Week by week guide to your pregnancy
Week 1-3 |
Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9
| Week 10 | Week 11
Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week
15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19
Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 24 | Week
25 | Week 26 | Week 27
Week 28 | Week 29 | Week 30 | Week 31 | Week 32 | Week
33 | Week 34 | Week 35
Week 36 | Week 37 | Week 38 | Week 39 | Week 40
WEEK 1-3
You
Blissfully unaware that you are on your way to
motherhood, you will feel quite normal. But your hormone
levels are starting to rise. left_one-1-0 Add Content
left_one-2-0 Your baby An egg, drifting down your
fallopian tube, will have been met by millions of sperm
seeking out that egg. When the successful sperm finds
its target, it burrows into the egg and fuses with its
centre. Secretly, silently, the life inside you begins,
as the cells start dividing. This knot of burgeoning
cells is called a ‘morula’, and from this microscopic
beginning grows the most complex being on earth.
Baby it’s you!
The moment egg and sperm fuse, your baby’s genetic code
is set. Boy or a girl, height, hair and eye colour -
everything that makes up this one unique being. Your
baby gets 23 chromosomes from you and 23 from the
father, which join together in pairs. Pair number 23
determines your baby’s sex. You supply an X chromosome,
dad supplies an X or a Y. End up with two Xs and you get
a girl, an X and a Y and it’s a boy.
Tell-tale signs
Higher hormone levels may make breasts tender or give
you a metallic taste in your mouth. You may also succumb
to colds easily as your immune system is suppressed to
stop your body rejecting your baby.
WEEK 4
You
You’ll have been expecting your period this week, but
unbeknown to you, you won’t be having a period for some
time. Instead, a plug of mucus has formed at the neck of
your womb to protect your baby from infection.
Your baby
The bundle of cells is rolling along the fallopian tube
towards the dark womb. Once there, it will be called a
blastocyst and, within a few days, will delve into the
rich womb lining. At this moment of implantation, your
baby-to-be (only 100 cells and a few millimetres long)
officially becomes an embryo.
Double trouble?
You have a one in 80 chance of having twins. They could
be:
- Fraternal - when two eggs are released from the
ovary and each is fertilised by different sperm.
Although twins, they are as different as normal
siblings.
- Identical - when one fertilised egg splits in two
and grows into two separate babies with the same
genetic make-up.
Who has twins?
- Fraternal twins run in families because these
depend on the mum’s tendency to release more than one
egg at a time – something determined by her genes.
- The dad’s side of the family has no influence,
though.
- As you get older, your ovaries push out eggs in a
desperate bid to reproduce – the reason older mums
have more twins.
- Identical twins, however, don’t run in families.
- Fraternal twins run in families because these
depend on the mum’s tendency to release more than one
egg at a time – something determined by her genes.
- The dad’s side of the family has no influence,
though.
- As you get older, your ovaries push out eggs in a
desperate bid to reproduce – the reason older mums
have more twins.
- Identical twins, however, don’t run in families.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘I guessed I might be having
twins because I felt SO sick. I’m one of a set of twins
and my mum spent her pregnancy vomiting because hormone
levels are so high.’
WEEK 5
You
Your period is late so pick up a pregnancy test from the
pharmacy. The test detects even the lowest levels of a
hormone called hCG which is released by the placenta. So
that thin blue line actually shows the presence of a
placenta, rather than a baby!
Your baby
That bundle of cells isn’t all destined to become your
baby. Some grow into the placenta – your baby’s food
factory and oxygen supplier, which will become fully
operational at week 14. The umbilical cord - forming out
of a line of blood vessels - will link your baby to the
placenta.
The place to push
It may seem as if the birth is ages away, but – as your
antenatal care depends on where you have your baby –
it’s a good idea to start thinking about your options.
The basic choices are:
• Hospital
• Birth unit
• Home
All have pros and cons, and different choices suit
different mums. So it’s worth doing a little research
including checking out which hospitals offer which
facilities.
CF: is there a risk?
If you or your partner has cystic fibrosis in the
family, you may want to do a simple mouthwash test to
check whether you are carriers. If you both are, there’s
a risk your baby will be born with CF. If so, it will
give you a chance to find out more about the problems
your baby might face.
MOTHERCARE TIP If you aren’t already, start
taking 400mcg of folic acid – and continue up to week
12. It dramatically reduces the risk of spina bifida.
WEEK 6
You
You’re probably running to the loo every five minutes.
That embryo may be minute and weigh almost nothing, but
your womb is growing – and pressing down on your
bladder!
Your baby
Curled like a miniature prawn, your baby has four tiny
‘buds’ where his limbs will grow. He still has a tail
(the protruding end of the spinal column), which he will
lose, and three separate layers, which will grow into
different body sections. But if you have an early scan,
you’ll see none of this, just a pulsing dot on the
screen. This is your baby’s heart, which has all four
chambers and is beating steadily, driving blood around
the growing body.
Need an early scan?
You’ll probably have one of these between 6 and 10 weeks
only if you’ve had any signs of a threatened
miscarriage, such as spotting, or possibly a previous
miscarriage. Seeing that pulsing dot of a heartbeat can
be hugely reassuring for a worried mum to be.
Get some support
With your breasts growing from very early in pregnancy,
you might find your old bras uncomfortable. It’s a good
idea to get fitted for a maternity bra now and every six
weeks from now on as good support is essential to avoid
ligament damage, and your size is likely to change
frequently. You won’t have to sacrifice your pretty
matching sets of underwear though, as new designs look
just as sexy as your non-pregnancy stuff.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘I really wanted a home birth but
my doctor wasn’t keen. Luckily, my in-laws offered to
pay for a private independent midwife through
www.independentmidwives.org.uk. Lucy, my midwife,
was fantastic. I saw her for all antenatal appointments
and she was wonderful during the birth.’ Alternatively,
speak to your local midwife usually based at all GP
surgeries.
WEEK 7
You
At the moment the thing you want most is sleep. You
won’t have a bump yet, of course, but your baby’s fast
and furious development is exhausting. The other thing
you may do frequently is cry – the flood of hormones can
turn the toughest cookie into an emotional jelly.
Your baby
Development is storming ahead, with all important
structures forming. Your baby’s brain has two
hemispheres, and a spinal column has developed along his
back. On his hands are ridges that will grow into
fingers – these develop slightly ahead of the toes. On
your baby’s face, openings for nostrils appear and
eyelids develop - though they’re fused shut. Behind
these, eyes (at the moment on stalks!) start to form.
