Written by Bea Anderson – Sonographer
Week 28: Baby’s eyes partially open
Twenty-eight weeks into your pregnancy, your baby’s eyelids can partially open, and eyelashes have formed. The central nervous system can direct rhythmic breathing movements and control body temperature.
By now your baby might be nearly 10 inches (250 millimetres) long from crown to rump and weigh nearly 2 1/4 pounds (1,000 grams). This is a great time to visit Somerset Early Scans for a 4D scan!
Week 29: Baby kicks and stretches
Twenty-nine weeks into your pregnancy, your baby can kick, stretch and make grasping movements.
Week 30: Baby’s hair grows
Thirty weeks into your pregnancy, your baby’s eyes can open wide. Your baby might have a good head of hair by this week. Red blood cells are forming in your baby’s bone marrow.
By now your baby might be more than 10 1/2 inches (270 millimetres) long from crown to rump and weigh nearly 3 pounds (1,300 grams).
Week 31: Baby’s rapid weight gain begins
Thirty-one weeks into your pregnancy, your baby has finished most of his or her major development. Now it’s time to gain weight very quickly.
Week 32: Baby practices breathing
Thirty-two weeks into your pregnancy, your baby’s toenails are visible.
The layer of soft, downy hair that has covered your baby’s skin for the past few months (lanugo) starts to fall off this week.
By now your baby might be 11 inches (280 millimetres) long from crown to rump and weigh 3 3/4 pounds (1,700 grams).
Week 33: Baby detects light
Thirty-three weeks into your pregnancy, your baby’s pupils can change size in response to a stimulus caused by light. His or her bones are hardening. However, the skull remains soft and flexible.
Week 34: Baby’s fingernails grow
Thirty-four weeks into your pregnancy, your baby’s fingernails have reached his or her fingertips.
By now your baby might be nearly 12 inches (300 millimetres) long from crown to rump and weigh more than 4 1/2 pounds (2,100 grams).
Week 35: Baby’s skin is smooth
Thirty-five weeks into your pregnancy, your baby’s skin is becoming smooth. His or her limbs have a chubby appearance.
Week 36: Baby takes up most of the amniotic sac
Thirty-six weeks into your pregnancy, the crowded conditions inside your uterus might make it harder for your baby to give you a punch. However, you’ll probably still feel lots of stretches, rolls and wiggles. From this week onwards you can visit Somerset Early Scans for a presentation scan!
Week 37: Baby might turn head down
Thirty-seven weeks into your pregnancy, your baby has a firm grasp.
To prepare for birth, your baby’s head might start descending into your pelvis. If your baby isn’t head down, your health care provider will talk to you about ways to deal with this issue.
Week 38: Baby’s toenails grow
Thirty-eight weeks into your pregnancy, the circumference of your baby’s head and abdomen are about the same.
Your baby’s toenails have reached the tips of his or her toes. Your baby has mostly shed all of his or her lanugo.
By now your baby might weigh about 6 1/2 pounds (2,900 grams).
Week 39: Baby’s chest is prominent
Thirty-nine weeks into your pregnancy, your baby’s chest is becoming more prominent. For boys, the testes continue to descend into the scrotum. Fat is being added all over your baby’s body to keep him or her warm after birth.
Week 40: Your due date arrives
Forty weeks into your pregnancy, your baby might have a crown-to-rump length of around 14 inches (360 millimetres) and weigh 7 1/2 pounds (3,400 grams). Remember, however, that healthy babies come in different sizes.
Don’t be alarmed if your due date comes and goes with no signs of labour starting. Your due date is simply a calculated estimate of when your pregnancy will be 40 weeks. It does not estimate when your baby will arrive. It’s normal to give birth before or after your due date