Why Every Week of Pregnancy Counts

This is a must read article that appeared at WSJ, just wanted to share it with you.

This time of year, some hospitals see a small uptick in baby deliveries thanks to families eager to fit the blessed event in around holiday plans or in time to claim a tax deduction. Conventional wisdom has long held that inducing labor or having a Caesarean section a bit early posed little risk, since after 34 weeks gestation, all the baby has to do was grow.

But new research shows that those last weeks of pregnancy are more important than once thought for brain, lung and liver development. And there may be lasting consequences for babies born at 34 to 36 weeks, now called "late preterm."

Week 26 Of Pregnancy: 28 Weeks Of Amenorrhea

You
You take more and more weight (about 400 g per week and between 1 kg and 1.2 kg per month). Half for you and half for your baby.
The fatigue is still being felt and your back pain will increase.

Your baby
It is now 33 cm and weighs 870 g.
This week the bronchial tubes have emerged but the lungs are not mature until after birth.
It swallowed more amniotic fluid (which is renewed every three hours) and will reject a large amount in the form of urine. The volume of liquid will decrease as baby grows.
Her skin thickens with grease, it is red because of the small blood vessels that travel.
It will begin to open its eyes and distinguish variations of light.
The ivory of his teeth is covered with enamel.

Good to Know
Sit and make napping as soon as possible.
eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, so you will also avoid having urinary infections.
Ventilate your mind and exercise (walking, swimming, gymnastics), the sport will have a beneficial effect on your back, your pelvic muscles and your abdominals.

28th Week of Pregnancy

You

The uterus is measuring 28 cm now. It pushes your other organs magnifying making up the diaphragm and expanded last ribs.

You may experience bloodstream varicosities problems and veins may appear on your legs because the return of blood to the heart is less well. Have some cold water on your legs.

You may be inconvenienced if your baby was returned because it will be kicking in your chest.

Your heart rate has accelerated (12 beats per minute).

You will feel tired earlier in the day because you burn calories more quickly.


Your baby

It is possible that he’s already upside down. It measures 35 cm and weighs 1.150 kg. His body takes a more rounded.
His lungs are approaching maturity, blood vessels are developed. The respiratory movements are well coordinated, and the pace is constant.
It now able to regulate its temperature itself with fatty deposits.
Hair and nails continue to grow.
If it is a boy, the testicles are descended into the scrotum.


Good to Know

Elevate your legs at night to facilitate the bloodstream and walk during the day to avoid varicose veins during pregnancy
You can slowly begin to prepare the room for your baby.

Week 32 of Woman Pregnancy

You

You may be subject to loss of balance due to the movement of your center of gravity.

Your vaginal discharge will be more abundant.

You will need a diet rich in calcium, baby needs it for the ossification of the skeleton, therefore beware of deficiencies.

Your baby

It measures 40 cm and weighs 1.9 kg and continues to grow steadily.

His brain continues its development.

He began to plump, his skin turns pink and folds disappear, nails were driven out of the fingers.

It consumes a lot of calcium and bones continue to strengthen.

Good to Know

You spend your sixth mandatory prenatal visit. Your doctor may prescribe a radio to see if your baby will be in the place to go.

This week is your last week of work.

Beware of the position of your back.

Week 35 Of Pregnancy

You

Your uterus is measuring 33 cm and her cervix may begin to shorten.

Your body prepares for childbirth, you will feel contractions many times each day, they are not very frequent, but occur at regular intervals, during which your belly hardens.

Your baby

It now measures 45 cm and weighs 2.4 kg. He is preparing for its entry into the world and can begin its descent into your pelvis.

It continues to grow, the lanugo begins to disappear and fat accumulates under the skin.
His kicks is more and more vigorous. In the right moment he will secrete a hormone that triggers the delivery.

Good to Know

This is the last line and baby can arrive at any time. Therefore prepare your bag with things that you will need for your motherhood.

Especially sit well and practice breathing exercises and relaxation.

You can continue to have sex but know that at this stage this can trigger a delivery because semen contains hormones which act on the muscle fibers of the uterus.

31th Week Of Woman Pregnancy

You

Your uterus back up very high, it has now reached 30 cm and can begin to bother you especially when you are sitting and sleeping at night.


Your baby

He is now 39 cm and weighs 1.7 kg. It has much more space and does not move much. It occupies almost the entire volume of the uterus and focus its attention on what is happening outside.

The cells in his lungs secrete the surfactant liquid to prevents the lungs to withdraw entirely when taking his first inspiration once on the outside.

If he have not already done so, he will turn one last time and adopt the position until the day of delivery.


Good to Know

You can start to establish a list of cases you need to motherhood.