With muscle tissue developing, he begins to make very
small movements.
Keep smiling!
You’re entitled to free prescriptions and dental care
when you’re pregnant (and until your baby is one year
old), but will need an exemption certificate to get hold
of them – so it’s a good idea to get one early on. Ask
your GP or midwife for form FW8, and then send it off to
the local health authority, which will send you your
certificate.
Mouthing off
The reason you get free dental care is that pregnant
women are prone to gum problems. That’s because hormones
make all your soft tissues spongier. Good oral health is
essential:
• Use a soft toothbrush and brush regularly.
• Make sure you floss your teeth.
• Visit the dentist and hygienist.
MOTHERCARE TIP Don’t reach for the medicine
cabinet if you feel poorly. You need to be careful with
over-the-counter medicines, so check first with your
pharmacist.
WEEK 8
You
Your baby’s swift development makes you tired. Rocketing
hormone levels can also cause nausea and vomiting, with
smells you once loved (fresh coffee perhaps) making you
run for the loo feeling sick.
Your baby
Your baby is 2.5cm (1in) long – about the size of a
large olive - with a huge head in comparison to his
body. His chin is fused to his chest and he now has a
rudimentary mouth and ears. All major organs are in
position. Now they must become more complex, mature and
grow.
Check-in time
Your first antenatal appointment (your booking
appointment) should happen between week 8 and week 12.
It’ll be a long one.
- You’ll be asked the medical history of you and
your partner.
- You may be weighed.
- Your height will be measured.
- A urine sample will be taken and checked for sugar
(a sign of diabetes) and protein (a sign of pre-eclampsia).
- Your blood pressure will be checked.
- A blood sample will be taken to check your blood
group, whether you’re rhesus positive or negative,
your immunity to rubella, and whether you have any
diseases that could harm your baby.
Dates for your diary
First-time mums have about 10 antenatal appointments –
at your booking appointment ask for details of
appointments and scans, and note them down. Then, in
between appointments, keep a list of any questions you
want to ask (pregnancy may make your memory a bit
vague!).
ONE MUM SAYS… 'Take something to read to
antenatal appointments, as chances are you’ll be hanging
around. Explain this to your boss so he doesn’t imagine
you’ll be merely popping out for an hour.’
WEEK 9
You
For you, the heat is on. Your increased blood volume,
plus burning calories quickly to keep your fast-growing
baby nourished, will raise your body temperature.
Hormonal upheaval and exhaustion continue to cause
frequent bouts of tears.
Your baby
Like a duck, your baby has webbing between his toes –
and his fingers too. But his ‘tail’ has disappeared. As
his limbs develop, wrist and ankle joints appear.
Good food guide
Diet is especially important now. Some foods could be
dangerous to your unborn baby (see our feature on
healthy eating). Plus of course, you need to eat a
balanced healthy diet, so bin the junk food and make
sure you have something from each of the food groups
every day:
• Starchy foods (pasta, rice, potatoes, wholemeal
bread)
• Protein (lean meat, fish, chicken, pulses)
• Fruit and vegetables (for essential vitamins and
minerals)
• Dairy foods (hard cheeses, milk, yogurt for calcium)
Learning curves
Antenatal classes usually don’t start until the final
few months of pregnancy, so it may sound crazy to sign
up this early. But many classes get very booked up, so
(especially if you want a specific time or class) you
need to get in soon. Ask your midwife how to book
parentcraft classes (free and often held at the hospital
or doctor’s surgery) or contact the NCT (0870 444 8707,
www.nct.org.uk). There are other classes you can do
too – see our feature on antenatal classes.
MOTHERCARE TIP Don’t diet when you’re pregnant -
it’s not healthy for you or your baby, stick to healthy
eating. Accept your expanding waistline – you’re going
to put on about 9-13.5kg (10-20lb) in all, a tenth of
which may have piled on over this trimester.
WEEK 10
You
Some mothers start to experience cravings for certain
foods – a yearning for gherkin and ice-cream is no old
wives’ tale! Luckily, pica – wanting to eat things like
soap or coal – isn’t at all common.
Your baby
From now on your embryo becomes a foetus. Bones are
forming but are still soft and flexible. As muscle
stretches over the bones, your baby starts to control
movement, swirling and somersaulting in the womb (not
that you can feel it – your baby’s too small). Your
baby’s starts to look more human, and though the eyelids
are set wide apart and still sealed, underneath colour
is forming in your baby’s eyes.
Your flexible friend
Yoga is great for relaxation during pregnancy and also a
real help during labour – breathing techniques and
improved flexibility both play their part in a smooth
birth.
You need, though, to do a class specifically for
pregnant mums, as some poses are dangerous when you’re
expecting. Ask your midwife about local classes, or
check out
www.birthlight.com.
Two’s company
In the early weeks, before you’re showing, it’s hard for
your partner to truly understand you’re pregnant. The
huge changes happening inside you - and possibly making
you tired and weepy – are utterly invisible to him. So
you need to talk and explain you need as much support as
possible. It will also make him feel involved in the
pregnancy – essential for a happy relationship
throughout the nine months.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘I didn’t feel remotely sexy at
this time – my hormones were all over the place and I
was simply shattered. But my friend’s libido zoomed! I
guess you just have to go with the flow.’
WEEK 11
You
To keep your baby supplied with food and oxygen, your
body makes more blood (you’ll be producing 50% extra
before the nine months is up). Because of this, blood
vessels have to become floppier – otherwise they’d
burst. Hormones make blood vessels more flexible – but
also make other tissues relax. So watch out for
constipation caused by gut muscles becoming sluggish.
Your baby
Your baby’s jaw rises up away from the chest,
as his neck begins to lengthen. Many mums have a
dating scan around now – your first chance to see your
amazing tiny baby, swooping about inside you and even
making facial expressions such as yawning. (It’s very
moving, so pack those tissues!)
Picture perfect?
- A dating scan (between 10 and 16 weeks) will
give you an estimated date of delivery – and can
also tell you whether you’re carrying one, two…or
more babies!
- Between 11 and 13 weeks you may have a nuchal
scan, although in many areas you have to pay for
these. A nuchal scan measures the amount of fluid at
the back of the baby’s neck – a larger than average
amount may be a sign of Down’s syndrome.
