Instagram Facebook Pinterest
Sign In
Main Menu

Pregnancy Lessons

Welcome to Week 35 of Pregnancy!

In This Week’s PediaGuide, We’ll Discuss:

But First, We’ll Start Off With an Overview of the Week, the Pregnancy Countdown, and a Word About Your Developing Baby’s Size.

As you plod towards your due date, your baby — now the size of a honeydew melon — may be dropping deeper into your pelvis.

The Countdown: 5 Weeks to Go!

Baby Size: A Honeydew Melon

And Here’s a Pic of What Your Developing Baby Looks Like This Week (More or Less):

Last Week:

Your developing baby’s vernix got thicker, and their digestive system got primed and ready for delivery.

This Week:

  • Your baby continues to fatten up. 
  • During the third trimester, the weight of your baby’s brain increases tenfold. 

Insider Info: The bones of your baby’s skull won’t fuse until your little one is about 2-years-old. Why? Because the brain needs room to grow and the skull has to be pliable (read: squishable) when it comes through the birth canal.

  • As your body expands, think of your baby getting stronger and plumper rather than of you getting rounder.
  • Kegel exercises remain your friend. Get Wise (Again) about what they are and how to do them.
  • Consider picking up some panty liners if you’re experiencing incontinence (accidentally peeing yourself).
  • Guess What?! Your uterus is about 1,000 times its usual size.

As a Reminder, the Hot Topics for This Week Are:

Get Wise(r) About These Topics Below…

The Top 10 (Practical) Items for Postpartum Moms

If you’re twiddling your thumbs and want to do some shopping, below is a list of (practical) items that you may want for yourself after you give birth.  This list includes products for both nursing and non-nursing Moms.

1. Comfy Sleepwear With Easy Access for Nursing

Why? Because you don’t want to have to fiddle around with a lot of buttons while you’re nursing.

2. Nursing Bras

You may have one or two of these in your underwear drawer already.

3. Nursing Pads

Nursing pads help keep milk leakage on the down-low.

4. A Nursing Pillow

A nursing pillow can make it easier to comfortably position your baby during breastfeeding. 

PediaWise Picks: My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow & the Boppy Original Nursing Pillow and Positioner.

5. Soothies

Gel pads for soothing sore nipples.

6. Lanolin Nipple Cream

Lanolin cream is great for cracked nipples. It works quickly to repair skin that’s been damaged by breastfeeding. 

7. Big Sanitary Pads

These mega pads may seem like overkill when you first see them, but it’s a little-known fact that ALL women bleed for several weeks after giving birth. There will be clots and heavy flow at times, so you’ll want to protect your undies. If your vagina is swollen to the point that it’s getting irritated by the sanitary pads, try Depend disposable undies instead. 

8. Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is helpful for post-delivery soreness and pain. Plus, it’s safe to take while breastfeeding.

9. A Stool Softener and Hemorrhoid Helpers

Stool Softener: Constipation, a common postpartum complaint, can lead to hemorrhoids (swollen veins around the anus). Take a stool softener to help you stay regular. PediaWise Pick: Colace.

Hemorrhoid Helpers: Hemorrhoids are a literal pain in the *ss and tend to develop during pregnancy and/or during the delivery (i.e. when you push the baby out).

  • If the hemorrhoids are on the outside (i.e. you can see them and feel them), they’re called external hemorrhoids. This is the most common type of hemorrhoid during pregnancy. 
  • If the hemorrhoids are lining the inside of the anus (i.e. they don’t see the light of day), they’re called internal hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids don’t hurt or itch as much as external hemorrhoids, but they do have a tendency to bleed.

Here are a Few Hemorrhoid Helpers to Ease the Pain:

Free Swag: If you deliver your baby vaginally, you’ll probably get some of these items in your hospital goody bag.

PediaTip: Ask your doctor what the hospital staff typically doles out to new Moms upon discharge. Why? So, you don’t waste $$ doubling up on anything.

10. A Reusable Water Bottle

If you’re breastfeeding, you’ll want to hydrate like crazy. It helps, therefore, to have a water bottle by your bed or chair at all times. 

The Bottom Line

Pick and choose the postpartum products that you need (or want) from the list above.  

Labor Day: You Can Wear White After This One

Most women go into labor at night (typical!) and deliver during the day. 

What Exactly is Labor? Labor is the process by which contractions cause the cervix to open (dilate) and thin out (efface). The contractions also help propel the baby down the birth canal.

Insider Info: Unlike “real” contractions, the “fake” Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular and don’t cause changes in the cervix (i.e. they don’t lead to labor).

