How to avoid Pregnancy

Most methods of contraception offer some protection, even up to 99%, but there is no single 100% effective method except abstaining from sex completely.

If you choose to have sex, you have to be able to deal with the possibility that a pregnancy will result, and have a plan for what to do if it happens. Think in advance about your morals regarding abortion, single parenthood, adoption, and other options.

Even if you have had sex in the past, you can choose to practice abstinence now.

Abstinence protects against STDs, pregnancy, and a host of related issues. 

Why to avoid Pregnancy

Avoiding pregnancy is a good idea for many women and couples, for many different reasons, depending on their circumstances.

• They might not be ready to have a child interfere with a new relationship.
• Inadequate finances for a new baby.
• Other responsibilities like work and school could interfere with caring for the child.
• They're too young to parent a child properly, and/or might have complications because of their age.
• Genetic problems the parents don't want to pass to children.
• Unwillingness or unpreparedness to handle the challenges that pregnancy can bring.
• Religious or moral reasons.

These are just a few of the myriad reasons many couples and individuals wish to avoid pregnancy.

How to use a female condom

What are female condoms?

Female condoms are made from polyurethane. When used correctly during vaginal sex, they help to protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Condoms (male or female) are the only contraception that protect against pregnancy and STIs.

How do they work? 

The female condom is worn inside the vagina to stop sperm getting to the womb. It needs to be placed in the vagina before there's any contact between the vagina and penis. To use a female condom:

• take the female condom out of the packet, taking care not to tear the condom
• squeeze the smaller ring at the closed end of the condom and insert it into the vagina
• make sure that the large ring at the open end of the female condom covers the area around the vaginal opening
• make sure the penis enters into the female condom, not between the condom and the side of the vagina 
• remove the female condom immediately after sex by gently pulling it out: you can twist the large ring to prevent semen leaking out
• throw the condom away in a bin, not down the toilet

Store female condoms in places that aren't too hot or cold, and away from sharp or rough surfaces that could tear them or wear them away.

How to use it?

1. Open the condom package carefully; gently tear at the notch in the corner with your fingers only. Do not use scissors, teeth, fingernails or a knife to open.

2. Examine the condom. The female condom will have a larger ring (the "outer ring") at the open end and a smaller ring (the "inner ring") at closed end.

3. Hold the condom at the closed end, grasp the flexible inner ring with the thumb and second or middle finger and squeeze it so its long and narrow.

4. Get into a position that is comfortable for insertion.

5. Insert the inner ring gently into the vagina just far enough so it won't fall out.

6. Use the index finger inside the condom to push the inner ring up as far as it will go. Make sure the condom is not twisted and that the outer ring remains outside the vagina. The condom is now in place and ready to use.

7. Guide the penis carefully into the opening of the female condom to be sure that it does not enter on the side, between the sheath and the vaginal wall.

8. Remove the female condom by grasping the outer ring and gently twisting it so the semen stays inside. Gently pull it out and throw it away.

How effective are female condoms?

If used correctly and consistently, female condoms are 95% effective. This means that five out of 100 women using female condoms as contraception will become pregnant in a year.

Always buy condoms that have the CE mark on the packet. This means that they've been tested to the high European safety standards. Condoms that don't have the CE mark won't meet these standards, so don't use them.  

How long will it take to get pregnant?

In general, a fertile couple has a good chance of getting pregnant within a year, as out of 100 couples trying to conceive naturally: 

• 20 will conceive within one month
• 70 will conceive within six months
• 85 will conceive within one year
• 90 will conceive within 18 months
• 95 will conceive within two years

Bear in mind that these statistics are only averages. Some couples have a high monthly fertility. This means that they have a higher than average chance of getting pregnant within any given month. They are likely to fall pregnant quickly, probably within a few months. 

Other couples have a low monthly fertility. This means that they have a lower than average chance of getting pregnant within any given month. They are likely to take longer to get pregnant. 

