Pregnancy Calendar Week-by-Week

Week 1st

Your Baby
So far the baby exists only in your dreams. You imagine hugging and pressing the most beautiful and the smartest child to your breast. In 40 weeks or in 280 days your dreams may come true.

You
The first day of your last menstrual period is considered to be the first day of pregnancy in case if the fertilization occurs during two following weeks. This means that the age of your baby will be a couple of weeks less than your pregnancy duration. Point this important day in your calendar out! It will help you to define the approximate delivery date. To do this, subtract three months from the first day of your last menstrual period and add seven days to that date.

A Wise Tip
Take care of your health. No more slimming diets! Quit smoking if you do no alcohol as well. Do not take any medicine without your doctor’s advice. Take folic acid. Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms Women Should Know

Week 2nd

Your Baby
Will you have a boy or a girl? Some parents dream about having a son or a daughter, and they try to foresee the child’s sex. This is how the hypothesis about being able to plan everything beforehand appears. If you’ll follow this hypothesis, than the diet and the conception time influence your baby’s sex (in case if the fertilization occurs two days before ovulation, you’ve got a chance to deliver a girl, if it happens in the ovulation day – it means a boy should arrive). Dreaming about a daughter? Than eat more calcium and magnesium containing food: diaries, eggs, chocolate. Do you want to have a boy? Keep to the diet, rich in potassium and sodium: salted dishes, meat, fish, plums, and raisins.

You
If you are planning to get pregnant, talk to your doctor. He may consider it to be necessary to conduct some investigations.

A Wise Tip
You should dream about a child, not about a boy or a girl. Dads, who wished to have a son, get crazy about their little girls. Check if the theory about child’s sex programming is true on practice.

Week 3rd

Your Baby
In case of success, spermatozoon overcomes 250 millions of its competitors! Now your baby is just a tiny sphere that attaches the uterus on the seventh day after fertilization.

You
Between 12th and 16th days of your cycle the ovulation occurs, but you can get pregnant after it as well. See the result in 14 days.

A Wise Tip
Do not plan a successful result beforehand. In case your attempt to get pregnant failed, you’ll get another chance next month. Think about how happy you’ll be with your baby.

Week 4th

Your Baby
The ovule already consumes oxygen and other substances, necessary for a baby. All the important cell groups are developing. Soon one of them will turn into nervous, digestive systems, others – into bones, muscles, and so on.

You
You notice no changes so far. Do you have your period delayed? Trust your intuition!

A Wise Tip
Think that you may become a mother soon; make plans for your future. Your life will change greatly, but there is nothing to be afraid of. You are going to like it. Since now all the events, thoughts and feelings will be connected with your baby.

Week 5th

Your Baby
He’s got a long way to go till becoming a red – cheeked little angel. Now he looks more like a jelly. Just imagine his cerebrum and spine begin to develop there. The skeleton basis of your child is forming during this week.

You
Despite the absence of your period you may notice other pregnancy symptoms as well. Don’t skip them! You’ll notice your breast becoming more sensible, and the areolas around your nipples darken. Furthermore, you need to go to the bathroom more often, and get much more tired now. Don’t be surprised if your appetite has increased lately. Now you eat for two!

A Wise Tip
If you have any reason to think about being pregnant, don’t be guessing. Just buy a baby check test in the nearest drugstore. Conduct it, following all the instructions and you’ll know everything. Two lines – be happy, you are a future mother now!

Week 6th

Week 7th

Your Baby
The length of your baby while sitting is about 4 – 5 mm. And he gets 1 mm bigger every day! His legs begin to form, and his arms get longer. The baby’s nostrils and eyes keep developing. Your child gets oxygen and all the nutrition through the umbilical cord.

You
You wish everyone could see your condition. But your belly hasn’t become bigger yet, and you still can easily button your jeans. But your eyes are bright with happiness despite morning nausea and afternoon tiredness. Most pregnant women experience symptoms like these.

A Wise Tip
Ask your doctor if you can have sex now. If he has any doubts, you should better avoid it till the end of the first trimester. Don’t worry, your partner will understand you.

Week 8th

Your Baby
The size of your baby is about one inch now. His body, arms and legs get longer. His legs are shorter yet, but it’ll change soon. Baby’s eyelids, eyes, the tip of his nose develop on his tiny face. The helixes begin to appear.

