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The first trimester

How long is the first trimester? Can you exercise? And how is baby’s body developing? Learn more about the first trimester of pregnancy here!

It can be tough to know exactly when a pregnancy began. It isn’t always possible to say just when fertilisation occurred, so the start of a pregnancy is counted from the first day of your last period. If we’re going to be picky, then in fact the pregnancy hasn’t begun at that point. Nothing is growing inside the uterus just yet. However, the first week of pregnancy is counted differently if you’ve had IVF: from two weeks before the egg is implanted in the uterus. This is because the egg, which was fertilized outside of the body, has been living in an incubator for 2-5 days before being returned to the uterus.

Week 1 mum

Signs of ovulation

Most people release a fertile egg every month. The egg matures in one of the ovarian follicles, and when the follicle bursts, the egg is released and caught by the fallopian tube – which is called ovulation. One sign to watch out for if you want to keep track of ovulation is richer discharge, with an almost stringy consistency. This provides smooth sailing to any sperm on their way to the egg. The egg continues on to the fallopian tube, where it is ready and waiting to be fertilized. It can live in this nourishing environment for about a day. If it isn’t fertilized, the egg continues down into the uterus and disappears out through the cervix and vagina, along with the uterine lining, as your period.

Week 1 partner

Remember folic acid

If you’re planning to have a baby, it’s a good idea for your partner to start taking folic acid already now. Folic acid reduces the risk of spina bifida in the foetus. If you or your partner smoke, you’ve never had a better reason to quit. Even second-hand smoke can have a negative impact on both fertility and pregnancy.

Week 2

Week 2 baby

Does anything happen in the second week?

In fact, the pregnancy still hasn’t actually begun. It might sound a little confusing, but this is because pregnancy is counted from the first day of your last period – in other words, the last period before fertilisation. To make things even more confusing, you count differently with IVF, when pregnancy is considered to have begun two weeks before insertion of the egg. But hang in there during these confusing weeks, because later in the pregnancy, your midwife or doctor will calculate the due date via ultrasound, and you’ll have a more precise idea then. This date is also an approximation: only 5% of people give birth on their due date. Simply put, it’s the baby in your belly, along with hormones, heredity and previous pregnancies that determine when it’s time to come out. But you won’t have to wait forever: most babies are born before week 42.

Week 2 mum

Which sperm wins?

Over the course of the next two days, you may become pregnant. Sperm are persistent little fellows and take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to reach the egg. At first, a whole bunch of sperm may be battling side by side to get there – but it won’t necessarily be the quickest sperm that fertilises the egg. Rather, it will probably be the one that best matches the egg. Will you notice anything? Some people say they knew they were pregnant from the moment the sperm reached the egg. But if you had no idea until the pregnancy test was positive, you’re in good company. Most people don’t notice anything and it usually takes at least three to five days before any sign of pregnancy is detectable. Things to watch out for include a metallic taste in your mouth, increased thirst, nausea, fatigue, or breast changes. If you’ve done IVF, you have a little head start and you’ll know the exact day of fertilisation. You’ll take a pregnancy test two weeks after the egg is inserted.

Week 2 partner

What are some signs of pregnancy?

During the first, second and third weeks, you probably won’t know that you’re expecting. Some people say they knew they were pregnant the moment the egg was fertilised, but usually it takes at least three to five days after fertilisation before you can detect any signs of pregnancy. If your partner has started mentioning a metallic taste in her mouth or wants to vomit after a mere glimpse of her favourite dish, a fertilised egg could be the cause – these are two common signs of pregnancy. If you are getting pregnant through IVF, this is when the egg is inserted. It doesn’t matter how your baby is made – all that matters is that it happens. The only difference is that if you’ve done IVF, you will know much earlier that you’re expecting a child than people who get pregnant the old-fashioned way.

Week 3

Week 3 baby

Here we go!

Now it’s started for real! A sperm has reached the egg and wiggled its way inside. The fertilised egg travels towards the uterus. On its way there, it develops as the cells in the egg divide over and over. On the fourth day of pregnancy, the fertilised egg looks like a blackberry and is called a morula. It’s the size of the head of a pin and consists of 32 cells.

Week 3 mum

Missed period?

Chemical signals are now being sent to the pituitary gland announcing that you are pregnant and you can cancel egg release until further notice – no more periods for a while! But if you have some light bleeding anyway, this isn’t your period, but what’s known as spotting. This happens when the egg attaches to the uterine wall and resembles slightly bloody discharge. At this point, your placenta has started to form – a brand new organ – and the roots are digging deeper and deeper into the uterus. From here, the hormone progesterone will begin to be produced. Its task is to keep the pregnancy in the uterus, and the concentration in the blood rises quickly. Body temperature also becomes a little higher.

Week 3 partner

Early signs

If your partner is pregnant, from now, she’ll no longer have a period. But there could be another form of bleeding. When the egg embeds into the uterus, it’s fairly common to experience spotting, which is completely harmless. This might happen seven to 14 days after the egg is released, and it may look more or less like blood mixed with discharge. Soon, you can take a pregnancy test to see if you are expecting. With artificial insemination like IVF, the egg lived outside of the uterus for the first two weeks, which means it’s now been inside the belly for one week. It may be good to know that some people experience a slightly higher body temperature while pregnant, and many people feel tired. Feeling a bit off and thinking you may be getting sick is fairly common, so if you’re trying to get pregnant, this could be a little sign.

Week 4

Week 4 baby

Embryo formation

It’s teeny-tiny – only 0.5 mm at this point – but it’s there! The egg has attached to the uterine wall and is getting nutrients from the rich blood vessels that surround it. The placenta continues to develop around it, which will supply the foetus with everything it needs throughout the pregnancy. At this point, various parts of the foetus begin to develop and land in the right place. The first nerve cells and the spine begin to develop. Some of the cells form the beginning of the gastrointestinal tract and lungs, while others become the start of the skin, muscles and blood vessels.

Week 4 mum

Is something going on with your body?

Does everything in the fridge smell gross? Can you smell someone’s perfume from a mile away, or do you want to throw up when you get out of bed in the morning? These are some of many early signs revealing that you’re pregnant. If this isn’t your experience, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not pregnant. Some people don’t notice anything unusual at all at first. Somewhere around weeks 4-6, your body will begin to produce the pregnancy hormone known as hCG. It is secreted via the urine, and if you got pregnant the natural way, you will soon be able to take a pregnancy test to see if you’re pregnant. If you’ve done IVF, you know you can take a test just two weeks after the egg is inserted. If the test is negative but you still feel like something is up in your body, then wait a few days and take another test. Sometimes people take the test too early – the pregnancy hormone hasn’t had a chance to reach a measurable amount yet. If you see a little blood when wiping or in your knickers, not to worry – some people experience spotting when the egg implants in the uterine wall. This is completely harmless and nothing to worry about.

Week 4 partner

Time for a pregnancy test

Around weeks 4-6, your partner will start to produce the pregnancy hormone, called hCG. It is secreted through the urine, and this is what indicates whether you’re pregnant in a pregnancy test. We suggest looking at the test result together – this way you can share all of the feelings that arise, no matter what the test shows. If you get pregnant through IVF, a pregnancy test may have already been done. The pregnancy weeks are counted a little differently in that case, and the test is taken two weeks after the egg is inserted. Your partner might be feeling tired or nauseous already at this point; that’s completely normal and good to know for the person who isn’t carrying the baby. Offer support where you can and let your partner know that eating multiple, smaller meals can help keep nausea at bay. Because food can trigger nausea, it’s a good idea for you to wear the chef’s hat for now.

Week 5

Week 5 baby

Activity abounds in the uterus

The embryo that will develop into a foetus now measures about 4 mm. Tiny little knobs that will become arms stick out from the body. What will become the brain has split into two halves, and you can see the formation of the spine. Between the vertebrae of the spine, bundles of nerves emerge from the spinal cord and will navigate their way throughout the body. Soon, the baby’s continued development will also be apparent. Depending on whether an X or Y chromosome first encountered the egg, testosterone or oestrogen will be released and form the baby’s sex organs.

Week 5 mum

Positive test?

If you haven’t taken a pregnancy test yet, you surely suspect by now that you’re pregnant – if for no other reason than the fact of a skipped period. If you take a pregnancy test now, it will most likely be positive. Do your breasts feel different? It’s not unusual for them to get bigger and a little taut; you might also start peeing more than usual. These extra visits to the restroom are because more blood is flowing through the area around the uterus, and because it’s growing and may press up against your bladder. You will typically also feel a little more tired, hungry or nauseous than usual, which isn’t surprising: your body is working and expending tons of energy as it creates a little life. If you’re struggling with nausea, it may actually help to eat – a little and often. If you aren’t already taking a folic acid supplement, it’s a good idea to start now. Make sure to keep taking it until week 12. Now is a good time to call your doctor to schedule your first visit about your pregnancy. Your medical provider will answer your questions and if you want help with a pregnancy test, you can do that there. If you became pregnant through artificial insemination, you will likely meet with a doctor at the IVF clinic for an ultrasound. If you got pregnant the old-fashioned way, you will still need to call and schedule a time for your first appointment about your pregnancy, since it will be tracked by your medical provider.

Week 5 partner

Call the midwife

You probably know by now that you’re expecting a baby – and if you did IVF, you’ve known for a while. For most people, finding out you’re going to be a parent is a revolutionary feeling that is difficult to grasp. This is particularly true for the partner who isn’t experiencing any physical changes – and can barely see them. It’s more that your partner falls asleep in front of the movie you were trying to watch together... If you read up and understand what happens during pregnancy, it may be easier to feel involved, and above all, to support your partner during the challenging months ahead. A tangible example is that you may have to make some changes: there are foods to avoid while pregnant; alcohol and nicotine are particularly dangerous during foetal development and so on. Passive smoking is dangerous both now and when the child is born. You can call your medical provider at any point now to schedule your first appointment. If you went through artificial insemination, the first visit will be at the IVF clinic and they will do an ultrasound. Even if you’ve done IVF, you still need to schedule an appointment with the medical centre where you will give birth, which is probably separate from the IVF clinic.

Week 6

Week 6 baby

The first heart beat

This week, the foetus triples in size and that little heart beats for the first time. Development at this point is intense to say the least. The internal organs begin to form – stomach, intestines, liver and kidneys – along with what will become the lungs. The skin can also be seen more clearly, and the brain grows quickly to fill out that growing head. Every minute, a dizzying 100,000 nerve cells form within the baby! During week six, you can also discern eyes, a mouth and a nose, and the beginnings of ears become visible. So do the arms and legs, which stick out a bit from the body like little wings.

Week 6 mum

Nauseous and peeing all the time?

Do you feel sick when you wake up? Does your coffee taste yucky? Does it feel like someone’s knocked you out when you go to bed at night? There are wonderful aspects of pregnancy (we promise!), but in the beginning, there are some slightly less delightful pregnancy symptoms. Maybe heartburn sounds familiar, or tender and tense breasts? It’s common to have a sluggish, gassy tummy, since your hormones think your intestines can take it a little easier when it comes to letting food pass through, and you might feel hungry all the time. The body is beginning to do all kinds of things right now, and even if it’s a total hassle sometimes, it’s important to remember that it’s temporary! This will all pass. It passes at different paces, but for most people, the incredible fatigue and constant nausea are at their worst now, in the beginning. During weeks 6-8, most clinics will probably want to see you for your first visit. You schedule this appointment yourself when you realize that you’re pregnant. During this first visit, you will talk about pregnancy, expectations, and any concerns you might have. The doctor or midwife will be there for you throughout your pregnancy, both to monitor the pregnancy and to help you feel confident as a parent. So if you aren’t happy with your doctor or midwife, you can switch to a different person or clinic. If you have a partner, it’s best for you to both attend. It’s nice to be able to share as much as possible of the pregnancy. Plus, a lot of information will come out in this conversation – and four ears hear better than two.

Week 6 partner

When do you tell people?

Maybe only you and your partner know right now that you’re expecting a baby – and maybe you want to keep it that way a little longer. Or maybe you want to tell everyone. Right now! Everyone chooses to do things differently and there’s no right or wrong. Some people want to wait until they’ve taken it all in and feel fairly secure in the pregnancy. Others are keen for everyone around them to know what they’re going through in order to provide support as early as possible. There are no requirements when it comes to telling or not telling – but it’s good to be a unified front. So talk about what you want to do! Heads up: nausea can be really intense right now. For many people, it’s a constant sense of seasickness. Try to listen to how your partner is doing. Remember: both of you are having a baby, and as the person who isn’t carrying the pregnancy, you can give your partner a little extra care and help where you can, for example by shopping for foods and beverages that alleviate nausea.

Week 7

Week 7 baby

The tail is in place

The heart, which is one of the first organs to develop, is now pumping blood into the tissues of the baby’s little body. The head can also be discerned now, and the structures of the baby’s face are becoming clear. The eyes are also developing now, as little indentations on either side of the head – but there are no eyelids yet. Cartilage is also forming, which will become the skeleton and continue to develop and grow until the baby is about 20 years old. The hands are becoming visible, and they look like teeny, tiny paddles. Because the baby is nearly transparent, you can see the heart, spinal cord, and tail. Tail!? Yes, that’s right: at this early stage, the embryo has something that resembles a little tail. But don’t worry; it will reshape and disappear around week nine, and all that will remain is the coccyx. The subcutis hasn’t developed yet, but the connective tissue that is the beginning of skin is on the way. Tons of activity is underway in what will become the brain, with various parts that are starting to develop their own specific functions, and connections between nerve cells are developing constantly. At the end of this week, your future baby will be the size of a pea.