Taking up to two years to get pregnant is normal for some couples. It may feel far from normal if it's happening to you. But it doesn't necessarily mean you have a fertility problem. About half of the couples who don't get pregnant within a year will conceive the following year, if they keep trying. 

What could improve my chances of getting pregnant?

Make sure that you and your partner are in tip-top baby-making condition. But having regular, unprotected sex is the key. Aim to make love every two or three days rather than every day, as daily sex can reduce the quality of sperm. Experts agree that this approach optimises your chances of getting pregnant. 

You may have heard that it helps to pinpoint exactly when you are ovulating and to have sex then. There is, of course, truth in this technique. Your chances of getting pregnant are much higher on the days in your menstrual cycle when you're most fertile. 

However, fertility experts advise against using complicated techniques to detect ovulation and then timing your sex life to specific days each cycle. It can make trying for a baby more stressful than it needs to be. And your chances of conceiving won't be any higher than if you had sex every two or three days. 

Sometimes your work or lifestyle makes regular sex tricky. There are some simpler techniques you could try that won't take over your life. For example, you could get to know some of the more obvious signs that your body is approaching ovulation, such as increased cervical mucus. You can then try to ensure that you have sex at least once or twice when you're most fertile. 

In general, a more relaxed approach is recommended by fertility experts. Having unprotected sex every few days means that there will always be a supply of sperm in the right place whenever you ovulate. Simply taking it easy and enjoying your love life may be the best way to boost your chances. 

Top 15 Tips on Getting Pregnant

1. To get pregnant faster have sex three times a week.

Having regular sex is the best way to get pregnant right away. Couples often try to time everything perfectly for ovulation but do not have sex when they think they are not ovulating. It is true that sex that is not within the time of ovulation will not result in pregnancy. However, because women do not always ovulate when they think they will, having sex three times a week will help a woman to cover her bases, so to speak, and not miss an opportunity to get pregnant.

2. Reduce Caffeine Intake 

Too much caffeine and your body will find it far more difficult to absorb iron and can adversely affect how fertile one is. Ideally when trying to get pregnant a woman should eliminate all drinks from their diet that contain caffeine, not just sodas and coffee, but tea as well. Instead to help increase the chances of a woman getting pregnant more easily they should be drinking plenty of fruit juices or milk shakes.

3. To get pregnant faster use an ovulation prediction kit or fertility monitor.

Using an ovulation kit (or opk) to predict when you are ovulating will improve your chances of getting pregnant. For many women charting or other methods of ovulation prediction are too confusing. Ovulation prediction kits work by reading LH surges prior to ovulation. They are relatively easy to use and are generally accurate for predicting ovulation. Fertility monitors, such as the Clear Blue Easy monitor, are also a worthwhile investment if you would like to get pregnant faster. Fertility monitors are similar to ovulation prediction kits in that they read changes in LH but they also read changes in other hormones and don't require any guesswork for couples. They are easy to use and will tell you when the best time to get pregnant is.

4. Ditch The Pill

Yes, the first thing is to forget about contraception. You may notice certain irregularities in your cycle and may take a few months for your cycle to return to normal. But many women are fertile the first month after they stop taking the Pill. The same holds true for the contraceptive patch and ring.

5. To get pregnant faster have sex before ovulation (not after).

Sometimes couples get confused about the best time to have sex in relationship to ovulation. You have a small window of time each month to get pregnant. After a woman ovulates the egg will survive approximately 24 hours. Sperm, on the other hand, will live for up to three to five days. This is why having sex two to three days before ovulation will increase your chances of getting pregnant. Don't wait until the day you ovulate to have sex. Your partner's sperm will last longer than your egg and you don't want to miss an opportunity by waiting.

6. Make Love In The Morning 

Although making love at any time of the day is wonderful to help a woman get pregnant easily it is far better to do so in the morning. The reason for this is that the level of sperm the man is producing is much higher at this time of day. This means that more sperm that are viable will be able to reach the egg that the ovaries have released to be fertilized.