Womb mates
If you’re carrying twins the scan operator may be able
to tell if they are identical or not. If they share
the same amniotic sac they will be identical and
identical twins need to be monitored throughout
pregnancy in case one baby is thriving at the expense
of the other.
MOTHERCARE TIP Constipation? Up
your intake of fruit, veg and fibre and drink lots of
water. If that fails, check with your pharmacist
before taking anything.
WEEK 12
You
Don’t expect to be given a seat on the bus just yet -
your bump isn’t obvious. However, your waist is thicker
and your midwife will be able to feel your womb rising
above your pubic bone.
Your baby
This is the final week of the first trimester
of pregnancy and your baby’s organs and bone structure
are all in place. Now everything must simply grow and
mature.
Just 10 weeks ago he was a cluster of cells; now he
is a tiny baby measuring 7.5cm (3in) long – imagine
something the size of a round ripe peach.
Testing times
Between 11 and 13 weeks a chorionic villus sampling
(CVS) test can be done. This:
- is a test that takes a few cells from the placenta
to test for genetic disorders.
- can cause a miscarriage in a small number of
cases.
- is usually only done if there is an indication
that your baby may have a serious problem.
- is done earlier than an amnio, which may help
parents faced with a difficult decision.
Mind games
Interested in trying hypnobirthing, where you discover
the power of self-hypnosis to help during labour? Some
classes start as early as 12 weeks, although others do
begin a little later. You can also buy CDs that help you
learn hypnotherapy techniques, but classes may be more
effective. To find out more, check out
www.hypnobirthing.co.uk.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘I could still squeeze
into my skinny jeans (just), but my midwife advised me
to wear looser clothes because tight ones can affect
your circulation.’
WEEK 13
You
This is officially the beginning of the second
trimester. Your pregnancy is now safer, as miscarriage
risks are falling. Because of this, many mums-to-be
decide they are now ready to share the good news they’ve
been bursting to tell for weeks. Also, morning sickness
may now start to ebb, energy levels zoom – and people
may start to tell you you’re blooming. Not only that -
they may soon begin to spot your tell-tale bump.
Your baby
With no fat to plump it out, your baby’s skin is wrinkly
and translucent - a web of blood vessels clearly visible
beneath it. The stumpy limbs have grown and are in
proportion with your baby’s body.
Dry your eyes
Due to hormonal changes, your eyes can feel
very dry and prickly.
- If you wear contacts, change to glasses when your
eyes are sore (hormone changes can also affect the
curvature of the cornea, so see your optician).
- Ask your GP to prescribe some eye drops.
- Wear sunglasses to protect eyes from the wind.
- Limit use of the computer or take frequent breaks.
Feel the beat
At your check-ups, your midwife will use a hand-held
‘microphone’ called a Sonicaid to hear your baby’s
heartbeat – you’ll hear it too, clocking up an
incredible 150 beats per minute (about double your heart
rate).
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘This was a magical
time. Once people knew I was expecting, and could just
about see the evidence, I was treated with such care.
Yes, people offered unwanted advice. But more often that
not, friends and colleagues went out of their way to be
kind.’
WEEK 14
You
You’ll start packing on the pounds now. It’s not just
the baby and the bump. You’ll lay down fat stores as an
energy resource for when you’re breastfeeding.
Your baby
The placenta, which started developing at the beginning
of pregnancy, now brings food and oxygen to your baby
via the umbilical cord – three coiled blood vessels, one
taking vital supplies to your baby, and two removing
what’s not needed.
Public property?
Once you’re showing, you’ll find everybody – your mum,
your mother-in-law, the woman at the bus stop – has an
opinion about all aspects of pregnancy and a comment to
make about your bump.
Some mums-to-be love the attention, others can’t
stand it. And, of course, you can never be sure the
advice or information you’re getting is correct (there
are lots of pregnancy myths about). If you are ever
worried about anything they tell you, remember it’s
likely to be an old wives’ tale. Just ask your midwife
for reassurance.
Keep fit
Don’t stop exercising when you’re pregnant. Just follow
a few rules:
• Avoid impact exercise like running and aerobics.
• Don’t let your heart rate rise over 140 beats per
minute.
• Don’t get too hot as your baby can’t regulate its
temperature.
• Don’t overstretch or you’ll harm your ligaments.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘I didn’t exercise much
during the first trimester (I felt queasy and tired).
But then I did aquanatal classes at my local pool, and
loved it. It kept up my fitness levels, was really
relaxing too, and meant I met lots of other pregnant
mums.’
WEEK 15
You
For many mums, skin colour begins to deepen. Often
nipples darken by several shades (and may stay that way
after the birth). Some mums get chloasma (a
butterfly-shaped shadow on the face known as the mask of
pregnancy), but it will fade. You may also get a linea
nigra – a brown stripe down the middle of your bump.
Your baby
The flexible cartilage that makes up your unborn baby’s
skeleton starts to harden into bone – and carries on
hardening during childhood.
Take a break
The middle trimester is the best time for a holiday –
once you’re past the sickness but before you get too
big. Check out our feature on travel for planning a trip
when you’re pregnant.
Getting it right
Although you don’t have to tell your employer you’re
pregnant for another 10 weeks, it can be a good idea to
let him or her know early, especially if you know
they’ll be positive about your pregnancy. That’s because
there are a number of laws that protect your health and
that of your baby at work, such as:
- The right to time off for antenatal appointments
- The right to time off for antenatal classes or
parentcraft classes
- The right to an individual assessment of your
working conditions
- The right to alternative work if your job is
dangerous for you or your baby
MOTHERCARE TIP You may find that your
company offers better rights, leave and pay than the
legal minimum, so have a chat with human resources.
WEEK 16
You
Hormones that made you miserable with sickness last
trimester, now make your hair gleam and your skin glow.
Any gauntness in your face is banished by the slight
plumping of your cheeks.
Your baby
Your baby is 16cm (6 1/4in) long – now more of
a grapefruit than a peach. He is covered in swirls of
soft hair called lanugo (don’t worry; it’ll fall out
later in pregnancy). There are also swirling patterns on
his fingertips as he develops the spirals of unique
fingerprints. These amazing miniature fingers can also
flex and grasp.
Take the test
Around now you may be offered a blood screening
test that checks levels of various substances in the
blood. It can give an indication as to whether your baby
is at risk of conditions like Down’s syndrome. It can’t,
though, give you a definite diagnosis. See our feature
on antenatal tests for more information.
The next step
If your blood serum screening is worrying, or if there’s
another reason to believe your baby might be at risk of
a genetic disorder, you may be offered an amniocentesis.