Week 7 mum

Hormones through the roof

At this point, no one can tell that you’re pregnant, but you’re likely to be feeling changes in your body. Quite a lot of people, 7 out of 10, feel nauseous at this point in early pregnancy. The main cause of this annoying (to say the least) condition is the massive hormonal changes your body is undergoing. But don’t worry: it should settle down within a few weeks. If you exercised before becoming pregnant, it’s smart to continue doing so, as long as it feels good. It’s good to move and it can alleviate some troublesome aspects of early pregnancy. In particular, fresh air is often great for nausea. If you didn’t exercise before getting pregnant, it’s still a good idea to start doing some light exercise. It’s particularly important to remember to do your daily Kegel exercises already now, because it’s essential to have a strong pelvic floor to help you hold up the belly that’s on its way. Doing them is easy, but remembering to do them is tougher. One idea is to come up with a simple rule for yourself as a daily reminder: for example, every morning when you brush your teeth, or at night when you go to bed. If you got pregnant through IVF, you will now do a vaginal ultrasound at the fertility clinic to see that everything is developing as it should be.

Week 7 partner

Stronger sense of smell

Is your partner feeling sick? That’s not unusual: 7 out of 10 people feel nauseous during early pregnancy. The main cause of nausea is that the body is undergoing massive hormonal changes. And of course, hormones are also what make so many people extra sensitive to smells during pregnancy. There could be smells she loved before that have suddenly become reminiscent of rotten fish when they reach her nose now and unfortunately, it’s pretty common for her to react specifically to your scents. Maybe you should put your favourite aftershave away for a while to prevent a negative association. At some point during weeks 6-8, most people will have their first appointment at the clinic where they will give birth. All parents-to-be, not only the one carrying the child, get to participate in the discussion with the doctor or midwife. As a partner, being involved will make pregnancy feel more like a shared experience. One idea is to write down everything you’re wondering to make it easier to remember once you’re at the doctor’s office. And even if it may feel like pregnancy is the most natural thing in the world, not every aspect will be completely obvious – just remember: there are no stupid questions and it’s better to ask one question too many than one too few. If you got pregnant through IVF, you will now do an early ultrasound at the fertility clinic to see that everything is developing as it should be. Together, you will get to see the baby’s heart beat.

Week 8

Week 8 baby

Strange proportions

Your baby is now 1.5 cm long and is starting to look more and more like a miniature person. But as you can see, this teeny-tiny person has very strange proportions: the head is still quite large relative to the upper body, and much bigger than the lower body. But the body will sort itself out more and more, and the start of what will become arms, legs and feet are clearly visible now. The uterus is filled with activity; the baby is constantly moving around and rests only for brief moments at a time. Movement impulses from the brain are now reaching all the way out to the arms and legs, and signals are sent via the nervous system to the muscles, instructing them in what to do. At the same time, information is also sent back to the brain from the body’s outer parts. The fact that the baby can move now is important for further development of the muscles and joints. You won’t be able to feel these movements yet, but they’re happening. The sense organs also begin to develop this week, and the most important internal organs – all to the regular beat of the heart. We also get to celebrate that the placenta is now self-sufficient when it comes to hormones.

Week 8 mum

Superhuman sense of smell?

Have you noticed that you’re having stronger-than-usual reactions to smells, and you suddenly can’t stand your favourite scents? You can thank hormones for that. Unfortunately, you just have to accept it and try to avoid smells that make you uncomfortable, and remember that it will mostly pass. Maybe you’re feeling a stinging sensation, and something resembling mild menstrual pain? That’s your growing uterus, which is now the size of an orange and stretching the ligaments. While it still might not be visible from the outside that a little life is growing inside of you, your baby is getting bigger all the time and taking up more space. If you do bleed a little during the first trimester of pregnancy, it might be nice to know that this is fairly common and absolutely doesn’t have to mean you’re about to miscarry. But if you have lasting or increasing pain in conjunction with bleeding, then contact your medical provider. Are you enjoying keeping your pregnancy a secret? Many people feel it’s a little too early to tell their friends and family that they’re expecting. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not full of questions or considerations – so talking with other people in our parent chat who are in the same situation might be nice.

Week 8 partner

Moodiness

It’s completely normal for your partner to experience mood swings during pregnancy, due to the hormonal changes underway in the body. And it isn’t easy to be in a great mood all the time when you’re feeling tired and nauseous. Maybe you’ve gone through pregnancy yourself and remember how it felt – with highs and lows? If this is your first baby, you simply need to try to be understanding of the fact that this is a challenging period and you just have to get through it. Talk about the best ways for you to be there for your partner and help out. Anxiety is common during pregnancy. Not just about the baby, but also that something might happen to you, as a partner. It may seem irrational, but that’s part of the preparations of becoming a parent. To try to soothe that worry, talk to each other about it. Maybe there are some things that can wait, if they’re causing unnecessary anxiety?

Week 9

Week 9 baby

Two little nostrils

Your baby is now 2-3 cm long and the shape is looking more and more like a person, and less and less like a little pink lump. On the nose, you can now see two tiny holes, which will become nostrils.The head is almost half as big as the body as your baby develops more and more. We also wave goodbye to the tail, which has now become a coccyx instead. The nervous system, the brain cells in particular, are developing and maturing. Most nerve cells are formed where the brain develops, about 100,000 per minute. The baby’s internal genitalia are formed and look identical for both sexes. The arms and hands are quickly emerging, and growing faster than the legs and feet. The baby is now moving its elbows and joints, because the muscles have started to form.

Week 9 mum

Emotional chaos?

Your blood volume is now increasing. Have you noticed a bit more bleeding from your gums when brushing your teeth? Are you getting nose bleeds a little more easily? This is because blood flow is increasing in all of your mucous membranes. Maybe you’re feeling less sexual desire? Or more? It’s very common for sexual desire to change during pregnancy – both for the person carrying the baby and for their partner. It’s important to know that sex is perfectly safe during pregnancy, but as always, you should honour your own sense of desire. It’s also super common to experience mood swings. Cute animals might make you cry; one look at your partner and you may be furious for no reason – or you might have a huge craving to just be left in peace. This is because your body is being flooded with so many strong emotions and thoughts that are coming one after the next and need to be processed. And it doesn’t help that you’re feeling sick and are completely exhausted all the time. Fun? Hardly, but hang in there! For most people, this will resolve within a few weeks. You’ve surely already had your first visit with your doctor or midwife – and if not, it’s time to get in touch and schedule an appointment. If you’ll be running foetal diagnostics, NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) can often be done from week 10 where these tests are available. As with a combined ultrasound and blood test, this test checks for any chromosome abnormalities, but the difference is that you’ll have a clearer and more definitive answer. NIPT is a blood test and is completely risk-free. But as with all foetal diagnostics, you should consider the purpose before running the test, and how you will process the result if it isn’t what you had hoped for.

Week 9 partner

Closeness and desire

It’s often generally understood that the pregnant person has a decline in sexual desire, but in fact, it’s quite common for the partner’s sexual desire to decline, too. It could also increase – as is the case for the pregnant person. It’s impossible to know how it will be for you and your partner, and either way, it will likely vary a great deal throughout the various phases of pregnancy. The solution to this is communication, of course. Talk to each other regularly and honestly about how you feel and what you’re in the mood for. Closeness is as important as ever, but that’s something you can create at a variety of different levels if sexual desire has declined. Whatever you do, it’s nice to know that sex during pregnancy won’t harm your baby.

The second trimester

When does the second trimester start? What is happening inside the pregnant belly? Will you still be nauseous and tired? Get answers to all your questions about the second trimester!

Week 10

Week 10 baby

Assembled organs

All of the organs are now in place, but far from fully developed. For about 30 weeks, they will mature as the foetus grows. The heart, which has been beating rhythmically since week 6, is fully developed – but very small. Many functions of the brain and nervous system are also already complete, and the thyroid has started releasing the hormone thyroxine, which controls metabolism in cells. The baby is about 3 cm and is moving around in a fluid-filled sac. The fingers and toes are showing hints of what will become knuckles and nails. The taste buds are developing and the eyes are moving forward to their proper place. The baby can perceive light, but still can’t blink. The inner ears are also forming now, but it will be a while before the baby can hear.

Week 10 mum

When do you tell people?

You are living with your pregnancy day and night. Maybe you’re not sleeping as well as usual and have to pee once or more at night. It’s also common to feel bloated, and your trousers might feel a little tighter than usual. If you still haven’t told people that you are expecting a baby, it may be a challenge at this point to hide your body’s changes. Trying to explain away moodiness can also be a little tough. In other words, the factor that gives you away won’t always be what you think. It might be more that you’ve stopped drinking coffee, rather than the snacks or extra sandwiches you’re eating at work, that makes people start to wonder. It could also be the big jumper, the slightly absent look, or the oversized shawl draped casually over your stomach to distract the gaze. You might not really be able to put your finger on what it is that will make people wonder if someone is pregnant.

Week 10 partner

Visiting the doctor or midwife

You’ll meet with a doctor or midwife a few times – and there will be a lot of focus on the person carrying the baby, including urine tests, blood pressure checks and various blood tests. But it’s also important for your medical provider to be able to talk to both of you about your expectations and any concerns, and to answer your questions. Your thoughts are important and it’s good to attend these appointments together, even if you aren’t the one having tests done. Understanding what’s going on is also a way for you to participate and support your partner. If you can’t be there in person, consider attending digitally. The purpose of the blood tests is to check blood type and to measure iron levels. If your blood values are too low, you’ll need to think about getting extra iron from your diet or taking an iron supplement in tablet form. Blood pressure will also be checked and monitored throughout the pregnancy. It often decreases in the beginning and then rises in the last three months. Urine samples are taken to check that there is no protein in the urine, which could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or reduced functioning of the kidneys.

Week 11

Week 11 baby

Quick little heart

The baby is now around 4.5 cm long and the heart is beating 140-150 bpm, just as it should be. This rate is necessary to give that little body everything it needs to be able to grow and develop. Right now, the head is as big as the rest of the body, but that will sort itself out later. The liver is also big now, filling nearly half of the abdominal cavity. At this point, it has the important task of managing and eliminating waste. The testicles or ovaries are in place and the external sex organs are also visible now. The baby can open its mouth and the tongue is already fully developed.

Week 11 mum

Thoughts and worries

If you’ve been feeling sick, that may start to resolve now. Finally! If you’re still feeling nauseous, just hang in there – unfortunately, it’s not impossible for this to linger longer into your pregnancy. Your mood may be on a roller coaster; a lot of people feel more sensitive than usual. Hormones are one reason, along with the fact that so much energy is going towards thinking about the future. A transformational period awaits and you might be afraid of losing what you have. Maybe you’re worried about how things will be? If you have a partner, then talk about your feelings. If you don’t, then talk to someone you’re close to. However your future family looks, it’s completely normal at this phase of pregnancy to think about whether you’ve made the right choice and if you’ll be able to make it work. Try to find a sense of security in the fact that you’ll get there soon, and suddenly you will see things from the bright side again! One way to handle difficult thoughts or worries is to get moving. Even if you don’t usually exercise regularly, try taking a walk or going swimming. Moving a little bit every day will make you feel better and can prevent some of the side effects of pregnancy. And of course, it’s very important not to push your body, which is managing an enormous task right now. Listen to what you feel like you can manage: if you want to fall asleep on the couch by 7 pm several nights in a row, that’s probably exactly what you need right now. You also need to drink extra water – your body needs tons of water for the production of both blood and amniotic fluid. Your body is also starting to burn more calories and therefore needs a little extra nourishment. An extra piece of fruit, a sandwich and a glass of milk, or a vegan option, per day will be enough.

Week 11 partner

Thoughts and dreams

Mood swings in your partner may feel like a daily occurrence now, and the two of you will have to hang in there for a while longer – but this should calm down within a few weeks. These swings are due to the hormones rushing through the body, but also because of thoughts about the future and childbirth, which take up a lot of energy and can cause moods to rise and fall. Are you also experiencing mood swings, and spending time thinking about what the future will hold? Our best advice is to talk to each other. Share your thoughts, worries and ruminations, as well as your joy, enthusiasm and delight. You can also talk to a midwife or doctor about your feelings and get some feedback on how to handle them. Dreams are common when you’re expecting a baby, for both you and your pregnant partner. They will often be surreal: the baby is born while in a queue to order food; it comes out half bicycle and half baby; you’ve left it alone in the worst place imaginable. This is just how the brain processes the major event awaiting just beyond the door: becoming a parent.

Week 12

Week 12 baby

The placenta takes over

Your baby has grown and is about 5.5 cm long – it weighs about 15 grams. It is now getting nutrients and oxygen through the placenta. The entire foetus is in constant development, but right now, the emphasis is on the all-important brain development. The eyelids are in place, the tissue that will become the teeth is developing, and an indent is developing above the upper lip. The baby can swallow and the intestines are slowly beginning to move in the belly, because there is more and more space for them.

Week 12 mum

Time for a new wardrobe?

