Your skin and hair might be showing some changes. Some women experience the pregnancy 'bloom', where your skin glows and your hair and nails look amazingly healthy.
You might be in the other camp, suffering spots and a greyish-green pallor.
This is all down to how your hormones affect you, and it's really the luck of the draw which camp you fall into.
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Inside story
Your baby weighs one and a half times what he did last week, which could sound decidedly scary if we were talking about kilos, but is, in fact, hardly noticeable to you as we're still talking only 25-30g.
At 8-8.5cm, the growth spurt continues.
The reproductive systems are in place now, whatever your baby's gender. Did you know, for instance, that girls are born with at least 2 million eggs already in place in their ovaries?
On the outside
Depending on your genes and your family history, you might already be showing some of the negatives of pregnancy: stretch marks, thread veins and pigmentation are all pretty common. Rest assured these changes can all be sorted after you've had your baby.
Stretch marks, for instance, while they never fully disappear after the birth, do fade to a hardly noticeable silvery colour that looks a whole lot better than when they're purpley-red and angry looking in pregnancy.
Vitamin E based products and cocoa butter will soothe and moisturise your belly.
Up to 70 per cent of pregnant women are thought to develop patches of pigment darkening to their skin known as chloasma. These patches usually fade after delivery.
Things to think about
Sex in pregnancy: some women feel sexier than ever as a result of the onslaught of hormonal activity; others feel decidedly unattractive or suffer a complete loss of libido. Try not to beat yourself up either way if your sex drive isn't compatible with your partner's. Do reassure them that you still feel the same way about them and that you can always content yourselves for now with close cuddles if either of you isn't up for penetrative sex. If it's your partner who's shying away from sex, check it's not for fear of harming the baby. Unless there are medical reasons why you've been advised to stay away from penetration, there's no risk involved: your baby is safely ensconced far enough away from your cervix that even a fairly vigorous session shouldn't cause any disturbance.
As your pregnancy progresses you may have to start thinking more inventively about how you're going to make love. If you're a 'strictly missionary' sort of couple, how about trying a few new positions, like rear-entry (often given the rather unappealing nick-name 'doggy style') or woman on top? Best to try them out while you're still fairly agile to get the full effect – and by the time your bump is hindering your usual style you'll have a reserve repertoire to call on!
Think about who you want to attend the birth with you. Some mums-to-be only want their partner there, but others prefer to take another woman with experience of childbirth (mum, sister or friend), and it's a good idea to check their availability around your due date.
