Week 25

YOU
Pregnancy can cause some unpleasant side effects when it comes to digestion. Not only does the hormone progesterone slow the emptying of the stomach (to allow for increased absorption of nutrients for your baby), but your expanding uterus is putting increased pressure on your intestines. The result: indigestion and heartburn that can make eating your favorite meals a nightmare. Try eating smaller, more frequent meals, and avoid spicy and fatty foods.  Eating yoghurt and drinking milk are also said to relieve heartburn due to their alkaline acidity level. Sleeping elevated on several pillows can also help. If your heartburn or indigestion persists, your LMC will be able to advise which heartburn remedies are safe to take during pregnancy.

You may find that you are suffering from dry eye or light sensitivity, which is normal during pregnancy. Use unmedicated eye drops to soothe this. If you normally wear contact lenses and are having discomfort, see your optometrist, you may need to change your prescription or wear glasses for the remainder of your pregnancy.

YOUR BABY
Your baby now weighs 500 grams. Your baby's fully developed hands, complete with tiny fingernails, are now feeling his or her surroundings, including his or her own skin and even the umbilical cord. Your baby's dexterity is developing, too - fingers can now curl into a fist.
Your baby’s brain is rapidly developing, as are his or her tastebuds - he or she may even be aquiring specific tastes already!
You may notice that your baby has resting and alert periods that are the same each day. You'll notice fetal activity more readily when you are doing sedentary activities.

Week 26

YOU
Your uterus provides a safe haven for your baby before birth. But what about after your baby is born? He or she will be moving about your home in what seems like no time at all. Take the time now to safeguard your home by baby proofing. Covering electrical outlets, removing choking hazards, installing smoke alarms, and blocking off staircases are just a few steps you can take to ensure your child's safety. Take every precaution you can think of, but remember: no amount of baby proofing can substitute for careful supervision of your child. Check out our section on babyproofing your home for more tips on creating a safe world for your baby.
When you have your next appointment with your LMC, you may have to give a urine sample. This checks for sugar in your urine, which can be a sign of gestational diabetes, or protein in your urine which can be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

YOUR BABY
Although your baby's eyes have been sealed shut for the last few months to allow the retinas to develop, they are now opening and beginning to blink. Depending on ethnicity, some babies will be born with blue or gray-blue eyes (which may change color in the first 6 months of life) and some will be born with brown or dark eyes. Eyelashes are growing, as is more hair on the head.
Your baby weighs approximately 2 pounds (850 grams) and is about 23 cm long from the head to bottom. Your baby will still look wrinkly, but he or she will continue to gain weight steadily over the next 14 weeks until birth.

Week 27

YOU
Your body instinctively nourishes and protects your baby during pregnancy, but caring for a newborn is a learned skill. If you haven't already, be sure to book your antenatal classes as you will be needing to start them in a few weeks if you want to complete them before baby arrives. These classes cover topics such as labor, options for pain relief, what to expect after delivery, common newborn problems, caring for a newborn, baby proofing, breast-feeding and bottle-feeding, and infant CPR. Learning all you can about birth and babies will help you feel more confident, especially if you're a first-time parent.

YOUR BABY
Your baby now weighs around 900 grams and is 38 cms in length (including extended legs). By this first week of the third trimester, your baby looks similar to what he or she will look like at birth, except thinner and smaller. The lungs, liver, and immune system still need to fully mature, but if your baby was born now, he or she would have at  least an 85% chance of surviving.

As your baby's hearing continues to develop, he or she may start to recognize your voice as well as your partner's. Sounds may be muffled, though, because the ears are still covered with vernix, the thick waxy coating that protects the skin from becoming chapped by the amniotic fluid.

Week 28

YOU
Get ready to be seeing a lot of your LMC's clinic. Starting this week, you'll probably be visiting your doctor or midwife every other week instead of every month.
Now that you are into the third trimester, you may be starting to feel bigger, tire more easily, and experience some of the not-so-nice side effects of pregnancy such as leg cramps, shortness of breath, varicose veins and haemorrhoids. Try to rest with your legs up as much as possible to improve circulation. Ask our other OHbaby! mums and mums-to-be how they deal with these problems in the Pregnancy section of our OHbaby! message boards.

YOUR BABY
Your baby now weighs about 2 pounds, 7 ounces (1,100 grams) and measures about 10 inches (25 centimeters) from crown to rump. Your baby will be beginning to settle into position for delivery, ideally head down, but if he or she is still breech (bottom down) don't worry, there is still plenty of time for him or her to turn around. Most babies eventually settle on the head down (cephalic) presentation by 36 weeks, and if your baby is still breech at 36 weeks your LMC will discuss possible options for encouraging him or her to turn.

Your baby’s eyes are blinking now. He / she will be having regular sleeps but also regular active times. Some research suggests that babies begin dreaming at the 28th week.

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.