Pregnancy calendar - week #27

Pregnant mothers - week #27

An excuse to shop: always a good thing!

Considering there is a whole trimester worth of pregnancy in front of you, we think it's a great time to go pick out some cute maternity clothes. We know many moms who opt for wearing sweats, oversized T-shirts, and baggy clothes for 9 months. You could go this route, but why? You're missing out on so much great clothing and shopping opportunities! When else can you wear clothing to show off your beautiful pregnant belly?

Maternity clothing has drastically changed in the last 10 years. What used to be a mishmash of floral oversized dresses has become a wide array of very chic designs by established and up-and-coming designers. Now you can find maternity clothing at many of your favorite stores (like Gap, Old Navy, and Target), speciality maternity stores (like MiMi Maternity and Motherhood) as well as many speciality boutiques. We recently heard about Isabella Oliver, a designer that makes beautiful and sexy maternity clothing that you'll want to wear even after you're pregnant!

If you're looking for more bang for your buck, consider looking for used maternity clothing on Ebay. These are often sold as a set (or lot) for great prices. The clothing is usually in great quality--most of it was only worn for a very short time.

The third trimester is characterized by...you guessed it, weight gain. Now until week 36 is the time you'll pack on most of those pregnancy pounds. The average weight gain during pregnancy is between 25 and 30 pounds (and more for multiple babies.) As always, a healthy pregnancy diet is the key to keeping the weight gain to a minimum, and ensuring good health for you and your baby.

The weight gain distribution is as follows (based on an average, single baby pregnancy):

• Baby:

  7-8 pounds

• Placenta: 2-3 pounds
• Amniotic fluid: 2-3 pounds
• Breast tissue: 2-3 pounds
• Blood: 4 pounds
• Fat deposits for breast-feeding, delivery: 5-9 pounds
• Uterus: 2-5 pounds

You may now be experiencing leg cramps. They are believed to be caused by muscle fatigue due to increased weight, or circulatory issues in your legs. If you're experiencing leg cramps, stretch your legs, go for a walk, get plenty of water, and relax.

Baby and fetal development - week #27

Once more into (or out of) the breech, dear friends!

If you could peek in on your little baby now, you'd probably see a little girl or boy looking much like she or he will at birth, only smaller. Baby's still not done developing in some crucial areas (mainly the lungs, liver, and immune system) but if preterm labor occured at this point, there's a good chance your baby would survive.

Baby has been snuggled head facing up for a long time, in the breech position. Soon she will rotate to a different position to prepare for birth, and also to make herself more comfortable--it's crowded in there! This process takes awhile, as baby slowly makes the turn downward.

If you reach week 37 and your baby still hasn't turned from the breech position, your doctor may issue an external cephalic version (ECV.) This procedure is performed by applying pressure to the abdomen to physically turn the baby to a better position for birth. There's about a 60% success rate, and if the EVC doesn't work, further steps are taken to ensure a safe delivery.

Pregnant dads - week #27

Dry run.

If you haven't already, plan on touring your chosen birth facility with your partner. This will prepare you in many ways for the birth day. You'll know how to get there, where to park, where to go, and what to expect. Knowing these things will make the day much more managable.