Your baby

At around 23cm crown to rump and about one pound, 12oz in weight, your baby now embarks on a major growth spurt until 29 weeks. This week is also an important landmark for lung development. Air sacs (alveoli) will have developed in your baby’s lungs and the lungs will begin to secrete surfactant, which is vital for your baby to breathe independently.

Your baby is now at his most active, as he is still small enough to move freely in the amniotic fluid. He is also very responsive to external stimuli. Studies suggest that the foetus can already. respond to touch. You may feel your baby jump in response to loud sounds and your baby is also aware of lightness and darkness, as some light can be seen through the uterus.

Your progress

By now you may not be the only one who can feel your baby kick. As his movements become stronger, your partner may enjoy feeling the tiny nudges and ripples on your abdomen. On the other hand, you may wish that other people kept their hands off your bump. If so, be polite but firm – after all, it’s not public property!

As you approach the end of the second trimester, discomforts such as back pain, pressure in your pelvis, leg cramps and headaches may occur more frequently. If sleep is becoming a problem, a pillow between your knees may help you to rest more comfortably on your side.

Your centre of balance has already altered dramatically. You may feel like you are going to tip over because of the weight you are carrying at the front of your body. But try not to arch your back to compensate as, you’ve guessed it, this will make your back ache even worse.

What to think about

Dental problems and swollen gums are very common during the last three months of pregnancy because of your increased oestrogen and progesterone levels. If you’ve not been to the dentist in the last three months, now is an excellent time to make an appointment. Treatment is free while you are pregnant and there’s still time to have any necessary work done before your baby is born.

To help prevent and treat inflamed gums, brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day and floss carefully at least once a day. Rinsing with mouthwash or warm salt water may also help to soothe the tissues, but the best treatment is good plaque control. Make sure you get plenty of calcium, protein and vitamins B, C and D to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.