You
Your uterus, that was about a tangerine size before the pregnancy is more like an orange now. You may feel pain in the lower part of your belly and back. You may even feel your muscles throb. It happens because of the uterus contractions. This pulsation can be felt all nine months long, but if it bothers you much, tell your doctor. Apply to him immediately if you notice any bleeding. Have a good rest and make special exercises for pregnant women. Choose those ones, you like the best, and do not get over exercised. Your temperature may be higher now. It can occur, as the baby’s development requires much more energy from your body. That’s why it’s important for you not to be overheated.

A Wise Tip
Don’t be lazy to wash your hands with an antibacterial soap during a day. It’s the dimpliest and the most effective way to avoid any infection. They are very undesirable for you at this period of time. Try not to communicate with any sick person. Be extremely attentive while going somewhere in city transport.

Week 9th

Your Baby
Although you can not feel your baby yet, he already moves his body and extremities. Tiny fingers can be seen on his arms folded under his heart. His head becomes of a correct form, his neck, eyeballs, covered with eyelids can be seen. But you can’t know if it’s a son or a daughter.

You
Now you can know from your own experience that from time to time there appears a wish to eat something you couldn’t even dream about before. Don’t be surprised! Hormonal changes occurring in your organism influence the future mother’s appetite. Thus, your body helps you to know what microelements and vitamins it is short of. Sometimes you may have odd wishes to eat chalk or clay. There may be the deficiency of many elements. And here the doctor’s advice would be necessary. It’s good that you can’t stand alcohol, coffee and chocolate, but sometimes you refuse eating healthy and useful food, like milk. It can influence your baby’s development. Calcium is very important for him, like all the other microelements. So, you in this case you should find something like yoghurt or cottage cheese instead of milk.

A Wise Tip
During the first twenty weeks, you gain about 10 pounds. Count the calories to gain weight gradually.

Week 10th

Your Baby
Now your little one can be compared with a big strawberry (the baby is about two inches long). The child moves his legs, arms and chest. These can be his first breathing exercises. All your emotions are conveyed to the little creature. Remember it and don’t get disappointed without any reason, try to think of something good and smile. You’ve got plenty of reasons to be happy. One of them is that your baby is turning into a fetus from an embryo. His main organs are practically formed by this time.

You
The period of time, when your baby was especially sensitive to all negative influences of the surroundings comes to an end. His organism resistibility will increase from gradually from now. That’s why you should keep taking care of your health as you’ve already dot used to do. Don’t take any medicine, including homeopathic ones without your doctor’s prescription. Try to avoid stresses and X – rays. Have walks on the fresh air and nourish in a proper way.

A Wise Tip
Ask your doctor about chorionic villus biopsy test. It will let you know if there is any genetic anomaly.

Week 11th

Your Baby
His weight is about 0,3 ounces now. During three following weeks his length will double. The baby’s neck, chin and his tiny nails can be seen already. His nervous system is being developed from the first weeks of his existence and some reflexes appear by this time.

You
You should consume lecithin for your baby’s nervous system proper development. If you do so, the cholesterol level in his organism becomes normal. You can buy the soy – bean extract in any drugstore.

A Wise Tip
While you are pregnant, you can have nightmares from time to time. To avoid negative emotions, turn your favourite music on and have a glass of warm milk with honey before going to bed.

Week 12th

Your Baby
His length is nearly 3 inches already. Now his development can be estimated. All his organs and systems have formed by now and they only keep developing by this time. Your little one moves his body, but you’ll be able to feel it only in several weeks. His tiny toes have already divided, and it is even possible to see his sex. Your child can open his mouth and he swallows the liquid around him.

You
One third of the way is behind! If you gained 4 to 8 pounds it’s all right. The morning nausea finishes by this time as a rule.

A Wise Tip
Don’t forget to visit your dentist. Incline yourself in favor of it. It’s really necessary to check your teeth. Don’t be afraid!  During pregnancy women’s gums become more sensitive. After this week you may have your teeth done. But keep in mind to tell your doctor about your condition beforehand and try to avoid anesthesia, if possible.

Week 13th

Your Baby
From now and on the period of your baby’s active growth begins. With every passing day the little child becomes more and more beautiful. His eyes, which had been on the sides before, take their place. The baby is often busy: he clenches his fingers, yawns and even sucks his fists. He can not stay without movements more than 15 minutes.

