By this stage of your pregnancy, you are on target to gain about 19 to 25 pounds. During this stage of pregnancy you can still expect to still experience indigestion. This would be the time to increase more fruits and vegetables into your diet. You want to be eating a balanced diet even at this late stage of pregnancy. If you already started an exercise routine then it is important to keep at it. But it is never too late to get more exercise into your daily routine. Try taking a 20 minute walk after meal, you will feel great and you can reduce the amount of acid reflux.
Some women experience constipation during their pregnancy. But a way to combat constipation naturally is by drinking a lot of water and eating more fiber in your diet. Stay away from laxatives, laxatives can cause contractions. Never take any type of medication while pregnant, always consult your doctor first. Liquid laxatives or even mineral oils cause pre-term birth. Though this may sound a bit old fashioned, some women employ a doula. A doula is someone who can prepare the new mom to be for childbirth.
They can offer you physical and emotional advice as well as educational information to help the new mom and dad prepare. They can also provide some comfort and pain relieving techniques. Their job is to make childbirth as painless a process that you can.
Baby’s Development
By now the baby is growing at a fast pace as the pregnancy comes to an end. The baby will be about 14-1/2 inches long and 2-2/3 pounds. The baby’s brain is constantly developing at a fast rate as well. The baby can hear all sounds outside the womb can feel rhythms from music. Some new moms to be like to place headphones on their bellies and let the baby hear the music. Experts say that if you constantly play a song or music while the baby is in the womb will recognize it after they are born.
You will start to notice that the baby doesn’t jump around so much, but don’t worry. As the pregnancy progresses the baby is taking up the entire uterus and the baby won’t be as hyperactive as before. You will still continue to feel the baby kick but their somersault days are over. Just because the baby doesn’t jump around so much, it doesn’t mean that your appetite won’t decrease any either. At this stage of pregnancy, the baby’s eyes are open and can turn their face to any light they see. Their fingernails are growing and the baby fat layer is coming along nicely, as the baby grows as will the baby fat. But the fat layer is needed to help with childbirth.
Changes With Your Body
The majority of women at week twenty-nine of pregnancy will gain about 11 pounds or so. They can also break out in rashes due to ever changing hormone levels. Some of the other pregnancy symptoms include fatigue, mood swings, lethargy and heartburn all due to the increase of weight that you have and will continue to have until the baby is born.
As the baby grows you may experience some sciatica problems. The sciatic nerve runs from the entire length of the leg. It can be very painful when the baby puts pressure on in. Then the pain subsides as the baby moves. If you experience thus pain, try soaking your legs in warn water. If you soak in the bath, keep the water warm and never hot. If you feel this pain while you are sleeping, try switching positions or try placing a pillow in between your knees. There are some conditions that you would have to watch out for more than others. Bacterial Vaginosis is one of them. If not treated immediately it can cause pre-term delivery. You can avoid bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections and urinary tract infections but wearing loose fitting and clean clothes. If you start to sweat excessively, keep cool by taking a warm/cool shower.
Other pieces of advice the doctor may offer you is try to avoid sleeping on your back. Sleeping on the left side of your body is the best way to keep your blood circulation going. Beware of a lot of water retention; this is normal throughout this week of pregnancy. You will want to ask your doctor about a condition called Pre-Eclampsia. This condition if not detected right away can cause harm to the baby.
What To Expect
This is an exciting stage in your pregnancy. So many changes are happening and you are coming into the last months of pregnancy. In week twenty-nine, you should be getting plenty of rest and eating good foods. You should be keeping hydrated throughout these final months. Stay on target with the prenatal vitamins. You also want to eat foods that contain Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium and Folic Acid.
At this stage of the pregnancy, you probably have a laundry list of baby names. You should be narrowing down the list by now and you probably have read every baby book known to man by now. You may have already started to hear some birth stories from prenatal classes that you may have enrolled in. If you are interested, you can arrange to have a hospital tour, you can see the nursery and the delivery room. This sometimes makes new moms to be more comfortable and more at ease when their time for childbirth comes.
You will also want to correct your posture if you feel like you are slouching. This will help prevent backaches and cramping. Sleeping with pillows surrounding your body as well as between your knees can alleviate most problems. Your blood platelet is low at this stage of pregnancy. We mentioned that pregnancy weakens the immune system, so it is very important to keep up your strength.
Tips/Advice
As your pregnancy draws to a close, it is important to follow the doctors’ orders. If you are experiencing a difficult pregnancy, the doctor may order bed rest. Listen to your body and what it is telling you. Only you can know how you feel, if you feel something is wrong, call your doctor right away.
