19-9-2009 - 33 Weeks

My mood while writing this blog: Ok

This is the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy when you are gaining around 500 g to one pound of weight per week and roughly half of the weight goes straight to your baby. In fact the baby gains around 1/3rd to ½ of the birth weight in the next seven weeks. The baby will now be fattening up for survival outside the womb. The fatty deposit make him plumper and healthier looking. You need to eat well for the rest of the pregnancy and even if you eat small amounts do eat a varied diet rich in vegetables and fruit to help to further develop your baby’s immune system. Heartburn and integestion can increase so you can eat healthy snacks in between meals or drink a glass of milk at bedtime if hungry. You need to cut down on junk food and caffeinated drinks even if you are tempted to do so. Many expectant women tend to develop bleeding gums or cavities at this stage due to hormonal changes and shift in blood pressure. Your eating patterns also affect the teeth hence one needs to clean teeth regularly by brushing and flossing and visiting the dentist at least once during pregnancy. Snacking on cheese and vegetable crudits with dips or salsa are also good for the teeth as they increase the calcium intake as well. Vitamin C is also vital for healthy teeth so snacking on strawberries or a portion of steamed broccoli is a good idea.

Again a lot of things have been happening this week while you are so warm and comfortable inside mommy's tummy. I expect though that mom is feeling quite tired and getting a little irritated with the amount of leg cramps she has been getting. The doctor says that things are normal and that mommy is adjusting to the different weigh gain she has experienced. We had a wonderful baby shower to welcome you into our World. There were alot of people there that sent well wishes and can't wait until you are born, and believe it or not, we have just about 6 weeks left to wait for you to make your grand apperance. Stay in comfort and we will see you soon. Grandma Shirton.

The baby weighs around 5 pounds and is approximately 15 to 17 inches in length by now. Fat layers continue to get deposited under the baby’s skin and the bones of the baby harden except for the skull. The skull needs to be soft and flexible for the delivery. The pressure on the head during child birth is so strong that many times babies are born with a cone head like appearance. These bones don’t fuse until early adulthood and so they grow as the brain and other tissues expand during infancy and childhood. The lungs are nearly mature now but the baby would still need to stay in an incubator if born now. The baby is a little weak though fully formed with the same proportions as he will have after birth. If you have triplets they are normally born in the 33rd week of pregnancy. This is a time when it becomes more likely for the baby to settle in a particular position in the uterus. Most of the babies are cephalic that is in a head down position but if the baby has not descended to this position as yet there is still time for you to change the position. You can find out exercises which can help you in turning the baby’s position to a normal one which can help in giving birth normally. Yoga is an effective pregnancy exercise to build flexibility however is careful if you are starting yoga at this stage and have never done yoga before.