Today is a very significant day: your baby’s lungs are now capable of breathing air. By the end of this week, your baby will grow about 1⁄2 inch (12.7 mm) longer - that much more prepared for life outside your womb. Baby’s goal weight is at least 1,000 grams, or about 2 pounds.
Now that your baby can breathe air, you can breathe a sigh of relief! With sufficient air sacs and surfactant, your baby will have a much easier time breathing by itself and adapting to the outside world.
By this time, your baby’s brain wave patterns are similar to those of a full-term baby at birth. Activity is beginning in the portions of the brain that process visual and auditory information.
As your baby grows physically stronger, its thumping and bumping will become stronger, too. You can monitor your baby’s movement by counting its kicks.
As the baby gets bigger, you may notice some shortness of breath. As your growing uterus presses on your diaphragm, it becomes harder to fill your lungs and to breathe out completely.
You will need about an extra 300 calories per day now, as you enter the last three months of your pregnancy. Non-pregnant adults can generally maintain their weight and good health on 2,100 calories per day, but pregnant women generally require about 2,400 calories a day.
Time to Reflect
This week marks the beginning of your third - and last - trimester of pregnancy. As you look back on your baby’s growth and your pregnancy experience so far, what are some of the moments you remember best? |
Plan ahead! Set up your e-card birth announcements now!
