27 weeks of Pregnancy (Your Baby & Pregnancy)
How big is my baby?
Fetal size: 24cm (9.6 inches). Fetal weight: 1 kg (just over 2 pounds). The head to toe length of your baby can now be approximated (until now, the measurements have been approximations of the crown-rump measurements). This week the crown-toe measurement is approximately 34cm (15.3 inches).
At about this time the retina develops. The retina is located at the back of the eye and receives light and light images & information, and transmits it to the brain where it is interpreted.
The lungs continue to develop, and this week the special moistening agent surfactant production begins. Surfactant stops the walls of the lungs from sticking together when we exhale. Along with the production of surfactant, the network of blood vessels servicing the lungs increases.
Your baby has been able to hear since about Week 20 but loud, sudden, or unexpected noises may still cause your baby to jump or kick. Your baby more easily hears lower and deeper tones, however your own voice is more easily heard than your partners. When you and your partner talk, your baby can hear the rhythm and patterns of your speech.
What pregnancy symptoms will I be experiencing?
Your breasts will probably still be tender, especially if they have continued to increase in size.
The amniotic fluid and the location of the uterus within the bony pelvis protect your baby. If you happen to fall during pregnancy, it is unlikely that you will do serious damage to yourself or your baby. If you have a serious fall, look out for symptoms of serious damage, including severe abdominal pain, bleeding, ruptured membranes (signalled by a gush of fluid from the vagina).
Antenatal (pregnancy and birth) classes are available to all pregnant women and their partners. They are recommended, especially for first time parents. The classes cover many topics associated with your pregnancy, birth and beyond, including labour and birth and changing nappies. You have probably already booked in for your classes, but if you haven't, do so immediately so that you don't miss out! Private classes are also available. Your health care professional will be able to provide more information.
Birth Plan. This is usually a written plan of the way that you would like your labour and birth to be managed. It can be developed in consultation with your partner and/or health care professional. It is recommended that at the very least, you discuss all aspects of your care prior to the onset of established labour, as once labour establishes you may not be able to think clearly or have the time to discuss important issues. A birth plan is used as a guide only. You can never be too sure of what is going to happen during childbirth and is important to remain flexible. Take a look at the Essential Baby Birth Plan information to get some ideas.
28 weeks of Pregnancy (Your Baby & Pregnancy)
How big is my baby?
Fetal size: crown-rump 25cm (10 inches), total length 37cm (15.75 inches). Fetal weight: 1.1 kg (2.4 pounds).
This week the amount of tissue in your baby's brain increases, and the surface of your baby's brain starts to change from being smooth, to forming grooves, ridges and indentations.
Your baby continues to fill out, becoming plumper and rounder in appearance
What pregnancy symptoms will I be experiencing?
Normal weight gain up to and including Week 28 should be between 7.7 and 10.9 kilos (17 to 24 pounds).
You will probably be starting to think about the position of your baby. At this point it's probably too early to tell how your baby is lying just by feeling the abdomen. In addition, your baby may continue to change positions for another 4 weeks or so. By then your health care professional should be able to tell whether your baby's head or legs are facing downwards.
By now you're probably starting to think about your labour and you may also have given some thought to a birth plan. Take a look at the Essential Baby Birth Plan information for some assistance with writing your birth plan. Although you may want a natural labour and birth, it doesn't hurt to be aware of some medical terms and events if intervention is required.
Induction of Labour - this term is used to describe the process of inducing labour by artificial methods. Induction of labour is carried out when there is a medical condition (relating to the mother or baby) that suggests that the baby be delivered before it comes naturally. Induction can also be used to assist the start of labour when a woman has significantly passed her expected date of confinement (usually between 10 and14 days overdue). There are several induction methods that can be used, and one will be chosen based on assessing the circumstances of each individual. Prostaglandin gel can be used to help "ripen" the cervix, or neck of the uterus. The gel can take a few days to start working, but it can be very effective. Another method is a Syntocinon infusion - an intravenous drip that is slowly infused to promote the onset of labour. Syntocinon is a synthetic form of the naturally occurring contracting hormone, Oxytocin. Occasionally a health care professional will attempt to induce labour merely by breaking the waters, which can work well if you are given time for your body to establish labour.
Epidural - this is a form of local anaesthetic used as a pain relief in labour. It works by numbing the nerves that carry the feelings of pain to the brain. It is often used if a caesarean section is necessary, because it allows the mother to be awake while the baby is being born. A specialist doctor (anaesthetist) is needed to give an epidural. A needle is inserted in between the bones of the spine, and then a plastic tube is fed down the needle to an area just outside the spinal cord (the epidural space). The needle is removed and the tube is kept in place with sticky tape. The anaesthetic is injected down the tube and begins to work after 15 to 20 minutes. "Top ups" can be given by injecting more anaesthetic down the tube. Although this form of pain relief offers an almost pain free labour, there are risks and disadvantages. It can delay birth, as a woman is unaware of her own urges to push unless the epidural is allowed to wear off. Consequently, women who opt for an epidural have a higher rate of intervention, for example forceps deliveries. There is a small risk of getting a headache following the anaesthetic.