7. If you want to get pregnant faster, don't rely on fertility charting alone to predict ovulation.

Fertility Charting is great for tracking your cycle but it does have disadvantages. By the time you can see ovulation on a bbt chart, you have already ovulated. It is good to chart so you can track your cycles, see if you ovulate the same time each month, and also so you can look back on your cycle and see if you timed things right. But if this is your first cycle trying to get pregnant or if you are not ovulating at the same time each month, an ovulation prediction kit would be more helpful.

8. Get A Good Night's Sleep 

You may not think that this will affect how easily a woman gets pregnant, but it does. If you get the right amount of sleep each night then the levels of the hormone leptin will remain good. If the woman's body is not producing sufficient amounts of this hormone then ovulation will be affected and the chances of her conceiving will be reduced.

9. Fuel Up On Folic Acid

Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a B vitamin that can help reduce the risk of serious birth defects that affect the brain and spinal cord. For this reason, the FDA recommends that all women attempting pregnancy take folic acid supplements for decreasing chances of birth defects.

10. Quit Smoking, Drinking and Drugs Now

Smoking or taking drugs greatly diminishes your chances of getting pregnant and can lead to miscarriages, premature birth, and low-birth weight babies. Plus, research suggests that smoking can affect your fertility and lower your partner's sperm count. In fact, studies have shown that even secondhand smoke may affect your chances of getting pregnant. It is also recommend that women avoid alcohol when trying for pregnancy.

11. Before you start trying to get pregnant see your doctor.

Make sure you are in good health and have had a regular check up from your OBGYN or medical provider. Untreated infections, sexually transmitted diseases, or poor health can affect your chances of getting pregnant. Its good to see a doctor as well as start taking prenatal vitamins prior to trying to conceive. 

12. Get Your Weight in Check

Healthy weight women have an easier time getting pregnant than overweight or underweight women. Studies show that women whose body mass index (BMI) is below 20 or above 30 have a harder time getting pregnant, so it's a good idea to try to get yourself into the 20 to 30 range before you start trying.

13. To get pregnant faster have enjoyable sex.

Sometimes when couples are trying to conceive, sex becomes a job or function of reproduction and is not as enjoyable. Plan a romantic evening or try something different to spice things up. How you are feeling sexually may factor into your chances of getting pregnant. Some researchers believe that having an orgasm during sex increases your chances of getting pregnant. For women, the spasmic movements of orgasm will help pull the sperm into the uterus and for men a better orgasm may increase the man's sperm count.

14. Positioning Yourself

Many experts suspect that the missionary position (man on top) provides the best opportunity for getting pregnant, though no definitive studies have been done on this question. This position allows for the deepest penetration which deposits sperm closer to the cervix. For additional effectiveness, the woman can try elevating her hips with a pillow so her cervix is exposed to the maximum amount of semen. Other positions could be Rear entry and lying side-by-side. Avoid woman on top, standing, or leaning positions, which discourage the flow of semen to the uterus.

15. For Your Man

Ask your partner to chuck all briefs and opt for boxers instead for a healthy sperm count. Also, having sex in the morning would help since the semen has the highest number of sperm then.

40 WEEKS PREGNANT

How big are you?

Your uterus now sits about 16-20cm above your bellybutton and about 36-40cm above your pubic symphysis.

How big is your baby?
Congratulations! If you have not gone into labor yet, then you have successfully carried your baby to full term. Your baby will be weighing in at around 3.462kg (7.63 pounds) and measuring 51.2cm (20.16 inches).

Your Body

This week you'll experience the moment you've been anticipating — your introduction to your baby! Before you can meet your baby, though, you have to go through labor and delivery. You may have learned about the three stages of birth in your prenatal classes. The first stage of labor works to thin and stretch your cervix by contracting your uterus at regular intervals. The second stage of labor is when you push your baby into the vaginal canal and out of your body. The third and final stage of labor is when you deliver the placenta.

