Your baby is now about the size of your fist -- from 3½ inches to 4 inches from crown to rump -- and weighs about one ounce. She is gradually uncurling from her C shape: at this point her chin is no longer resting on her chest, and her neck is longer and more clearly defined. Meanwhile, her fingernails and toenails continue to develop, and this week she may also grow hair on her head and in the eyebrow area.

Your baby continues to be very busy, and her movements are becoming more refined. She can flex and bend her fingers, hands, knees, and toes.

At this point in your pregnancy, you're probably beginning to consider maternity clothes. If this is your second or third pregnancy, you might still have some maternity clothes on hand. If you're pregnant for the first time, you may still get by wearing some of your larger pants, or using a pin to fasten your jeans if you can no longer button them. But at some point in the near future, you will probably grow weary of your uniform of baggy T-shirts, sweatshirts and oversized pants, and you’ll want to check out your maternity wear options.

Maternity clothing isn’t cheap, so before you go to the department store and spend lots of money, ask around to see if anyone you know has clothes they can pass on. Most people don’t mind sharing their maternity items; these clothes usually stand up to a few pregnancies. Check out your favorite thrift shops and consignment stores. Most carry a good stock of barely used maternity outfits. Secondhand stores that specialize in children’s clothes often carry maternity wear as well. If you have a local maternity resource center, they may also offer secondhand items to buy or borrow.

Some maternity tops serve double time for post-partum wear, because they feature panels that allow for discreet nursing. These blouses are a practical investment -- and also hide postpartum bulges, since they are roomy and comfortable. When it comes to maternity underwear, consider purchasing several nursing bras, so you won’t have to go out and buy new ones as soon as your baby arrives.

If you do purchase new maternity clothing, pick items that you can mix and match. Be practical: that maternity cocktail dress may look elegant, but it is unlikely that you will have many opportunities to wear it. And no matter how pretty the clothes are, most women cannot bear to look at their maternity garments once their body resumes its pre-baby shape.

On the other hand, it is okay to splurge a little, if you can afford to. You still have several months to go before the baby is born, and you aren’t going to get any smaller for a while. You may be comfortable schlumping around in your partner’s cast-offs, but you’ll probably feel better about your changing body if you have a few pretty things to wear, too. Maternity clothes will come in handy for a few months after the baby comes, because it will take a while for you to slim down. And when your pregnancy is over, you can pass them on to the next person -- or pack them away for Number Two.

-- Connie Matthiessen is a former staff writer for the Center for Investigative Reporting who has written widely on health and medical issues.

References

First published July 25, 2005
Last updated March 13, 2008
Copyright © 2005 Consumer Health Interactive

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