29 weeks of Pregnancy (Your Baby & Pregnancy)
How big is my baby?
Fetal size: crown-rump 26cm (10.4 inches), crown-toe 38cm(16.7inches). Fetal weight: 1,25kg (2.7 pounds).
Over the last 5 weeks your baby has doubled its weight. Your baby grows so quickly that even a few weeks growth will have a big effect on your baby's size.
A baby born between 37 and 42 weeks is considered term, and is fully mature at birth. A baby born prior to 37 weeks is considered to be premature, and requires specialist medical attention. Today, rapid medical intervention has enabled babies born as early as 25 weeks to survive, although they face many possible complications and weeks in hospital.
The further a pregnancy develops the higher the chances of a better outcome for mother and baby. Each pregnancy is treated individually. For example, a baby born at 36 weeks may have no problems what so ever, or on the other hand it may require short-term oxygen and assistance with feeding.
What pregnancy symptoms will I be experiencing?
Your weight gain up to and including Week 29 should be between 7 and 11 kilos (15-25 pounds).
If you go into premature labour, the most common form of treatment is bed rest. Best rest is often effective in stopping contractions and threatened premature labour. Sometimes drugs are used to suppress premature labour - they relax the muscles and decrease contractions.
If you have experienced threatened premature labour, you will be visiting your health care professional more frequently for the rest of your pregnancy. You and your baby will probably be monitored using ultrasound, along with recordings of your baby's heart rate and your contractions. If premature labour cannot be stopped, your baby will be delivered.
If you haven't already considered names for your baby, now is as good a time as any to start thinking about it.
30 weeks of Pregnancy (Your Baby & Pregnancy)
How big is my baby?
Fetal size: crown-rump 27cm, crown-toe 39cm. Fetal weight: 1.4kg (3 pounds).
Your baby has increased in size and won't be able to somersault for much longer. Your medical practitioner will be able to ascertain your baby's position by performing an abdominal examination. Your baby keeps gaining weight and maturing, and you will feel him/her actively wriggling and kicking. These movements allow you to start to relate to your baby before it is born.
Your baby's brain has grown and the brain cells and nerves are now active. This means that your baby can now engage in more complex learning and movement. From now on, there will be less and less room for your baby to move, so he/she will probably move less. If uncomfortable, he/she will move about. While your baby has been moving around over the past few months, he/she has been building muscle tone and learning how to orientate him/herself in the uterus. Over the next 4 weeks, your baby will probably lie with his/her head facing upwards, but sometimes a baby will turn upside down and "engage" or get ready for birth earlier than usual (head facing downwards).
Your baby starts to gain weight and starts to round out as fat continues to appear beneath the skin. This fat smooths out the wrinkles in the skin. Your baby also begins to control his/her own body temperature. The hair that covered the skin now reduces, while the hair on the scalp lengthens. The head and body are now fully in proportion - just like a newborn.
What pregnancy symptoms will I be experiencing? (7 months)
At the end of Week 30 you are carrying more and more weight, and will probably start to feel tired. Despite this, you will continue to grow and you may even be thinking that 10 weeks is a long way down the track!
You will need to pass urine more frequently, as your growing baby presses against your bladder. You will also notice that sleeping becomes more difficult, mainly due to discomfort associated with your growing size. Try sleeping on your side with one leg bent up and the other stretched out.
You may also start to experience backache. This is because your uterus has grown and your pelvic joints have become looser, altering your centre of gravity. Avoid lifting, sit up straight and avoid high-heeled shoes.
Your breasts will start to produce colostrum. Colostrum precedes breast milk, and is a sweet, watery, easily digetible liquid that your baby drinks for the first few days (before your milk comes through). You may want to try expressing a little colustrum using your hands.
One of the signs that you are in labour is your water breaking, or rupture of the membranes. Sometimes membranes may rupture or start to leak before you go into labour. You will know this is happening if you experience a gush of water, or slow leakage of water. If your
membranes rupture, you will need to contact your health care professional immediately so that he/she can take the necessary precautions to avoid infection.
If you have difficulties during labour, an emergency Caesarean Section may be necessary. Some women may also choose to undergo an elective caesar. Caesarean section is done either under a general anaesthetic or with an epidural. It is regarded as a significant surgical procedure and does carry associated risks. A caesarean is usually performed in an emergency situation where the well being of the mother or baby is endangered. It can also be performed if the position of the baby is thought to be unsuitable for a vaginal delivery, and likely to place the mother and baby at risk. Following a caesarean section, you will probably need to stay in hospital longer and you will require pain relief for a short period.
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