Baby’s Development
Your fetus is now approximately 2 pounds! In the twelve weeks to come, she will more than double her size as her all-important fat stores start to fall into place. If she is born prematurely at this stage, her lungs will need a great deal of assistance to work but because of all her growth up to this point, she’ll have a good chance of survival. Happily, 9 out of 10 babies born at 28 weeks gestation are perfectly fine after the right treatment.
A lot of activity around the eyes is taking place! Her eyelashes and eyebrows are almost complete and will remain the same throughout her childhood. Of course, your baby’s parents’ genes determine the length of lashes and shape of the brow and you may be surprised to see gorgeous long lashes on a little boy or short ones on your daughter!
These days your baby is able to turn her head to look at differences in light inside the womb. Studies have shown that if a bright light is shone on your belly, your fetus will turn her head to look at it from deep inside!
Your Body and Emotions
Welcome to your last week in the second trimester! By now you may have gained at least twenty-four pounds, the majority of which is your steadily growing baby. This extra weight is start to put demands on your circulatory system and you may have started experiencing leg cramps these last few days.
Leg cramps in pregnancy can take on many different forms. For some women, the cramps feel a great deal like muscle pain from working out and for others it’s more of a sudden ‘charlie horse’ sensation. The medical community is still unsure as to why these occur but they’ve developed a few theories. Extra pressure on the blood vessels connected to the legs, strain from carrying weight and too little magnesium have all been connected to this annoying condition. Because they cannot pinpoint an exact cause, there is no exact cure either. If you are suffering from leg cramps, try the following to alleviate some of the discomfort
- Massage
- Pregnancy safe muscle rub
- Light stretching
- Hot baths to relax limbs
Your friends may also be getting ready to throw you a baby shower soon. It’s generally accepted that toward the beginning of the third trimester is the ideal time to enjoy this party as you are still ‘up to it’ at this point. Registering at a baby store or your local department store is an excellent way to ensure that you have all you need for the little one’s arrival. It takes the guessing out of present purchasing for your friends and ensures that you don’t get doubles (or even triples) of the latest baby gadget.
Dad’s Tips
With the amount of technology available today, there’s no excuse to not document this pregnancy! You may be so caught up in the moment that you forget to take pictures or video, but try to make a point of remembering. Years down the line when you’ve both forgotten what it’s like to be expecting, you’ll be happy you have these memories preserved. If you haven’t been taking photos of your partner’s belly until now, the third trimester is a good time to start. The amount of growing she’ll do is truly mind-boggling! When she’s back to her original size, she’ll probably be amazed at what her body was capable of in these last weeks.
It’s a good time to decide if you want to have a camera in the delivery room as well. Of course, you’ll want to take as many photos as you can of your little one in his first moments of life, but whether to film the birth is a decision that’s truly hers. You might like the idea of preserving those amazing moments when your baby’s born, but whether she’s comfortable having her private parts filmed is another story. The pain and work she’s going to go through is monumental and having a camera in the room might only add to her discomfort. Discuss what you both want and make the decision that’s right for you.