Are your clothes getting a little tight? Try using a rubber band at the button closure for a little extra space in your waistband and you can wear your favourite jeans for a little longer – you can also buy extenders. Otherwise, try wearing trousers with a lower rise. Or you can jump straight into a pair of maternity leggings – the most important thing is that you feel comfortable! With every breath, you’re taking in 40 to 50 percent more air than usual, and your ribcage has expanded, which explains why you feel like your usual bra doesn’t quite fit anymore. Something else that affects fit is of course that your breasts have probably already changed. They’ve definitely gotten bigger, and your nipples and the surrounding area may be a little darker. It isn’t entirely certain, but this is probably to make it easier for the baby to find them once it’s born. Your nipples might leak a little and could be more sensitive. If you’ve decided to do a combined ultrasound and blood test, the ultrasound will be between weeks 11 and 14, so it’s good to schedule that appointment now. These tests show how likely it is that your foetus has a chromosomal abnormality. It’s worth considering your intention before you do the test, and how you will handle a result that might not be what you had hoped for. Different places have different rules about screening tests, so talk to your healthcare provider.

Week 12 partner

Pregnancy brain and forgetfulness

Does it seem like your partner is having a tough time paying attention for any extended amount of time? Forgetting things more than usual? This is really common and will probably happen more and more as time goes on. It isn’t clear what causes this – possibly a lack of sleep paired with hormonal changes. Or the body might just be too busy building a little life inside its belly and has no time to focus on anything else. When the baby is bigger and takes up more space in the body, all those kicks, somersaults and turning around will make it hard for the person carrying this little acrobat to focus and keep track of what they were doing. But there’s actually a bright side to all this: from the second trimester, which will soon begin, a lot of pregnant people feel calmer and often find there’s no reason to stress out unnecessarily.

Week 13

Week 13 baby

Lots left to form

The organs are all in place now and have gradually started functioning. Part one of pregnancy is complete! During the remaining two trimesters, your baby will grow and the organs will mature completely – so that the baby is as ready as can be for life outside the uterus. The little body is getting sturdier – about 6 cm long, and weighing in at around 60g. But much remains to be done: the ears are low, the eyes – which are still closed – are wide apart. Parts of the cartilage that served as bone structures are starting to harden and become the bones, and the baby is moving more and more with every passing day. It also has a little extra water around it, making it easier to stretch its body. You can see in the ultrasound how its hands reach for its mouth, and how its arms and legs bend and stretch. Boys create the male sex hormone and girls have millions of primitive eggs in the immature ovaries. You can also detect lines on the fingertips that will later become your baby’s unique fingerprints.

Week 13 mum

One third is done!

You’re entering the second third, or trimester, of your pregnancy (depending on how you count, but week 13 or 14 tends to be considered the beginning of the second trimester). Many people find that they are entering a calmer period of time. The nausea and fatigue have hopefully reduced – even if for some people, these things may last a little longer. A sense of calm also often settles in during this week, because the biggest risk of miscarriage is behind you. You might be able to let go of that small but nagging sense of anxiety and dare to think about the future for real. Week 13 is often when you start telling the people around you that you’re expecting a baby. That can feel both scary and exciting, but it’s usually nice to not have to keep the secret anymore. It will also be hard to hide for too much longer – your belly is going to pop out like a little ball whether you like it or not. Don’t be surprised if many people already knew you were pregnant. Sneaking sweets, visiting the toilet constantly, or subtly patting your little tummy has probably given away the bun in the oven. Many people also feel better now, but the need for rest and good food lasts throughout your pregnancy – so finding a nice balance is important in order to keeping feeling well. Your usual work and physical activity aren’t bad at all, but try to avoid exposing yourself to stress, and get plenty of sleep.

Week 13 partner

Weird cravings

You’ve gotten through the first trimester of pregnancy and the biggest risk of miscarriage is behind you. For many parents-to-be, this is a bit of a milestone – most people are less worried and start to feel better. Your partner might also be a little more cheerful now. Unfortunately, this isn’t true for everyone – some people feel sick throughout pregnancy, some so much so that they may need to seek medical care for it. Maybe you’ve heard that pregnancy can produce cravings for specific foods. We don’t really know what causes this, but a lot of people get strong cravings for everything from chocolate, citrus fruits and salt to liquorice (liquorice in particular is something you should go easy on while pregnant; it isn’t dangerous, but too much isn’t good). For some people, these cravings can lead to a huge desire to eat something that you absolutely can’t eat, like cement, chalk or soil. At the same time, other foods and scents, often old favourites, might generate a massive amount of distaste and disgust.

Week 14

Week 14 baby

Intense phase of growth

The baby is now around 8 cm long and is in the midst of an intense phase of growth. It is getting stronger and stronger, and the movements are more and more intentional – even if it isn’t voluntary yet: the baby can hold up its head for a little while; its hand can somewhat clumsily grip, and its foot can kick. The proportions are gradually sorting themselves out: the legs are longer than the arms now, and the body is growing. The eyes and ears are moving to their proper places, and the bridge of the nose has appeared. Amniotic fluid is forming constantly, until the baby comes to term. Myelin production, which is important, also begins now. Myelin is the insulation surrounding the nerves, which send communication signals through the brain. Its production continues throughout the first few years of a baby’s life.

Week 14 mum

Changing skin

Your uterus is now slightly above your pubic bone, and your body continues to change at an ever-increasing rate. Your belly is getting bigger and bigger; you’re getting out of breath more easily, and your pulse is a little faster than usual. Sound tough? Despite all this, a lot of people find they’re starting to feel pretty good at this point – maybe because their belly isn’t heavy yet, and the body is experiencing a sense of calm in relation to expecting a baby. Have you noticed a hint of a dark stripe on your belly? Many people develop a straight line from the upper belly down to the pubic bone, called the linea nigra. This develops due to an increase in pigmentation while pregnant, caused by hormones. The stripe will likely fade away once your baby is born. All that extra pigmentation caused by hormones could also result in pigmentation elsewhere, for example on your face. This is called chloasma; you can avoid it by using a high SPF sunscreen and making sure to keep your head and face in the shade while you’re out in the sun. You should always be cautious in the sun, so just be a little extra mindful now while you’re pregnant.

Week 14 partner

Making the connection

It can be hard to understand a pregnancy when you’re living in the middle of it – not so much for the pregnant person, but for the partner, it is a bit strange if things feel abstract. Maybe you already have a working name for the little bun in the oven. If not, it might be easier to imagine your baby if you give it a nickname. That can make it easier to think about your baby as a little individual, and you can fantasise about what their personality will be like, or what they’ll look like. Writing down your thoughts and feelings – or simply what happened during the day – can make it easier to go back later and reflect on how things felt then. Seeing it written down can also clarify your connection to the little life waiting to meet you.

Week 15

Week 15 baby

Fuzzy little body

If your baby is going to have dark hair, the pigment will start to be produced now. But it isn’t certain that any hair will be there just yet – for many babies, it doesn’t arrive until a few months after birth. However, the eyebrows will pop up this week. The thin skin all over the body is now covered with colourless wool-like lanugo hair. This probably helps the baby retain body heat, and it gradually disappears the closer it is to birth. Small, thin blood vessels are visible through the delicate skin. The cerebellum and spinal cord are established. The baby will begin storing calcium, which is used to develop the bones and marrow. Even though there is no air, the baby still makes breathing motions with its ribcage, as if to practice. It can also put its thumb in its mouth now.

Week 15 mum

Out of breath from nothing at all?

As a mother, your heart hasn’t only swollen emotionally to hold the little baby in your belly – it’s also increased its capacity. The reason is the increased volume of blood, which can make some women short of breath and produce heart palpitations. This can feel scary the first few times it happens, but it’s completely harmless. The uterus is getting bigger, but in the beginning of pregnancy, it mainly grows upward, which means the downward pressure tends to lighten. So maybe now you can celebrate the fact that the most acute phase of constantly having to pee is behind you. Do you vaguely remember it – the waist you used to have? Along with your favourite pair of tight jeans, it’s but a mere memory. At least for the next year. If this isn’t your first pregnancy, you probably have a slightly bigger belly this time than last time. That’s because your skin and belly have gone through it all before, which means they can stretch and broaden more easily this time around.

Week 15 partner

Talk to your baby

Your baby will soon be able to hear sound. This means you can sing and talk to it through the belly and your baby will recognise your voice once it’s born. It could feel a little strange at first to sit and sing to a belly... but for the baby, it will be very comforting to hear a familiar voice once it arrives in the world. You can encourage any siblings to talk to the baby, too. Research shows that infants prefer light voices – have you noticed that, maybe completely unconsciously, you use a lighter voice when talking to little kids? And by the way, did you know that humans aren’t the only mammals that use this technique? Dolphin mothers sing to the baby in their belly so that it recognises the mother’s special sound when it’s born. Dolphins have different names for each other, and it is thought that the mother sings her name to the baby over and over.

Week 16

Week 16 baby

Urine in the amniotic fluid

The baby has sprouted out lengthwise and is now about 14-15 cm long, weighing in at 100 grams. Muscles and bones are forming, as are the nails, which you can see now. You can also detect facial features. The baby can suck its thumb and swallow. Sometimes when it inhales and drinks in amniotic fluid, it can hiccup – this might not be noticeable yet, but a bit down the road, you will feel it in your whole belly. Amniotic fluid is replaced constantly, through the baby breathing, swallowing, and then urinating it out. It might seem a little weird that someone is peeing inside of your belly, but it’s pure amniotic fluid coming out and it’s an important part of the process. The quantity of amniotic fluid also increases daily, which gives the baby more and more room to move. The nervous system functions now; the baby can wrinkle its forehead and the delicate head is about 30 mm in diameter. The small, still very immature foetus is moving constantly and those movements are becoming increasingly coordinated.

Week 16 mum

Stuffy nose?

The ligaments that keep the uterus in place sometimes get tight, which can feel like a stabbing or shooting pain at the sides. Often, this comes with big movements, like sneezing or laughing. Your belly is growing and the uterine wall is stretching out more and more. Right now, your body is pumping 20 percent more blood than usual, which, along with your pregnancy hormones, can cause your mucous membranes to swell. As a result, you may have more discharge than you’re used to, and your nose may get stuffy more easily. Swollen mucous membranes also mean you may bleed more easily. This could become apparent when you brush your teeth and your gums bleed, or wipe your nose without thought and you end up with a little nosebleed. Don’t stop brushing your teeth – just switch to a softer brush. If you have a stuffy nose from swollen mucous membranes, you can try sleeping with your head slightly elevated, or you can use nose drops or a saline solution spray. If this doesn’t work and your stuffy nose is bothering you, then talk to your medical provider.

Week 16 partner

Almost time for an ultrasound

Soon, you get to experience the often intense feeling that comes with seeing the little life inside the uterus. For a lot of people, the routine ultrasound usually carried out around week 18 offers concrete confirmation that you really are going to have a baby. Many places give you the option of finding out whether you’re having a girl or a boy. Some people find it easier to tap into the experience if they know what sex the baby is, while others don’t want to know and would prefer to be surprised. Maybe you like being entirely neutral when it comes to the sex of your unborn baby, or maybe you want to think about names and fantasise about a future with a little boy or girl. Whatever you and your partner decide, you can expect people around you to inquire. If you don’t want to tell them, just say you’re expecting a baby.

Week 17

Week 17 baby

Time to gain

Things are moving fast now! The baby is about 18 cm and weighs around 200 grams. It still has almost no subcutaneous fat – but from this point, it will start storing fat in the body. A certain kind of fat, called brown fat, serves as a bit of a survival reserve for the baby, helping it to retain warmth once born. The arms and legs are thin – most of the bones still consist of soft and malleable cartilage. Brain development is intensely underway during the second trimester. The brain is protected by a loosely composed skull, which gradually closes up, but the fontanelles – the big, soft areas between the skull bones – will linger a long time, often until around age two. The eyelids cover the eyes, which won’t open until week 26, but the baby still perceives its surroundings and can react to what’s going on outside of the belly by startling at a sudden, loud noise. It is still able to move fairly freely inside the sac. The baby now weighs more than the placenta and the pregnancy is very likely visible now.

Week 17 mum

The glow™ – or the opposite…

Being pregnant doesn’t always have to mean bags under your eyes, terrible skin and other maladies – on the contrary, your second trimester may bring a boost for your hair, skin and well-being. That glow that people talk about may very well come, and many people start sleeping well at this point as a sort of calm settles into your spirit. It’s also quite possible that your sexual desire will increase due to increased blood flow, because this also affects the pelvic area and the mucous membranes of the uterus. If you haven’t a clue what we’re on about, that gorgeous hair, smooth skin and incredible sexual desire may not be a reality for everyone. Fairness isn’t evenly divided when it comes to the advantages of pregnancy.

Week 17 partner

Time for a trip?

Are you thinking about taking a trip before your baby’s arrival? If the pregnancy has been fairly breezy, without too many side effects, it might be wise to take this opportunity soon. You can travel by land or by air, but airlines may have rules about how late into a pregnancy you can fly with them. It could also be smart to check with your insurance company about what happens if you need medical care abroad – home insurance might not cover medical costs after week 28. You and your partner may need to think a little extra about what to pack. If you’re flying, compression socks and saline solution nose drops could be practical. And if you’re headed for sunshine, it’s always wise to bring sunscreen. Since pregnant people develop pigmentation more easily, it’s important to be extra thorough with it now.