A needle is inserted through your bump to collect some
amniotic fluid, which contains some of your baby’s
cells. These are then tested for any problems. The test
carries a small risk of miscarriage.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘I decided to have an
amnio after my blood screening showed my baby might have
Down’s. It was a hard decision because of the
miscarriage risks, but I knew I couldn’t get through the
rest of the pregnancy not knowing if my baby was ok.
Luckily, everything was fine.’
WEEK 17
You
You may get breathless and sweaty as your metabolism
soars and your heart needs to work at twice its usual
rate, pumping around all that extra blood.
Your baby
Hair is now growing quickly - eyelashes and eyebrows
define his face, and he has hair on his head too.
Sometimes, though, this newborn head-hair will fall out
after the birth. So hair colour may not be as obvious as
you thought!
Relax!
You may be blooming and bursting with energy, but don’t
overdo it. If you work too hard and become stressed,
it’s not good for your baby, as research shows stressed
out mums tend to have stressy babies.
At home:
- ask your partner to help with the chores.
- set aside some quiet time each day where you sit,
eyes closed, breathing deeply.
- go to bed at a reasonable time (earlier than you
used to) and take naps at the weekend.
At work:
- ask if you can alter your hours so you’re not
travelling at rush hour.
- learn to prioritise – do the important things
first and don’t sweat the small stuff. Learn to
delegate instead.
Finance savvy
It may sound gloomy, but as you and your partner are
going to become parents, it’s a good idea to make sure
you have life assurance in place and possibly some sort
of cover in case one of you is made redundant. That way,
you can be sure your baby won’t suffer financially.
MOTHERCARE TIP Tender breasts
stopping you sleeping at night? A sleep bra will help.
WEEK 18
You
As your bump swells, backache may set in – especially
around the lower back where your pelvis and spine are
joined. This pain happens because those pregnancy
hormones have softened your ligaments.
Your baby
Teeny fingernails and toenails are growing quickly (they
may need cutting at birth and can look rather tatty on
perfect newborn babes!). As hand-control improves, he
often grips tightly onto the umbilical cord.
Back tracking
If you’re having problems with your back, be
very careful with lifting. When picking something up
from the floor, always bend your knees, and then come up
with a straight back. Tightening the muscles around your
lower back and pelvis when you get up or get out of bed
should help reduce pain.
If you’re having lots of problems, tell your midwife
who may advise that you see an antenatal
physiotherapist.
What to wear?
You’ll probably need some maternity clothes by now. To
make sure they grow with your bump and fit throughout
pregnancy, choose skirts and trousers with all sorts of
clever tricks:
- Front or side panels in stretchy jersey
- Adjustable-button side panels
- Extendable waists
- Deep stretch waistbands
Then think about tops. Because the seasons will
change as your bump gets bigger, go for layers that you
can shed in the summer or pile on in the colder months.
MOTHERCARE TIP… Invest in some great
accessories. They can either disguise or emphasise your
new shape – and you’ll still be able to wear them after
the baby’s born. For more fashion tips see our feature
on pregnancy style.
WEEK 19
You
Because your blood pressure is lower than usual and your
blood vessels are more lax, you may feel dizzy if you
get up quickly. If so, sit down until you feel fine,
then get up slowly.
Your baby
Your baby is super-active now, as he is small enough to
swim and twist within the womb, yet strong enough for
more vigorous movement. He has yet to put on fat so his
still-closed eyes look bulbous.
Do it now!
- Read all the big books you want - once your baby’s
born you’ll be reduced to odd snippets from trashy
mags.
- See all the movies you can before you need a
babysitter. Soon it’ll be DVDs if you’re lucky!
- Book up those theatre tickets before broken nights
mean you fall asleep in the middle of Act II.
- Treat yourself to that expensive restaurant. Soon
it’ll cost more as you’ll have to factor in the
babysitter – and her cab home.
- Make the most of those lie-ins.
Little and often
If low blood sugar is exacerbating your dizziness, keep
a supply of low-GI snacks handy to nibble on. Try:
- Dried apricots
- Pears
- Yogurt
- Malt loaf
- Carrot sticks and humous
- Flapjack
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘On the way to work on
the underground I almost missed my stop and jumped up to
get off the tube. I reached the platform but felt so
woozy I passed out. I came round with London commuters
just stepping over me! Finally, another pregnant woman
stopped to help.’
WEEK 20
You
You may feel the very first movements from your baby
(often called ‘quickening’), which some mums describe as
a feeling of bubbles popping, butterflies fluttering
inside them - or even wind! Second-time mums may feel
this earlier as they know what to look out for. Whenever
you feel it, it’s a magical moment – and Dad can now put
his hand on you belly and finally feel his baby.
Your baby
At this halfway point, your baby is about 25cm
(10in) long - think large honeydew melon. This is
approximately half his birth length. Many mums have a
scan now to check for possible problems.
The 20-week scan
At about this time you’ll be offered one of the major
scans – often called an anomaly scan. This looks for
abnormalities in your baby and includes detailed checks
on all organs and your baby’s structure.
In most cases, the baby is fine. But if anything is
discovered, you may be offered further, more-invasive,
testing to check whether a problem actually does exist.
Remember that, as with all testing, you have a right to
refuse both the scan and any follow-up tests.
If something is wrong…
Ask to see a genetic counsellor who can take
you through all the possible scenarios and the
likelihood of each. Sometimes, just talking to an
informed, neutral person can help you see more clearly.
MOTHERCARE TIP A scan will also
reveal the sex of the baby, although in some areas
hospitals won’t tell you. And if you want to keep it a
surprise, tell the scan operator so they don’t drop a
hint inadvertently.
WEEK 21
You
You are clearly pregnant now, with the top of your womb
reaching your belly button. Sometimes, midwives check
your baby’s growth by measuring the distance from pubic
bone to the top of the womb. The measurement should be
approximately 1cm for each week of pregnancy.
Your baby
Your baby may well be sucking his thumb or hand as he
practises one of the key reflexes for his survival. Some
babies are born with a little blister on their hands
where they have been sucking.
The best-laid plans
It’s worth thinking early about your birth plan, as
talking to your midwife and reading up on labour will
help you know what might be right for you. So check out
information about:
- Pain relief
- Interventions such as induction, episiotomies and
forceps
- Positions that might help labour
- Waterbirth
- The process of labour.
