Changes in You
Changes in Your Baby

s you enter into your last trimester, months seven through nine, you will truly blossom into motherhood.

Congratulations! You've made it to the exciting "countdown" days. Although the last trimester can be one of many discomforts and heightened concerns, try to stay focused on the end result – the first moment when you will see and hold your beautiful new baby.

The most common discomforts during the final trimester of pregnancy include mildly swollen hands, feet and ankles. Elevate your feet to bring relief, avoid knee-high style stockings, and wear support hose with comfortable shoes or slippers. As contradictory as this may sound, you can help your body eliminate extra fluids by drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day! If you notice that your hands and/or face are suddenly or unusually puffy, or that elevating your legs does not help, consult with your health care provider right away.

Another discomfort are Braxton Hicks contractions, which are tightenings of the uterus or womb that last a minute or so. They will be infrequent at first but as your body increasingly prepares for childbirth, the contractions will become more frequent and more intense.

As you progress in the last months of your pregnancy, your uterus will enlarge and rise to accommodate the growing baby. This may place pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing lower back and leg pain known as "sciatica." Try a heating pad and some extra rest to minimize the pain. Remember that "pregnancy slouch" also contributes to back pain! As the uterus rises, it pushes up on your diaphragm, causing shortness of breath. This usually improves towards the end of pregnancy when the baby moves down into the engaged position. Until then, try to stay conscious of your posture and be sure to sit straight, as this can help ease your breathing. Raising your arms over your head will increase your lung space, also making breathing easier.

Your growing uterus also places pressure on many organs, causing heartburn, indigestion, and a bloated, gassy feeling. Eating several small but nutritious meals throughout the day may help bring relief. Because of the fast growth/maturity of the baby during the third trimester, good nutrition habits are a must! Don't be concerned about your weight gain as long as you are eating nutritionally balanced meals and snacks (refer back to On Nutrition, First and Second Trimesters).

On top of all these discomforts are varicose veins of the legs and rectum (normally referred to as hemorrhoids), leg cramps, and constipation. It is easy to understand a pregnant woman's feeling of "I just want to get this over with!" Take advantage of any offers of help – let someone pamper you for a change! Wear support hose, maintain good posture, try to rest with your feet up as much as possible, eat healthy, drink plenty of water and stay focused on the end result – a baby, your baby!

During these final months, this is a time of "maturing" in preparation for life outside the womb. Your baby is rapidly growing and gaining weight. As your baby grows, his movements are stronger. These movements, although frequent during the seventh month, will decrease in the eighth and ninth months as there is less space in which to move. It may now be easier for you and your partner to define your baby's physical characteristics: a foot, elbow, or hand.

In the seventh month your baby's nervous system is capable of controlling her body temperature. Fine downy hair, called lanugo, appears over her body to help protect her from the amniotic fluid. Head hair is starting to grow, but the color may not be permanent. When a baby grows outside the womb, new hair comes in which may be a different color. She may get hiccups now, which you will feel in rhythmic jerks. She may suck her thumb and cry in response to pain, light and sound. By the end of month seven, most babies are approximately 14 to 16 inches long, weigh 2 1/2 to 3 pounds, and are very active.

The eighth month is a time of great gain in height and weight. This and the possibility of the head engaged in the pelvis can mean a decrease in activity. Brain growth is greatest during this period. He can now see and hear. His digestive tract and lungs are maturing, and his bones, except for the skull plates which need to stay flexible and separated for birth, are hardened. He is gaining an ounce a day, which provides a layer of fat underneath his skin to help him maintain his body temperature outside the womb. He weighs 4 to 6 pounds and is 16 1/2 to 18 inches long. Survival rate by the 36th week is better than ninety percent.

By the ninth month your baby is fast outgrowing the womb. The skin is well-coated with vernix caseosa (a white, protective substance), is smoother, and the redness has faded to pink. The fine downy hair, lanugo, has fallen off except on the arms and shoulders. The lungs are fully matured. Fingernails are long. Arms and legs are in a flexed position. The average baby weighs 7 to 7 1/2 pounds and is 20 inches in length. Your baby is ready to be born anytime now – soon you will be holding the child who came from within!

One last note: Sometime during your baby's hospital stay, he will receive the vaccine for Hepatitis B (HBV). Should you have any questions or concerns on the likelihood of your baby receiving this vaccine, please consult with your health care provider.

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