Your pregnancy month eight

You

You are probably starting to look and feel very pregnant as you enter the last months of pregnancy. You may find that you are starting to get breathless more easily as your uterus pushes up towards your ribcage, you may also be getting swollen ankles and leg cramps. Many women start to notice their breasts get heavier during the next month or so, this is your body preparing to feed your baby; a good supportive bra will help. It might be difficult for you to get a good nights sleep. Your baby might be waking you up by kicking and moving around and you may have to go to the toilet during the night or you may simply be uncomfortable in bed. It can sometimes help to have a warm bath or milky drink and do some gentle leg exercises to try and lessen night time cramps, try using pillows in bed to make yourself more comfortable. The last months of pregnancy often seem never ending, you might be uncomfortable and bored of being pregnant, it is only a few more weeks now until it is all over and you will be holding your new baby.

This month can feel like it is never ending, after all you are pregnant enough that you feel like you cant possibly get any bigger (dont worry you can) but you are not pregnant enough to be looking out for signs of labour or expecting your baby at any minute. The best thing to do during this month is use the time to prepare for the days and weeks after birth.

Passing the time in month 8 - a handy little checklist!

Make a few meals to freeze

Once your baby is born you probably wont feel like cooking for a while and so having a couple of ready made meals saves you from having to order takeaway or eat toast for weeks on end.

Put all of the baby things out ready to go!

If you havent done this already then getting all of your baby things out ready to go (clothes in drawers, nappies in cupboard etc) will save hassle if your baby decides to come a little early and also doing this will build you up to a fever pitch of excitment about meeting you baby and help you focus on something other than the birth. If you are in the mood you could even put the pushchair up get the cot ready etc (you will probably reorganise thing about 20 times before you baby arrives so dont worry too much about getting it perfect first time!).

Look around for groups classes and places to meet other mums

If this is your first baby or if your other children are older then it is a good idea to try and meet some other mums. Groups such as antenatal classes should have been pointed out to you by your midwife but there are many many other groups such as breastfeeding support groups, bumps and babies groups and mother and baby groups. Some areas have classes such as childrens first aid classes these are a good way to pass the time in a useful way. 

Spend a whole day in bed watching TV

Although not a productive or useful thing to do I have included this because once your baby is born you wont do this until he or she has grown up and left home (or unless you can pull some serious baby sitting strings), and chances are you will be secretly wanting to do this anyway - so go ahead and enjoy.

Spend time alone with your partner

If this is your first baby spend some time alone with your partner, when you are feeling very very pregnant and excited about meeting your baby it is easy to forget that that you partner is probably feeling a mixture of fear and excitment or even confusion about what is happening and so try to take a day just be with him. No baby chat no preparing for labour etc just the two of you doing something nice together even if this is just a sit in the garden or snuggle on the couch. If you already have kids then spend some time as a family as well. 

Your baby

Your baby is getting fatter!, along with brain development laying down fat is one of the most important jobs your baby will do from now on. Your baby may react to loud sounds and could jump at a sudden noise. By the end of this month your baby will be about 43 cms long and will not grow much more in length before birth. Your baby is running out of room now and might be squirming more than kicking now. By the end of this month your baby weighs around 4 pounds. This month your baby is already able to see and hear and is even starting to dream!.