What Causes Labor? No one really knows what sparks labor. Some researchers think the fetus gets the ball rolling by transmitting a “let’s get the party started” message to Mom. This message spurs a hormone in Mom’s brain (oxytocin) to tell the uterus to contract. Then, it’s off to the races.

I’ve Heard That Labor is Divided Into Stages. What Are They?

Yup, you’re right. Labor is divided into 3 stages. You may be surprised to hear that two of the stages occur after you’ve done a lot of the hard work and are fully dilated. Get Wise about the 3 Stages of Labor below:

1. The First Stage of Labor: The Start of Labor Until It’s Time to Push.

  • The first stage of labor is divided into 3 phases: latent labor, active labor, and transitional labor.
    • Latent labor is essentially the warm-up to the main event. It dilates the cervix to about 3 centimeters. 
    • Active labor is more intense and dilates the cervix to roughly 7 centimeters.
  • Transitional labor dilates the cervix the rest of the way.
  • You’ve stopped “laboring down” when your cervix is fully dilated (to 10 centimeters) and is 100% effaced (i.e. completely thinned out).
  • For first-time Moms, the first stage of labor can take a while (think: 12-24 hours).
  • If this isn’t your first pregnancy, this stage of labor will probably be shorter (more like 4-8 hours).

2. The Second Stage of Labor: The Pushing and Delivery Stage.

  • For first-time Moms, the average pushing time is 2-3 hours.
  • If you’ve delivered a baby vaginally before, this stage may take less than an hour and require only a few pushes. 

    Fun Fact: “Crowning” means the baby’s head has appeared at the opening of the vagina. When this happens, your partner may shout “I can see the head,” even though they promised to stay north of the equator.

3. The Third Stage of Labor: The One They Don’t Show in the Movies.

  • If you think labor is over when the baby is out, think again. There’s actually one more stage to go. 
  • The third stage of labor involves the delivery of the placenta (aka the afterbirth). This typically occurs 5-10 minutes after the birth of the baby and takes about 5-15 minutes to complete.

Note: If you end up having a planned C-section, you’ll get to skip the first and second stages of labor and your doctor will take care of the third stage.

Common Questions About Labor

What is Precipitous Labor?

Precipitous labor is labor that lasts less than 3 hours (from start to finish). While this may sound like a dream come true, it often catches Moms-to-be by surprise and doesn’t give them much time to get to the hospital. 

Precipitous labor occurs in 2-3% of pregnancies and is more likely to occur in women who’ve given birth before.1 

What is Back Labor?

Back labor feels like intense cramping in your lower back and occurs when the baby puts pressure on your tailbone as they travel down the birth canal. I can tell you, from personal experience, that back labor is the pits.

PediaTips:

  • If you develop back labor, try massaging your lower back with a tennis ball. 
  • If you’re planning to get an epidural, let the anesthesiologist know if you develop back labor so they can make the appropriate adjustments.

The Bottom Line

Labor isn’t the most pleasant thing in the world, but it’s temporary and worth it!

  • For the average, uncomplicated pregnancy, doctors typically allow pregnant women to travel by plane until 36 weeks. Therefore, you’ll probably be “grounded” after this week. 
  • Think about how you want to announce your baby’s arrival. 

A Note to All of the Perfectionists Out There:

Practice loosening your grip on things a bit as you prepare for parenthood. First-time parents (especially) tend to want things to be “perfect” before the baby arrives, as if that will make them the perfect parents and give their child the perfect life. Parenthood has shown me (a recovering perfectionist) the fun (mixed in with the fear) of not holding on so tight.

Oh…and binge-reading Brené Brown’s book, The Gifts of Imperfection, helped, too.

Q: My childbirth instructor says it’s not pain I’ll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?

A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

 ~Make the Cut

And…That’s a Wrap.

Welcome to Week 36 of Pregnancy!

In This Week’s PediaGuide, We’ll Discuss:

But First, We’ll Start Off With an Overview of the Week, the Pregnancy Countdown, and a Word About Your Developing Baby’s Size.

And now…you hurry up and wait. You’re probably getting a little sick of being pregnant but try to cherish these last few weeks of downtime.

Your baby has (probably) settled into their final position in your belly. As mentioned before, most babies get into a head-down, face-down position in preparation for D-Day. This is called the “cephalic” position. Others refuse to turn around and want to come out rear first. Unfortunately, this doesn’t usually work (or fortunately, if your vagina has anything to say about it).

If your baby is positioned butt or feet first (“breech”), horizontal (“transverse”), or diagonal (“oblique”) in the womb then your doctor may try to turn them around with an “external cephalic version maneuver” before the big day. Get Wise(r) about this maneuver here.

The Countdown: 4 Weeks to Go!

