A week by week guide to what’s happening to you and your baby

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU

With labour looming, you may be getting a bit nervous - especially if this is your first baby. Will you have a safe birth? Will the pain be more than you can handle? Will your labour drag on for hours, or will you even make it to the hospital in time?

Studies indicate that pain and length of labour may be related to the level of maternal anxiety about giving birth. Physical stress can translate into uterine muscle tension, which can make contractions more painful. Stress and anxiety also increase a substance in the blood called catecholamines, which work against your body's natural production of oxytocin. As a result, labour does not progress as quickly as it might otherwise.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY

Your baby, weighing in at four pounds and 11 oz, and measuring 30cm crown to rump or 16 inches, urinates nearly a pint a day. In fact, the urine, along with sweat and other fluids from the baby, help to make up the amniotic fluid. This amniotic fluid completely replenishes itself every three hours.

HEALTHY EATING

To help avoid constipation, try these quick snacks:

A wholewheat bagel
Bean soup
1 cup brown rice
1 cup orange juice with pulp
3 cups popcorn (light on the butter and salt)
1 cup raisin bran

FACT OF THE WEEK

An epidural takes about ten to 20 minutes for a skilled anaesthetist to set up. You will be asked to lie on your left side and you will be given an injection of local anaesthetic. A small hole is made with a solid needle and a hollow needle is inserted in its place. Then a catheter is threaded through the hollow needle into the epidural space, leaving a length of catheter protruding from your back. The local anaesthetic is then given by syringe down the catheter and the opening is sealed. The effect is felt in a few minutes and lasts for about two hours but can then be topped up. It provides complete pain relief without dulling any of your mental faculties. Talk to your doctor and midwife about your pain relief options in labour.

Find out what to expect in week 35 of your pregnancy.

For a list of all the pregnancy week by week articles click here