If you don't go into labor within a week of your due date, your health care provider may recommend you receive a nonstress test, which monitors fetal heart rate and movement to be sure that the baby is receiving adequate oxygen and that the nervous system is responding. Talk to your health care provider to find out more about this test.

Sometimes mother nature may need a little coaxing. If your labor isn't progressing, or if your health or your baby's health requires it, your health care provider may induce labor by artificially rupturing the membranes or by administering the hormone oxytocin or other medications. If your pregnancy is high risk, or if there are any other potential complications, you may require a cesarean section delivery.

Some women know ahead of time that they will be delivering via cesarean section and are able to schedule their baby's "birth day" well in advance. If you're one of them, you've probably been able to prepare yourself emotionally and mentally for the birth — which can help to lessen the feelings of disappointment that many mothers who are unable to deliver vaginally experience. But even if you have to undergo a cesarean section that wasn't planned, rest assured that you'll still be able to bond with your baby. It might not be the birth experience you imagined, but your beautiful newborn has arrived nonetheless. The months of waiting are over!

Good luck with your baby!

You Baby's Development

After many weeks of anticipation and preparation, your baby is here! Or maybe not — only 5% of women deliver on their estimated due dates, and many first-time mothers find themselves waiting up to 2 weeks after their due date for their baby to arrive.

A baby born at 40 weeks weighs, on average, about 7 pounds, 4 ounces (3,300 grams) and measures about 20 inches (51 cm). Don't expect your baby to look like the Gerber baby right off the bat — newborns often have heads temporarily misshapen from the birth canal and may be covered with vernix and blood. Your baby's skin may have skin discolorations, dry patches, and rashes — these many variations are completely normal.

Because of the presence of your hormones in your baby's system, your baby's genitals (scrotum in boys and labia in girls) may appear enlarged. Your baby, whether a boy or a girl, may even secrete milk from the tiny nipples. This should disappear in a few days and is completely normal.

Right after birth, your health care provider will suction mucus out of your baby's mouth and nose, and you'll hear that long-awaited first cry. Your baby may then be placed on your stomach, and the umbilical cord will be cut — often by the baby's dad, if he chooses to do the honors! A series of quick screening tests, such as the Apgar score, will be performed to assess your baby's responsiveness and vital signs, and he or she will be weighed and measured. If your pregnancy was high risk, or if a cesarean section was necessary, a neonatologist (a doctor who specializes in newborn intensive care) will be present at your delivery to take care of your baby right away. If your baby needs any special care to adjust to life outside the womb, it will be given — and then your newborn will be placed in your waiting arms.

What to do when you begin labor
When the first signs of labor set in relax and do the following while you wait to arrive at the hospital:

• At the beginning of each contraction, take a deep breath and exhale slowly. 
• Be sure to measure the time from the start of one contraction to the start of the next one and perhaps jot them down somewhere.
• Get up and move about. This may help distract you from the pain, and it may also help relieve the lower back pain you will be feeling.
• Get your partner to message your shoulders, neck, back and feet.
• Take a warm shower or bath.

Congratulations! Your pregnancy will now be drawing to an end. Your family has now grown by an extra one, two or even perhaps three. The birth of a child is a life changing experience, both for good and perhaps for bad, as you will not have a good nights sleep for years to come! There is one certainty from all of this: the sleepless nights will become less, and your love for your children will grow in leaps and bounds, and no-one, no-one, can ever replace them to you, or you to them.


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How big are you?

Your uterus now sits about 16-20cm above your bellybutton and about 36-40cm above your pubic symphysis.

How big is your baby?

Your baby will be weighing in at around 3.288kg (7.25 pounds) and measuring 50.7cm (19.96 inches).

How is your baby developing and growing

 Your baby will continue to gain weight although it has slowed down.

 All the organ systems are now in place and capable of functioning on their own.

Umbilical cords, which carry nutrients from the placenta to the baby, vary in size but average about 22 inches (55 cm) long and half an inch (1-2 cm) thick. Sometimes the umbilical cord can become wrapped around a baby's neck. Generally, this doesn't cause problems, although a cesarean delivery could be required if it causes pressure on the umbilical cord during labor or delivery. A true knot in the umbilical cord is much less common, occurring in only about 1% of pregnancies.

