Pregnancy calendar - week #25

Pregnant mothers - week #25

My, what a lovely nursery you have!

If you haven't already, now's a great time to start planning and prepping the nursery. This is much easier if you already know baby's sex, but there are several gender-neutral ideas too. Here are some of our favorites:

• Under the stars. Paint the room a dusk blue, and paint stars on the ceiling. White furniture goes well with this theme.
• Country. Painting a country-themed mural on the wall will make the room ooze with peacefulness. Rolling hills, animals, a pretty blue sky and clouds will bring you out of the city and into the country.
• Shabby chic. Vintage white furniture accented with pinks, pale yellows, and light greens will make for a classy and beautiful nursery. This is also a budget-friendly option.
• Favorite animals. Whether it's birds, bees, cats, dogs, or jungle animals, baby will enjoy this theme for many years.
• School room. Decorate the nursery with ABCs, 123s, and other classroom style decor.

By now you're probably pretty aware of the symptoms associated with mid to late pregnancy. For one, you may be experiencing more acid stomach and reflux. This is often caused by an increase in progesterone produced by the body, which causes the stomach to empty slower. This also causes the valve to the stomache to relax, allowing more of the stomach's contents to work their way up and cause reflux.

There are some things you can do to ease this discomfort. By eating more but smaller meals, drinking lots of fluids, and avoiding fried and spicy foods, you'll be feeling better.

Also, drinking lots of fluids during pregnancy may also help reduce swelling in the ankles and feet. Some women's feet get huge during pregnancy (and some never return to their old size!) so consider these measures worth taking. You can also elevate your ankles when at rest or sitting, avoid sitting for lengths of time, and get up and move. No big feet for you, dear!

And we must say, you've come a long way! You're nearly two thirds of the way there. Brava, hot mama!

Baby and fetal development - week #25

Congratulations Ma'am, it's a toddler!

Now is the time to start singing beautiful lullabys to your baby. And you don't need to be an American Idol to do it--your baby will love your voice just the way it is. This is also a great way to bond with baby. Invite dad to join in too!

Since baby's sense of hearing is getting more developed, he may also hear other things going on in the outside world: the phone ringing, dog barking, thunder claps, loud music.

If you were to peek in on baby at this point, you'd notice that his skin is very wrinkly and reddish. Not quite like the typical chick flick would have you believe. After all, when those babies are delivered, they look like they're 6 months old!

Baby continues to move around. You'll be more mindful of this when you're still and resting.

Pregnant dads - week #25

Planning ahead.

If you're like many expectant fathers, financial and insurance matters weigh heavy on your mind. Where and how do you start planning these necessities for a new baby? Don't worry, we've outlined a few of the basics for you. Choosing a life insurance representative is a good place to start.