Baby Size: A Big Bunch of Swiss Chard.

Disclaimer: I tried to find the most baby-like swiss chard that I could, but it wasn’t easy…

And Here’s a Pic of What Your Developing Baby Looks Like This Week (More or Less):

Last Week:

Your baby became chubbier and settled deeper into your pelvis.

This Week:

  • Your baby’s immune system is getting stronger.
  • The placenta continues to nourish your baby. Your baby’s digestive system will take over this role after the delivery.
  • Your baby’s growth will slow down a bit in the upcoming weeks, as your little one focuses on storing up energy for their trip down the birth canal. Of course, your baby will skip this trip if you have a C-section.
  • The lungs have matured and are almost ready to do their job.
  • The testes have migrated into the scrotum in (most) boys. If not, doctors usually give the testicles 4 months to “drop” on their own before intervening. 
  • Speaking of dropping…you may feel your baby “drop” (if they haven’t already). As mentioned before, the fancy name for this is “lightening.”
  • Trouble Sleeping? It’s hard to find a comfortable sleep position when you have a big pregnant belly, an aching back, and you have to pee every 5 seconds. Do your best to get some rest and keep snuggling that body pillow.

As a Reminder, The Hot Topic for This Week Is: The Different Ways a Baby Can Be Delivered. Get Wise(r) About This Topic Below.

The Different Ways A Baby Can Be Delivered

There are really only 2 ways to get your baby out: through a vaginal delivery OR a C-section.

What About the Stork Method? Unfortunately, that’s not an option. 

Vaginal Deliveries

In the medical world, vaginal deliveries are preferred over C-sections whenever possible.

There are 2 Main Types of Vaginal Deliveries: “Normal Spontaneous Vaginal Deliveries” and “Assisted Vaginal Deliveries.” Learn more about them below.

The “Normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery”(NSVD): 

This is a vaginal delivery that starts on its own (without the use of drugs to augment labor) and ends on its own (without any major interventions by the doctor).

The “Assisted Vaginal Delivery” (aka the “Operative Vaginal Delivery”):

If a vaginal delivery isn’t progressing, the doctor may try an “assisted vaginal delivery” to get the baby out. In this case the doctor will use tools such as a vacuum extractor or forceps to help move things along.

Insider Info:

  • “Assisted vaginal deliveries” are typically reserved for situations in which the doctor can see the baby’s head, but the little guy (or girl) seems to be stuck in the birth canal. 
  • The vacuum extractor looks like a small suction cup that attaches to the baby’s head. As the expectant Mom pushes, the doctor pulls.
  • The forceps look like pasta tongs (without the ridges). In a forceps-assisted delivery, the doctor puts the baby’s head between the two “tongs” and gently pulls while Mom-to-be pushes.

Note: Most doctors favor one tool over the other (either the forceps or the vacuum extractor) and tend to use this tool for all of their assisted-vaginal deliveries.

If interested, Get Wise about the risks associated with Assisted Vaginal Deliveries.

C-Sections

As you probably already know, a C-section is a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in a pregnant woman’s lower abdomen to deliver the baby.

Why Would an Expectant Mom Need a C-Section?

There are various reasons why women end up needing a C-section. They include (but aren’t limited to):

  • The labor is at a standstill and a whole lotta nothing is happening with the cervix (fancy name: “failure to progress”).
  • There’s a “non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing” on the fetal monitor. This suggests the baby is in distress and isn’t getting enough oxygen.
  • The baby’s head isn’t in the best position. For example, the baby is face up-aka “sunny-side up” – making it harder to get them out.
  • The baby’s overall position is less than ideal. For instance, they’re breech or they’re lying sideways or diagonally across the uterus.
  • There’s a problem with the placenta. Examples of placental problems include:

    1. Placental abruption (in which the placenta prematurely tears away from the wall of the uterus).

    2. Placenta previa (in this case, the placenta either fully or partially covers the cervix — the baby’s exit).
  • Mom-to-be is carrying multiples and the doctor thinks a vaginal delivery would be too risky.
    PediaTrivia: Roughly 50% of women carrying twins have C-sections.1 
  • There’s a problem with the umbilical cord (such as an umbilical cord prolapse). In the case of an umbilical cord prolapse, a loop of umbilical cord slips through the cervix in front of the baby. If the baby compresses this loop, their oxygen supply may be cut off. Because of this, an umbilical cord prolapse is a medical emergency and requires the immediate delivery of the baby (via C-section).
  • The baby has a prenatally diagnosed health problem (e.g. spina bifida – in which the spinal column doesn’t close completely).
  • The expectant Mom had a C-section before and isn’t a candidate for a VBAC (a vaginal birth after Cesarean).