Most of the vernix that covered your baby's skin has disappeared, as has the lanugo. Your body has been supplying the baby with antibodies through the placenta that will help the baby's immune system fight infection for the first 6-12 months of life.

Your body

Braxton Hicks contractions may become more pronounced. Also called "false labor," these contractions may be as painful and strong as true labor contractions but do not become regular and do not increase in frequency as true contractions do.

Another sign of labor, the rupture of your amniotic sac, could happen any day now. When their water breaks, some women experience a large gush of water and some feel a steady trickle. Many women don't experience their water breaking until they're well into labor. Others need to have their water broken by their health care providers to get their labor started or to speed it up. If you think your water has broken or you are experiencing regular contractions, contact your health care provider.

Your Nutrition

If you are going to be breastfeeding your baby, you may be concerned about your nutrition levels and what is best for you to eat. You may be advised to eat an extra 500 calories per day, as on average a breastfeeding mother usually secretes about 425 to 700 calories into her beast milk everyday.

The extra calories can be gained from eating the following:

•  Bread/cereal/past/rice      9 servings/day
• Milk/cheese/dairy            3 servings/day
• Fruits                             4 servings/day
•  Vegetables                     5 servings/day

You will also want to avoid foods that can cause gas, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and spicy foods.

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Two more weeks to go and your nesting instinct is in full throttle. You're busy washing and folding (and refolding) baby's clothes, marveling over how anyone could ever fit into such a teensy weensy T-shirt. If you haven't set up the crib, bassinet or wherever you plan for baby to sleep—now would be a good time. You don't want Dad frantically trying to figure out some incomprehensible instruction manual between contractions.

Your Body

Because your baby is engaged in your pelvis, your bladder is extremely compressed, making frequent bathroom trips a necessity.

Have you and your partner made a decision about circumcision? Circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin of the penis in male babies. For some parents the decision to circumcise is a religious one. For others, the choice is not as easily made. Talk to your health care provider about the issues surrounding circumcision, including pain relief options for the baby.

As your cervix begins to dilate, you may lose your mucus plug. (You may also toss your cookies when you read the words "mucus plug." Ew.) This thick, mucus-like wad seals the cervix and prevents infection during pregnancy. When the plug has done its work, it will bid your cervix goodbye and hurl itself into the toilet. 

Contrary to what people may say, losing the mucus plug isn't a definite predictor of the onset of labor.

You also may notice some pink or "bloody show," another indication that your cervix is dilating.

Once you've lost your mucus plug, be on the alert for regular, strong, painful contractions (not like this is something you'd sleep through, believe us) or other indications that you should call your doctor and get thee to a hospital. 

Your Baby

Your baby weighs about 6 pounds, 6 ounces (2,900 grams) by now and measures about 13.4 inches (34 cm) in length from crown to rump. Fat is still accumulating, although growth is slower now. You may notice that your weight gain has decreased or ceased.

Since your baby has had the muscles to suck and swallow amniotic fluid, waste material has been accumulating in his or her intestines. Cells shed from the intestines, dead skin cells, and lanugo hair are some of the waste products that contribute to meconium, a greenish-black substance that constitutes your baby's first bowel movement.

If you're having a boy, his testicles have descended into the scrotum, unless he has a condition called undescended testicle. If you're having a girl, the labia are now completely developed.

Your baby's intestines have accumulated a considerable amount of meconium (the code name for black, tar-like baby poop), which is usually eliminated shortly after birth and gives you your first experience with the 100-wipe diaper change. Here's what else is up: 

Your baby might just scratch herself in the womb as the fingernails have grown over the fingertips now. Resist painting them hot pink when she arrives.

Baby's lungs continue to mature and her brain and nerve function are working better every day. The latter two will continue to mature until Junior is a teenager, at which point she'll know it all (or at least she'll think she does).