Once you have lots of information, start thinking
about how you would like your labour to go.
Switching partners
On your birth plan, you can also say who your birth
partner will be. If your partner would prefer not to be
at the birth, another option is hiring a doula – an
experienced birth attendant. Studies have shown that
having a female birth partner means labour goes more
smoothly with fewer interventions. Interested? Check out
www.doula.org.uk.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘Once the 20-week scan
was over, and I knew my baby was healthy, I bought just
one tiny outfit – a cute little cardi. I couldn’t
believe it was so tiny – and that in another 20 weeks,
my baby would be wearing it.’
WEEK 22
You
The lower part of your womb really stretches over the
next weeks, sometimes leading to sharp twinges. The
stretching of the skin on your bump can make you feel
itchy – but severe itching all over must be checked as
it can indicate serious liver problems. If you’re prone
to stretchmarks (if your mum had them, chance are you
will too), slather yourself with body lotion every night
to improve your skin’s elasticity.
Your baby
Tiny buds that will grow into baby and adult teeth are
forming deep in the jaw. But you probably won’t see that
first pearly white emerge until your baby is six months
old.
Drink up
Make sure you don’t get dehydrated because the extra
blood your body is producing needs lots of water. Keep a
bottle handy and sip throughout the day – even if you
think you’re constantly rushing to the loo.
Childcare choices
Leave yourself lots of time to sort childcare before
returning to work. It’s crucial you make the right
choice if you’re going to feel relaxed leaving you baby
with someone else. Options include:
- Daycare nurseries
- Childminders
- Nannies
- Friends or relatives
An au pair isn’t suitable for looking after a young
baby for long periods of time. The best recommendation
is word of mouth, but you can find local childcare by
looking at
www.childcarelink.gov.uk. This will show vacancies
with childminders and nurseries. For a nanny you’ll need
to check out private agencies. When you finally make a
choice, interview thoroughly, check references and
qualifications, and trust your gut instinct.
MOTHERCARE TIP You may be entitled
to help with childcare costs – check out our feature on
going back to work.
WEEK 23
You
Some mums may already start to leak colostrum from their
nipples. This is the milk your body will make for your
baby for the first few days of life. It is very rich,
yellowy in colour and packed with antibodies to fight
infection.
Your baby
With your baby now very active, and his movements
growing more vigorous, you may notice that he has
regular times for rest and play.
Fancy footwork
Still in high heels? It’s best to ditch them in favour
of flats - or at least chunky soles if you want a bit of
height. Wearing heels can make backache worse as they
affect your posture. Plus, with the change in your
centre of gravity affecting your balance, it’s not
unknown for pregnant women to tumble off their heels!
Pelvic floor plan
Start doing pelvic floor exercises – see our feature on
fitness and pregnancy. Pregnancy and birth can weaken
these muscles and make you prone to stress incontinence
– peeing when you laugh or sneeze. Basically, these
exercises involve tightening and releasing the muscles
around your bottom and vagina, as if trying to stop
yourself peeing. If you do them regularly throughout
pregnancy and after the birth you’re likely to suffer
fewer problems.
MOTHERCARE TIP If you are leaking a
little colostrum, simply buy a pack of breast pads and
slip them inside your bra to stop embarrassing damp
patches. You can choose either disposables, or ones that
you wash and re-use.
WEEK 24
You
Psychologically, you can feel hyper-sensitive during
pregnancy – even in this relatively stable trimester.
Feeling your baby move makes everything so real, that
watching a weepy film or even the news can have you
crying buckets.
Your baby
Your baby (who can now feel pain) is practising
breathing, gulping in the amniotic fluid. This can cause
hiccups, which you’ll feel as rhythmical twitches inside
your bump. If born now, your baby would stand a chance
of survival (though premature babies often have
long-term problems).
Born too soon
A baby born this early face huge difficulties. His lungs
are not mature, and he will probably be put on a
ventilator as he won’t be able to breathe alone. He
will, of course, be rushed to the special care baby
unit, where he will spend several months.
If your baby is premature, you’ll need lots of
support as much of your time will be spent by his
cotside. But it has been proved that touch from the
mother (including kangaroo care, where a premature baby
has skin-to-skin contact inside the mum’s clothing)
greatly improves the baby’s chance of thriving.
Early baby clothes
Newborn clothes swamp premmies. But Mothercare’s range
of early baby clothes are specially designed for
premature babies. Not only are they small, they also:
- Have no scratchy seams or labels.
- Have fastenings made from soft Velcro, rather than
poppers, which show up on x-rays.
- Are made from supersoft cotton.
MOTHERCARE TIP If your baby is born
prematurely, contact the charity BLISS (www.bliss.org.uk)
for support and advice.
WEEK 25
You
Now your baby is filling up more of your bump, you’ll
see ripples and undulations of movement on your belly.
Lying in a warm bath, your bump emerging through the
water, gives a good view of your baby’s gymnastics.
Your baby
Your baby is covered with waxy vernix, which stops him
getting wrinkled from being in the watery womb for so
long (think what your hands look like after spending a
long time in the bath!). The vernix also stops the
umbilical cord tangling around him. Some may remain on
your baby’s skin at birth.
Alternative action
Planning on using complementary therapies during the
birth? As some prepare the womb for labour, you’ll need
to find a therapist well in advance. For others, you
need to have a therapist with you at the birth. If this
is the case, you’ll need to not only find a therapist,
but also check with your midwife or hospital that this
is allowed.
Know your rights
This is your qualifying week – the week by which you
must tell your boss in writing that you are pregnant and
planning to take maternity leave and claim Statutory
Maternity Pay from a particular date. With your letter,
remember to enclose form MATB1, which you will have got
from your midwife about a month ago. Your partner will
also need to tell his boss if he’s planning to take
paternity leave.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘Being pregnant brought
me closer to my own mother. She knew exactly what I was
going through, and I found it incredible thinking how
she had carried me inside her for nine months.’
WEEK 26
You
As your womb expands, your ribs lift by 5cm (2in)
constricting your lungs (which already have much more
work to do than usual). The result? Even more
breathlessness.
Your baby
Now measuring a whopping 36cm (14in) – the length (if
not the width!) of a large cucumber - your baby’s
hearing is developing swiftly. Mostly, he hears your
body – the flow of your blood, the beat of your heart,
the gurgling of your stomach. He also hears your voice
and will recognise it at birth. Go to a firework display
and he’ll jump at the bangs; play music repeatedly
(whether it’s Haydn or Hard-Fi) and it will become
familiar to him.
