Your baby is now nearly 11 inches long from head to rump (17 inches from head to toe) and weighs about three pounds.

In addition to laying down body fat, she's starting to horde vital nutrients such as phosphorus, iron, and calcium to prepare for the future.

Calcium is especially important, because her bones are starting to harden. Your body will do whatever it takes to give her calcium. If you aren't getting enough of the mineral in your diet, your bones will start releasing it into your bloodstream, which is not a good thing for your own bones. Your baby will grow stronger, but you could be at increased risk for osteoporosis. It's far better to get your four servings of low-fat or nonfat dairy products every day or take a calcium supplement to make up any deficit. Many doctors recommend calcium supplements throughout pregnancy for this reason.

Your baby is showing many signs of growth. The lanugo (hair) that once covered her body is starting to disappear, and the hair on her head is getting longer and thicker. She's making rhythmic breathing motions in preparation for the big day. Her bone marrow is cranking out red blood cells, and her brain continues to grow.

As you've no doubt noticed, your baby is still very active. She likes to kick, especially when she hears a noise. She also spends more time opening and closing her eyes.

You're growing, too. At this point, you should be gaining about one pound every week. You look pregnant, you feel pregnant, and you still have a full ten weeks to go!

If you haven't done so already, now's a good time to start writing up a thorough birth plan. The plan should cover all the important details: Where do you want to have the baby? Who do you want with you? Do you want pain medications or any other interventions? Which interventions should be used only as a last resort? And where do you want your baby to spend her first night?

Go over this plan with your doctor or midwife well before the actual birth. If they can't accommodate your wishes -- if, for example, the hospital doesn't allow newborns to sleep with their mothers -- it's not too late to explore other options. It's your birth. You should be able to do it your way.

-- Chris Woolston, M.S., a health and medical writer with a master's degree in biology, is a contributing editor at Consumer Health Interactive. He was a staff writer at Hippocrates magazine and has also covered science issues for Time Inc. Health and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

References

First published July 25, 2005
Last updated March 27, 2008
Copyright © 2005 Consumer Health Interactive

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