Your baby weighs about 6½ pounds and is around 19 or 20 inches long—as long as a duffle bag (in case you needed an excuse to go shopping for a new bag for your labor gear). 

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Your baby is officially baked this week! That means you could literally give birth at any given moment. A terrifying, exciting and overwhelming concept, all rolled into one. Your partner is undoubtedly having the same emotional roller-coaster ride, so be sure to share your feelings and enjoy these last weeks (days?! hours?!) together.

Your Body 

After this week, you may lose the mucous plug that sealed off your uterus from infection. The mucous plug can be lost a few weeks, days, or hours before labor and is thick, yellowish, and may be tinged with blood (the mucous plug is also called bloody show). As the cervix dilates in preparation for the labor, the plug is discharged from the body. Be sure to speak with your health care provider about any discharge you may be having.

You made it! Your baby is considered full term at the end of this week. So kick your swollen feet up and swig back a glass of lemonade. All that hard work has finally paid off!

At your checkup this week, your doctor or midwife may do an internal exam to see how things are progressing. We're not gonna lie to you, an "internal" can hurt like hooey. But hey, it ain't labor! While she's in there, your practitioner will check three things: dilation (how open your cervix is), ripeness (how soft your cervix is) and effacement (how thin your cervix is). For baby to come on out, the cervix must be open to 10 centimeters, as soft as the skin on the inside of your mouth and 100 percent effaced.

It's normal to have some brownish spotting after an internal exam or a little wham-bam, but if you notice any bright red discharge or consistent spotting, call your doc or midwife immediately. Also, as your mucus plug preps to dislodge itself, you may also find an increase in gooey discharge "down there" these last few weeks. Just what you wanted to hear, right?

Your Baby

This week, your baby is considered full-term! But your baby hasn't stopped growing yet. He or she continues to develop fat at the rate of half an ounce (14 grams) a day. In general, boys weigh more than girls at birth.

Your baby has developed enough coordination to grasp with the fingers. If shown a bright light, your baby may turn toward it in your uterus.

Huge news this week: You're carrying a full-term baby! If you were to go into labor today, all systems would be a go. Woohoo! Even though you can't wait for the little bambino to quite literally rear his head, keep in mind that your bun benefits from every day in the oven. Other ticker-tape-worthy developments:

Baby's growth slows down dramatically this week, which is great news for your birth canal. His bones are still soft and pliable and will solidify after he's born. More great news for your birth canal.

So if he's all cooked and ready to go, what the heck is he still doing in there?! He's busy practicing for "life on the outside," working on his breathing, sucking, sleeping, gazing and peeing abilities. The only thing he can't practice yet is his ability to scream at the top of his lungs when he's hungry—but he'll do plenty of that in a few weeks.

At this point babies vary in size, but the average length is between 19 and 20 inches and most babies weigh approximately 6 pounds. About the size of an average largemouth bass caught in Minnesota by your cousin Earl.

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With a mere 28 days to go (give or take a few), you're almost at the end—and the beginning of your new life. Finish up your final prep by stocking up on diapers, washing the onesies and making sure the nursery is good to go. Then, even if baby comes early, you're still ready. Of course, every new parent feels wildly unprepared regardless of how operational the nursery is, but at least you won't be diaperless!

Your Body

Starting this week, you may begin to see your health care provider every week. Your doctor or midwife may give you an internal exam to determine if cervical effacement (thinning of the cervix) or dilation (opening of the cervix) has begun. You may experience engagement (also known as lightening), which is when the baby drops into the mother's pelvis in preparation for labor. Your appetite may return because the baby is no longer putting as much pressure on your stomach and intestines, and if you've been experiencing heartburn, the baby's descent may somewhat alleviate it.

Just when you think you can't possibly stand another day of your baby kicking your lungs and crowding your stomach, your baby will drop it like it's hot. This process, called lightening, will probably make it easier for you to breathe, but with your baby's head resting directly on your bladder, you'll be breathing all the way to the bathroom. 

