At this point in your pregnancy, you are feeling very large and uncomfortable. It may be difficult to tell the difference between leaking of urine and amniotic fluid. The closer you get to the end of your pregnancy, the more you will hear about 'being effaced'. Effacement is the process by which the cervix prepares for delivery. After the baby has engaged in the pelvis, it gradually drops closer to the cervix; the cervix gradually softens, shortens and becomes thinner. You may hear phrases like 'ripens', or 'cervical thinning', which refer to effacement.

Your Baby

Your baby now measures almost over 360 mm from head to toe and weighs over 3,250 grams. If she was a fruit, she'd still be a small watermelon. The fine lanugo hair is gone, but there is plenty of hair on the head. The toe and fingernails have reached the tips. Your baby is also blinking, swallowing, making breathing movements and passing urine. Your baby is continuing to grow and working on the layer of fat underneath his/her skin. This is an important part of your baby's ability to regulate their body temperature. Your baby is also beginning to form new skin cells which will replace older skin cells.

Common Complications

• Your baby should remain as active as ever right up to delivery. A decrease in activity could be a sign of a problem - meaning that you need to deliver now rather than later!
• Membranes rupture before the beginning of labour in less than 15% of pregnancies. If your water does break, call your doctor right away, but stay calm - it may be hours before your first contraction.

It is okay if…

• You complain of heartburn and constipation at this time. Make sure to drink water, avoid large meals and don't eat just before heading to bed.

Stuff to Do

• If you've received gifts, don't throw those tags away, yet. While sonograms can be a good way to judge the size and gender of your baby, they are not always right. By leaving the tags on certain items, you will save yourself a lot of trouble.