WEEK THIRTY-SEVEN

WEEK THIRTY-SEVEN

While you might think that pregnancy is never going to end, you’re really in
the home stretch by now.

The development of baby

• Baby is still growing
• Baby produces meconium in the intestines and will be released in the
first bowel movement

The development of mom

• Having periods of fatigue and over energy
• Nesting continues

What baby is feeling

• Baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid that continues to replace itself
over and over. They are learning how to digest in order to get
nutrients from formula or breast milk.

What mom is feeling

• The nesting feeling is when you are active and energetic, sometimes
getting the nursery ready or baby proofing the house. Don’t overexert
yourself, but if you’re feeling the energy come on, use it!
Specific needs for the week
• If you’re concerned that you might need an episiotomy during your
delivery, you can start to ready your body by massaging the perineum
– the space between your vaginal opening and your rectum. Apply a
little lubricant and gently massage the area with your thumb. A little
discomfort is okay, but pain is not.
Specific concerns for the week
• If you start to lose weight, that might be a sign that you are getting
ready to give birth.

Special tip for mom

• Do you have a plan for when you go into labor? If you have other
children, who will be taking care of them?

WEEK THIRTY-SIX

WEEK THIRTY-SIX

Still trudging or waddling on.

The development of baby

• Gaining up to an ounce each day
• May drop or shift at this point to be ready for birth

The development of mom

• If baby shifts, may feel lightening in the pelvis area as well as have an
easier time breathing
• Might also experience extra energy – called nesting

What baby is feeling

• Baby is just waiting for the time when mom’s body is ready to give
birth to them.

What mom is feeling

• Might be a little edgy at this time, so make sure that you’re taking
extra time for yourself in order to stay calm.
Specific needs for the week
• If you think that you might be going into labor, stop and start to time
the contractions that you’re having. If the timing is regular and
starting to get shorter and shorter between contractions, call your
doctor – it might be time. If they’re irregular, you might just be
having false contractions.
Specific concerns for the week
• If you’re nervous about having an overdue baby, talk with your doctor
about the options to deliver if this should happen – it will take one
more thing off your mind.

Special tip for mom

• As a special gift to your baby, why not write a letter to them
describing how you were feeling at this time in your pregnancy? It
makes a great gift when they’re eighteen or leaving home.

WEEK THIRTY-FIVE

WEEK THIRTY-FIVE

Slowly, but surely, you’re getting to the birthday.

The development of baby

• Baby is still practicing breathing
• More squirming and less kicking

The development of mom

• Possible stomach bloating
• More swelling in ankles and hands
• Waddling movements

What baby is feeling

• Baby is considered ready to be born at this point!

What mom is feeling

• Relief that pregnancy is almost over
• More dreams and fantasies about baby
Specific needs for the week
• It’s time to tour the birthing center or hospital where baby will be
born. You want to feel comfortable when you go in and know what
you can expect.
Specific concerns for the week
• At this point, you might deliver at any time, so it’s best to remain close
to a phone or close to home if you can.

Special tip for mom

• While you might be concerned about your water breaking, this is
actually not the momentous occasions as television and movies might
have you think. It might just be a small amount of wetness that you
will need to change your underwear for. Call your doctor at that point
if there is anything unusual about the fluid that you find.

WEEK THIRTY-FOUR

WEEK THIRTY-FOUR

Now that you’re in the ninth month of your pregnancy, you might think that
you’re almost done, but you still have a little ways to go.

The development of baby

• Baby weighs over five pounds and measures almost eighteen inches
• Baby will start to get ready to shift

The development of mom

• Increased frequency of urination
• More contractions
• Increased fatigue

What baby is feeling

• While baby might not realize this, he or she is getting ready to come
through the birth canal.

What mom is feeling

• Restlessness
• Irritability
Specific needs for the week
• You might want to start thinking about choosing a pediatrician this
week and setting up a consultation with the doctor when you deliver.
By checking your insurance and getting references from other moms,
you’ll be sure to find someone that you can talk to about your child.
Specific concerns for the week
• Pay extra attention to the number of kicks and pokes you are feeling.
You might be feeling less intense movement, but it should still be
there.

Special tip for mom

• Start looking into breastfeeding classes or seminars if you’re
considering breastfeeding once the baby is born. If not, start
researching the formulas that might work best for baby.

WEEK THIRTY-THREE

WEEK THIRTY-THREE

Week thirty-three is here, excited yet?

The development of baby

• All organ systems are completing their development
• Baby measures eighteen inches and weights almost five pounds

The development of mom

• Increased pressure
• Some moodiness and anxiety
• Breasts still swelling

What baby is feeling

• Baby is doing well and just gaining weight to be ready for the outside
world.

What mom is feeling

• If you’re feeling a little tired of talking about your impending
motherhood, ask your friends to take you out for a girls night in –
movies and munchies – and put pregnancy on the list of things to not
talk about.
Specific needs for the week
• Make sure that your doctor tests for Group B strep as well as any other
birth defects that you might be concerned about. If they can’t test
you, you can send blood samples to a private lab.
Specific concerns for the week
• If your baby is in a breech position, your doctor may attempt to shift it
to a more favorable position for delivery. However, this doesn’t
always work as baby can move right back.

Special tip for mom

• Sometimes a pregnancy can make the mom and partner less likely to
talk about romantic things. Schedule a date night to reestablish your
romantic relationship – without the wine, of course.

WEEK THIRTY-TWO

WEEK THIRTY-TWO

Here’s what’s happening this week:

The development of baby

• Baby is urinating more often
• Baby is still growing
• Measures about seventeen inches and weights about four and a half
pounds

The development of mom

• Breasts may begin to fill with milk
• Same swelling and discomfort

What baby is feeling

• Baby doesn’t have a lot of room to wiggle anymore, but is still starting
to get ready for the actual birth.

What mom is feeling

• When mom is uncomfortable and having troubles sleeping, it can help
to eat a small snack before bed to help calm the body down – even
when the mind is racing.
Specific needs for the week
• If you’re having troubles with ‘leaking,’ try increasing the Kegel
exercises that you are doing. Whenever you have to sneeze or laugh,
just do an exercise to help keep leaks to a minimum.
Specific concerns for the week
• At any time of the pregnancy you feel chest pains or tightness, alert
your doctor or head to the local emergency room. It might just be
stress, but you never want to take that chance.

Special tip for mom

• While your mom might disagree, it’s completely safe to take a warm
bath during your pregnancy. The water does not penetrate the womb
and it’s quite relaxing for you and for baby.

WEEK THIRTY-ONE

WEEK THIRTY-ONE

If you’re having more than one baby, this might be the week that it happens.

The development of baby

• There is a substance covering the alveoli of the lungs
• Baby is starting to fill out
• Baby weighs about four pounds

The development of mom

• Increased chance of hemorrhoids
• Bleeding gums
• Continued aches and pains

What baby is feeling

• Baby’s lungs are practicing for breathing real air.

What mom is feeling

• Mom might be feeling a little unwieldy and off balance. Try to move
around a bit slower to help compensate for these feelings.
Specific needs for the week
• You can still be driving at this point of your pregnancy, though you
might want to stop when you can’t fit behind the steering wheel. As
long as you’re feeling well, feel free to go anywhere that you please.
Specific concerns for the week
• If you’re still feeling some dizzy sensations, try to eat smaller meals
more frequently. This can help to stabilize your blood sugar and keep
it from fluctuating.

Special tip for mom

• Realize that your increased size will not hurt your chances of having an
easy delivery. Vaginal delivery is still quite possible for even those
women who are genetically disposed to a larger pregnancy size.