Week 18

Week 18 baby

Growing at full speed

The baby in your belly is growing at a rapid-fire pace – it now weighs 250 grams and is about 20 cm long. The ears are where they’ll be for the rest of their life, and stick out from the head a little bit now. The eyes are closer to the front of the face and are accompanied by eyebrows and hints of eyelashes. The retinas are now present under the closed eyelids and can react to light. The baby has just started to register sound. That little face can grimace and fat is gathering at the fingertips, which means the little lines that will be fingerprints are detectable now.

Week 18 mum

When will kicking begin?

Are you still awaiting the first kick? When you experience this is a fairly individual experience. If you’ve been pregnant before, you know what feeling you’re looking for – but if this is your first time, it could be a few weeks before you know for sure it was a kick. Sometimes it can feel like butterfly wings fluttering about; sometimes you’ll wonder if your intestines are rumbling a little extra. Nor is it unusual for the placenta to be in the front wall of the uterus, which could make it harder to feel those movements at first, and may mean it takes longer to feel the little kicks or movements. Around week 18, you will be offered a routine ultrasound. This is a voluntary, painless and convenient method in which you get to see an ultrasound image of the foetus. The image will show how development is progressing and whether there is more than one baby inside. You will also find out the location of the placenta. After the ultrasound, the doctor or midwife will calculate your expected due date.

Week 18 partner

One or more?

You probably haven’t felt those first kicks yet. It’s a highly individual experience, but it usually takes until at least week 20 with your first pregnancy – and maybe longer. But this is something to look forward to, as a concrete and clear sign that you’re going to be a parent. Many people say they feel a stronger connection to their baby after the first kick. It’s soon time for a routine ultrasound. This is voluntary, but it can be nice to know that the baby is developing as it should be. The ultrasound will also show the amount of amniotic fluid, the location of the placenta, and confirm the expected due date. At this point, you can see if you’re having one or more babies – and if you’re having multiples, this might be a particularly striking time as your many, at times contradictory, emotions come to the surface. If you’re expecting more than one baby, you may need a little more time and support to prepare. One suggestion is to talk to other parents of twins or triplets. In addition to all the thoughts you’re having, this will also mean more check-ins with your medical provider to make sure your babies are growing as they should be.

Week 19

Week 19 baby

Baby can hear you

Life for your baby in the uterus is quiet, but far from silent: between weeks 18 and 20, your baby’s hearing develops. It is aware of sound in its surroundings: the blood flowing through the vessels and the umbilical cord, heartbeats and intestinal rumblings – as well as some loud sounds that come through the uterine wall. The nerve cells of the brain that are connected to various senses: hearing, smell, sensation and vision, are all becoming more specialised and creating complex connections. Around this week, a thick layer of fat will start to cover the baby’s skin as protection from the amniotic fluid. It is called vernix and resembles dough. Most of it will disappear before birth, just like the lanugo hair to which it is attached. You can also clearly see the beginnings of dental structures – both for baby teeth and adult teeth.

Week 19 mum

Baby talk and words of wisdom

By now you’ve surely noticed – and if not, you will soon – all the questions from people around you about your baby and pregnancy. Some people love planning and talking about their pregnancy, and really hunkering down in the pregnancy bubble. Others can’t focus on anything because of the swirl of nausea, fatigue and hormones. And some people feel a bit deprived of their sense of self – you’re the same person as before, with interests and commitments beyond just being pregnant. There’s no wrong way to feel; no one else gets to decide how you should relate to your pregnancy. So get in touch with what YOU want. Guide the conversation, well-intentioned advice and thoughtful questions in the direction you want and rest assured: you know best how your pregnancy is going and who you are within it. If you have a partner, all of the questions for you might make them feel a little excluded. While you are the one carrying the baby, your partner is going to be a parent, too. If you aren’t happy with the reactions in your surroundings, then talk to each other and make a pact in which you let your partner take up more space in conversations with friends, family and at medical appointments. For example, you don’t have to be the one who has read the most – lean on the fact that shared knowledge is enough!

Week 19 partner

Participant in the pregnancy

Wanting and being permitted to be included in the pregnancy is important! Your feelings about the baby will often be just as strong as your partner’s – it’s just that you aren’t the one carrying the baby (you will get to do that in about 21 weeks). But often, the eyes and attention of the people around you will go straight to the pregnant person, especially later on, as the physical changes become increasingly visible. She may also experience a lot of physical discomfort and everyone will want to show compassion and care. You may get to avoid pelvic pain, but you’re going to be a parent too, and your thoughts and experiences are important. Some tips for how to feel – and be – more included are to actively take part in conversations, be well read, raise the fact that you’re going to be a parent, and ask questions of others who are also pregnant or who are already parents. Healthcare providers are usually good at giving airtime to both the pregnant person and the partner, but if you feel excluded, the same thing applies there: ask questions and show that there are multiple future parents in the room.

The third trimester

When does the third trimester start? Can you exercise? How much weight do you gain? If you’re curious about the third trimester, we’ve got info for you here!

Week 20

Week 20 baby

Grasping and sucking its thumb

Your little baby is now about 24 cm long and weighs around 350 grams. The head is about 4 cm in diameter and the brain is undergoing a mighty period of development. Motor skills will require a few million nerve cells. The development of neural pathways means your baby is now testing its reflexes, gripping, and sucking its thumb, as shown in the picture. The baby is also swallowing amniotic fluid, an innate reflex that is important after birth, when they start to eat. Plenty of space remains for the baby to move around; it is diving and rolling about in the half litre of amniotic fluid surrounding it. There is significant turnover of the fluid, as the baby actually swallows half of it each day and urinates that much back out. Its little heart beats between 110 and 160 bpm, just as it should. Up to this point, your baby has grown about as much per week as every other baby in wombs world-wide – but as of now, there will be more individual variation in how much they grow.

Week 20 mum

Halfway there!

You’ve made it through half of your pregnancy – go you! Although: maybe you don’t have tons of energy to celebrate? It’s not uncommon to start feeling tired, which at this halfway point could very well be due to an iron deficiency. There’s nothing unusual about that, because your body is currently making 40 to 50% more blood than usual. That is the body’s fascinating and brilliant way of adapting and taking over, so that the pregnancy has the best possible conditions. All of that extra blood is necessary for the baby to get the oxygen and nutrients it needs. But not only that: this blood also provides you with a reserve, so that you can bleed when you give birth. Which is what happens: there will be a fair amount of blood, even if that isn’t something that most people think about right now. If that sounds a little unpleasant, you can talk to your doctor or midwife. Your iron levels will be regularly checked, but if you’re feeling dizzy or tired and it will be a while before your next checkup, then you should absolutely call and talk to your medical provider. You should not have to accept fatigue without knowing your current iron levels! You can get extra iron by eating an iron-rich diet, but most people need some kind of iron supplement during pregnancy.

Week 20 partner

First kick

You’re halfway there! Maybe you haven’t felt the first kick yet, but it will come soon. At this point, when you can start to feel the baby’s movements, it’s tough to know if you really felt a kick; it could almost seem more like a tickle or butterfly flapping inside the belly. For the partner who isn’t carrying the baby, it will probably be a while before you can feel those magical movements. Don’t be surprised if the baby stops kicking exactly when you go to place your hand on the belly – already now, your baby will do just as it pleases! The jostling movements of your partner walking around can often lull the baby to sleep – only to then roll about in the evening and at night, when it’s time to sleep. So one idea is to lay your hand on the belly when you’re both taking it easy later in the evening. Then and there, you could feel a kick and your heart might skip a beat! The further into pregnancy you get, the more powerful the kicks will feel. Towards the end, you might even be able to discern a little hand or foot under the skin.

Week 21

Week 21 baby

Baby’s first poo

It’s time to talk about poo, a subject you will quite likely become surprisingly comfortable with over the next few years. The baby’s intestines have now developed to the point that nutrients can be absorbed from the amniotic fluid that the baby is swallowing. At this point, most of the nutrients are still coming from the mother, via the placenta, but some are now passing through the intestinal system and arriving softly in the large intestine. That is where we find it: baby’s first poo, or meconium, as it is also called. More will be added during the rest of the pregnancy and it will come out as a little gift for whoever changes the first nappy (unless the baby poos in the amniotic fluid, or right when it comes out). It isn’t only poo that is new; the baby’s bone marrow has now also started helping the liver and spleen produce blood cells. Antibodies, which protect the baby from sickness when it comes out, come from the mother’s blood. Around now, you can usually also start hearing the baby’s heart beat with a stethoscope. It can be tricky to tell whether it is the mother’s or baby’s heart, but for every time the mother’s heart beats, the baby’s heart beats twice – so listen for that rapid little beat.

Week 21 mum

Jitters and worries

What are your thoughts in the run-up to childbirth? Has it started to feel real yet? As with everything else, how you feel will be very individual. You may long to meet your child, and to no longer carry an extra body inside your own anymore. Meanwhile, it’s also pretty common for childbirth to awaken some anxiety, and maybe even fear. If you are expecting a baby together with a partner, you might have started worrying that something might happen to them. However strange it might sound to someone else, it might be pretty alarming to watch your partner climb a ladder! It’s entirely natural to feel this way before childbirth, about your partner and about becoming a parent. This anxiety can be explained in part purely biologically: when the baby comes, you are vitally important for the little tot, and that’s why you want to avoid exposing yourself to danger. Getting used to not having total control is a major part of becoming a parent. Having a baby is a huge, life-altering event – probably the biggest experience you can have in life, and no one is unaffected by that. It can be good to put your feelings into words by talking to someone; verbalizing your emotions and sorting your thoughts can make it easier to avoid unnecessary anxiety. Your feelings will also be quite individual. Some people look forward to childbirth with curiosity, while others feel panicked at the very thought. If you tend towards the latter, it can help to visit the hospital and read about pain relief and the phases of childbirth. If your anxiety becomes overwhelming and impacts your daily life to an extent that limits you, don’t try to handle that yourself. Help is available and your doctor or midwife is the first step. They can provide information about therapy to interrupt negative thought patterns or put you in touch with a psychologist who might be associated with the clinic where you’ll be giving birth. Some places also have clinics that specialise in childbirth-related fear.

Week 21 partner

Stand by your partner

Worrying about childbirth is completely natural, even for the partner who will just be holding a hand and offering encouragement. You will undoubtedly have thoughts about how to best support your partner, and what it will be like to see someone you love in pain. You might also be worried about whether your baby will be okay. To some extent, you have to accept the feeling that you won’t have control, even if it feels awful. But there are some things you can do something about. Learn about everything from the phases of childbirth and pain relief to how to find your way to the hospital. These are good things that you can address already now, and usually, the more you know, the less worried you will be. Look up prophylaxis courses and informational meetings at childbirth clinics. Group discussions with other parents-to-be might also help; talking to others who are in similar situations can often answer your questions. Many people find it nice to hear that you’re not alone in your fear of passing out during childbirth, and it’s especially nice to also learn that it’s pretty rare for that to happen! But sometimes, information and accepting your worry aren’t enough; it can still be too much. In that case, you should be aware that as a partner, you can also contact your doctor or midwife to obtain tools to handle your worries, or to contact a clinic that specialises in childbirth-related anxiety. And remember: the vast majority of babies are born completely healthy!

Week 22

Week 22 baby

Soft ears and a new haircut

All the senses are maturing and developing more and more with each passing day. The baby may have its eyes closed all the time, but it can sense light and darkness through its thin eyelids. The ears have developed their shape, but are still far too soft. However, they can hear; the baby will remember voices and pieces of music if played repeatedly during pregnancy. Babies use their hands to touch their face and body at this point, and the taste buds on the tongue are developing. Head hair also starts growing now. How much hair babies have when they are born varies; some are born with a full head of hair, while others have a little bit of down that only appears in the right light. The skin remains thin and looks reddish because of all the blood vessels near the surface, and because the subcutaneous fat isn’t quite in place yet. This will arrive in the next few weeks.

Week 22 mum

Your uterus is practicing

Have you noticed your belly become momentarily firm, and then soften up again? These are Braxton-Hicks contractions which may start popping up now, but which tend to be more common towards the end of pregnancy, from the third trimester. Think of them as your uterus practicing for childbirth. Even if it feels scary the first few times, it isn’t dangerous for your baby. They are more common when you’ve been particularly active, like after exercise or sex. If it’s a little excessive, not just with sex, but in daily life, then consider this your body’s way of speaking up. If you have Braxton-Hicks contractions at night when you’re relaxing after the day, consider taking it a little easier in general. But if they’re happening often, or while resting – even though you haven’t been stressed – then talk to your medical provider to rule out a urinary tract infection. You always want to avoid that, but it’s especially important to watch out for while pregnant. If this isn’t your first baby, then get ready: chances are high that you will have earlier and stronger contractions than the first time around.

Week 22 partner

Reduce stress

Your partner may experience Braxton-Hicks contractions as of now, but they will be more common toward the end of the pregnancy. This is how the uterus practices for childbirth and it often happens after a little extra activity. If life is a bit stressful in general, it may be the body’s way of saying it wants to take it a little easier. It’s good to know this as a partner, and the two of you can talk about ways to destress.

