Third trimester

WEEK 24

YOUR BABY The skin is still thin and translucent, but this will change soon. The face has brows, lashes and even hair (still white) on the head.

YOU Your old hair doesn’t fall out as easily anymore, so your tresses look fuller and more glossy. Enjoy this particularly pleasant perk of pregnancy.

WEEK 25

YOUR BABY The inner ear, which is already fully developed, lets the baby feel like he’s lying upside down or upright in your womb. The hands are developed, but the nerve connections still need to grow. YOU Keep your weight gain as constant as you can to limit backache. The average is a 0,5 to 1kg weekly increase.

WEEK 26

YOUR BABY The eyes, although they’re already developed, are still closed and may only open in a week’s time. The spine is becoming stronger and more supple but remains flexible to make the birth easier. YOU Save your back. Avoid walking and standing for long periods. Sleep on your side with cushions or pillows between your knees.

WEEK 27

YOUR BABY Measurements are no longer done from crown to torso but from head to toe. He weighs almost 1kg now and is almost 27cm tall. Your little one’s skin is a healthy reddish colour.

YOU A blocked nose and ears, nosebleeds and sensitive gums that bleed when you brush may be part of your joys.

WEEK 28

YOUR BABY He already sleeps for half an hour at a time. The eyes open and shut, but he’s only able to see at a later stage in this trimester. His eye colour is also fixed but can still change within six months after birth.

YOU Tests may be done now for gestational diabetes – when you can’t control your blood-sugar level.

WEEK 29

YOUR BABY He has about 300 bones now but will only have about 206 after birth for the rest of his life. He starts storing iron, phosphorous and calcium to make the bones nice and strong.

YOU Are you dreaming of knitting jerseys from lasagne and other weird and wonderful things? Relax. That and forgetfulness is part of pregnancy.

WEEK 30

YOUR BABY He starts practising breathing through his diaphragm, and when he has hiccups, you might be able to feel light spasms in your uterus. He weighs about 1,2kg and will now gain 0,5kg a week until the end of week 37.

YOU Hands, feet and ankles feel puffy at night. It sounds strange, but drink more water to flush waste products.

WEEK 31

YOUR BABY The digestive system is almost fully developed. Although Baby is practising to breathe, his lungs aren’t fully developed yet. He sleeps for longer periods and gets REM sleep.

YOU Keep track of Baby’s kicks. Ten times per hour is a good count. Eat something or walk a bit if the count is lower.

WEEK 32

YOUR BABY The layer of soft, downy hair (lanugo) that protected his body against fluid can start falling out. Baby weighs about 1,8kg and enjoys sucking his thumb. Billions of new nerve cells are forming. YOU Enjoy sex unless your doctor advises otherwise. Baby falling asleep afterwards is normal, safe and healthy.

WEEK 33

YOUR BABY His eyes might be open and his pupils can observe light. If you shine a torch on your belly, he’ll notice. His nails reach the tips of his fingers. You might want to cut them at birth!

YOU Is your pregnancy starting to bore you? Play with your child through your belly, and remind yourself of the miracle growing inside you.

WEEK 34

YOUR BABY The lanugo falls out, and vernix thickens this week. That’s the sticky white substance with which babies are born and that helps tremendously with the birthing process. Boys’ testicles drop in the scrotum.

YOU Itchy red hives – pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPP) – can appear on the skin.

WEEK 35

YOUR BABY There is not much space left for movement in your uterus. So Baby’s doing fewer summersaults, but he’s still kicking just as much. If he could stand up, he’d measure about 50cm.

YOU You know important things like your baby’s name, but make sure the birth plan and labour day logistics are in place.

WEEK 36

YOUR BABY All the fat makes his little face nice and round, and as it amasses around his ankles and elbows, his bony body disappears. All systems, from the circulatory to the musculoskeletal, are ready. YOU You carry more baby than amniotic fluid. It’s quite cramped inside, and you’re hard pressed to take in more than a morsel at a time.

WEEK 37

YOUR BABY He’s probably turned into his birth position and is lowering into your pelvis. Braxton-Hicks contractions – practice for birth

– start increasing.

YOU You might experience an increase in vaginal discharge. If there’s mucous, labour day is imminent.

WEEK 38

YOUR BABY A few last preparations before the big day. He loses the lanugo and vernix and makes more surfactants. His brain and nervous system are operational and grow by the day.

YOU For most women who labour naturally, the waiting game begins. Spend some time with your partner – and sleep while you can.

WEEK 39

YOUR BABY Finally the lungs are fully operational! The placenta that worked wonders during pregnancy provides the oh-so-necessary antibodies for the first six months after birth.

YOU Keep on monitoring movement. Call your doctor immediately if you feel nauseous, your tummy cramps or if you experience visual disturbances.

WEEK 40

YOUR BABY It’s time (maybe). All you can do is wait until he decides he’s ready. You can stay pregnant for shorter or even longer – mostly up till 42 weeks. He might be slightly taller than 50cm and weigh between 2,5 and 4kg.