You
Your waist has disappeared by this week! Your uterus will grow up to the abdominal cavity. From this moment you will gain more weight, than you did before. If you become about one pound heavier every week – that would be ideal! Plan your nourishment carefully, keep to your diet. During the first half of pregnancy doctors advice to eat four times a day with four hours interval between your meals.

A Wise Tip
Constipation occurs quite often during pregnancy. But you will be able to overcome it with the help of safe and useful means. Take a glass of hot water with a lemon slice before breakfast. Eat salads with beetroot and prunes.

Week 14th

Your Baby
The child is about of a size of your fist. He’s got enough room to move in the bubble around him. He stretches, moves his little arms and legs rhythmically. His nervous system develops and his muscles get stronger thanks to these exercises. The fetus becomes to look more like a human. He reacts upon light and noise already. If the light of a lamp falls on your belly, the child will move more actively. The same happens when the music plays. Since now you should listen to a quiet music.

You
The second semester of pregnancy trimester is the time when a future mother can have skin problems. Now some pigmental spots and pimples can appear. You may also notice a thin dark line, which stretches down from your navel. But don’t worry; it is caused by hormonal changes that take place in your organism. You should not get nervous, as all these little troubles will be over soon after the delivery.

A Wise Tip
Now it’s better to use hypo allergic cosmetics. Even if you have no skin problems, it should contain no artificial components. Buy the shower gel and the body cream, elaborated especially for future mothers.

Week 15th

Your Baby
Your baby’s weights about two ounces. If you saw him now, you would notice blood vessels seen through his thin skin. The amount of his brain cells increases 25000 cells per minute. Your child is now covered with a fetus down. His movements become more energetic. His bones, which used to consist of cartilages, become firmer gradually. He is sucking his finger all the time. Thanks to these exercises in 25 weeks your little one will know what to do with your breast.

You
Your uterus is of a size of a medium melon. It got higher. You should follow your little sportsman’s example; he regularly trains his muscles inside you. Don’t be lazy to devote several minutes a day to your physical training. If you decide to go in for any other kind of sport, more serious than making gymnastics, ask your doctor’s advice. Yoga and swimming can be chosen. Besides there are plenty kinds of sport future mothers are able to go in for. The most important is that it should bring you refreshment and positive emotions, but never the desire to lie down and have a rest.

A Wise Tip
Now the iodine begins to accumulate in your baby’s thyroid gland. That’s why you should include sea products into your diet. Don’t forget to eat products, containing enough calcium.

Week 16th

Your Baby
Now your baby can lay on your palm: his length is about 4,3 inches, and he weights no more than 2,5 ounces. The features of his little face become sharper. Your little one can already move his eyes, but his tiny ears have not developed completely yet. Nervous impulses become transmitted more quickly.

You
You should get prepared to the best period of your pregnancy. You feel much energy and a strong wish for sex (this makes your partner happy). If your sexual life became rare during last months, now a firework of new emotions is waiting for both of you. Do not be afraid of “sex with a belly”. Ask your doctor’s advice, if there are no contraindications, go on and enjoy it.

A Wise Tip
Beginning from the 4th month the liver of your baby begins to work and produce bile. That means you should consume more fat acidities: oil, cod – liver oil are very useful for your baby at this period of his development.

Week 17th

Your Baby
Your baby is 4.7 inches long already. He gained weight and now it is about 3.8 ounces. All his body is covered with soft bloom, but it will disappear soon. The favourite toy of your baby became your umbilical cord. Scientists say that the baby can squeeze it so hard that he may partly reduce the oxygen access. But you should not be afraid of it, of course he will not get suffocated.

You
Your belly gets bigger and bigger with each passing day.  The uterus becomes of a spherical form. It grows up. If you made a sharp movement, you may feel some pain. Do not trouble with it, it simply means, your uterus gets bigger. But if you noticed bleeding, it is necessary for you to undergo some medical examinations.

A Wise Tip
Try not to sleep on your back. In this position blood flow to your uterus, your fetus is limited.  A good sleep position is on your right side. For you to feel more comfort, put a pillow between your legs.

Week 18th

Your Baby
Your little one begins to produce his first sounds! Yet recently scientists considered it to be unreal. Of course you can not hear your baby’s voice now, but what you can do already is to see if you are expecting a boy or a girl. Ask your doctor about it while having the ultrasound investigation.