What are the Different Types of C-Sections?

There are 3 Main Types of C-Sections. They Include:

1. Planned C-Sections: As the name suggests, these are C-sections that are planned in advance.

Examples of Why a C-Section May be Planned Include:

  • Mom-to-be is having multiples and a vaginal delivery is deemed too risky.
  • The baby is breech (bum or feet down, rather than head down).
  • The placenta is lying over the cervix and blocking the baby’s exit (placenta previa).

Insider Info: Planned C-sections are typically scheduled for 39 weeks or later unless there’s a medical reason for having one earlier. 

2. Unplanned/Emergency C-Sections: An urgent C-section may be needed if there’s a sudden complication during the pregnancy (such as a placental abruption) or during the labor & delivery (for example, if the baby can’t fit through Mom’s pelvis or the fetal monitor shows the baby is in distress).

Reality Check: Although emergency C-sections can feel sudden and chaotic for expectant parents, the delivery team is well-versed in doing them at warp speed.

3. Elective C-Sections: Elective C-sections are C-sections that are done because Mom-to-be is feeling super uncomfortable or because the doctor doesn’t want to miss their golf game. Just kidding…sort of.

Elective C-sections became popular in the early 2000s but are now frowned upon. 

Why? Because research shows that babies delivered between 37-39 weeks can develop the same problems (think: behavioral problems, low blood sugar after birth, etc.) as those seen in late preterm babies.2

The Bottom Line: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says elective C-sections are a no-no, but if your doctor still does them (which they shouldn’t), then they should be done after 39 weeks. 

Heard ‘Round the World:

In the 1970s, the C-section rate in the USA was 5%. Today, it’s about 33%.3 This sharp increase mirrors the surge in popularity of elective C-sections. Now that elective C-sections get the thumbs-down, experts hope the C-section rate will decline.

Which Country Has the Highest C-Section Rate in the World? This dubious honor goes to the Dominican Republic (58%), with Brazil running a close second (55%).4

What are the Risks of Having a C-Section? 

Although doctors have gotten really good at minimizing C-section scars, the procedure is still a major surgery. And as with any major surgery, there are risks involved. 

Risks to Mom Include: infection, bleeding, and injury to the surrounding organs.

In addition, women who’ve had one C-section are more likely to have another, although “VBACs” are becoming more of a thing. VBAC stands for “vaginal birth after Cesarean section.” This means that a woman delivers her baby vaginally despite having had a C-section in a prior pregnancy.

Get Wise about what makes someone a good candidate for a VBAC.

C-sections also pose some risks to the baby. For example, babies born via C-section have an increased risk of breathing problems at birth, especially transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). Luckily, TTN usually resolves on its own within a few hours after the delivery. 

Want Even More Info About C-Sections? Get Wise about C-Section Scars, What Goes Down During a C-Section, and Post C-Section Care.

The Bottom Line

Your doctor will choose the mode of delivery that’s safest for you and your baby. Know that you’ll be in good hands whether you end up having a normal spontaneous vaginal delivery, an assisted vaginal delivery, or a C-section.

  • Schedule your 37-week prenatal visit (if you haven’t already).
  • Finalize your maternity-leave plan (if applicable).

“Waiting for this baby is like picking up someone from the airport
but you don’t know who they are or what time their flight comes in.”

~Someecards (by Elizabeth1539329)

And…That’s a Wrap.

Welcome to Week 26 of Pregnancy!

In This Week’s PediaGuide, We’ll Discuss:

But First, We’ll Start Off With an Overview of the Week, the Pregnancy Countdown, and a Word About Your Developing Baby’s Size.

At this point, you may feel like the weeks are dragging on. Welcome to the “hump” weeks of pregnancy. Unfortunately, hump is an adjective in this case, not a verb. But Good News! You’re heading into the final turn of the second trimester. The third trimester is just around the corner. It’s hard to believe that your baby is now the size of a head of lettuce. 

The Countdown: 14 Weeks to Go!

Baby Size: A Head of Iceberg Lettuce

And Here’s a Pic of What Your Developing Baby Looks Like (More or Less):

Last Week:

Your baby got chubbier and surfactant began to coat the inside of their lungs. Remember, surfactant helps your baby’s lungs expand and stay open once they’re born.

This Week:

  • Your fetus is starting to open their eyes and blink.

    Insider Info: Eye color isn’t set in stone until about 9 months of age (and may continue to evolve until 3 years of age). This means that your baby’s eye color at birth may not be their final eye color. Most babies (but not all) are born with blue eyes. Babies with light blue eyes at birth will often end up with blue eyes. However, if the eyes are dark blue or gray at birth or have flecks of gold in them, then a darker final eye color is more likely.
  • The eyelashes are growing longer.
  • Your baby continues to dutifully practice swallowing amniotic fluid.
  • Your uterus is about 2.5 inches above your belly button. Your belly will expand about ½ inch per week until you deliver. 
  • You may have started to “pop” (meaning your baby bump is becoming even more noticeable).