Week 23

Week 23 baby

Developing lungs

At 550 grams and about 28 cm long, your baby continues to grow at a rapid pace. The head now measures 5-6 cm in diameter, and the little femurs, which will become the biggest bones in the body, are 4 cm. The skin is developing pigment and those little lungs are filled with amniotic fluid until birth. At the moment of birth, the amniotic fluid will be pressed out when the baby’s rib cage is squeezed together in the birth canal – and the next breath the baby takes will fill the lungs with air! As of now, the foetus is legally considered a baby in many places, because medically speaking, it is considered viable. It’s incredibly rare to give birth this early in a pregnancy, but the legal regulation entitles the baby to medical care and an effort would be made to save the baby if it were born now.

Week 23 mum

Plan for parental leave

You may be starting to feel like you’re getting in the groove of being pregnant – life is rolling on and your belly is growing. It might feel like it’s too soon to plan for parental leave. But the fact is that the more you consider now, the less you’ll have to do (and think about!) when the baby has arrived and your brain is foggy from comforting, feeding and putting the baby to sleep. We can promise you that planning and admin are the last things you’re going to feel like doing then. Check the rules that apply where you live. Generally, no more than two months before you want to go on leave, you will need to notify your employer. Read up with the relevant authority on how parental leave works where you live and find out what they need in order to help you. If you’re having a baby with a partner, this is the time to talk about how you will split parental leave, if applicable. This process isn’t always friction-free. Research shows that relationships benefit from sharing parental leave. In addition, you can never get back that first period of time with your baby, as they say. Practically speaking, your arrangements are all up to the two of you – you know what is best for your child and your relationship!

Week 23 partner

A helping hand

Get out the calendar! It’s soon time to plan your parental leave. The earlier you talk about how you want to arrange your time, the better. It will be one less thing to think about when your little one has arrived – when just getting out the door will feel like a trip around the globe. How you choose to divide leave between the two of you is up to you as a pair. Research shows that relationships benefit from shared parental leave, and however tiring it may sound, those early months with your baby only happen once. Of course, everyone has different circumstances and conditions. Find out how parental leave works with the relevant authority in your area, if applicable. And don’t assume that shared finances will take a hit if the higher earner is home the least. For many families, it can even pay to do the opposite, due to tax effects and the parental salary with which many employers now top off the state parental benefit (in Sweden). So start figuring out what applies for you and make a plan. In many places, you are entitled to parental leave and your employer cannot decline to offer it. But you do probably need to notify your employer at least two months before you want to go on parental leave – check what applies where you live.

Week 24

Week 24 baby

Plenty of space remains

Now, more than halfway through the pregnancy, you can see that your baby is looking more and more like a new-born. It is about 31 cm long, weighs around 650 grams, and has a huge need to move (there’s still plenty of space to splash around). Everything your baby needs when it comes to warmth, food and stimulation is right there in the uterus. It is reacting to more and more sensory impressions – feeling around, experiencing flavours, hearing and sound. The baby can learn to recognise voices it hears nearby, and will react to them during birth. Its eyes are mostly closed, but those little eyelids can blink. The air sacs in the lungs, called alveoli, are beginning to develop now. They make a substance called surfactant. Surfactant keeps the lung sacs expanded so that the lungs don’t collapse and stick together the first time the baby fills them with air. If the baby were born now, as one of the very few babies born this early, there is a chance for survival, even if extensive care in the neonatal unit would be required.

Week 24 mum

Say hello to your new breasts!

Let’s talk boobs! Maybe you’ve noticed that they feel little different recently, and you can see the blood vessels more clearly? That’s because the mammary glands have started to develop. It isn’t unusual – though it doesn’t happen to everyone – for the breasts to leak milk already at this stage. This raw milk is called colostrum. It is a yellow, somewhat sticky milk that forms during pregnancy and is incredibly nutritious, to give the baby as much nutrients as possible during the first meals. A few days after the baby arrives, it will become ordinary breast milk. If you’re bothered by leaking breasts, you can buy inserts for your bra to avoid having to walk around with two wet spots. They might leak more at night, because the breasts can be squeezed together from your sleeping position – so place a towel underneath you to avoid discomfort. Even if it’s annoying and you just want it to stop, don’t try to squeeze out the milk – that will just trigger milk production and there will only be more. If you don’t notice any major difference in your breasts, or if you think they’re so small that it would be impossible to feed a baby, you should know that size really makes no difference. Milk quantity isn’t affected by breast size or by whether they leak during pregnancy.

Week 24 partner

Prepare for siblings

Is there a future sibling at home? If so, the risk of jealousy is real, especially if this is the first new sibling. The idea of having to share parents with someone else, someone they can’t even see, touch, or play with, isn’t exactly uplifting. Kids don’t necessarily know that our hearts get bigger and have infinite space for love! Don’t assume that your child is as excited for your new family member as you are. Instead, listen, validate and discuss all of their feelings with love and empathy – and explain that you can’t return the baby to the hospital, even if these are honest and creative suggestions on the part of the child. Jealousy is only natural, but it can help your journey forward to prepare the older sibling and get them involved already now: sing favourite songs to the belly and explain that the baby will recognise their older sibling’s voice once born. Make drawings, pat the belly and feel for kicks. If possible, bring the big brother or sister to an appointment to listen to the heartbeat. If you’re feeling really daring, you can let your child help choose the name. Once the baby has arrived, ask friends and family who visit to talk to the older sibling first, and to feel free to bring a little gift for the bigger sibling to celebrate. You could even have a few little wrapped gifts ready to take out if anyone forgets.

Week 25

Week 25 baby

Slightly more stable daily rhythm

Maybe you’ve noticed that the baby sleeps and is awake at various times? This is when the baby starts to develop some form of daily rhythm. You can tell when the baby is awake through movements, which are now felt every day and which usually occur in the evening and at night, while mum rests. It is common to learn to recognise the movement pattern. But how much babies move can vary; some are very active while others take it a little easier. The hands are actually fully functioning as of now; the fingers have nails and the bones continue to harden. The baby now measures 33-34 cm and weighs around 750 grams. If born now, chances are good that the baby would survive, which is a wonderful and perhaps also quite comforting thought.

Week 25 mum

Constant hunt for the loo

Do you have to pee every 15 minutes? Unlike the need to urinate early in your pregnancy, it’s no longer due to hormones, but rather because your belly is growing and your uterus is pressing up against your bladder. This, along with the fact that you’re gathering more fluid during the day, which at night finds its way into your bladder, means you may be taking a lot of trips to the bathroom. For some people, the need to pee can be so constant that it can be annoying to leave home for fear of not finding a toilet. Even if it’s tiring to have to rush to pee so often, you absolutely should not stop drinking liquids; your body needs a lot of water and fluids now, during pregnancy. One thing that will help is to do your Kegel exercises often. If you haven’t started yet, do so now and continue after your baby comes. Be attentive to whether you’re having unprovoked contractions, pain in your belly, or if you feel dizzy when you pee. These could be signs of a urinary tract infection, which can be easier to get while pregnant. In that case, contact your medical provider – it’s important to treat a urinary tract infection early. Around now, your midwife or doctor will start to measure your belly. Using a measuring tape, they will measure the distance between the pubic bone (symphysis) and the top edge of the uterus (fundus). This measurement, called the fundal height, is placed on a curve. The current measurement doesn’t really matter; the important thing is that future measurements follow your curve, without any dramatic deviations upwards or downwards. There is no need to wonder what is normal here, because as with all curves, the important part isn’t to be on the ‘normal curve’, but rather to follow your own. The same applies for the baby after it is born and you go to check-ups at the medical centre.

Week 25 partner

Measure the belly

As of now, you will be seeing your midwife or doctor more often. There will be more visits the closer you get to your anticipated due date, and at those visits, the belly’s growth will be measured. This is done by measuring the curve, called the fundal height, which is measured across the belly with an old-fashioned measuring tape. The doctor or midwife will also listen to the baby’s heartbeat, either with a Pinard horn, or with an ultrasound monitor. Blood samples are taken, weight and blood pressure are checked, and all of this data is entered into the mother’s record so that it is available to whoever takes care of your family during delivery. In some places, after a routine ultrasound, you will receive a certificate of pregnancy confirming your partner’s pregnancy and expected due date, according to the ultrasound. This may need to be sent to the appropriate authority in your country. In general, you will wait on identifying the second parent until after the baby has arrived. If you are married, you will automatically be considered the guardian, but if not, you may need to certify your status as parent with your local government. It may feel a little strange to certify that you are the parent just because you aren’t married, but this is the law in some places.

Week 26

Week 26 baby

Somersaults of all sizes

The baby’s little eyes can open and close. We know they’ve been reacting to light and dark for a while, but it can be seen in week 26 how babies protect their eyes with their hands when a strong light is directed at the belly. The big advancement now is happening in the baby’s brain. This is where phase two of the major development starts: the cerebral cortex is developing twists and turns to accommodate all those neurons. A lot has to go right, because the next time the brain rewires will be when your child enters puberty – a bit of dizzying thought that puberty will ever come, now when they’re safe and sound in the womb. The baby understands up versus down. Thanks to the balance organs in the inner ear, the difference is now detectable. The baby is also testing things out, with somersaults and little vaults. You don't have to worry about the baby getting tangled in the umbilical cord – its corkscrew-like shape makes it rather flexible. It consists of a thick gel-like substance that protects the three blood vessels that transport blood between the baby and placenta.

Week 26 mum

Work and pregnancy

In many places, you have the right to make extra requests of your employer when you’re pregnant. It is generally legally required for the work environment be safe for you and your baby. This may mean your work needs to be modified: you shouldn’t do any heavy lifting or load-bearing tasks, nor should you be in contact with hazardous substances, like solvents or contagions. If your employer cannot guarantee a safe work environment for you, check with the relevant authority where you live to see if there are pregnancy benefits for which you can apply. If you’re in a lot of physical discomfort, you may need to go on sick leave. “Normal” pregnancy isn’t usually considered an illness, but if you’re struggling with an aching back, endless nausea, or if you just need to take it easy in order for the baby to do well, then in some places you can obtain a certificate of illness from a doctor. If you don’t want to work or don’t have the energy to work until your baby arrives, you may be entitled to start your parental leave within a certain number of days before you are due. Check what applies in your area regarding how soon you need to notify your employer before going on leave. But if you want to stay home from work earlier than you had originally planned, talk to your manager and explain how you’re feeling. Maybe you can find a solution together.

Week 26 partner

Help save your partner’s back!

Her belly is getting bigger and bigger now. You may have noticed that she’s become a little clumsy. That’s because the body’s centre of gravity has completely shifted, which can be hard to get used to. That growing belly can also cause low back and pelvic pain – the taller your partner is, the worse this tends to be. But pregnancy can serve up a variety of back problems, like sciatica and pelvic girdle pain, so before you run to your nearest chiropractor, talk to your midwife or doctor who can help you figure out what type of treatment you need. It could be a physiotherapist and exercises, acupuncture, or a belt to help bear the load. Some things are always good to keep in mind: even if your partner’s back feels okay now, it’s best to keep it that way and save it. The back is a little more sensitive during pregnancy, so make sure you do as much of the heavy lifting as possible. It’s also important to move every day. If this causes pain, you can suggest taking shorter steps and not walking as far, holding the body upright, avoiding stairs and wearing good shoes – an excellent gift idea if you’re feeling bold. And of course: rest! Resting is super important, and will continue to be so throughout pregnancy. It takes energy to grow a baby.

Week 27

Week 27 baby

Testing strength

It’s time for some numbers: the baby is about 37 cm long. Its feet are about 4 cm long, the femurs are 5 cm, and the head has a diameter of 7 cm. In total, the little bundle weighs almost 1 kilo. The skin is still red, thin and covered with vernix, but the face is a bit rounder now. You might be able to feel a little foot pressing into the belly now – this is the baby testing its strength. If you carefully press against it, the baby might press back. All movements, large and small, that the baby makes are strengthening its muscles. If the baby were born now, it would have more than a 90% chance of surviving; it has most of what it needs to live outside the uterus. The lungs can breathe in air, even if they would probably need assistance at first – and the intestines can process milk. However, the baby has almost no subcutaneous fat, so it would need a lot of help to maintain its body temperature. The more time the baby spends inside the belly, the better – during the third trimester of pregnancy, which starts soon, the baby gathers subcutaneous fat and finishes maturing.

Week 27 mum

Treat your feet

Have your feet turned into a big pair of lumps at the ends of your legs? That’s because your body has started a new hobby: gathering fluid! It will often feel fine in the morning, but become worse in the evening, especially if the day has been exhausting. Resting your feet in an elevated position and investing in a good pair of shoes can do wonders. Yes: on Instagram you might see pregnant women bopping around in heels, but that’s a rare species. It’s also not a great idea, because tight shoes can make your feet swell even more. You might not exactly be celebrating at the idea of a pair of “comfortable” shoes but if ever there were a time to value function over form, this is it. It isn’t hard; most sports or running stores have good walking shoes, as well as soles or inserts for more support. If you want a pair of functional shoes, but don’t like the way they look, you can always try changing the shoelaces to magically transform them into a pair of ordinary sneakers. If your belly prevents you from even wanting to go near tying a pair of shoes, sandals are your best friend and can work much of the year with a pair of socks. And be sure to leverage your privilege as a pregnant person to put your feet up on the table as often as you can – even when you’re visiting someone else.

