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

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU

As you enter the ninth month, your weight gain will probably slow. You may gain only one pound this entire month - or you may even lose a pound or two.

Has your midwife performed an internal examination? If you are already dilating and effacing, labour may be close. Or maybe not. Confused? Early dilation and effacement are signs of pre-labour; however, it can be a month before you actually go into labour. But don't become depressed. Early work may mean a shorter labour, since your body has already begun the process before you even feel your first contraction. If you notice that your baby has ‘dropped’ (appears to be lower in your abdomen), you can expect to have about two to four weeks to go. In second or later births, babies often don't ‘drop’ until labour has begun.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY

While we will tell you that your baby weighs five pounds this week and measures 31cm crown to rump, or 16-1/2 inches long, this is only an estimate. In general, babies gain half a pound per week from this point on. You may notice that your baby has day-to-day active and resting patterns. This is because the uterus is growing thinner, which allows light to enter and influence baby's rhythms.

HEALTHY EATING

Healthy alternatives to unhealthy cravings:

Wholewheat crackers with cheddar cheese
Dried fruits
Non-fat yoghurt
Low-fat or non-fat wholegrain cereal bars

FACT OF THE WEEK

A simple test you can try, from the comfort of your own living room, is to count the movements that your baby makes at the same time, every day. This test should not be performed until after the 28th week, when foetal activity becomes more consistent. While some practitioners feel that it is not necessary to do this test, especially if you have an active baby, it can help reassure you if movements appear to diminish. In cases where movement slows or stops, this test can be a red flag. Here are the basics:

Start at the same time each day.
Using a clock, see how long it takes for your baby to move ten times.
If it takes longer than an hour, drink some juice and try again.
Keep in mind that all babies are different. It may be a good idea to record several days' worth of information to get a baseline for your baby.
If another two hours passes with minimal or no movement, call your doctor.

If movements have decreased, your practitioner may order a non-stress test that identifies your baby's heart rate and movement frequency through an external monitoring device.

Find out what to expect in week 36 of your pregnancy.

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