As a Reminder, the Hot Topic for This Week Is: Cord Blood Banking. Get Wise(r) About it Below.

Cord Blood Banking

As you near the third trimester, your doctor may bring up the topic of cord blood banking. 

What’s That? It’s when a small amount of blood is taken from your baby’s umbilical cord (after they’re born) and stored for potential future use. 

Why Would I Want to Store My Baby’s Umbilical Cord Blood? Because it’s full of stem cells (the cells from which all other cells are created).

So? Down the road, the stem cells from the cord blood can be cultivated and used (like a bone marrow transplant) to treat certain diseases that your baby, another family member, or someone from the general public could develop. Cord blood transplants are currently used to treat about 80 diseases and have the potential to treat many more.1 These diseases are rare, however, so it’s unlikely that your child would ever need to use their stem cells. 

Insider Info: There are certain types of diseases, such as leukemia (a kind of cancer) in which a child cannot use their own stem cells for treatment. Why not? Because the stem cells from the cord blood may be affected by the disease. For example, in the case of leukemia, the stem cells may have already undergone precancerous changes. 

Should I Store Umbilical Cord Tissue In Addition to The Cord Blood? 

Storing umbilical cord tissue is also an option, but one that comes with an additional cost. Although the research is still cooking, it’s conceivable that umbilical cord tissue could be used to cultivate cells that could treat diseases not covered by the umbilical cord stem cells.  

Common Question: How is the Cord Blood Collected? Will the Procedure Hurt My Baby?

Cord Blood is Collected Through a Painless Process. Here are the Steps in a Nutshell:

1. Two clamps are placed on the umbilical cord and the cord is cut (by the doctor or by your partner) between the clamps.

2. Your doctor then uses a needle to draw blood from your baby’s umbilical vein (the part of the umbilical cord still attached to the placenta, not the part attached to your baby).

Insider Info: Doctors try to extract roughly 3-5 ounces (i.e. half a cup) of blood from the umbilical vein.

3. The cord blood is then put into a collection bag and taken to a cord blood bank for storage.

Insider Info: Cord blood banking is an option for women who deliver vaginally AND for those who give birth via C-section.

What Are My “Cord Blood Banking” Options?

There are 2 Ways to “Bank” (i.e. Store) Your Baby’s Cord Blood.

1. Private Cord Blood Banking: This option may protect your child in the unlikely event that they develop one of the rare conditions that stem cells can help treat. There’s a cost involved though: usually $1,500-2,000 for the initial storage, then $100-150 per year to continue the storage (or you can pay a larger lump sum). The price basically doubles if you decide to bank cord tissue as well.

What’s In It for Me? The cord blood could help your child or a family member one day. 

2. Public Cord Blood Banking: In this case, you would donate your baby’s umbilical cord blood to aid the greater good. 

What’s In It for Me? Good karma. Plus, it’s free.

Insider Info: Public cord blood banks don’t typically allow women who are pregnant with twins (or higher order multiples) to donate their babies’ cord blood. Why not? Because the sample size is often too small. Plus, they worry about mixing up the samples. Women who have twins (or more) can, however, privately store their babies’ cord blood.

So, How Do I Choose Between Private Cord Blood Banking, Public Cord Blood Banking, and No Banking at All?

This is a family decision and there’s no right answer. Finances may also be a factor.

To help guide parents, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the mother of all pediatric organizations, released a policy statement about cord blood banking.2 

To Summarize, the AAP:

  • Encourages donations to public cord blood banks.
  • Discourages private cord blood banking. Exception: The one time the AAP does recommend private cord blood banking is if the newborn has a sibling with a condition that could benefit from the stem cells.

What’s the Reasoning Behind the AAP’s Recs? 

The AAP states that it’s unlikely that a child will ever need their cord blood stems cells, so it’s not worth the money to store them privately. When you consider the general public, however, there are a lot more people who could benefit from the stem cells. 

Once You’ve Made Your Decision, Here Are the Next Steps:

Scenario 1: I Want to Donate My Baby’s Cord Blood to a Public Bank. What Do I Need to Do?

  • Pick a cord blood bank near you. Your doctor will have some suggestions.
  • Let the program (and your doctor) know that you’re interested in public cord blood banking. Do this by 34 weeks. 
  • Answer the program’s screening questions.
  • On your delivery day, take the kit (the one you receive in the mail) to the hospital and remind your doctor that they need to collect your baby’s cord blood. 
  • After the sample is collected, it will be screened for infectious diseases. After that it will be sent to the public cord blood bank by a member of the hospital staff.

