If you are registered for childbirth classes, they are probably about to start, and you will be meeting with other couples at the same stage of their pregnancies.
Don’t forget to consider breastfeeding and infant care classes if available in your community. If you are having a baby boy, you and your partner might be discussing the decision to circumcise or not. It is a good time to choose a pediatrician if you have not already done so. Your baby is swimming around in about 1.5 pints of amnionic fluid now.
This is a good time to choose a pediatrician if you have not already done so.
How my Baby Grows
- Your little one is about the size of a large cabbage
- His/her eyes can open wide now and he/she might have a good head of hair
- Your baby is making red blood cells of his/her own now from bone marrow
- He/she weighs in at about 3 pounds by now
Symptoms Mama may Feel or Experience
- If you have registered for a childbirth you will be starting soon or if you are in 6-12 weeks of classes, you may already be going to them with your partner, a friend or close family member
- Some things about pregnancy you may be learning
- Nutrition, weight gain
- Fetal growth in the last trimester
- Warning signs of the third trimester
- Ligament and joint discomfort
- Sensation of pressure
- Fetal movement counts
- Warning signs of the third trimester
- Safe seatbelt uses during pregnancy
- Preparing your home for the arrival of a newborn
- Infant safety
- Depression and other mood changes
- What to expect at your last prenatal visits
- Developing a support system and getting the help you need and want when you come home from the hospital
- Parenting decisions like circumcision, immunizations, first bath and birth plans
- You may be taking a tour of the place you plan to give birth
- Some things about birth that you may be learning
- Signs and symptoms of labor verses false labor (Braxton Hicks)
- Rupture of membranes and types of fluid
- How to time contractions
- Pain management in labor
- Positions of comfort while laboring
- The use of a labor and/or peanut ball
- Procedures during labor (IV, foley catheter following an epidural, fetal and maternal monitoring)
- Relaxation techniques
- Breathing and pushing techniques during labor
- Needs for a cesarean section, decisions based on mom or baby
- What happens immediately after birth with your infant
- Intimacy, sexuality and contraception
- Some things about postpartum that you may be learning
- What to expect during the first 1-2 hours after birth and while in the facility that you gave birth
- What is normal for both mom and baby after birth and for the next 6 weeks until your postpartum visit
- Warning signs for both baby and mom during the first days and weeks
- Feeding, bathing and other infant care basics
- If you have registered for a breastfeeding class, you may be discussing, seeing videos or having a chance to practice some of the following:
- Benefits of breastfeeding and recommendations for length of time
- Tips for successful breastfeeding-hydration, nursing verses pumping in the first 2 weeks, medications and breastfeeding and other topics
- Proper latch on and off the breast
- Breast care, cleansing, rotating sides for initial latch on, bras and lotions that may be helpful
- Mastitis and how it is treated
- Thrush, what it is, how it gets started and how to treat it for both mom and baby if you this occurs
- Lactation support services and breastfeeding mom groups in your community
- Use of pacifiers, types and recommendations
- Pumping and safe storage of breast milk
- Breastfeeding and returning to work
Thoughts to Consider
- You may want to plan a trip before the baby arrives and now is good time to do this as once you get to 36 weeks and beyond it is more difficult to travel and you will not want to go as far away in case you go into early labor
- If you have not planned a tour of your birth facility, this might be a great time to do so and ask questions about common practices for birth
- How are you doing with choosing a name for your baby
- This is also a good time to prepare the nursery
- Make sure that your registries are up to date for people who may attend your shower to just send you something for the baby
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
- Wear that seatbelt low around your waist under the baby and across the chest
- Remember to keep your hydration adequate, if not you can develop a bladder infection, become dizzy or lightheaded, have headaches or even go into false labor
- If you are helping paint the baby’s room stay off ladders and keep windows open so that the scent does not overwhelm you
- Get a pregnancy massage or pedicure, it helps the soul
- If massages or pedicures are not your thing, do something else for yourself that makes you smile