Can’t pay, won’t pay
Not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay? You may get
Maternity Allowance. Take form MATB1 (from your midwife)
to the nearest Jobcentre Plus, and fill in form MA1.
Don’t cramp your style
As you get heavier, you might start to suffer from cramp
because your womb is pressing on the nerves to your
legs. To help:
- With your leg straight, pull your toes up towards
you. If you can’t reach your toes get a friend to
help, or sit down on a chair and push the underside of
your toes against the edge of a table, keeping your
leg straight.
- Up your intake of calcium (in dairy foods,
sardines and mackerel) and lower your intake of
phosphorus (in processed meats and fizzy drinks).
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘My baby was so high, he
was literally kicking me in the ribs. It didn’t ease
until he descended near the end of the pregnancy.’
WEEK 27
You
Your womb contracts throughout pregnancy, but the
hormone progesterone stops you going into labour. At
this stage, you’ll start to notice these contractions
(called Braxton Hicks) as a hardening across your bump.
Don’t worry – you’re not about to give birth!
Your baby
Your baby can feel touch from the outside world. If you
prod some protruding toes, he’ll snatch his foot away.
On tour
If you’re planning to have your baby in hospital, it’s a
good idea to arrange to have a look around the delivery
suites and postnatal wards. Then you’ll know what
facilities are on offer. Most important, it will seem a
little more familiar when you arrive here on the big
day, which may help lessen any anxiety and make labour
go more smoothly.
What’s in a name?
Make sure you’re thinking about names. Choosing – and,
more to the point, agreeing – on the right one can take
longer than you think. Have a list for both boys and
girls (even if you were told the sex at a scan, they can
get it wrong). To see what other people are choosing,
visit
www.statistics.gov.uk and type ‘babies’ names’ into
the search box. And make sure a name fits with the
surname - remember, alliteration (Marilyn Monroe) sounds
good, rhyming (Tinky Winky) sounds silly and jokes
(Logan Berry) are simply cruel!
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘Think about surnames
too. My partner wants the baby to have his. I want the
baby to have mine. The compromise we’ve reached is that
if it’s a girl, she’ll take my name; if it’s a boy,
he’ll take my partner’s.’
WEEK 28
You
This is the last week of the middle trimester and, with
a fairly big bump, you may find your tummy button has
popped outwards. You still have, however, a quarter of
your total weight gain to come.
Your baby
Your baby knows which way up he is, because the balance
function of his ears has kicked in. His eyelids have
fluttered open and the focusing mechanism in his eyes is
working. It’s also believed his brain now has the
capacity to form memories.
Buying time
It’s worth looking around now at baby equipment
as there’s an awful lot to get. You needn’t buy anything
yet, but it pays to do your research well ahead so that
you get the right basics that really suit your
lifestyle.
The key major items are:
- Pushchair
- Crib or Moses basket, and cot
- Infant car seat
So start checking these out first (see our feature on
choosing baby equipment), then move onto smaller items
for feeding, bathing and dressing. Of course, if you are
having twins or more, they’re likely to come early, so
get organised soon.
Mum’s the word
With stores packed with all sorts of equipment and
gadgets, it’s hard to know what you need and what you
don’t. But the best people to ask are other mums.
They’ll give you an honest opinion about what you really
need…and what you really don’t.
MOTHERCARE TIP This is the last week
most airlines will let you fly – so it’s train or car
for any trips from now on. Some boat companies will not
let you travel if you will be 28 weeks pregnant or more
by the end of the trip, so make sure you check before
you travel.
WEEK 29
You
It’s not just during the first trimester (when organ
development is frantic) that you need to watch what you
eat and drink. Overdoing the booze now could damage your
baby’s brain because brain development is really going
into overdrive.
Your baby
Indeed, during this final trimester your baby’s
brain mass really rockets. As the brain grows rapidly
within the skull, it starts to coil and fold into its
characteristic form, rather like a walnut.
Need financial help?
If you are on a low income, you may be entitled to a
Sure Start Maternity Grant. You can use this towards the
cost of equipment for your new baby. Week 29 is the
earliest time you can claim.
Food for thought
Oily fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are
believed to boost brain power. So, while your baby’s
brain development is rapid, it’s a good idea to eat oily
fish regularly. Fish to try are:
- Mackerel
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Fresh (but not tinned) tuna
- Kippers
- Anchovies
Don’t overdo it, though. Because pollutants can build
up in the flesh of oily fish, pregnant mums are advised
to stick to two portions a week. If you’re vegetarian,
you can get omega-3s from linseeds, although they may
not be as beneficial as oily fish.
MOTHERCARE TIP Feeling the strain?
From this week, you are legally entitled to begin your
maternity leave. Remember, though, that every week you
take before the birth will be one less week to spend
with your new baby. So think carefully about the timing
of your leave.
WEEK 30
You
If your baby is breech, encourage him to turn
by spending some time each day on hands and knees – this
maximises space so he can manoeuvre into the best
position. (Doctors can help too, by manipulating your
bump, persuading your baby to turn.) Spending time on
hands and knees also helps your baby settle into a
position with his spine running along your belly
(anterior). If he lies spine to spine (posterior) labour
is likely to be longer.
Your baby
Most babies will be head down by now, but 4% will remain
breech (either feet or bottom down) at the time of the
birth. As your baby grows and room in the womb shrinks,
changing position will become harder.
In the swim
You may be starting to feel heavy, but it’s important to
keep up a gentle exercise routine. From now on swimming
will be the best option. It gives all parts of the body
a work out, yet can be done at a gentle pace with the
water supporting the weight of your bump. Make sure you
have invested in a good maternity swimsuit that will see
you through to the end of your pregnancy.
Back to front
Many babies lie in the posterior position because of the
amount of time we spend slumped on a sofa or driving a
car. Sitting like this, with knees higher than hips,
encourages your baby to lie with his spine along your
spine, which, if he stays in this position during labour,
can make for a slower, more painful delivery. Try to sit
up straight whenever you can, and spend a little time
each day on all-fours so the baby can move around inside
you.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘To get my baby into a
great position, my midwife advised me to watch telly
leaning forwards onto a bean bag. It worked!’
WEEK 31
You
From now on sleeping may be hard – getting comfy in bed
is tough and turning over is a mammoth task. Also, your
baby may well kick his hardest just when you settle down
to go to sleep. That’s because, when you are up and
about, he is rocked to sleep in your pelvis. The moment
you lie down, the rocking stops and he perks up and
starts to play.