Scenario 2: I’ve Decided to Privately Store My Baby’s Cord Blood. What Are the Next Steps?

  • Pay a deposit to have your baby’s cord blood banked privately.
  • Let your OB/GYN know about your decision.
  • Take the cord blood kit with you to the hospital on your delivery day.

    PediaTip: Remind your OB/GYN before the delivery about the need to collect the cord blood in case they forget.
  • After the cord blood is collected, you or your partner (with hopefully a reminder from the nurse) must call the toll-free number on the side of the cord blood storage box to let the cord blood bank know that your specimen is ready. A courier will then pick it up and ship it to the cord blood bank. 

    Insider Info: If an insufficient amount of cord blood is obtained, don’t (totally) despair. Some cord blood banks offer a “cell amplification” service, which helps increase the number of cells collected. There’s no guarantee that it will work, but it may be worth a try.

Scenario 3: Cord Blood Banking is Not for Me.

  • No worries. Then you don’t have to do anything.

The Bottom Line

If you’re interested in either public or private cord blood banking, let your doctor know.

If you were found to have an Rh-negative blood type (A-, B-, AB-, or O-) on your early pregnancy labs, then your doctor will probably recommend that you get a RhoGAM shot between 26-28 weeks of pregnancy to protect your baby from developing anemia secondary to an “Rh Incompatibility.” Get Wise (Again) about Rh Incompatibilities.

“Nesting: the act of preparing every nook and cranny of your house to meet a tiny little stranger who,
quite frankly, doesn’t care if your silverware drawer is organized or the shower is bleached.”

~Bellamy’s Organic

And…That’s a Wrap!

Welcome to Week 31 of Pregnancy!

In This Week’s PediaGuide, We’ll Discuss:

But First, We’ll Start Off With an Overview of the Week, the Pregnancy Countdown, and A Word About Your Developing Baby’s Size.

The countdown is on like Donkey Kong and your baby is officially the size of a coconut. 

At this point, your doctor might want to get another ultrasound to take a peek at your baby’s position, your amniotic fluid levels, and the health of your placenta. Whether this third-trimester ultrasound happens depends on your doctor’s style and how your pregnancy is unfolding (i.e. if there are any complications).

The Countdown: 9 Weeks to Go!

Baby Size: A Coconut

And Here’s a Pic of What Your Developing Baby Looks Like This Week (More or Less):

Last Week:

Your baby’s brain increased its surface area by developing “convolutions,” and the bone marrow began to produce red blood cells, which carry oxygen to different parts of the body.

This Week:

  • Your baby’s pupils can now dilate (grow bigger to let more light in) and constrict (shrink to restrict the amount of light coming in).
  • The brain is making all sorts of cool connections as it works to synthesize the info coming in from the rest of the nervous system.
  • Your baby’s 5 senses are fully up and running. The 5 senses are: vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
  • Continue your Fetal Kick Counts.

    Insider Info: Your baby is starting to sleep for longer stretches, so their “active” time during the day (or night) may shift.

As a Reminder, the Hot Topics for This Week Are:

Get Wise(r) About These Topics Below…

Third-Trimester Repeat Lab Testing

Between 32-36 weeks, some doctors will repeat blood tests that were done during the first trimester, especially if Mom-to-be is at risk for certain diseases.

Lab Tests Commonly Repeated in the Third Trimester Include (But Aren’t Limited To):

  • A “complete blood count” (or CBC) to assess Mom-to-be’s blood-clotting ability and to look for anemia (a low number of healthy red blood cells).
  • STD (sexually transmitted disease) screening if there’s a concern for a new infection (such as syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea or herpes).

Shortness of Breath & Chest Pain During the Final Trimester

Towards the end of your pregnancy, you may feel like your belly is reaching maximum capacity. Your growing baby and ever-expanding uterus are putting pressure on your bladder and lungs. This means you might be peeing more often AND getting winded more easily. 

If you feel like you’re struggling to catch your breath (instead of just feeling winded and de-conditioned), then you need to be seen ASAP. 

Additional Respiratory Red Flag Symptoms Include:

1. Sudden-onset shortness of breath.

2. Chest pain, a fever, or a bad cough in addition to the breathlessness.

What Doctors Worry About With Trouble Breathing:

  • A Pulmonary Embolism (aka a “PE”).

    What’s That? A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that travels from the legs to the lungs. A “PE” is a medical emergency and needs to be treated ASAP.