You
Now you may feel some pain in your back. It appears after you got up from the bed, spent much time in a sitting or standing position. Pain arises, because your centre of gravity has removed, and now you will have to cave more often. You should go in for sport. Swimming is the best for you now. You may also need a special bandage that would keep your belly. You should rest more often, lying on your side and covering yourself with a warm plaid.

A Wise Tip
Remember about the yoga positions, which help you to get rid of a pain in your neck. Sit down on the floor, link forward. Leaning upon your elbows, and keeping your back even, lie down in such a way, that your head rests on the floor on your arms. This will help you to cope with unpleasant feelings in the back.

Week 19th

Your Baby
The length of your baby is 5.9 inches now. His nervous system develops intensively and his vertebral column becomes thicker. Your little one moves, turns around, kicks  his legs, sucks his finger and breathes. The amount of his brain cells becomes bigger. Only imagine that by the time he arrives, his weight is to become 15 times more than it is now.

You
Approximately during this period of time you may notice your baby’s first movements, but each woman feels them individually, not at the same time. At first you may not understand that these light movements inside your belly are the kicks of tiny legs. Strokes of little baby’s hands may be compared with the movements of a little dolphin. These strokes and kicks will bring bunch of pleasure to you. If you want to feel them better, then lie down on your left side and wait for a minute. Your baby will let you know about himself. You will feel these kicks becoming stronger and stronger as the time will pass. It may even happen that they will make you awaken you in the middle of the night or a sudden strong kick can make you hold your breath for a moment any time. If your husband hugs you he will notice some movements of the child as well.

A Wise Tip
Does your mother or grandmother suffer from varicose veins? Then you should try to avoid this problem. Eat more products containing vitamin C (this vitamin will make your veins healthy): lemons, currants, green fruits and vegetables, parsley, etc. Take a contrast shower for your legs every day. Ask your doctor about an ointment, able to help your legs feel better.

Week 20th

Your Baby
Some peoples consider that at this period of time babies receive their souls. Your little one can hear well already. His favourite sound is your heartbeat. He turns his little head towards the light source, although his eyes are closed yet.

You
Hurrah! Half of your pregnancy has passed already! During your following visit to a doctor he will estimate the size of your uterus. If it got more then 11 inches higher, that can mean you that you may be expecting twins or your term of pregnancy was calculated incorrectly. In this case your doctor will recommend you to make an ultrasound

A Wise Tip
Coddle your baby’s ears with the nice and beautiful music of Mozart, Vivaldi, Stravinsky, etc. But if you are not fond of classical music, then you should listen to the one you like more. For instance, they may be pleasant dancing melodies or children songs. In the future, when your little child hears them, he will recognize these melodies and may even smile.

Week 21st

Your Baby
Your little one weights about 10,5 ounces (0,6 pounds). And his length from the top of his head to coccyx is more than 7 inches. From now and on the process of rapid growth slows down. This is the period of the development of fetus’ organs and systems. You baby can accumulate fat. His digestive system is able to digest the amniotic fluid, he swallows (your baby receives all of his calories and nutritious with it).

You
Sometimes pregnancy can be accompanied with the heartburn. Do you feel like sour and burning? This means that some of the gastric juice got into your gullet. You may add some caraway and dill into the food you eat, and it will help you to get rid of these unpleasant feelings.

A Wise Tip
At this time both you and your baby’s organisms accumulate fat. Doctors recommend consuming fat that is easily absorbed. You should better use unrefined oil, as it is more useful for you and your little child.

Week 22nd

Your Baby
If you saw your little one now, you would smile without any doubt: he looks like a diver in his elder brother’s diving suit. There is very little fat under his skin, and the skin itself is extremely thin. That is why it looks some kind of baggy on him. The baby’s hearing becomes better: your little child recognizes you by your voice already. The teeth ovaries begin to form in his gums and the hair begins to grow on his little head. All the organs of your baby are adapting and getting ready to fulfill their functions, given to him by nature. The work of fetus’ liver is differs from the work of the liver of an adult person. It processes the “indirect” bilirubin into the “direct” one and after that it takes it out of his organism.

You
If you often feel tired and dizzy, you should make a blood test to estimate your hemoglobin level. Many future mothers happen to have anemia. Natural lowering of red corpuscles runs up to its minimal level in the middle of any pregnancy. And after that it comes back to normal again. But in any case you should cook dishes, reach in iron.

