(Source: babycentre.com.au)By this stage, your baby doesn't have much room to roam. Your little one is so snug in your uterus that you may notice he doesn't seem to be moving around as much anymore. But don't be surprised if you see an arm, elbow or knee poking against the skin of your tummy as he stretches and squirms. His head may drop down into your pelvis ready for birth — this is known as "engagement" — although some babies, especially second or later ones, don't engage before labour begins.
Your baby now weighs about 5.25 pounds/ 2.4 kilograms and measures approximately 18 inches/ 45 centimetres from head to toe. His elbow, foot or head may protrude from your stomach when he stretches and squirms about. Soon, as the wall of your uterus and your abdomen stretch thinner and let in more light, your baby will begin to develop daily activity cycles. This week, your little one is now sporting fingernails and has a fully developed pair of kidneys. His liver can also process some waste products. There's much less amniotic fluid and much more baby in your uterus, which has expanded to a thousand times its original size. You've probably put on between 25 and 30 pounds/ 11 and 13.6 kilograms and your weight gain has hit its peak. Even your belly button has got bigger and has popped outward. You may be feeling breathless now that the top of your uterus is up under your ribs. Try getting down on all fours to take deeper breaths. Although the pressure on your bladder will make the bathroom your second home, don't drink any less water -- your baby needs the fluids. But you may like to cut down on diuretic drinks like tea and coffee, which will make you have to urinate even more often.
The main highlights of this week is that I can see my tummy getting even bigger now. Baby is also moving a lot although he doesn't kick as much anymore cos he doesn't have room! ha! He has hiccups at least 3 times a day which I also discovered that when he's finally out, he will too continue hiccuping in the first month or so. His current hiccups usually occur when I inhale too much air (Eg. after I sneeze, yawn, drink water etc), then all of a sudden you feel this little one hiccuping up and down like a heartbeating inside your bladder...
Baby is also getting more and more heavier now. I am now having to waddle everytime I walk. It's also because his head is now more engaged down in my pelvic bone and therefore walking in a straight line is almost impossible. I sometimes find myself carrying my tummy especially after a full meal in an attempt to lift the weight off my lower abdomen.
Another highlight was just how sore the breasts get during this week. Although I can not see any milk at this stage, I definitely already do feel like a cow ready to produce the next 100L of Pura to feed my baby for the next one year of his life. I also went out to buy myself a maternity bra. Basically the difference between a maternity bra vs a normal bra is that a maternity bra has a little hook for you to take off the bra cup so that you can breastfeed your little one while still wearing a bra. A very smart invention and you really do pay for it too!
Finally a very happy highlight of the week is that my dear mother - excited grandma or wai po to be, has washed all of baby Minga's clothes with a specíal washing liquid & fabric softener sensitive for baby's skin that I bought for the two grandma's to use. When I saw it hung out on the washing line one morning, my heart just melted. His little singlet, jumpsuits & booties.. aw... all so adorable. It's truly sinking in now.. he's really coming to the family very soon! WOW!
Take a look at the singlet my cheeky mum bought for baby Minga.
It says 'My favourite things: 1) Grandma 2) hugs 3) kisses - too cute!
