Week Twenty Five

This week is all about the backbone! The spinal structures begin to form – thirty three rings, one hundred and fifty joints and one thousand ligaments. The blood vessels of the lungs are forming and the nostrils begin to open.

Your uterus has grown to the size of a football now, placing pressure on the back and pelvis. This can cause shooting pains in your legs and lower back. If this happens, try to change position, rest and relax.

Week Twenty Six

Your baby weighs around two pounds now and will be about twenty five centimetres long. Around this time the lungs develop their air sacs. The lungs secrete surfactant which covers the inner lining of the air sacs allowing the lungs to expand when inhalaing.

The uterus is now about five centimetres above your navel. You may experience Braxton Hicks contractions, around this time. These are normal and usually painless, occurring at irregular intervals and feel similar to menstrual cramps. They are your body’s way of practicing for the birth and help to tone up your uterus ready for labour. Mothers expecting multiple births will have move Braxton Hicks contractions. If you experience more than four in an hour, contact your doctor.

Week Twenty Seven

The baby’s brain and lungs continue their rapid growth. Eyelids open and the retinas begin to form. The baby will grow over half an inch this week and will be around forty centimetres long.

This week marks the end of the second trimester. You may experience some shortness of breath as the uterus pushes up towards your rib cage. Your circulatory system is working more efficiently in order to ensure that your baby gets plenty of oxygen.

 

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