Eat foods high in calcium to promote bone ossification of your baby.

Week 25 Of Woman Pregnancy: 27 Weeks Of Amenorrhea

You
Fatigue will begin to be felt. Your heart rate will accelerate because your uterus presses your ribcage. You'll also be less momentum.
You may have insomnia because your belly begins to interfere with you and your baby will have a pleasure to move while you try to rest.
You may suffer from constipation and recovered acids because progesterone slows digestion.

Your baby
It measures 32 cm long and weighs 750 g. Its growth slows but is much more regular basis.
The bones begin to harden and fat begins to form under his skin.
The nerves are formed and he is now able to cry.
His pace of sleep is more regular, but it is still not yours.
The brain continues its maturation and cells that compose prolonged by the axons and dendrites.

Good to Know
Your doctor will make a gynecological and obstetrical assess, it will check the movements of your baby, the height of the uterus… and will prescribe a blood test.
Continue to pay attention to your weight and especially rest.
Lie on your left side if you have a physical discomfort, they are caused by a compression of the vena cava (which ensures the circulation of blood to the heart) by your baby.

27th Week of Woman Pregnancy

You

You took 400 g during this week.
Your uterus continues to grow, your stomach is under pressure. This results in burns and lift acids.
It may shrink regularly several times a day as it prepares for delivery. Your stomach is tough and you can feel some small contractions, they are not painful.
Your other organs, except liver, have also grown.
Under the effect of hormones you may have bleeding at the gums. Brush your teeth twice a day.


Your baby

This week your baby is viable but it is better to keep warm because it is still very vulnerable. It measures 34 cm and weighs 1 kg.
His head now has a good proportion compared to the rest of his body and his face is that it has almost at birth.
He has an eyelashes and eyebrows, he can open his eyes because the membrane covered eyelids was split.
The connections between neurons are made and the nerves in the brain will become coated with myelin (action will continue for almost twenty years).

Good to Know

It's time to start being prepared for childbirth, it is better to start early. They will help you learn to breathe and to do good muscles work.

Adopt a normal pace of life so as not to cause premature delivery and do not practice too violent activity.

Week 34 of Woman Pregnancy

You

You enter the last phase of pregnancy, your breasts are increasingly stretched and the neck of your uterus becomes softer as your body prepares for childbirth.
The bones of the basin are in the process of departing, you may feel pain at this level.

Your members may be somewhat inflated due to water retention.

Your baby

It measures 43 cm and weighs 2.2 kg. He continues to swell, his body and face are well rounded.

Apart from the lungs, most organs are mature.

Urine the equivalent of two tablespoons per hour.

It also trains breathing but it has no air, it draws on amniotic fluid, which gives him the hiccups.

Good to Know

It's time to prepare your suitcase to be ready to leave at any time.

Rest and limit your efforts mainly to avoid too frequent contractions.

Always have a rich and balanced diet for the development of your baby and your health.

Be prepared because your baby may arrive at any time.

Week 33 of Woman Pregnancy

You

The weight of your uterus is now 1 kg more than the beginning of your pregnancy, it contains 1 liter of amniotic fluid.

You can experience again a frequent desire to urinate because your baby is down and press again your bladder.

Your breasts are heavy and start to take volume.

The ligaments of your pelvis relax, so you can feel some small twinges.


Your baby

It measures 42 cm and weighs 2.1 kg.

His immune system and brain are mature, it could come now, but it should be put in incubators because it is still fragile.

He swallows a lot of amniotic fluid.

He accumulates meconium in his intestines that will be quickly removed at birth.


Good to know

If you work, you must leave at the end of this week for your maternity.

Remember to send your social security certificate to your work in order to receive your benefits.

30th Week Of Woman Pregnancy

You

Your uterus back up to 12 cm above the navel and your stomach has now almost reached its maximum volume.

You will probably be less momentum because your baby is down a little and less compresses your chest.

Your breasts may secrete a substance yellowish (colostrum).


Your baby

He is now 37 cm and weighs about 1.5 kg.

If you have not already done it he will soon take its position out (upside down).

His brain is developing rapidly and trains to open their eyes and breathe.

His movements are becoming more impressive, when it turns your stomach has to be distorted.

If it is a boy's testicles descended in scholarships, if a girl, the ovogonies transform into oocytes of the first order.

Good To Know

This week you will spend your last ultrasound, known as biometrics to a point before delivery. As your baby grows much more you can see it all.

Be very vigilant so as not to cause premature delivery, avoid stress and burnout and do not carry too heavy objects.

Drink plenty of water to avoid the risk of urinary tract infections (1.5 liters).