    Fortunately, most pulmonary embolisms don’t appear out of the blue. Patients will usually have a known blood clot in their leg (fancy name: a deep venous thrombosis, or DVT) that’s being closely monitored or treated by their doctor. For the blood clot to travel to the lungs (especially when the DVT is under surveillance) is uncommon.
  • An Asthma Attack (If You Have Underlying Asthma). If you’re having an asthma attack, use your albuterol inhaler for quick relief (assuming you got the green light to use it during your pregnancy), then call your doctor to discuss next steps.
  • An Allergic Reaction That Involves Swelling of Your Throat (aka Anaphylaxis). Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. If you have an EpiPen, use it, then call 911. If you don’t have an EpiPen (or another form of injectable epinephrine), then just call 911.
  • An Infection (Think: Pneumonia). Most patients who have trouble breathing from a respiratory infection spike a fever, but not always. 
  • Heart Failure. Heart failure during pregnancy is usually only seen in women with a known history of heart disease.

    Why Does it Happen? Because women experience an increase in blood volume during pregnancy. This forces their heart to pump harder. If the heart has already been weakened by heart disease, it may be unable to pump the blood fast enough, leading to a build-up of fluid in the lungs (i.e. congestive heart failure).

Call Your Doctor (or 911) if You Experience Any Trouble Breathing During Your Pregnancy.

In Addition, Get Wise About the Questions Your Doc is Likely to Ask You About Your Symptoms.

A Word About Chest Pain During Pregnancy

Reflux and indigestion are the most common causes of chest pain during pregnancy. Though benign, they’re often confused with cardiac chest pain. To be on the safe side, give your doctor a call if you develop chest pain at any point during your pregnancy. 

The Bottom Line

Occasional breathlessness during pregnancy is usually nothing to worry about, especially if it resolves quickly. However, if you have legitimate trouble breathing during your pregnancy or you’re not sure what’s going on, err on the side of caution and call your doctor. The same goes for chest pain. It’s better to overreact to these symptoms (vs. underreact to them).

Q: What’s the difference between a nine-month-pregnant woman and a supermodel?

A: Nothing, if the pregnant woman’s husband knows what’s good for him.

~Mélanie Berliet (ThoughtCatalog.com)

And…That’s a Wrap.

Welcome to Week 42 of Pregnancy!

In This Week’s PediaGuide, We’ll Discuss:

  • What Your Developing Baby is Up To (in “Baby Talk”).
  • What’s Happening With YOUR Body (in “Body Talk”).
  • The Hot Topic For the Week: Seriously, Now What?! Plus a Review of Key Topics.

But First, We’ll Start Off With an Overview of the Week, the Pregnancy Countdown, and a Word About Your Developing Baby’s Size.

Okay, I know this is getting ridiculous, but it happens. If your doctor didn’t put an expiration date on your pregnancy last week, they will this week. Remember, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that doctors induce women at 41 weeks if the baby is showing no signs of budging. Some docs, however, take a “watch and wait” approach at 41 weeks. If you’re still twiddling your thumbs this week, your doctor should take action.

The Countdown: 2 Weeks PAST Your Due Date (aka “Is This Ever Going to Freakin’ Happen?!”).

Baby Size: The Biggest Watermelon Ever.

And Here’s a Pic of What Your Developing Baby Looks Like This Week (the Same as Last Week):

Last Week:

You were over it last week, and now you’re even more over it this week!

This Week:

  • It’s Go Time! You and your doctor probably have an induction plan in place (in case your baby needs a little coaxing to come out). 
  • The Bonus of Carrying Your Baby This Long? They’ll be more alert after the birth and should be A-okay when it comes to temperature regulation. 
  • You’re Probably Experiencing “All the Things.”

    Think: Frequent urination (maybe even incontinence), poor sleep, hemorrhoids, constipation, pelvic discomfort, back pain, heartburn, etc.

    Hang in There, It Will Be Over Soon! 

Below is a Review of Key Topics We’ve Covered Over the Past Few Weeks. Read Them at Your Leisure:

To-Do List

  • Schedule your induction (if you haven’t already).
  • Take a walk.
  • Rest up for the big day.
  • Have your bags packed and ready-to-go. Here are the Top 20 items to include in your hospital bag.
  • Make sure that your baby’s car seat is installed in the rear-facing position.
  • Binge-watch some TV.
  • Have a Baby!

The Bottom Line: See You on the Flip Side! 

Want More? Our baby and toddlers PediaGuides can help you navigate the first 3 years of your baby’s life. We’ll be with you every step of the way, providing info on feeding, fever management, sleep training, babyproofing, developmental milestones, toddler tantrums, toy safety, and so much more! Go here for a sneak peek at the Baby PediaGuide.