Week 27 partner

Learn some lullabies

Your baby’s hearing is getting better and better, and the more you talk and sing to the belly, the more the baby will recognise your voice upon arrival. This will strengthen your bond and give your baby an extra sense of security. Simply browse through memories of children’s songs you loved as a kid and learn them again. You’ll surely notice sooner or later that kids love repetition. A mental exercise for you as a parent might be to sing, with endless enthusiasm, songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider “da capo” – on both the inhale and exhale. Songs aren’t just a cosy way to generate closeness and connection; music also supports children’s cognitive abilities. They say kids who are sung to learn language and maths better. Memory and fine motor skills also seem to be positively impacted – and who knows, maybe your baby will love dancing, too!

Week 28

Week 28 baby

Growing like crazy

At this point, you’ve got a demanding little rascal in there. Your baby is growing: it is about 39 cm long and has surpassed a kilo in weight; it is growing like crazy. The baby is gaining about 27 grams per day, which might sound like a little, but is pretty demanding on mum’s body. But there is also a more intense sense of contact, with little kicks and puffs to make its presence known. We know that the baby has developed the ability to remember at this point.

Week 28 mum

Less space for the lungs

The baby is growing and you’re starting to feel like a mountain – you’re getting heavier and are probably sweating more than you’re used to. You might also get out of breath from the tiniest effort, which is completely normal. It isn’t just a lack of iron (although: ask your medical provider to check your iron values), but could largely be due to the fact that the baby is growing and there is less space for the stomach and lungs. Meanwhile, you now have a greater need for oxygen in all sorts of places in your body: the baby, uterus, kidneys and various muscles. Your heart keeps beating faster and faster (to transport the increased quantity of blood) and as a result, you’re breathing a little faster than usual. We know it often starts to feel tough at this point, but it’s still important to keep trying to move. It will improve your blood circulation, which is good for your back, and it’s important to try to stay in the best possible shape before childbirth.

Week 28 partner

Head or foot?

Parenthood may feel like more of a reality to you now, as the belly grows. There is clearly a little rascal in there, and you can surely feel it moving around when you press your hand to the belly. Ask the midwife or doctor to help you recognise your baby’s various body parts. It might be nice to know if you’re touching a foot or a hand, or if you’re patting a head or a little bottom.

Week 29

Week 29 baby

Little acrobat

At this point, the baby still has plenty of room to change positions and turn somersaults inside the belly, despite its 40 cm and whopping 1.2 kilos. But there will be less and less room; you can now detect a foot or a hand from outside the belly when the baby propels itself to turn. The head is still big relative to the rest of the body, which seems small, because it still doesn’t have very much subcutaneous fat. Different babies move and kick different amounts, but most test their abilities and it isn’t uncommon for them to occasionally deliver a hefty kick that could ache for a while afterwards. The baby is now big enough that the kicks can reach all the way to the ribs and bladder (which can result in a little surprise for mum).

Week 29 mum

Varicose veins and haemorrhoids

If you are stressed or upset, the baby will likely react to the secreted stress hormones that circulate to the baby via the placenta. No one likes stress, so try to soothe the baby by taking a few calming breaths and relaxing. As the baby grows and takes up more space, your inner organs will be pressed to the side. The uterus presses downward, towards the large blood vessels. This can produce visible and more distinct blood vessels and you might develop varicose veins on your legs. Support socks usually feel nice and facilitate blood flow. You also shouldn’t sit too much with your legs crossed (which is also a hot tip if you have pelvic pain). You might also develop varicose veins of the rectum, more commonly known as haemorrhoids. You will recognise this uncomfortable condition from an itchy bottom. Haemorrhoids often disappear altogether after the baby comes, but can be annoying until then. Be sure to drink plenty of water, because a sluggish stomach can be a haemorrhoid’s best friend. You can also find a salve at the pharmacy, but as always when it comes to medications, check with the staff to make sure this is okay to use during pregnancy.

Week 29 partner

More than one baby?

If you’re expecting twins, then you’re not far from delivering now. Around 50% of people expecting twins give birth by the end of week 37, and the rest quickly follow, because at this point, labour is usually induced for regular pregnancies with twins. As the future parent of twins, you have a bit more to think about. The fact that you won’t get much coveted alone time after delivery isn’t something people expect (even if you’re only expecting one baby), but everything will be fine if you help each other out. Remember that you’re a team. Help each other, and be understanding of the fact that you both need some regular breathing room. And if you have someone else with whom you are close, who can offer day-to-day support, that is worth gold. All mothers who have given birth need to be able to focus on resting their body and avoiding unnecessary stress. The emotional adjustment to becoming a parent can be weighty enough as it is. If you also carried and gave birth to two babies, you might have an even greater need for rest, recovery and a little extra support.

Week 30

Week 30 baby

Splashing in the belly

The baby keeps on growing and more fat is forming under the skin. At this point, the baby should be about 41 cm and weigh nearly 1.4 kilos. The brain is developing and growing. It’s going to get big, and to have space, it forms more and more characteristic wrinkles and folds. The lungs are now almost fully developed and the baby is practicing the motions of breathing by raising and lowering its rib cage. It’s not unusual for these exercises to give your baby the hiccups, which you will experience as little twitches in your belly. This is a sensation that is likely to pop up in the next few weeks.

Week 30 mum

Take care of your back

There isn’t too much time left, and if you’re expecting twins, then you’re nearly at the finish line. But even if you’re getting close now, for most people, the next few weeks will be a challenge both physically and mentally. Your body might feel massive and the tiniest little thing might make you want to cry, and this isn’t strange at all – 30 weeks with a demanding tenant will take its toll. Feeling tired and occasionally experiencing more Braxton-Hicks contractions is common. Take little breaks throughout the day when you can, and take the chance to rest with your legs elevated. These kinds of little things can help you feel better. Try to listen to your body and above all, be kind to it – you still have about 10 weeks left that the baby plans to use to grow big! Pelvic pain, which is caused by hormones softening up the joints, mainly in the pelvis, is common now. This happens to allow the birth canal to widen during childbirth, making it easier for the baby to come out. Of course, this does not mean there is less pain. Talk to your midwife or doctor for help. For example, a special belt is available that can help alleviate pelvic pain, and you can ask for tips on how to best relieve your pelvis and joints.

Week 30 partner

Still some time left

You may have started or soon completed a preparatory class in the run-up to childbirth and parenthood. Approximately two months remain until it’s time to meet your little baby, and time is passing quickly now. Or: it might feel like that for you, but many pregnant people feel that an impossibly long time remains until the baby arrives. This isn’t so strange: at this point, most people are more tired and it can be a real hassle mentally – feeling big and heavy and being in pain is draining. Despite it all, your baby is about 38 cm long and weighs around 1.4 kilos! Listen to what your partner needs right now and see how you can help provide support. Snapping your fingers so that the baby is born NOW (!) or magically eliminating pelvic pain might be outside of your job description, but there are surely things you can do that will make her life easier. Sometimes it can also just be nice to have someone listen and try to understand, however abstract and difficult that might be for the partner who isn’t carrying the baby.

Week 31

Week 31 baby

Sweet dreams

By monitoring babies for extended periods of time via ultrasound, it has been shown that they dream while they sleep – or at least, that’s how we interpret it, because the baby’s eyes move the same way that sleeping adults’ eyes move during the REM phase of sleep. Just imagine if we knew what they were dreaming… At this point, most babies have yet to turn their head to face downward, but some start planning their journey into the world well in advance. In that case, they position themselves with their head (or that little bottom) facing down in the pelvic inlet, at the start of the birth canal.

Week 31 mum

The body prepares

If you’ve had a normal pregnancy, and you are healthy, then you’re likely following the standard programme provided by your clinic. In that case, it is probably time for another check-in with your doctor or midwife right about now. Because your uterus is taking up more and more space, breathing may feel a bit heavier. But your lungs are doing their part and have increased their capacity to enable you to oxygenate yourself and your baby properly. Still, it isn’t uncommon to feel like your usual walk takes an unbelievably long time, with a lot of panting. Another consequence of your bigger uterus is that it takes up some of the space for the stomach – which may very well mean you have to eat a little less at a time, but more frequently. Maybe you’re having more Braxton-Hicks contractions now that your belly is getting bigger? This is your body slowly but surely preparing to give birth. You can probably feel the load on your back and joints increasing by the week. At this point, you can hand heavy grocery bags over to someone else with a clear conscience – someone who isn’t carrying a baby in their belly. If there is no one else around, then try to distribute weight evenly between both hands so that you aren’t weighed down on one side or the other.

Week 31 partner

Pregnancy sleep positions

It’s probably quite challenging for your partner to find a comfortable position to sleep in these days. Her increasingly large belly is in the way. Lying on her back makes her feel dizzy (and she should actually avoid it), because the heavy uterus can press against the large vena cava vein. However medieval it may sound, a half-seated sleep position is a good option, or lying on her side. Other life hacks that might help include resting the belly on an inflatable pool ring for a while, or placing big, firm pillows under one leg for a comfy side position. If you want to surprise her with a gift, skip the fancy high heels and go for a maternity cushion. It is shaped to support the neck, stomach and back and can be a life-saver after endless sleepless nights. After childbirth, it can be ideal for a sore, newly reclaimed body – and as a breastfeeding cushion.

Week 32

Week 32 baby

Strong kicks

The time of powerful kicks may now be here. The baby has a surprising amount of power and can give quite the kick to its sore mother. A well-aimed kick to the bladder could very well lead to peeing a little bit – see this as a little reminder to do your Kegel exercises. The baby now weighs about 1.8 kilos. But it still needs to grow bigger, and in the next eight weeks, it will gain about two more kilos. How much a baby weighs when born varies and is impacted by several things, including genetic factors and in which week it is born. If your baby has a penis, then the testicles begin their journey to the scrotum now. If the scrotum looks quite big when the baby is born, it’s nothing to be concerned about; the swelling is due to fluid that has collected and will go away after about a week.

Week 32 mum

Birth plan

It’s impossible to know what your childbirth experience will be like. But there’s nothing to keep you from preparing as best you can for the things that are in your control. In your birth plan, you can write down things that are important to you, regardless of whether you will be giving birth vaginally or having a C-section. And because you can never know with certainty how much of a rush your little one will be in, it’s wise to write up your plan fairly soon. Your birth plan should include your name and personal identification number, if applicable. From there, it’s up to you to specify what you want the hospital staff to know: for example, if there’s something you absolutely do not want, something you are afraid of or worried about, and how any other childbirth experiences have been. If the plan is to give birth vaginally – which it is for most people – it may be good to consider your thoughts on pain relief and birth positions. But you don’t actually have to decide on any of this in advance – just write down your current thoughts. We suggest skipping a lengthy novel-like format and going with bullet points that the hospital staff can glance at quickly if they’re in a rush. Your partner, if you have one, or someone else who will be accompanying you should also know what your birth plan says. Not sure where to start? The Libero app has a checklist. And again: none of this is written in stone. Absolutely no one will think it’s strange if you change your mind about something in your birth plan. You can’t schedule or plan childbirth in detail, and you won’t have any idea how you will feel until the experience arrives. If there’s one thing the staff on site will be used to it’s changed plans.

Week 32 partner

Mushy brain

Maybe you’ve noticed that your partner is zoning out a bit from time to time? As you approach the finish line, a lot of pregnant people find it difficult to stay attentive and make decisions, and become fairly forgetful. This might be the outcome of sleepless nights, or their thoughts might be wandering because their body and mind are focused on the baby. It can be hard to focus on anything else when you’re thinking about childbirth and what it will be like to be a parent. This is often known as pregnancy brain. They might seem a bit inward-oriented, letting the world go on pause while checking out from most things. Sound familiar? Even if you don’t have a baby in your belly, a great deal of your focus is probably on the little bundle on the way. Things you may have been passionate about before might feel trivial now. This isn’t so surprising, just another step in your preparations to becoming a parent. You can prepare in lots of ways. Some are more concrete – like assembling a changing table, discussing insurance for the baby, or test driving prams (the Libero app has a good checklist for everything you need to discuss). But inside, maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed – what will it all be like? How will this new life affect your family constellation? How much time does having a baby actually take? Will you have time to yourself, which you’ve heard other parents talk about – will you have to give up your other interests? Talk about these things and how you’re feeling with your partner and your friends. There are no right or wrong answers, but it can help to verbalise your thoughts, and the things you’re thinking about are things that all parents go through.

Week 33

Week 33 baby

Smoother skin

Let’s talk weight! Your little bundle of joy now weighs two full kilos – and just a few months ago, it was the size of a blackberry. More weight is to come. Your baby will gain 250 grams of subcutaneous fat per week, and muscles will develop too. Lanugo hair – the rough little hairs that covered the body – is disappearing and the skin is smoothing out; it is no longer as wrinkly as it was. The capacity to regulate body temperature has also matured, even if this will be refined once the baby arrives! All of the organs, from the lungs to the respiratory centre, are fully developed.