When your baby drops, you can rest assured that your pregnancy journey will be over within the next few weeks. Make sure to know the many signs and symptoms of labor so that you won't be caught with your pants down (both figuratively and literally).

Your Baby

The wrinkly, tiny fetus you may have seen on earlier ultrasounds has given way to an almost plump baby. There is fat on your baby's cheeks, and powerful sucking muscles also contribute to your baby's full face. Your baby now weighs a little under 6 pounds (2,721 grams).

The bones that make up your baby's skull can move relative to one another and overlap each other while your baby's head is inside your pelvis. This phenomenon is called molding, and it helps the baby pass through the birth canal. Don't be surprised if your baby arrives with a pointy or misshapen head! After a few hours or days, your baby's head will be back to a rounded shape.

Your baby continues to put on weight at about ½ pound each week. This layer of fat will help your baby regulate his body temperature after leaving your climate-controlled womb. In fact, your baby will be 15 percent fat at birth (and you ... well that's another story). Even in the womb, your baby can listen, feel, touch and see. The only thing separating him from living in the outside world is a little thing called the birth canal. Other highlights this week:

His gums are firm with ridges that look somewhat like teeth, though his actual pearly whites won't start breaking through until he's between three months and a year old.

Your baby has definite patterns of sleep and wakefulness—opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping. Your baby will become alert and turn his head toward light and sound just as a newborn would—except when you put on that Celine Dion CD. Then the baby puts his hands up, turns away and gurgles, "Oh no you didn't!" 

Your baby is now around 18½ inches long and nearly 6 pounds—just about as big as a breadbox!

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Up until now, you've been seeing your doctor about once a month. Now you'll start seeing her every two weeks, until the final month when you'll kick it up to once a week. We're not suggesting you have "mommy brain" just yet ... but be sure to write down any questions you want to ask her about the delivery. Things are moving rapidly. You're going to want to be as informed as possible.

Your Body

During your prenatal visits, your health care provider will monitor your blood pressure, urine, and any swelling that may develop, but symptoms such as sudden weight gain, swelling in the hands or face, headaches, or changes in vision can be signs of preeclampsia. This condition causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you experience any of these symptoms, since this condition can affect both the mother and fetus during the second half of pregnancy.

There is something surreal about watching a tiny foot move across your belly (and something uncomfortable about getting jabbed by a tiny elbow in the dead of night). Now that your baby is nice and big and mobile, you'll be getting kicked and prodded in all sorts of unexpected places. Oooof! Did you feel that one in the ribs?

If you're feeling sudden, jerking movements, then your baby probably has the hiccups. Or he could be practicing his routine for So You Think You Can Dance. Changing positions, taking a walk, or drinking a cold glass of water or juice can sometimes get a very active baby to chill with the kidney shots for a while. You could also try telling the baby if he kicks you one more time you're going to come in there and give him a time-out. OK, that won't help ease the discomfort, but mentally it'll make you feel like you're still in control.

You can also take heart in the fact that in a few more weeks, your Karate Kid will be running out of room for the kind of athletic displays he's so fond of these days. In other words, he'll be too cramped in there to haul his foot back 6 or 7 inches to give you a swift kick in the ribs.

Your Baby

The final touches are being placed on your baby masterpiece. Eyelashes, eyebrows, and the hair on your baby's head are evident. The lanugo hair that has covered your baby since the beginning of the second trimester is falling off, although some may remain on the shoulders and back at birth.

At about 4 pounds (1,800 grams) and 11.4 inches (29 cm) from crown to rump, your baby would have an excellent chance of survival outside the womb if you delivered now.

Although your baby will still remain active, his days of trying out for Cirque du Soleil are nearly over. About this time your baby will settle into the head-down position in preparation for birth. Other fascinating facts:

Both you and baby are putting on some serious weight at this point. You'll probably gain about a pound a week for the next few weeks, with half of that poundage bulking up baby. He'll likely double his weight in the next eight weeks.

