You are pregnant - Week 25-30

The seventh month of pregnancy is very important as this is the border being viable and non-viable. As the foetus's nervous, blood flow, breathing and other body functions has now been developed to a point where it is probable for a baby to survive it born at this stage; obviously with special care. The chances of survival is based on a number of variables such as birth weight, general well-being and the quality of the medical care available.

Week 25:
You should now plan for your ante-natal classes, also know as the scary movies evenings. The first night we attended they showed us the natural birth video – I had a OMG thought. The next week it was the caesarean video and I knew for sure that there had to be another way – there was not. The idea of the classes is to provide you with enough information to allow you to make informed decisions about the birth and the process you wish to follow. The idea is to form a bond with the presenter of the course and use her as one of your support people for advise and information. The classes are usually over a 5-6 week period.

Your uterus is stretched, and every week I thought I could not get bigger, I was wrong.

The foetus looks like a baby look at birth, and will react to sounds, be it positive or negative. Now is a good time to start to talk to your baby, if you are not doing so already. It is noted that babies at birth already distinguishes between mother tongue and other languages.

Baby clothes and the the baby room will also now become highest priority. Remember that you will be receiving gifts, so don't buy too much. Draw up a list and discuss what your needs would be an your preferences in branded toiletries.

You need the following:

• 7 vest – look for wide necked ones;
• 2-3 cotton sleep suits;
• 7 baby grows; with or without feet dependant on season;
• 2-3 cotton socks;
• 8+ burpers;
• bibs
• 2-3 blankets or receiving blankets

Baby weight around 720 gram and is about 22.5cm tall.

Week 26:
Get enough rest and try to stay active, as the benefits of a fit pregnancy and birth is numerous. Your gravitation point has shifted and you need to stay aware of this. Also switch to comfortable shoes if you have not yet done so.

Baby will be building muscle and will add some fat from this week. Each week the viability of the foetus increases. The foetus can distinguish light, smell and hear; even to the point where known and unknown voices are distinguished.

Baby will also need a lot more than just clothes, a pram or stroller, a car seat, cot, the list is endless, when you look at these accessories you need to look at a couple of variables:

• Your standard of living - how much money can you afford to spend?
• Your lifestyle - if you are not sportive then you do not need a “jogger” pram or stroller.
• The size of your vehicle - if your pram fills the whole boot, then you will have problems with doing anything as a family.
• Value for money - there are a lot of "must haves"; you as a parent want the best for your child; get the basic needs met first then look at all the rest. Ask your friends what worked for them. If something is really expensive then see if you can't find one you can borrow to test first, so you can make sure it is going to be suitable. Remember babies differ and what would work for one, might not work for another.
• Replacement - How long would your baby be able to use the item? Is it realistic to spend that amount of money on an item that would be used over that time period? What would alternatives cost you?

Baby weight around 820 gram and is about 23cm tall.

Week 27:
Congratulations you are in the home stretch; the last trimester.

If you are not taking in a lot of water, then start, if you are; drink more. Try to keep you feet lifted as much as possible, this will help for the swelling as well as ease the pressure of the additional weight.

The foetus's space is becoming cramped, and the days of baby gym is over. The foetus will also now follow rhythmic "breathing" patterns. The brain will now start to obtain the grooves on the surface.

Have a look at how baby-friendly your house is, and make a list of all the things you need to look at from a additional safety products perspective; you might need gates for stairs for example. Also get your emergency numbers ready and stored in a place where any one in the house can reach it.

Baby weight around 920 gram and is about 24cm tall.

Week 28:
Make a short-list of baby names if you have not yet decided on one. If you struggling to sleep try lying on your left, with a cushion between your legs. This can enhance the flow of blood to your heart and will provide better support for your back. As your ligaments become more elastic your back, calves even your arms will ache; try taking in more milk and other calcium right foods. You might still have heartburn, the reason for this is that the amount of progesterone makes all the muscles relax including your stomach sphincter; which is why you have heartburn. You might still have heartburn, the reason for this is that the amount of progesterone makes all the muscles relax including your stomach sphincter; which is why you have heartburn. Progesterone is also the main culprit for the backache as , as with your sphincter your back muscles also relax, which makes a healthy posture nearly impossible.

Baby might have hiccups, and the whole body is covered with  vernix caseosa. Growth is still at a fast rate.

Baby weight around 1kilo and is about 25cm tall.

Week 29:
You are sleeping badly as you are not able to lie on your back, as your uterus is pressuring your vein which takes blood back to your heart from your lower-body. If you are not feeling badly when lying on your back then you can continue to do so.

Baby is looking plumper daily; more Anne Geddes, less Kate Moss.

Baby weight around 1.15kilo and is about 26cm tall.

Week 30:
Your breast are still getting bigger, it is better to buy bras for breastfeeding closer to your due date as your breast will continue enlarging up to about two weeks before your due date. Your ante-natal classes most probable have started, and you most probable have a lot of questions.

For the next three weeks the baby will continue to gain weight, especially fat. The eyes are open and the hiccups will increase. Baby can also be affected by  Braxton Hicks contractions although it would be mainly by movement.

Sources:
Louw, D.A. 1990. Menslike ontwikkeling. Tweede uitgawe. Pretoria: HAUM – Tersiêr.
Cooke, Kaz.  2006. The Rough guide to Pregnancy & Birth. Second Edition. London: Rough Guides – Pregnancy.
The Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia. Vernix cadeosa. Retrieved 17 July 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernix_caseosa