This week you might find yourself focusing on the birth. Have you had a tour of the birth unit yet? If you're taking NHS parentcraft classes and giving birth in a hospital maternity unit you'll probably get invited to take a tour, but if not you'll need to make enquiries yourself.
There are usually regular tours you can sign up for or you may find that the midwives are happy to arrange an individual tour at a time that suits you.
Go armed with a list of questions such as: Can I bring my own music? How many birth partners do you allow into the delivery suite? Do you have any aids to active birth (birthing balls, birthing pool, and so on)? What will happen if my birth isn't progressing? Don't feel shy about raising any concerns – the midwives, no doubt, would have heard it all before!
Your baby's weight gain is slowing down but still steady, and this week tips the just over the 1kg mark at around 2.4lb. The crown-to-rump length is around 25cm (almost 10in). Hair continues to grow as eyelashes, brows and over the scalp, and the bones are hardening. The lanugo (downy hair) over your baby's skin that has been helping to provide insulation since around week 15 starts to shed, although some babies are born with a few patches, especially if they're premature. The survival rate for babies born from 28 weeks is more than 90%.
You might be tested for anaemia and double-checked for gestational diabetes. Anaemia is the medical name for a low red blood cell count. It's fairly unusual to get symptoms in pregnancy – or at least to notice them, as the main ones are tiredness, dizziness and breathlessness, all of which are pretty common in pregnancy in any case.
If you haven't experienced leaky boobs, you might get the odd spot from now on as your breasts start producing colostrum, the first highly nutritious substance that will nourish your baby in the early days after birth. Your placenta continues to pass antibodies to your baby.
It's about time to look into your options for pain relief. Depending on your birth plan, you might be convinced you will turn down all offers, but because no two labours are the same and it's always best to keep your options open. If you are planning a home birth, you'll probably only be offered Entonox (gas and air) and, possibly, pethidine. In hospital your options are more extensive.
Medical pain relief options to research include:
• Epidural anaesthesia – a pain block which is injected into a space between the vertebrae and which should numb your entire pelvic area.
• Spinal block – similar to an epidural, but quicker to set up. It's injected into the sac in the spine containing spinal fluid and can't be 'topped up'.
• combined spinal and epidural – the epidural is set up at the same time as the spinal, but no epidural anaesthetic is introduced until the spinal wears off.
• Pethidine/diamorphine – injectable pain relief that aids relaxation as well as pain relief, but can result in wooziness and memory loss.
Non-medical and self-help methods include:
• TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) – delivers painless electrical pulses to the body via electrodes placed on the skin, which block the way pain messages are delivered to the brain and stimulates the body to produce endorphins (natural feel-good hormones).
• self-hypnosis – either with the help of a practitioner or self-taught.
• visualisation – either with the help or a practitioner or self-taught.
Foods To Eat And Avoid For Pregnancy
Certain Cheeses (01 of14)
Open Image ModalBecause your body's immune system is not as strong during pregnancy, registered dietitian Lydia Knorr says you should avoid anything raw, unpasteurized or undercooked.Raw or unpasteurized dairy products like brie and Camembert cheeses, should be avoided if you're pregnant. The following seven slides are foods you should consider removing from your diet. (credit:Christian Hacker via Getty Images)
Some Meats And Fish (02 of14)
Open Image ModalWhen it comes to meat and fish, avoid raw or undercooked meats, poultry, fish, and seafood like sushi, oysters, mussels, clams and smoked fish, Knorr notes. (credit:Gentl and Hyers via Getty Images)
What About Beans?(03 of14)
Open Image ModalMost beans and legumes are fine, but avoid raw sprouts like alfalfa, clover, radish and mung beans. (credit:Martin Poole via Getty Images)
Don't Spread It(04 of14)
Open Image ModalDeli Meats(05 of14)
Open Image ModalEggs!(06 of14)
Open Image ModalAvoid raw or lightly cooked egg or egg products, including salad dressings, cookie dough, cake batter, sauces, and drinks like homemade eggnog. (credit:sarahdoow via Getty Images)
Be Aware Of Sushi (07 of14)
Open Image ModalOf course, any raw type of fish on sushi should be avoided if you are pregnant. "Fish such as fresh/frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and escolar should be avoided during pregnancy as they may contain levels of mercury that if ingested in large amounts could be toxic to the nervous system," Knorr says. If you are craving sushi, go veg! (credit:Jean-Blaise Hall via Getty Images)
What About My Coffee Habit?(08 of14)
Open Image ModalYou can still drink coffee, just make sure you are aware of your consumption. Knorr recommends drinking no more than 300 mg of caffeine per day. A strong cup of joe, for example, can have about 78 to 108 mgs of caffeine. But be aware, caffeine can also be found in other non-coffee beverages like pop and tea. (credit:Cindy Prins via Getty Images)
But What Can I Eat?(09 of14)
Open Image ModalIn the next few slides, Knorr tells us the foods we should be adding to our diets during pregnancy: "Fish such as salmon, tilapia, shrimp, tuna (canned light) and cod are all good sources of protein and omega 3 fatty acids which will help with baby’s developing brain, eyes and nervous system," she says. (credit:rez-art via Getty Images)
Get Nutty! (10 of14)
Open Image ModalNuts, seeds and legumes are great for pregnant women — they're packed with protein and fibre which will keep you feeling satiated, and keep things moving on the inside. (credit:PhotoStock-Israel via Getty Images)
A New Love For Fruits And Veggies (11 of14)
Open Image ModalThese foods are loaded with all kinds of vitamins, fibre and water for maintaining good health, during pregnancy and otherwise. "Aim for the colours of the rainbow every day with special focus on leafy greens, bright red and orange fruit, and veggies loaded with powerful antioxidants to help keep your immune system strong," Knorr says. (credit:Maximilian Stock Ltd. via Getty Images)
Not All Dairy Is Scary (12 of14)
Open Image ModalDrinking a couple of glasses of skim milk each day will provide you and your baby with the calcium and Vitamin D required to develop healthy, strong bones. Greek yogurt, for example, is also an excellent source of these important nutrients, and as a bonus, it’s loaded with protein, Knorr notes. (credit:amisb via Getty Images)
Think Whole Grain (13 of14)
Open Image Modal"Whole grains food choices like cereal are a great addition to your diet, as they are fortified with important nutrients like iron and B vitamins," Knorr says. Many cereals also pack a lot of fibre into each serving which is paramount to keeping things moving during pregnancy — make sure you read your package labels and stick to "whole grain" vs. "whole wheat." (credit:Zeljko Bozic via Getty Images)
And All That Iron (14 of14)
Open Image ModalMeat, poultry, legumes and spinach are all good sources of iron. "Just remember when eating a non-animal source of iron such as spinach or legumes, to pair it with a source of vitamin C, like oranges or strawberries for optimal uptake." (credit:Westend61 via Getty Images)