Your baby

Weighing around six and a half pounds and gaining as much as an ounce a day, your fully formed baby measures about 34cm from crown to rump and 47cm from head to toe. The lanugo hair and creamy vernix covering your baby’s skin are both disappearing by now. This week, your baby’s toenails have reached the end of his toes and will continue to grow. So your baby’s finger and toe nails may need trimming after birth.

Within your baby’s intestines, a mass of meconium is accumulating. This dark green substance is the first stool a baby passes and will be expelled soon after (or during) birth. It is made of cells and waste products from your baby’s liver, pancreas, and gall bladder, which have built up during your pregnancy.

Your progress

As the baby settles into the pelvis, you may notice a few twinges as the baby’s head hits your nerves. These can feel like electrical buzzes down your legs and inside your vagina.

Around this time, you may also lose your mucus plug, which seals the opening of the uterus. This may indicate that labour will start immediately, or it could simply mean that labour will occur within the next week or two. Whatever the case, it’s still exciting evidence that you will soon be giving birth.

Your baby’s movements may slow considerably just before birth, as there’s simply not much room in which to move. It’s almost as if he’s saving his energy. However, it’s worth keeping track of your little one's activity level – and calling your doctor if movements seem dramatically reduced.

What to think about

A good night’s sleep

Pregnancy is definitely getting tiresome! At night every discomfort seems to be magnified tenfold. You may be surprised to learn that in the last weeks of pregnancy, a mother's sleep/wake patterns align themselves with those of their unborn babies. So it might be nature’s way of preparing you for all those night feeds!

With all that to look forward to, you may as well get as much sleep as possible, while you still can. So here are some hints for getting a better night's sleep:

Light evening meal. Avoid large evening meals that only increase your uncomfortable sense of fullness and heartburn.

Simple stretches. Do simple stretching exercises before bed. Stretch each leg behind you to lengthen your calf muscles. Raise your arms over your head and then extend them at shoulder level and circle them - anything to get the kinks out and improve circulation.

Relaxing bath. Take a warm (but not steamy hot) shower or soak in the bath before bed, asking your partner to help you get in and out.

No stimulating drinks. Drink lots of water in the daytime, but avoid caffeinated drink, such as tea, coffee and cola after noon.

Use pillows to help. Sleep on your left side, which takes the pressure off major arteries and organs. Get a body pillow or two to three extra firm, king-sized pillows to support your back and put one between your legs to help relieve pressure.

Make it dark. Don't make a habit of watching television while you're in bed. Close your curtains and turn off all lights so it's truly dark inside when it's time to sleep.

Relax with music. Use a CD player with earphones to listen to pregnancy hypnosis CDs or peaceful music. These same tapes may help you relax during labour, too.

Keep cosy. Make sure the bedroom temperature is so comfortable you don't notice it. Being too chilly or too hot will only make you more restless.

Change beds. Sometimes a simple change of environments will help you relax and fall asleep. Try changing beds or moving to the sofa with a pillow and blanket. If that doesn't work, then turn on the light and read for a while to get your mind off your worries.

Practice childbirth skills. Use your awake time in the night to practice the deep relaxation and breathing techniques you learned in your childbirth course.

If you don't get enough sleep and wake up tired in the morning, try to set aside time during the day for a brief nap. As amazing as it may seem, your sleeping patterns now may seem luxurious compared with your first month of life with a demanding, night-owl baby!