A Wise Tip
You may prepare the “Vitamin Firework” salad for yourself. For it, you should boil one pound of a calf tongue and peel it. Then you should rinse prunes and dried apricots and after that chop everything. And finally, you may add some walnuts and dress your salad with some sour-cream of light mayonnaise.

Week 23rd

Your Baby
The fetus looks more like a human being. He weights little less than one pound and he is 8 inches long already. The down that covers all his body gets darker. Now the baby’s pancreas which produces hormones is developing. Your little one has the seeking reflex already. When he touches himself with his hand by chance, he would turn his little head, looking for the one, who did it. He will need this skill when he will be seeking your nipple.

You
At this period of your pregnancy you gain 0,5 – 0,9 pound per week. Doctors recommend to consume more vegetables and diary products. Now it would be better to cook meat and fish no more than 4 – 5 times a week. You may boil them together with vegetables – it will be very useful for both of you. If you eat carrot, cabbage, beet, these vegetables help proteins to get digested better. You should not forget about eating cottage – cheese, eggs, cheese as well, as these products contain a lot of useful components, the main of which is Calcium.

A Wise Tip
You should smile as often as you can! Your cheerful mood gets transmitted to you, little baby. During the second trimester of your pregnancy, you may discover some unexpected gifts for doing different things in yourself. You may draw, paint, and make jewels out of beads, or different figures out of clay and so on. You should do everything, that brings you pleasure.

Week 24th

Your Baby
Your little one gained three more ounces. And he got 0,4 inches longer. The baby can open his little eyes already. All the blood vessels are well seen through his thin skin. You child can distinguish different voices and he replies your voice by moving.

You
There is about half a liter of amniotic fluid in your uterus. This fluid protects your baby from different kicks and provides him with constant temperature regime. It also creates the surrounding where he can move easily. The components of your amniotic fluid change during nine months. At the beginning it is more like your blood plasma, later there appear phospholipids, produced by baby’s lungs. You little one’s condition depends on the amount of the amniotic fluid. When there is not enough of it, your baby has no place to move. Too much of amniotic fluid may be a sign of an inflectional disease. Your doctor will control the amount of the amniotic fluid with the help of ultrasound. 

A Wise Tip
After this week a headache may be a signal of complications. That is why if you often suffer from it, do not delay and apply to your doctor as quickly as you can. If the headache is of a temporal character and it does not repeat often, let your husband massage your shoulders and neck, and the tension and unpleasant feelings will leave you. It is also important to keep your blood pressure under control.

Week 25th

Your Baby
His weight reaches 1,5 pounds, and he is about 8,5 inches long. But this is not a standard, as each person develops individually. All his body is covered with white grease; it nourishes your baby’s skin. At this time the periods of sleep and being awake are distinguished. The development of his little ears has come to its end. If you and the future father talk to your child, he will recognize your voices right after his arrival and then this world will become well-known and friendly for him.

You
Your uterus is of a size of a soccer ball already. And your belly has become bigger and round. Some people say that considering the form of the belly it is possible to know whether you are expecting a boy or a girl. You should not believe these hearsays. A definite answer on the question about your child’s sex you will receive during the ultrasound investigation.

A Wise Tip
You should encourage the communication of a future father with his little son or daughter. Your husband will tell your baby how much you both are expecting his arrival with great pleasure. In order, the baby would better hear his daddy ask your dear one to roll the sheet of paper and put it on your belly. Then he can talk into the tube. Let him say “hello” to his little child. and the baby will surely understand his dad!

Week 26th

Your Baby
The size of your future child is 9 inches and his weight is more than two pounds. His taste receptors are being formed during this period. When something sweet gets into the amniotic fluid, the baby begins to swallow faster. Your doctor will listen to his heartbeat for the first time and on beginning from this week. It is beating two times faster than your heart does.

You
The liquid accumulation in your organism calls for the swelling. Learn to fight with them. light massage will make your blood circulation better and will help you to avoid the lymph standstill.

A Wise Tip
Potassium helps to get the extra liquid out of your organism. That is why the potassium diet becomes actual in case if you have swellings. Cook oatmeal for yourself in the morning. It will be useful to add apples, dried apricots, raisins and prunes in it.

Week 27th

Your Baby
From now and on we will measure the baby’s length from the top of his head to his toes, and not to his coccyx, as we did before. Your baby accumulates fat layer under his skin. He spends most of the time sleeping. He sleeps about 15 hours a day. scientists consider that yet unborn child can have night dreams. During his sleep your little one puts the information he got the day before in order, for example how dad tickled his little heel or how he sang a song to his little son of daughter.