Week 33 mum

Dropping belly

Maybe your belly has dropped; maybe it’s still too early. Many people find it liberating when it happens, because there’s space for the lungs to breathe. Some even say they get their waist back! But not everyone’s belly will drop; it might happen just before or during delivery. It isn’t uncommon to find it a little uncomfortable when the head touches the muscles of the pelvic floor – there may be a tingling sensation, kind of like it’s going numb. Try lying on your side. This will reduce the pressure on your pelvis, nerves and blood vessels, which can make you feel better. Finding clothes that feel comfortable during this part of your pregnancy isn’t always easy. You might feel big and puffy, and have zero desire to search for maternity wear that you can only use for the next few weeks before it’s all too small or feels uncomfortable. One idea is to skip the maternity department and think about what you feel like wearing instead. An oversized T-shirt, a pair of comfy tights, unbuttoned shorts or a roomy dress often work well. Emphasizing your belly instead of hiding it can also be fun; see what happens with a fitted stretchy dress or pencil skirt with a soft waist. If you’re not a fan of fitted clothing, you can still mark your belly with a belt or an elastic waistband worn just above it.

Week 33 partner

Unwelcome comments

Pregnant bellies can look very different, in terms of both size and shape. Many pregnant people unfortunately have to deal with clumsy comments about their bellies: that you’re too big, too small, that you must be expecting twins, that you should stop eating biscuits, and that you should think of your figure. Comments on your belly can be incredibly hurtful, spark negative thoughts about food, and contribute to loads of unnecessary anxiety. For example, hearing that your belly is ‘sooooo small’ could make you worry that your baby isn’t growing and developing as it should be. Few people would even think of commenting on someone else’s body like this if pregnancy weren’t at play. But as soon as someone is expecting a baby, it seems like the pregnant body is a topic for public discussion and it’s fine to say whatever you think. It isn’t, of course, and as a partner, you can stand up and say something if you hear someone comment on the size of a pregnant woman. And no! You can’t determine the baby’s sex based on belly shape. That’s just a myth.

Week 34

Week 34 baby

Differentiating between light and dark

The baby now weighs about 2.3 kilos. It is 46 cm long, and its feet are about 6-7 cm long. But there’s still room for about a litre of amniotic fluid inside the sac that holds the baby, where it listens to the gurgling belly and steady heartbeat. Once born, the baby will want to be held as close as possible, because it is comforted by the sounds of the body. The sucking reflex is also evident now: some babies suck their thumb, as you can see, and the sucking reflex likely comforts the baby once it is born. The baby can show it is hungry and wants to breastfeed by raising its hand to its mouth to suck. The eyes have developed and the pupils can expand and contract. Some researchers say that babies can focus the gaze already now. Something we know with certainty is that they can differentiate between light and dark and can perceive day and night.

Week 34 mum

Stretch marks

At this point, your belly has probably gotten so big that your navel might stick out instead of in, like a little button. It will return after childbirth, when it has space again. Maybe you’ve also noticed a dark vertical line? This dark line, the Linea nigra, is often more visible on darker skin, but it will fade after childbirth and usually disappears entirely. It is also common to develop stretch marks, usually on the breasts, belly and bottom. The extent to which stretch marks affect you is hereditary, and even if they don’t disappear completely for most people, they do fade after you deliver. You can buy various oils and salves to fight stretch marks, but there’s no proof that they work – instead, try to see these marks as proof of what your body has managed to do! Still, it can be nice to massage the belly with lotion, both for you and for the baby. If you’re expecting twins, you will probably give birth fairly soon. Twins are usually born earlier because the cervix is bearing a heavier load from two little babies. On average, most twins want to come out 2-3 weeks earlier than a solo baby in the belly, but it isn’t uncommon for them to come earlier anyway. With vaginal delivery, they might come out one right after the other – as if they had queued up – but usually, the body wisely takes a little break between the first and second baby.

Week 34 partner

Support during childbirth

The one thing we can say with certainty about childbirth is that it rarely goes as planned. Sure, you’ve been given an expected due date, but only 5% of babies stick to the schedule. There’s no template laying out what to do to provide support during childbirth, because every birth is different. You can count on the fact that it won’t be what you had expected – so much can change in the moment and it’s impossible to know how you will feel then and there. But as you play the important supporting role of your life, there are some things you can help out with. First and foremost: if your partner has made a birth plan, it’s good for you to know what’s in it. You can also read up on pain relief and birthing positions, to make it easier for you to follow what the doctor or midwife is saying. This way, you can play tour guide and explain what’s going on and where in the course of events you are – if that will be soothing. As the partner, you might also be in charge of administering laughing gas. In that case, you will give her instructions on when and how to breathe – but don’t worry, you aren’t expected to know this in advance; a nurse will show you on site. You can also towel off her sweaty forehead and remind her to drink lots of liquids, if it’s taking a long time. (And don’t forget that you need liquids and calories, too!) Remember: you know your partner best and you know what you’ve discussed in the run-up to delivery, so make sure to convey her wants and needs if she is unable to. Most important of all is that you offer a hand to hold and the necessary emotional support to boost her confidence in herself. Don’t be surprised if her wishes change on the spot relative to what you discussed earlier, or to what it says in the birth plan. It all depends on how she’s experiencing the situation. What she says in the moment is what counts.

Week 35

Week 35 baby

Engaged yet?

Your baby’s skin is still covered with a thick layer of vernix to protect it from amniotic fluid. When the baby comes out, chances are high that much of that vernix will be left, and the baby may look a little messy. The umbilical cord is nearly half a metre long and reminiscent of an old phone cord: twisted, elastic and strong. The baby weighs about 2.4 kilos and will gain 25-30 grams per day moving forward. Now, as the last mile of pregnancy approaches, most babies shift position in preparation, with their head facing down into the pelvis – this is called engagement. It might be one reason why the baby is moving differently than before: it has less room to manoeuvre. But even if the movements feel different, you will feel them just as frequently as before. Lots of people find that the baby has more regular periods of being asleep and awake – with plenty of activity in the evening – a sleep routine that the baby will likely bring with it into the world.

Week 35 mum

A chorus of comments

Isn’t your belly a little small? Are you sure you’re not expecting twins? How much have you gained? You ABSOLUTELY can’t get any bigger now! Or maybe you’re stunned when someone just touches your belly without asking. How people react to your pregnancy can drive you crazy and make you sad – and you have every right to be. Because when did it become okay to comment on or touch someone’s body like this? Being pregnant doesn’t make you public property, and the people around you need to accept that. Backing away when a pair of unwelcome hands approaches your belly, or cheerfully responding with: ‘Thanks, you too!’ when someone comments on how huge you’ve gotten could be a way to start a conversation on when it’s actually okay to comment on other people’s bodies. We know you won’t always have energy for that chat, especially if someone close to you has behaved clumsily. But if you speak up about how you feel, you might be able to keep it from happening again in the future. Explaining that their comments make you sad or anxious is a good thing, because they probably never intended to make you feel bad, and if you speak up, it will give them food for thought and they can change their behaviour.

Week 35 partner

Up and down?

Quarters are getting cramped for the baby and things are getting heavy for mum. The baby is pushing and pressing from inside, which is tiring to say the least. Being super pregnant is no picnic. The baby is preparing to be born well in advance. Gradually, it is getting ready, and has likely moved to face the head downward. Some babies choose different positions, crosswise or bottom-down, which is called a breech presentation. If this happens, your doctor will likely attempt to turn the baby, because it’s preferable to give birth with the baby in a head-down position. This involves the doctor pressing on the belly in a specific way to try to get the baby to shift positions. It might look scary to onlookers, but doctors know what they’re doing. However, the mother may have slightly sore abdominal muscles afterwards. Week 36 is the earliest point at which an attempt to turn the baby would be made, and understandably, this is not something you should try to do yourself. It can be good to know that not all attempts to turn the baby will be successful, but the baby may eventually turn on its own. If your baby really doesn’t want to turn and stubbornly sticks to that breech presentation, you may have a C-section. Many babies, though not all, position themselves properly towards the end of the pregnancy. This means the baby’s head has sunk deep into the pelvis. Once the baby is in this engaged position, it can’t turn again – it will stay where it is. At check-ups, the doctor or midwife will feel if the baby is engaged or moveable. You might think that once the head is facing down in the pelvis, childbirth would be right around the corner, but there is no link between when the baby becomes engaged and when labour begins. If you are a first-time parent, the baby will usually find the right position a bit faster than babies who follow their siblings; it is not known why. And some babies have no interest in sliding down into the pelvis at all.

Week 36

Week 36 baby

Final sprint

The baby is now 47.5 cm and weighs between 2.5 and 2.7 kilos, varying a bit by individual. The entire face is round now and looks more and more the way it will when you see your baby in person for the first time. A complete little person is getting ready to come out and only the final sprint remains – this is the last month. Even if you could give birth now, and your body is functioning as it should, the plan is for the baby to add about another kilo before that happens!

Week 36 mum

Mixed feelings

Being pregnant is tough on the body and psyche – at least towards the end. You’re fed messages about ‘enjoying the pregnancy bubble’ or ‘seizing the day’ and sure, that’s possible for some people, but more often than not, you feel stressed and worried. That’s true both when you’re pregnant and once the baby has arrived. And hearing about that wonderful feeling, rather than feeling it, can be really annoying. Lots of people worry that their feelings are ‘wrong’; they wonder where the strong feelings for the baby in their belly are, and might doubt their ability to be a good parent. All of these feelings are common and are due to all sorts of things. Maybe your pregnancy was unplanned, or maybe it was ultra planned, and took a long time and lots of tears – so of course the stress over feeling less than overjoyed can be overwhelming. Or maybe your pregnancy bubble is overshadowed by fear about childbirth, worries about the baby, or unpleasant memories from your own childhood. There could be thousands of different reasons. It’s important to have courage and talk about these feelings, because if you do, it could very well come out that far from all pregnant people are overjoyed. For the vast majority of people, feelings for the baby are a process that takes time to unfold – and how much time varies from one person to the next. Some people will feel love immediately during pregnancy or when the baby is born, but for many people, it actually takes more time. It could take weeks, or even months to feel that way. But trust that love never dwindles; it only grows. And to be sure, without thinking about it, already now you might have little expressions of care for your baby: a hand on your belly when the baby kicks, singing little songs, or the fact that you’ve actually changed much of your lifestyle for the sake of your child. Be kind to yourself! You’re going to be a good mum.

Week 36 partner

Almost a parent!

Maybe you’re wishing intently that the baby would just come now! Maybe you can’t wait to see and hold your child for real. Undoubtedly, all those thoughts about the baby probably include your impending responsibilities. It’s an absolutely staggering feeling to know that for a long time to come, you will have the privilege of being one of the most important people in your child’s life. When you’ve got a baby on the way, it’s quite common to start thinking about your own parents, your childhood, and what growing up was like for you. Of course, your view of impending parenthood is impacted by what your childhood was like and this is an important step in developing an emotional connection with your baby. You might look back on some things fondly and want to share them with your own children, while there may be other things you absolutely don’t want to pass on. Regardless of your experience of childhood, it’s a good opportunity to reflect on what’s important to you. How you are as a parent will be different from how your parents were, because you and your partner are two completely different people – but take the chance to discuss how to be the kind of parents you want to be, and what kind of support you need from each other.

Week 37

Week 37 baby

On the way

Ready! At this point, the baby is so ready for life that if it were born now, it probably wouldn’t need neonatal care. But most parents still have to wait a few more weeks before it’s time. Your baby still has some things left on its to-do list inside the belly: There are 200-250 grams to gain per week in order to have a bit more weight to drop when it comes into the world. Those lungs are hard at work with practice pulling in and pressing out amniotic fluid. The baby also has to stock up on essential nutrients to handle the exertion of birth. And it’s got to test out its coordination – gripping things with its fingers is a fairly new ability. If it hasn’t happened yet, it also has to place its head down into the pelvic inlet. If the baby opts to go bottom first, an attempt will be made to turn it.

Week 37 mum

The wait is almost over

Is your hospital bag packed? Changing table prepped? It may be time to start getting those things ready. We’ve got a little checklist in the app. You probably still have a check-up to go before it’s time. If anything is on your mind before giving birth, take the chance to talk about it now. Even if you’ve written a birth plan, it’s common to also note what you want, or whether you are worried, in your record. This way, when you give birth, the staff can access this information. You might be experiencing stronger Braxton-Hicks contractions. They are harmless; see them as a reminder that you’re getting close to meeting your little one for the first time. About now, it’s common for most people to stop working and start their parental leave, where that is offered. It may be nice to have some time to rest up before the life-altering event awaiting around the corner. And it will give you some time to prepare. If your household has more than one parent, split up responsibility for preparing before the baby comes. This way you can rest, and your partner can keep track of the situation. Do you plan to breastfeed? Prepare for the fact that it might be a struggle. The baby has a strong sucking reflex and before all the milk starts to flow and you’ve got the technique down, it may hurt more than you would expect. But just breathe! The pain will go away once milk production is underway, your nipples are used to it, and your baby has figured out what to do. Find comfort in that (and there may be a few feedings you’ll have to grit your teeth through) because once all systems are go, breastfeeding will be cosy for both of you. Also, don’t hesitate to seek help. There are nipple shields, soothing creams and cooling compresses available out there. You can also ask the staff at your clinic to help you as you start breastfeeding – for example, they can show you how to get some milk out yourself, so that it starts flowing when the baby latches on.