Your baby
The lanugo – the hair that covered your baby – now
begins to fall out. Some babies are born a little furry!
But don’t worry, it will fall out over the first few
weeks.
Planning that delivery
Hopefully, you’ve a good idea of what you want to buy
for your baby now. If you feel superstitious and don’t
want to bring it home yet, Mothercare’s Nursery Plan
service that means you can order ahead and have
everything delivered to your door just in time for your
baby. It also helps you budget for the new arrival.
Click here for more information
Time for school
NCT or parentcraft antenatal classes will probably start
around now. If you’ve booked up, make sure you know the
start date and time and put it in your diary. If you
haven’t, check whether there are still spaces available
on the hospital’s parentcraft sessions.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘The best way to get
comfy in bed was to lie on my side with one pillow
beneath my bump and another between my legs. I had to
buy more pillows – otherwise my boyfriend ended up with
none!’
WEEK 32
You
For the last couple of months, you may feel increasingly
tired as your baby gets heavier and your bump more
cumbersome. Learn to snatch five minutes’ rest here and
there - the ability to cat-nap will be a huge advantage
when a solid eight hours is no longer possible.
Your baby
Taste is developing and it’s believed your baby gets a
tiny tang of what you are eating. He is now also packing
on the pounds and fat stores are being laid down under
his skin. Consequently, he is becoming less wrinkly and
his skin is growing more opaque. Plus he is beginning to
be able to dream.
Planning that delivery
Hopefully, you’ve a good idea of what you want
to buy for your baby now. If you feel superstitious and
don’t want to bring it home yet, Mothercare’s Nursery
Plan service that means you can order ahead and have
everything delivered to your door just in time for your
baby. It also helps you budget for the new arrival.
Ready, steady, nursery
With just a couple of months to go, it’s time to get the
nursery ready. Even though it’s best to have your baby
sleeping in your room in a crib or cot for the first six
months, preparing a special room (if you have space) is
useful. It’s a place for changing nappies, feeding,
naps, cuddles... It’s best to go for neutral colours
(unless you’re sure what you’re having) and to match
wall colours to the bedding you’ve chosen.
Take a back seat
You shouldn’t be doing the hands-on work for any nursery
decorating. Assume the role of adviser and decision
maker, and leave things that may be bad for your baby to
the professionals (or your partner). So avoid:
- Paint stripping
- Painting
- Varnishing
- Floor sanding
- Climbing ladders
MOTHERCARE TIP If you’re having
quads (!) they are now considered full term
WEEK 33
You
Not only are your lungs squashed by your growing baby
(causing that breathlessness), your stomach is
constricted too. This can cause indigestion. That’s why
small frequent meals will now be easier to cope with -
so no huge feast!
Your baby
Crucial to survival, your baby’s immune system is
starting to work. Antibodies to fight infection are
being passed from you to him via the placenta. To give
his immunity even more of a kick-start, try to
breastfeed after the birth.
Love all?
In late pregnancy, some women go off sex, others don’t.
And at this stage love-making can become rather
interesting! With the missionary position out, you’ll
have to experiment with new ones. You may also feel your
womb tighten when you make love, because the same
hormone – oxytocin – is released during an orgasm as
when you go into labour (that’s why it’s sometimes
called the love hormone). But don’t worry, this won’t
trigger labour unless your baby is ready to be born.
Take a break
It’s late to be going on holiday - most airlines won’t
let you fly now and you’re probably reluctant to be too
far away from the midwife or hospital. But a weekend
break reasonably close to home may be just what you
need. There’ll be no cooking or cleaning to do - and
best of all you’ll get some quality time with your
partner. Next holiday, there’ll probably be three of
you!
MOTHERCARE TIP If you’re planning on
a home waterbirth, check out the various options for
hire now (see our feature on pain relief).
WEEK 34
You
That baby is already constricting your lungs and your
stomach. Now he’s starting to push downwards,
constricting your bladder, so your nights may be
disturbed by the frequent need to pee.
Your baby
New research suggests your baby is able to move
rhythmically to music he hears outside the womb (and it
feels as if he’s dancing on your bladder!). At the
moment, separate pliable plates form his skull. These
compress and slide over one another during labour – in
fact they don’t fuse and harden completely until your
baby is about 18 months old.
TENS hire
It’s a good idea to order your TENS machine now
(call 08453 30 40 70) so it’s with you a few weeks
before the birth. When you’ve got it, read the
instructions - and get your birth partner to read them,
too, as he’ll be the one positioning the pads on your
back.
Time for you
As your bump grows and you become more tired, you could
really do with some pampering.
- Have a foot and leg massage (great for tired
pregnancy pins).
- Have a pedicure (you probably can’t reach to paint
your own toenails now!).
- Have a soak in the bath with a little lavender oil
diluted in the water to help induce sleep.
- Treat yourself to online shopping with your
groceries – better than pushing a laden trolley round
the supermarket
MOTHERCARE TIP If you’re having
triplets, they are now considered full term.
WEEK 35
You
The last few weeks of pregnancy can be exhausting, so
rest is crucial, especially as you’ll need all your
strength to cope with the broken nights with your baby.
Your baby
Your baby can blink and his pupils can contract or
dilate to regulate the amount of light entering his
eyes. Even though the womb is a dim dark place, strong
sunlight shining onto your bump will filter through as a
red glow into the womb, and he may turn his eyes towards
this.
Get networking
Not returning to work immediately? If you’re used to the
camaraderie of work, being a new mum can be isolating,
so find out about local mother-and-baby or postnatal
groups. Making friends with others in the same boat can
get you through the early weeks - and make you some
life-long friends. For local groups, contact the nearest
branch of the National Childbirth Trust (www.nct.org.uk).
The ultimate help?
Some mums who can afford it hire a maternity nurse –
24-hour help for the first week or so after the baby’s
born. For some it’s a lifesaver, preventing the
devastating exhaustion common in the early days. Others
would hate having a stranger around in those first
magical weeks. If you think you might be interested,
check out local nanny agencies for more information.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘I’d decided on a
waterbirth, so had a trial “dry run” with the birthing
pool a month before I was due. Lucky we did! The hoses
didn’t reach where we wanted to put it, so we had to
re-plan the position.’