You
Your breast is getting prepared to feed a child. Do not get worried, if you notice drops of colostrums on it. In order to avoid discomfort put special napkins into your brassiere. You should tune yourself to feed your little baby. at the end of the second trimester, when not so much time is left before the birth of your child, your spirit gets lowered sometimes. You may feel confused and be afraid of the coming future events. Talk about your feelings with your husband of mother, and it will help you to calm down. Do not get scared, as the childbirth is the natural process. Do not get upset, as your baby wants his mother to be happy.

A Wise Tip
Defeat your depression! To do it, exclude all the carbohydrates out of your diet. Eat products, containing Zink: eggs, sunflower seeds, brown bread. Use lavender oil for the massage. You should think only about something good!

Week 28th

Your Baby
 This week your little child weights about two pounds, having the length of more than 10 inches. He opens his little eyes open and the skill to fix his look develops gradually. First furrows and curves appear on the top of his brain. There can be seen eyebrows and lashes on his face. The under skin tissue accumulates fat. After his birth this fat will protect your baby from any temperature changes and provide him with necessary energy.

You
The last trimester of your pregnancy has begun! Now you should visit your doctor more often than you did before. You should also make all necessary blood and urine tests, and check your blood pressure and weight. On the eve of the childbirth your kidneys and liver become overloaded, as they take all the baby’s digested food and liquid out of your organism. That is why doctors advise you to limit yourself to the liquid, you take. You may drink when you have a wish to, but not too much. You should also say “NO” to fat and fried food. Prepare vegetarian soups, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

A Wise Tip
It is really necessary for you to eat fish! You need it for your baby’s development. Now his brain becomes 100 000 cells bigger per minute. He also needs fatty acids for growth. And the sources of it are sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, oil, and fish.

Week 29th

Your Baby
The length of your baby is about 10,6 inches already, and he weights 2,8 pounds. When you place your belly under the sun, your little one sees it as the orange luster. But it is dangerous to sunbathe at this period of your life, so stay at home or in the shadow during hot hours of the day. Your baby’s smell is well developed. After he arrives it will help him to recognize you without mistakes. He likes your natural smell very much. His mother’s milk, hair, hands and breast smell best of all for this little creature.

You
Your belly has become much bigger. Now it is difficult not to see it. The uterus lies heavy on your inner organs and you may feel some discomfort: it has become more difficult to breathe, and you want to go to the bathroom more often as you did before. You may have insomnia because of these feelings. In the case of insomnia lasts more than two weeks, you should ask your doctor for a piece of advice. There are many ways to cope with this problem. One of them is the tea with chamomile or with a slice of lemon. You should drink it before you go to bed. But still, every pregnant woman has her own secret how to fight insomnia. You may also prepare light dishes for dinner. And shortly before you go to bed you may eat low-fat yoghurt. Calcium, containing in it will soothe your nervous system and it will help you to fall asleep faster.

A Wise Tip
It is just time for you and your husband to go to school for future parents. There you will learn about breathing gymnastics, comfortable positions, which will help you during the fits. The future father will get useful information for himself. It will help him to understand your condition and to help you. Much of the important information you get there will be useful for you after the childbirth as well.

Week 30th

Your Baby
Your baby weights about three pounds already, and his length comes close to 11 inches. When he stretches, he becomes more than 15 inches long. Blood vessels are not seen through the baby’s skin already. When he does not sleep, your little one moves constantly. His kicks are of different strength and intensity. Do you feel that your baby becomes most active at about midnight? There is no reason to get worried. It will last some time after his arrival as well.

You
This week you will have to make some important tests. Your doctor will make a take a smear from your nose for staphylococci infection. He will also recommend you to make a test for AIDS, and Hepatitis B. You had already made these tests, but now it is time to repeat them. You will also have to make one more ultrasound investigation, the third one. It will be the last one, if you have no problems. In case if you want to deliver a baby together with your husband, find out which tests is he to make. You should do this beforehand.   

A Wise Tip
Have you already decided where to deliver your child? You should not delay with it! Gather more information about the best hospitals and make the right choice, as the time of your meeting with your baby comes closer quite rapidly. You are to know about all the conditions and meet the doctor, who will receive your child beforehand.

