Women's Services
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Watching Baby Grow
8 Weeks – the baby is about an inch long and weighs less than an ounce. The baby’s organs are developing and the heart will begin to beat by the 25th day of pregnancy. It has human facial features and the teeth have formed. Fingers and toes are also beginning to form.
Feeling more tired than usual during the first few weeks of pregnancy is normal. Take time to rest. You may also experience “morning sickness,” which is not limited to the mornings, but might occur at different times of the day. Other common problems include constipation, tender breasts, frequent urination and heartburn.
 12 Weeks – the baby has grown to about 3 inches long and weighs about an ounce. The baby can now open and close his or her own mouth and move its tiny hands, legs and head.
16 Weeks – the baby has more than doubled in size, weighing six ounces and measuring four to eight inches long. The baby’s lungs and heart are already formed. Baby has eyebrows and lashes and begins sucking his or her thumb.
You may want to start wearing maternity or loose fitting clothing now. You may notice you feel warmer than usual. You may also notice dark areas on your skin. They are normal and will go away after the baby is born. You may also experience some low back discomfort and urination should be less frequent.
 20 Weeks – the baby has grown to half to one pound and measures about 12 inches long. The baby is active, moving from side to side and turning. You may want to write down the day you first felt your baby move. The baby is still very skinny and its skin is translucent. Hair has started to grow on the baby’s head.
Your body is adjusting to being pregnant. Mood swings should be decreasing and you may begin to think of the baby as being a real person as you begin to feel him or her move around.
24 Weeks – the baby is tiny, but fully formed. He or she wrinkled skin, weighs about one-and-half pounds and measures about 14 inches long. The lungs, brain and other vital organs will continue to develop as the baby grows to term. The baby is covered with a cheese-like coating called vernix. The eyes are open and the baby can now hear sounds.
Because the baby is growing rapidly now, his or her head may put pressure on your bladder, making you have to go to the bathroom more often. Constipation can also be a problem for mothers-to-be. Make sure you drink lots of fruit juices and water and eat high fiber foods.
 28 Weeks – the baby weighs about two to three pounds and measures about 16 inches long. The baby’s bones are getting harder and you may feel the baby actually kick. The baby’s organs have now developed to the point where he or she could probably survive outside the uterus. Baby is covered with fine downy hair called lanugo.
You may find you feel better if you eat smaller meals and snacks of fruit, vegetables, milk, bread or cereal. With baby’s increase size, it may be getting difficult for you to breathe. Stretching your arms over your head and breathing deeply may help this feeling. If you have other children in the home, you need to talk with them about their new baby brother or sister. During this last trimester of pregnancy, you might feel increased back discomfort and feel more tired. Hemorrhoids might become a problem and you may experience indigestion, heartburn, gas orconstipation. Also, your ankles might swell, you may experience leg cramps and you may feel faint at times.
 32 Weeks – the baby is around 18 inches long and weighs about three to four pounds. The baby may turn in the uterus in preparation for birth. Baby is plumper now and has filled out some of the wrinkles in his or her skin.
You should stop doing any heavy lifting or strenuous work to avoid straining yourself. You should make out a plan for when you go into labor – how will you get to the hospital? Where will your other children go when you leave to have the baby? What will you need to take along? You may also want to tour the hospital birthing facility so you are familiar with the setting. Be sure to ask any questions you have about what will happen during the labor and delivery, or any other concerns you have.
 36 Weeks – the baby is nearing full-term and could come any time between 37 and 42 weeks. The baby is about 20 inches long and weighs about seven pounds. The baby is gaining weight at about half a pound a week.
It’s normal to have mixed emotions at this point in your pregnancy. You may feel excited, happy, anxious and afraid. Try to relax and make the final preparations for your new arrival.
Watching Baby Grow
Complications of Pregnancy
Labor & Delivery
Pain Relief Medications & Anesthetics
Cesarean Birth & VBAC
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