WEEK 36
You
Your baby begins to move downwards. The good news is
breathlessness will lessen. The bad news is you’ll now
feel uncomfortable down below – some mums say it’s as if
a melon is about to fall out!
Your baby
As your baby’s head sinks into your pelvis, it becomes
‘engaged’, meaning he is set for birth, and will not be
able to rise out of the pelvis to turn any more. Your
midwife will check how many centimetres of your baby’s
head can still be felt above the pelvis. Once nothing
can be felt, your baby is fully engaged.
Be prepared
In case baby puts in an early appearance, get some
things done to make the birth - and the early days -
easier:
- Fill the freezer with cooked meals.
- Put petrol in the car and keep the tank topped
up.
- Fill a purse with change for parking at the
hospital and for the phone.
- Check the route to hospital.
- Arrange for help from friends and relatives
afterwards – especially when your partner goes back to
work.
If you have an older child…
- Sort out who’s going to look after them when
you’re in hospital – and arrange a back-up just in
case.
- Buy a present for the older sibling ‘from the
baby’ to ease jealousy problems.
- Read your older child books about new babies.
- After the birth, encourage your child to help by
fetching nappies and so on, so they feel involved.
MOTHERCARE TIP Get fitted for
nursing bras – it’s easier to assess what size you’ll
need now your baby has engaged
WEEK 37
You
Nearing the end of pregnancy, the placenta’s
resources start to diminish. The movements from your
baby may also start to lessen as there’s now very little
room for manoeuvre in there. If you feel fewer than 10
kicks over 12 hours, call your midwife to check things
out.
Your baby
If your baby is born now, he’s counted as full term (and
the same goes for twin babies), even though officially
pregnancy is 40 weeks. By this stage his lungs are lined
with ‘surfactant’, the substance that will enable him to
breathe when he is born. From now on, it’s safe for him
to enter the big wide world.
Get packing
As the birth isn’t far away, get your hospital bag
packed and ready by the door. Think carefully about what
you need to take and what is unnecessary – you don’t
want to hire a pick-up truck to take all your clobber to
the labour ward. For an idea of what you need to take,
and what you should leave behind, check out our advice
on packing your hospital bag.
Take note
As your baby might be born any time from now, it’s a
good idea to carry your hospital notes around with you.
That way, if your waters break on the bus or your
contractions start at your desk, you’ve got all the
crucial medical info with you and can head straight to
hospital.
MOTHERCARE TIP Practise fitting that
car seat – again and again and again. You need to know
exactly what you’re doing on the day you bring your baby
home.
WEEK 38
You
One sign pregnancy is nearing its end is a ‘show’ - when
the mucus plug that has sealed the womb comes away (you
may see it on the loo paper, or in your knickers). It
happens because the cervix is ripening (opening very
slightly). But it could still be a couple of weeks
before your baby puts in an appearance. And for many
women, a show doesn’t happen until they’re in labour –
so don’t worry if you don’t have one.
Your baby
The waxy vernix that has protected your baby in
his watery world starts to disappear. Just a little
remains to smooth his passage to the outside world. His
weight gain now slows and you may even lose some weight
before the birth.
Just practising
The Braxton Hicks contractions you’ve been feeling for
some time are starting to strengthen. Although your womb
has been contracting throughout the pregnancy (getting
this large muscle prepared for labour and pushing blood
through the placenta), it is in this final month that
these tightenings can stop you in your tracks. They
shouldn’t, though, be painful.
Nesting?
Towards the end of pregnancy you may get a spurt of
energy as instinct kicks in and you prepare the nest for
your baby. So don’t be surprised if you:
- Spring clean the house
- Clear out the kitchen cupboards
- Re-organise your wardrobe
- Weed the whole garden
- Clean the car
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘Because of my bump, I
could only stand sideways to the wall, but I was
desperately finishing the nursery, painting a frieze of
Indian elephants around the dado rail.’
WEEK 39
You
Your womb has now enlarged to an incredible 1000 times
its normal size. But within a few days of the birth it
will – amazingly – be back to the size it was nine
months ago.
Your baby
A collection of mucus, bile and gut cells
(lovely!) is building up in your baby’s bowel. This will
form his first few poos – tarry, dark and sticky! And it
can be rather hard to clean off a delicate newborn
bottom!
Operation baby
If you’re having an elective Caesarean, this is
the week it’s likely to be – late enough for your baby’s
lungs to be mature, but (hopefully!) before labour
starts. Of course, you’ll be given a date in advance so
you know when your baby will be arriving.
Planning permission
Don’t forget that even if you are having a Caesarean,
you can list what you want to happen. You could ask:
- the midwife to explain exactly what is happening
at each stage
- for music to be played
- for no one to speak so your baby hears your voice
before anyone else’s
- for your baby to be placed straight onto you,
rather than being cleaned
- for your baby’s normal checks to be done in the
operating theatre, so you are together
For more information about Caesareans, see
www.caesarean.org.uk.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘I was having an
elective Caesarean and actually asked the consultant if
I could have the baby on the 6 November instead of the 7
November as, coincidentally, lots of people in our
family have that birthday. Amazingly, he agreed!’
WEEK 40
Your baby
Your baby measures 51cm (20in) from top to toe
(we’re talking huge Halloween pumpkin here) and is ready
for the most amazing journey of his life. But don’t hold
your breath. Just 5% of babies arrive on cue and 80% are
late.
You
A hormone cocktail begins the process that brings on the
birth of your baby. Oxytocin (triggered by the baby’s
head pressing on your cervix) kick-starts contractions.
Prostaglandins soften the cervix so it can dilate. And
the level of progesterone falls sharply, telling your
body the time is right.
Time’s up!
So how does your body know it’s time to trigger those
hormones? No one’s 100% sure. But it’s possible that:
- The placenta has a countdown mechanism, and when
your baby is full-term, it starts to wind down.
- Your baby sends his own hormonal message to your
system, saying he’s ready and waiting.
Is this it?
Many first-timers worry whether they’ll know when labour
starts. You may have a show (see Week
38), or your waters may break (in which case your
baby will probably be born within 24 hours).
But the only true sign is when contractions start –
and they feel like a tightening under your bump. Call
your midwife but sit tight at home until contractions
are regular (your midwife will advise you on timing and
frequency). You don’t want to head to hospital too
early, as this can slow everything down.
ONE MUM SAYS… ‘Arrange something to
do on your due date, so you don’t sit around thinking
it’s all going to start any minute. Because chances are
you’ll be waiting just a little longer...’
