this week. |
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| • |
Your uterus
now sits about 6 to 8 inches
(around 16 to 20 cm) above
your bellybutton. Most women
don't grow much more in the
last few weeks of the pregnancy. |
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| • |
Your
baby is 38 weeks old this week
and most elective cesareans
are performed around now. |
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| • |
The rupture
of your amniotic sac (water
breaking) usually happens any
day now. Although most women
experience a large gush of
water followed by a continuous
leakage of fluid, some women
merely feel a steady trickle. |
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| Week
40 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
7.36
lbs |
3340g |
| Length
(CHL): |
19.29" |
49.0cm |
| Heart
rate : |
130
bpm |
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| • |
Babies
are, on average, born at the
end of this week, and so could
your baby! For first time pregnancies,
however, it is common for the
baby to be born more than 4
days after the due date. |
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| • |
Right after
your baby is delivered, the
doctor will suction mucus out
of your baby's mouth and nose,
and you'll finally be able
to hear your baby cry for the
first time!
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| • |
The average
size of a newborn is 7.5 pounds
and 20 inches long. |
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| • |
Your doctor
may perform the
"APGAR" test on your baby in
order to assess your baby's
responsiveness and vital signs. |
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This is
it! Less than one week left!!
But do remember that the due
date is only an estimate, and
every baby is born in its own
time. Did you know that only
about 4% of women will actually
give birth on their due date! |
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| • |
By
the end of the week when you
are due, if your labor is not
progressing, your doctor may
induce labor by artificially
rupturing the membranes or
by administering the hormone
oxytocin or other medications. |
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| Week
41 |
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| Baby |
|
Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
7.61
lbs |
3450g |
| Length
(CHL): |
19.49" |
49.5cm |
| Heart
rate : |
130
bpm |
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| • |
A
newborn's head is often temporarily
misshapen from the birth canal,
and may be covered with vernix
and blood. Your baby's skin
may also have skin discolorations,
dry patches, and rashes, all
of which are completely normal. |
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| • |
Don't worry
if your baby still doesn't
feel like coming out yet. The
average first-time mother will
often go more than four days
past the due date.
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| • |
If you do
not go into labor this week,
your doctor may recommend a
nonstress test, where your
baby's heart rate and movement
are monitored to determine
if your baby is receiving adequate
oxygen and that the nervous
system is responding. |
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|
| • |
Whatever
happens, do yourself and your
baby a favor and try to relax.
Remember you're not actually "post-due"
until you are into the 43rd
week. |
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| Week
42 |
|
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|
|
| Baby |
|
Mother |
|
|
| • |
| Weight: |
7.76
lbs |
3518g |
| Length
(CHL): |
19.67" |
50.0cm |
| Heart
rate : |
129
bpm |
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|
|
| • |
Looks
like your baby is still enjoying
life in the womb too much to
come out! Although this is
not uncommon, make sure you
speak to your doctor regularly
so that he can monitor your
baby's health and development. |
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| • |
Babies tend
not to get much bigger after
38 weeks.
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| • |
Continue
exercising, sleeping, and drinking
lots of water. |
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| • |
Read
books, watch television, or
do things to distract yourself. |
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| • |
Maintain
communication with your doctor
and take his advice as to how
to proceed. You will probably
be discussing with him/her
as to whether or not to have
an induction. |
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