7.0 – Month Seven (Week 25-28th)

Sources:

1.     The Everything Pregnancy Organizer by Paula Ford-Martin

2.     http://www.babycenter.com/

3.     familyeducation.com

7.1            Checklist

1.     Make a date with yourself to relax, read, or just catch up on sleep.

2.     Interview pediatricians.

3.     Sign up for childbirth classes.

4.     Contemplate the breast versus bottle decision.

5.     Set up an appointment to discuss your birth plan with your provider.

7.2            Baby Development

Week 25th - Baby weighs around 660g which is about the same as a swede - Head to heels, baby now measures about 35cm - Baby is beginning to exchange that long, lean look for some baby fat - Her wrinkled skin will smooth out - Baby will start to look more and more like a newborn - Baby is growing more hair and you may be able to tell if she will be blonde, dark or a redhead!

Week 26th - Baby weighs about 760g, about the same as a red cabbage - Baby measures around 36cm from head to heels - The network of nerves in baby’s ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She can hear both your voice and partner’s as you chat with each other - Baby is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid - These breathing movements are essential for the development of her lungs - It is also good practice for when baby is born and takes that first gulp of air

Week 27th - Baby weighs nearly 900g, about the same as a cauliflower - Baby is about 37cm long with legs extended - She is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing those little eyes, and perhaps even sucking on fingers - With more brain tissue developing, baby’s brain is very active now - Her lungs are still immature. They would be capable of functioning if baby were to be born now, but they would need a lot of medical help - It is common for baby to hiccup now

Week 28th - Baby weighs just over a kilo, about the same as a aubergine - Baby measures around 38cm from the top of her head to her heels - Baby is starting to get more snug in your uterus - Baby can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes - With increasingly developed eyesight, baby may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb - Baby is also developing billions of neurons in her brain - She is adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world

7.3            My Body

Estimated Due Date (EDD):

	Week 25th	Week 26th	Week 27th	Week 28th
Date
Time
My weight

Check off which of the following symptoms you experience this month and talk to your doctor about any of that make you especially uncomfortable:

	Frequent urination
	Fatigue
	Tender and/or swollen breasts
	Bleeding gums
	Excess mucus and saliva
	Increase in vaginal discharge
	Mild shortness of breath
	Light headedness or dizziness
	Headaches
	Forgetfulness
	Gas
	Heartburn
	Constipation
	Skin and hair changes
	Round ligament pain or soreness
	Lower back aches
	Mild swelling of legs, feet, and hands
	Leg cramps

7.4            Activities Recommended

Week 25th
	Get your feet some love
	Go to bed with a pillow
	Discuss your hopes and fears
	Take a belly photo

Week 26th
	Cat nap
	Sign up for BabyCentre’s free online antenatal classes
	List your top baby names
	Discuss personal issues

Week 27th
	Do pelvic floor exercises
	Take a Bumpie
	Buy another new bra
	Do some stretching

Week 28th
	Relax your muscles
	Have a laugh
	Start thinking about your birth plan
	Choose your baby’s doctor

7.5            Concerns and To Read

Week 25th -       Is it safe to paint while I’m pregnant? -       Health: Pregnancy back pain -       Eating Well: Snack fruity flapjacks -       Your Life: Quelling late-night fears about your baby

Week 26th -       Is it safe to wear high heels during pregnancy? -       Health: Pregnancy symptoms your should never ignore -       Eating Well: Vegetarian and pregnant -       Your Life: Naming your baby

Week 27th -       Is it safe to use air fresheners and other aerosols? -       Health: Stretching during pregnancy -       Eating Well: Snack for easing pregnancy headaches -       Your Life: Put an end to fights about household chores

Week 28th -       Is it safe to bleach my facial or body hair? -       Health: Your midwife appointments in the third trimester -       Eating Well: Pregnancy cocktails -       Your Life: I expected some physical discomfort, but this is ridiculous

7.6            At the Doctor’s Office

Starting with this initial third-trimester visit, your visits to the doctor may start to step up to twice monthly. Women who are Rh negative will need treatment with Rh immune globulin (RhoGAM) this month. An injection is typically given at about twenty-eight weeks to protect the fetus from developing hemolytic disease—a condition in which the mother's antibodies attack the fetal red blood cells.

Prenatal Visit Notes

My Weight
Week of pregnancy
Fundal height
Blood pressure
Baby’s heart rate
Tests	Results
Additional Notes:

7.7            Choosing a Pediatrician

Your pediatrician will look in on and care for your newborn in the hospital, so getting one lined up now is important. Some things to inquire about beyond the basic office hours and insurance questions include:

1.     Do ill children have a waiting room separate from the one for well-child visits?

2.     Will the doctor support your feeding choice?

3.     Are lactation consultants available?

4.     How are calls into the office triaged and returned?

5.     Additional questions or concerns:

7.8            Arranging Child Care

Now is also a good time to begin scoping out potential childcare providers. Your best source of leads for good childcare is other moms in your life who share your values and viewpoints on child rearing. Then narrow down your list of facilities based on the answers to the following questions. You should visit and observe children at any facility you are considering for your own child.

1.     Does the facility have adequate staffing? (For infants, this is generally a minimum of one provider to every three babies.)

2.     Does the facility provide a stimulating and child-friendly environment?

3.     What is the staff like? Are they caring and nurturing, or do they seem to be distracted or overburdened?

4.     Is the facility properly licensed and accredited?

5.     Is an adequate number of the staff specially trained for early childhood care?

6.     Do the children in the program seem comfortable and happy?

7.     Are parents allowed to observe when their child is in the program?

8.     Does the program focus on emotional, cognitive, and physical development in activities?

9.     Does the staff provide adequate individual attention to infants?

7.9            Milestones and Memories

Here is a place for you to record the thoughts, feelings, and physical changes you experience during your first month of pregnancy.

Time until due date: Firsts: Concerns: Looking forward: Questions for the doctor next month: Reflections from the Heart: My baby is most active when My baby’s kicks feel like The first time I saw baby’s kicks The first time I saw baby’s hiccups My appetite has been The foods I’ve been craving Foods that give me heartburn A recent forgetful moment My clumsiest pregnancy moment My funniest pregnancy experience My most embarrassing pregnancy experience A recent dream A recent daydream When I close my eyes and think of baby, I see Some things I wish for my baby My message to baby Dad’s message