“Whether your pregnancy was meticulously planned,
medically coaxed, or happened by surprise,
one thing is certain — your life will never be the same.” 

~Catherine Jones

And…That’s a Wrap.

Welcome to Weeks 1 & 2 of Pregnancy!

In This Week’s PediaGuide, We’ll Discuss:

  • What Your Developing Baby is Up To (in “Baby Talk”).

    The Answer: A whole lotta nothing because the egg hasn’t even fertilized the sperm.
  • What’s Happening With YOUR Body (in “Body Talk”).

    Hint: Not Much.

Get Wise About It All Below…

The Freebie Weeks: You may have just had sex and are now watching the clock. Oddly enough, the pregnancy countdown has already begun, even though the egg and the sperm haven’t rendez-voused yet. 

What Gives? You basically get two free weeks of pregnancy because the due date calculation includes the two weeks before your period. It’s like putting your name on the SAT and automatically getting 200 points (although after some digging, I’m not sure that’s really a thing).

For those of you who are going the IVF (in vitro fertilization) route, Get Wise about it here.

Baby Size: The size of a twinkle in your eye (no baby yet!).  

What’s Happening Now? At this moment, millions of tiny sperm are making a beeline for your recently released egg, trying to be the first to reach it. 

If the egg gets fertilized, it will start producing hormones that lead to pregnancy symptoms. You will develop these symptoms right around the time of your expected period.

If the egg does not get fertilized, it will simply pass out of your body with your next period and you’ll experience the usual PMS symptoms.

Twin Talk

  • If the fertilized egg splits in two, you’ll have identical twins.
  • If 2 separate sperm fertilize 2 separate eggs, you’ll have fraternal twins.

    Insider Info: Fraternal twins aren’t very common because women typically release only 1 egg each time they ovulate. 

    Get Wise about the Different Types of Twins (and Triplets).

PediaTrivia 

You’re more likely to have twins if you’re over 35.

Why? Because, at this age, you have a greater chance of releasing more than one egg during ovulation.

As a Reminder, the Hot Topics for This Week Are:

Get Wise(r) About These Topics Below…

What are My Chances of Getting Pregnant This Cycle?

How likely you are to conceive each month depends on your age and overall health. As you may have already guessed, your chances of getting pregnant each cycle decrease as you get older. Thanks, Mother Nature!

Here are the Stats:

  • Women under 25 have a 25% chance of conceiving each cycle (assuming there aren’t any underlying fertility issues).
  • Women ages 35 to 39 have a 15% chance of getting pregnant each cycle. 82% of these women get pregnant within a year.
  • By age 40, women have a 5% chance of conceiving each cycle.1 Sounds dismal, I know, but with all of the medical advances out there, it’s still possible – it just might take a little longer.

What Should I Do If It Doesn’t Happen This Month?

If it doesn’t work out this cycle, don’t despair. On average, more than 50% of women get pregnant within 6 months and roughly 85% of women get pregnant within 1 year.2 

PediaTips:

  • Contact your doctor if you’re under 35 and nothing has happened for 1 year. 
  • If you’re 35 or older, reach out to your doctor after 6 months of crickets. 

Why is 35 an Important Number in Pregnancy?

In the medical world, women who are 35 or older at the time of delivery are considered “advanced maternal age” (AMA).

What in the What?!

The purpose of this designation is not to piss women off, but to determine who needs a little extra attention during pregnancy (and during the preconception period). 

There’s nothing magical about the number 35. It’s simply the age at which certain pregnancy risks become more pronounced. Get Wise about the risks associated with advanced maternal age and what to do about them.

The Bottom Line

Getting pregnant can happen in the blink of an eye or it can take a little while. As women age, their odds of conceiving decline. Have patience and seek help when needed (especially if you’re under 35 and you’ve been trying to get pregnant for 12 months OR you’re 35 and over and you’ve been at it for 6 months). 

Q: Am I more likely to get pregnant if my husband wears boxers or briefs?
A: You’ll have an even better chance if he doesn’t wear anything at all.

And…That’s a Wrap.


Pediatric Wisdom for Parents
Instagram Facebook Pinterest
Shop Our Guides
Gift
Information
Legal
Shop Our Guides
Gift
Information
Legal
Expecting a Baby or Parenting a Baby or a Toddler? We’ve Got a Freebie for That.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2024 Bedside Matters LLC. All Rights Reserved. The content on the PediaWise website is for informational purposes only. It’s not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Contact your physician or another healthcare provider with any health-related questions or concerns. Use of this site is subject to review and acceptance of our Terms of Use and review and acknowledgment of our Privacy Policy.

Home
Sign In
Main Menu