Week 31st

Your Baby
Your little one weights about 3,5 pounds already, and his length from the top of his head to his coccyx is more than11 inches; and if he stretches, he becomes 15 inches long. The child drinks the amniotic fluid, he swims in, and he receives about 40 calories per day. This way he does not only diversifies his, but trains his alimentary canal as well. Scientists consider it to be a special way to fight with stress: when little children feel anxious, they begin to drink water.

You
Your uterus got higher more than 4 inches above your navel. Now it takes the most of your belly. You gained 20 – 26 pounds. During next 10 weeks your baby especially needs proteins. There should be no less than 20% of proteins in your ration. But do not be overzealous, as too much of proteins may be harmful for your baby. You should take care of receiving all vitamins and microelements: as each of them is important in its own way. Vitamin A makes your cell membranes stronger. Vitamin E is necessary for your nervous system development. Your baby needs about 350 milligrams of Calcium a day.

A Wise Tip
It is just the time to start your own register to keep your baby’s movements under control. Beginning from 9 a. m. you should count his kicks and mark the 10th kick in the register. Write down the term of your pregnancy and the day of the week. Show this register to your doctor. This will help you to notice all the changes in your baby’s behaviour.

Week 32nd

Your Baby
French scientists consider that yet unborn baby is able to remember a poem or a musical composition. Having arrived he will recognize them and calm down without much of effort. After this week most babies turn their head down, getting ready to appear. If it has not happened yet, you should wait for four more weeks: your baby most likely will take the right position. You can also help him to do it. You should ask your doctor’s advice and do necessary exercises.

You
Do you still go to work? You should get ready to the maternity leave. Now it’s the right time for you to hand your business over to your successor and to think not so much about business, but about your future child. You need to rest a lot.

A Wise Tip
All the metabolic processes have become quicker already. This is why you should receive 200 more calories a day. The common energetic value of products you are to consume a day is equal to 3400 calories. Remember that cottage – cheese with sour cream will provide you with 130 calories, and mashed potato with fish – with 300 calories.

Week 33rd

Your Baby
Now the total length of your baby beginning from the top of his head to his tiptoes is 17 inches and he weights no more than 4, 5 pounds. All the organs and systems of the fetus are practically formed. Your child’s organism receives all the antibodies from you. Thanks to these antibodies his immune system develops. He will be protected from many infections right after his arrival.

You
During this period you gain your weight more intensively than during any other period of your pregnancy. The total amount of the weight you gained is about 25 pounds. Your baby grows especially quickly now; imagine that in 6 weeks his weight will be 2 pounds more! During the second half of your pregnancy you should receive 3200 – 3400 calories a day. The organism of a future mother needs not less than 5,5 ounces of proteins, 3 ounces of fats and 14 ounces of carbohydrates.

A Wise Tip
Are you expecting the arrival of the second baby? Then you should prepare your older child to this event. Try to make them friends before the delivery. Propose your child to pat your belly, talk to his brother or sister. Do not let him feel himself alone.

Week 34th

Your Baby
The length of your baby’s body is 17 inches and his weight is about 5 pounds. The immune system of your child is not developed completely yet, and he receives all the antibodies from your organism. The child has become so big, that there is not enough place for him in your belly. He rests against the uterine wall. Do not get worried if you notice that you do not feel his movements so often any more. Beginning from now he will kick and turn less than before. There is no doubt if you and your husband smile, when you notice a salience on your belly. You may be guessing what it can be: a heel, an elbow or a hand.

You
The date of your delivery is coming close. It is natural if you feel anxious. You should write the script of the birth of your child and “rehearse” it right now. Remember comfortable positions and breathing exercises. It is quite possible to lessen the pain. To do it you and your husband should learn about special relaxing massage. The movements are to be rhythmical and of different strength and intensity. Your doctor will tell you how to make the massage of your waist.

A Wise Tip
Now you have a lot of free time and you may get busy with the children’s room decoration. It will help you to overcome the natural anxiety before the delivery process. You should do it together with your husband. You will need your taste while choosing all the decorations and functional details for your baby’s room.

Week 35th

Your Baby
Your baby became 0,5 pounds heavier and one inch longer. He can see and hear everything. All the systems of his organism are almost formed completely. You should talk to him, tell him how much you want to see him, hug him, kiss him and show him this huge world. Your little child will gladly listen to your lullaby, and to his father’s favourite song. He will hear you and understand that he is much expected of no doubt. Your baby knows your voices for a long time already, and soon it will be time for him to see your faces.