Ever wonder what your baby is doing in there these days? He's busy blinking, looking around, grabbing things, making faces, practicing his breathing, peeing and listening to everything around him—pretty much exactly what he'll be doing for the first three months of his life, sans the adoring audience and the flashing camera.

Your baby may (or may not) have a full head of hair now. If she's a baldy, don't worry. You can always buy a Baby Toupee or some adhesive barrettes. 

By the end of this week, your baby will weigh about 4 pounds and measure over 17 inches long—about the length of a hot pair of above-the-knee boots. Christian Louboutin? Manolo Blahnik? We're thinking Isaac Mizrahi for Target—you've got a nursery to furnish!

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You may have given a passing thought to what the new member of the household will be like (and by "passing thought" we mean obsessive rumination). Will she be a good sleeper? Will he draw on the furniture with a Sharpie? Get an inside scoop by pumping your own parents for information on how you and your partner were as kids: how much you weighed at birth, your first words the first time you cut off all of Barbie's hair. ... Your parents will get misty at the memories and you may, too. Maybe out of hope for the future, maybe out of fear for your leather sofa.

Your Body

Your health care provider probably sent you for some blood tests early in your pregnancy. One thing blood tests measure is the Rh factor, a substance found in the red blood cells of most people. If you don't have it (if you're Rh negative) but your baby does (is Rh positive), there is potential for your baby to have health problems, such as jaundice and anemia. Your doctor can prevent these problems by giving you a vaccine called Rh immune globulin at 28 weeks and again after delivery.Woohoo! You have hit the third trimester mark, so add another notch to your belt (both figuratively and literally). 

If your early blood workup showed that you are Rh negative, you'll need to get a shot of RhoGAM, or Rh immunoglobulin, this week. The shot prevents potential complications in a future baby you may carry if that baby is Rh positive. Your Rh status doesn't matter when it comes to this baby, but you'll want to get the shot in case you're planning on having more bambinos.

If your baby is born with Rh-positive blood (because Papa chipped in an Rh-positive gene), you'll be given another dose of RhoGAM after you deliver to make sure everything will be good to go for any future pregnancies. 

If your glucose screening test came back positive, your doc will probably want to give you a glucose tolerance test some time soon. The test—for gestational diabetes—involves some dietary changes in the days leading up to it (more carbs!) and a longer visit to the doc on the day of the test (it's a three-hour test instead of the one-hour one you took the first time). And it's another chance to load up on that yummy glucose cocktail—shaken, not stirred! If you do end up testing positive for gestational diabetes, your doctor will probably put you on a super-healthy diet for the remainder of your pregnancy.

Your Baby

Your baby now weighs about 2 pounds, 2 ounces (1,000 grams) and measures about 10 inches (25 cm) from crown to rump. At your next prenatal appointment, your health care provider may tell you whether your baby is headfirst or feet- or bottom-first (called breech position) in the womb. Babies who are in the breech position may need to be delivered by cesarean section. Your baby still has 2 months to change position, though, so don't worry if your baby is in the breech position right now. Most babies will switch positions on their own.

The folds and grooves of your baby's brain continue to develop and expand. In addition, your baby continues to add layers of fat and has continued hair growth.

As the Big Day nears, your baby is getting ready to go towards the light at the end of the tunnel (the tunnel being the birth canal, the light being the one the doctor is shining directly into it so she can see what the heck she's doing). Other highlights this week:

Your baby's eyes are partially open now and can blink. Truly superior babies can actually wink. (OK, there is no way to prove that, but it's fun to imagine, no?) Your baby can also now become a shiny, happy person as she has begun having rapid eye movement (Get it? REM? Shiny, happy person?? We'll be here all week.)

Her eyes have color now, too. It may not be the color she ultimately ends up with, especially if they're light gray or blue. The eyes typically don't settle on a final hue until nine months after baby is born. So when your mother-in-law says that the baby has her eyes, you can politely inform her that they'll most likely change soon. Sorry.

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