Week 37 partner

Gift ideas

A push present is a gift you give to your partner in honour of the incredible effort it takes to carry one (or more) babies for nine months and then give birth. Showing appreciation for new mums in the form of a gift is a phenomenon in numerous cultures. You will know best whether or not your partner would appreciate a push present. But if you want to give her something after childbirth, just remember that it will be a memento and it should be specifically for her – not for the baby or for your whole family together. Common choices include engraved jewellery or a watch, or an album of pictures from the pregnancy. But it doesn’t have to be something material. Maybe she’ll love it even more if it’s a hand-written letter in which you show your love and appreciation. If you aren’t sure if this is something she will like, there’s sure to be a whole group of friends you can ask!

Week 38

Week 38 baby

Ready to go

Most babies weigh over three kilos by now. That’s the finish line, and quite a lot of babies are born at this point. But if this is your first, then it’s not unusual for the baby to stay in the womb for the entirety of its allotted time. It will come when it decides it’s time – there’s not much you can do other than wait until your baby is ready. But by this point it will usually have dropped, making it easier for the pregnant person to breathe and eat. Birth is stressful for the baby too, so it has prepared by storing extra nutrients. Subcutaneous fat also serves as a little energy reserve during the first period of time outside the belly.

Week 38 mum

Rest up

At this point, you probably have a few challenging weeks of waiting and physical discomfort ahead of you. It can be tricky to find comfortable positions for sitting and lying down, because your belly is big and in the way. Sleep is often interrupted: you might be sleeping restlessly and waking up often. That’s your body getting ready for the baby’s arrival and the strange sleep times that go with it. Even if you don’t usually sleep in the middle of the day, try to take the chance to rest as often as you can. Stay in bed for an extra moment and let go of any to-dos. The most important thing right now is taking care of yourself. The baby won’t be bothered by a little dust in the corners, or if you’ve forgotten to wash your hair. If you are among the lucky few with extra energy at this late point in the game, it’s better to spend it taking a walk or doing something else that makes you feel good! Are you looking for the first proper sign of childbirth beginning? There are a number of indications that it’s close, but really only one sign that it’s truly begun: regular contractions. When you’ve been having contractions over the course of a few hours, with 3-5 minutes in between, then it’s time to call the clinic. Use the timer for contractions found here in the app so that you don’t have to keep track of the numbers yourself. The clinic will definitely ask how often your contractions are coming.

Week 38 partner

A slow wait

Time may feel unbelievably slow at this point in the pregnancy. One tip – apart from trying to stay healthy so that you don’t risk infecting your partner or not being able to attend the delivery – is to try to find something to do before the baby arrives. If your hospital bag isn’t packed yet, go ahead and sort that out now (you can find a list here in the Libero app). That will be the last thing you’ll want to have to think about once the contractions really get going. Did you plan ahead, and you’ve already packed a bag that’s been in the corner gathering dust for ten weeks? Look through it again to see what really ended up inside. You might have a better sense of size now and know that the adorable size 48 onesie is going to be too small for the baby. Taking your partner out for some kind of activity to distract the two of you, so that you don’t feel like you’re spending the day waiting around, might also be a good idea. We’re not talking bouldering or a crowded shopping centre! More like a mellow visit to a museum, or a slow walk in nature – a nice activity that won’t make her feel like she’s stuck at home with her eyes on the clock. Another tip is to prepare food and freeze it – it will be so great to not have to spend time and energy cooking when you could spend it on simply watching your newborn baby instead. That’s an activity that most parents would spend hours doing if they could. Plus, it takes time to feed the baby, do a nappy change, soothe the baby, snuggle, carry, feed the baby, do a nappy change – and so on. Before you’re there, it’s hard to understand just how much time such a little life can require. Did you plan to buy a pram and missed the fact that delivery times can be long? Don’t worry! You’re not alone, and there are often excellent used prams available. Plus, your tiny little baby might prefer to be carried in a baby carrier, close to the body, over being alone in a pram in this first period of time. However, it’s essential to prioritise a good baby seat, especially if you plan to drive home from the hospital. If you’re panicking that you haven’t bought enough stuff for the baby, you can exhale. Infants tend to need less than you think! And don’t forget to check with your friends – people with kids are often happy to lend or give away items that their little ones have outgrown.

Week 39

Week 39 baby

Antibodies from mum

The baby is ready to go and has obtained nutrients and antibodies via the placenta in order to face that first period outside of the womb. Contrary to what we often hear, newborns don’t have poor immune systems; rather, they can develop immunity to most kinds of infections. But that little body has never had to face an infection before, which is necessary for developing immunity. That’s why babies start life with mum’s antibodies and then develop their own immunity as they undergo various infections. When the baby is brand new, it’s wise to put off colds and other sicknesses until later. So let them become familiar with you, the parents, for a while before you head out into the city or a café. Being alone in your baby bubble and simply arriving is also beneficial in terms of avoiding infection. Friends and family will surely want to welcome your little one to the world, and they can as long as they’re nice and healthy. But there’s no rule saying that everyone has to hold the baby when they’re brand new. If it doesn’t feel okay for you as a parent, then others can be happy to just look and marvel at the little life from a distance.

Week 39 mum

How does childbirth start?

If you have a scheduled C-section, then you know the date and time at which you will meet your baby – an incomprehensible feeling after months of carrying them inside of you. But if – like most others – you are giving birth vaginally, then how will you know when it’s time? If this is your first baby, you don’t have anything for comparison. Lots of people watch for their water to break as a sign of childbirth beginning. But in fact, only 10-15% of births start that way; it’s more common for that to happen during labour. And you shouldn’t expect that big Hollywood splash – sure, sometimes it looks just like it does in the movies (apart from the baby coming quickly thereafter). But usually, a smaller quantity of fluid slowly drips or trickles out. However, you should always contact your clinic if you know or suspect that your water has broken, because they will tell you what to do. Sitting and waiting for your water to break isn’t something you should do; instead, keep track of your contractions. If they’re coming regularly – three to four contractions within ten minutes – and about a minute long, it’s time to call the clinic. If you’re unsure, better to just call an extra time – no one will think you’re calling too often. If you are worried or don’t know how to interpret your body’s signals, it is better to call one too many times. It’s also very important to contact the clinic if you notice anything unusual, such as fewer foetal movements or bloody discharge.

Week 39 partner

Baby blues

It won’t be long now until you get to hold your baby in your arms. That is a fairly abstract feeling that’s impossible to understand before you’ve felt it yourself. We hope you have the chance to have lots of time with one another and with your baby in the beginning. It may sound like a cliche, but you won’t ever get to relive that first period of time with your baby – the opportunity to marvel at the life you’ve created is worth treasuring. This early period is incredibly emotional for many people, and the majority of people who have had a baby feel a bit low in the beginning. Known as the baby blues, this is totally normal and is due to exhaustion after childbirth, to hormones going bananas, and of course – to the enormous life adjustment entailed by taking care of a new family member. But there won’t only be tears. Usually, these feelings will be like a roller coaster: you might feel unbelievably happy in one moment only to be sobbing the next, apathetic and powerless for a second and then back to joyful. Even if you weren’t the one who carried the baby, it’s also common for partners to feel low. And that isn’t surprising, because of course we impact one another’s moods. If that low mood just won’t let up, and you can see that your partner isn’t doing well, it could be postpartum depression, which is something you will need help to recover from. Doctors tend to be good at getting a sense of how new parents are feeling – including the partner – but you can also contact your clinic if either of you needs help.

Week 40

Week 40 baby

This week?

Your baby now weighs somewhere around 3.5 kilos, but size can vary a lot at this stage in pregnancy. Some babies are smaller and some are bigger when they are born. Most babies are born in week 40, even if only about 5% arrive on their due date. In other words, it’s completely normal for it to take a bit longer than the date you’ve been expecting, but if your baby hasn’t been born after 40 full weeks, it’s time to start talking about inducing delivery. Often, there are national guidelines in place stipulating that all pregnant people should have given birth or should be in labour before week 42+0, but that’s not how it works in reality everywhere, and the final day for inducing labour could vary based on where you live. In some places, it’s routine to induce everyone during week 41, while in others you may have to wait a little longer. Of course, how baby and mother are faring is taken into consideration, as well as whether there are any risk factors.

Week 40 mum

Preparing for delivery

Maybe you have heard that giving birth is like running a marathon. If you’re not a runner, that might not be a helpful reference, but you may still sense the enormous strain it is on the body. So it’s a good idea to gather strength for childbirth. But how can you do that when you don’t know when the baby is coming? Well, one idea is to rest and eat lots of slow carbs. Practicing taking deep breaths is also good, because it will improve your oxygen supply and give you more energy. Since you just don’t know when your baby will kick off the race, it’s best not to put off rest; just imagine you’ll be starting tomorrow. And remember that however your body looks, it was actually made to give birth. It’s put 40 weeks into brilliantly preparing. Yes, childbirth is painful. But unlike other kinds of pain, birthing pain doesn’t signal that something is wrong in the body. That might be a comforting thought to return to when the pain is at its peak. Try to welcome your first contraction with complete trust that your body will tell you exactly what to do. And accept pain relief if you need it; there’s no prize for giving birth without it.

Week 40 partner

Baby in your arms soon

Is it Wednesday? Then chances are slightly higher that your baby will come today. Statistically, most babies are born on Wednesdays. Meanwhile, the fewest babies arrive on Sundays. As long as the baby is still in the belly, you’ll continue meeting with the doctor or midwife regularly and they will conduct the usual checks: measuring the uterus, listening to the baby’s heart, and checking its position. Most births begin when the baby says it’s time, but some may need to be induced. It might be nice to know that an induced delivery isn’t necessarily any different from labour that begins naturally.

Week 41

Week 41 baby

Fully baked baby

The baby is nice and cosy inside the belly, surrounded by amniotic fluid that will continue to be produced until the baby is born. Your baby’s skin is completely pink, but not as wrinkled as before. The subcutaneous fat that has formed in recent weeks has rounded and filled out. Your baby is soft and malleable, to be able to swish right through the birth canal when it’s time. The fontanelle (the soft area on top of the head) plays an important role, making the head – the largest body part – more malleable and thus easier to birth. And it also has to be malleable for the head and brain to be able to grow.

Week 41 mum

Advantages of waiting

We know: sitting around and waiting is a hassle. But it isn’t pointless! There are actually some benefits to being pregnant a little longer. The cervix has time to ripen and the hormone relaxin will soften your pelvic joints even more, so that delivery can be a bit smoother. Many people wonder if it’s possible to jumpstart childbirth themselves; you’ve surely heard about various home remedies – but there’s actually no basis for any of these things working. So instead, try to focus on resting and giving your body some peace and quiet. If your doctor or midwife sees that the cervix is ready, they might do a membrane sweep to help start contractions. A membrane sweep is done during a vaginal exam and involves a midwife or doctor stimulating the cervix to release a hormone that can help start labour. At this point, checks will be increasingly frequent to ensure the baby is still doing well; you will also start planning for the possibility of inducing. Different places have different routines for inducing labour, so talk to your medical provider to find out what applies for you.

Week 41 partner

Past due

Surpassing your due date can actually be pretty frustrating, especially for the person carrying the baby. Even though everyone knows chances are low that the baby will arrive on the due date, that was the one concrete piece of info you had. That isn’t odd; it’s natural to want a timeframe to stick to – but babies have little interest in time as a concept. The physical burden for your partner is no joke, and having to answer questions from the people around you about whether the baby has come yet can be incredibly frustrating. Especially when there’s nothing you can do yourself to make the baby want to come out. However, sometimes a membrane sweep is an option to help the body begin contractions. A membrane sweep is done during a vaginal exam, and involves the doctor or midwife stimulating the cervix.

Week 42

Week 42 baby

Frequent checks

Pregnancy is considered past due after 41+6 weeks, but it’s rare to go that long and only a small percentage of all babies are past due – no one really knows why. It might just be because the baby is way too comfy in the belly. While we don’t know what causes this, some factors do appear to play a role. The chances are higher for first-time pregnancies, and there may be some hereditary factors involved. If your biological mother or sister had to wait a longer time, there is a slightly elevated risk that you will have to wait too. Pregnancy is usually induced during this week if it doesn’t start on its own, but this can vary depending on where you live.

Week 42 mum

Baby’s coming – we promise

Keep going – you’re almost there! For most people, being pregnant is no longer fun at this point. By now, it just feels incredibly heavy, and it’s easy to be a bit low and lose your temper. And even if you doubt it, we promise that your baby will come out one way or another. If you’re absolutely finished with saying, ‘Nope, no baby yet!’ when people ask, it’s fully acceptable to send out a mass text that says you’ll let people know when the baby is here! We’ve written it before, but just a little reminder: you should always call the clinic if your water breaks, if you have any bleeding, fewer foetal movements, regular contractions, fewer contractions, or if you feel worried or scared. But you already knew that.

Week 42 partner

Soon time to induce

Inducing labour can happen a few different ways; usually, the pregnant person takes some hormone tablets dissolved in water, which kicks off the process. Alternatively, there may be reasons to opt for a C-section – it depends on how mother and child are faring. We know it might feel frustrating if your childbirth experience doesn’t go as you thought it would and you have to scrap what you had imagined. But even if the delivery isn’t what you had expected it to be, it’s actually only the very beginning of the rest of your life as a parent. And how your little one arrives isn’t what matters. What matters is that you will soon get to meet this person, and your heart will be filled with joy.

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