You
Now you have bunch of questions in your head. And one of them is if you will be able to become a good mother for your baby. Do not worry! Your will cope with it, if you want it yourself. At first when you see your little child, you may get confused: how should you dress him without damaging his little arms and legs, how will you soothe him when he cries. You will gain more and more experience as the time will go by. Remember, your best helpers are your love to your child and the wish to make him happy.

A Wise Tip
Are you fond of travelling? Then you should delay this hobby of yours for some time. Now it is better not to plan any long walks. You should not use overloaded public transport as well. You may also let your husband do the shopping, as you may not raise heavy bags. Make several short walks during a day using your usual route. And take the back seat in the car.

Week 36th

Your Baby
At this term of your pregnancy your baby’s weight is about 6 pounds and his total length is 17 inches. If you are expecting twins, be ready to deliver them any minute, as they usually arrive between weeks 35th and 37th. Strong emotional connection between your future kids is formed yet in your belly.  Babies kick tap and snuggle up each other.

You
Your fundus of uterus that was up goes down several weeks before the child arrives. It happens because the fetus’ head gets lowered. Now it will be easier for you to breathe, but you will go to the bathroom more often, than you did before. At this period the centre of gravity gets shifted, and that is why you should walk slower.  

A Wise Tip
Pick out some time for yourself to relax and meditate. You should sit comfortably into the armchair, breathe even, calm and deep.

Week 37th

Your Baby
Your little one growth extremely rapidly. He adds 0,4 inches a week. Little nails have grown on his tiny fingers already. Right after your baby arrives, you will get shocked by his “manicure”. You should buy little special scissors beforehand and take them to the maternity house.

You
 Beginning with this week your baby can arrive any moment. Be ready to it. Now your main task is to have much rest. It will help you to avoid swellings and make your blood circulation better. Your uterus gets relaxed, and your baby receives more oxygen. If you have not chosen the hospital you will deliver in, do not delay with it. Wherever you go, take your documents with you.

A Wise Tip
Prepare a bag with all things you and your baby will need in the hospital. For any case show your husband where it is. In order not to forget anything, make a list of necessary things beforehand.

Week 38th

Your Baby
Your little looks perfectly. He is chubby, red – cheeked, and ready to arrive. He kicks and turns less as the term of your delivery comes closer. There is too little place for your baby in the belly now.

You
During the last weeks of your pregnancy you should eat more products, which contain magnesium and calcium: milk, almonds, green fruits and vegetables, wheat bread, etc. These microelements will strengthen your muscles perfectly.

A Wise Tip
You should not forget about everyday gymnastics. The good physical shape will be necessary for you during the process of childbirth.

Week 39th

Your Baby
Are you afraid that your baby’s arrival will be a big shock for him? You will be able to smooth over his first impression about this big and unknown world by hugging your little one and pressing him to your breast. And after that he will definitely think: “my new life is somewhat strange, but it is quite pleasant!”

You
One of the most important questions for you is how to avoid pain during the process of the childbirth. It is possible to be lessened by several ways. First and the most widespread way to make the painful feelings less is the epidural anesthesia. Massage and aromatherapy will help you as well. And there is one more way to make your pain less – it is to get concentrated on the right breathing.

A Wise Tip
Your milk is the most useful product for the health and correct development of your baby. Do not refuse this perfect possibility to feed your baby with your breast. In order to have more milk, you should start drinking tea with fennel soon after your delivery. It helps your lactation process activate. You should also drink this tea after the Caesarean section, as the operation prevents your lactation output.

Week 40th

Your Baby
Your little baby has finally reached the sizes he will be born with. His total length is about 20 inches, and his weight is approximately 7 pounds. There is no place at all for your baby to move in the uterus any more. The baby, who is expected to be delivered at the natural time is closely adjacent to the uterine walls. Specialists recommend putting the child on his mothers belly and giving him her breast right after he arrives in order to try first drops of nutritious and extremely useful colostrums.

You
Once you will feel light ache in the lower part of your belly. If it repeats in even period of time, accept our congratulations, the fits have begun! Take your documents, bag and hurry to the hospital. Do not get scared, as everything is going to be just fine!

A Wise Tip
The doctor will ask you many questions at the hospital: how often do your fits repeat, has the amniotic fluid moved away, etc. You should try not to get nervous, and remember, you will cope with it!