Eighth Month Pregnancy - 8 months pregnant

In short: The eighth month covers weeks 31–35. The baby’s weight rises from about 1.6 to 2.7 kg and fat builds up under the skin. The mother may have heartburn, back pain, frequent urination, false contractions and poor sleep. Make a birth plan, and see the doctor at once if the face and hands swell.

• 8 months pregnant (Weeks 31-35)

31 Weeks Pregnancy

• Your baby is 42cm in length, 1.60 in weight.
• Fat accumulates under the skin. - Fetal movement may awake you at night.
• Get to know your baby’s usual pattern of movements. If you feel the movements are fewer, weaker or have changed, contact your doctor or go to the hospital straight away — do not wait until the next day.
• You may experience heartburn.
• It is safe to have sex during this stage of an uncomplicated pregnancy. Avoid it if you have a low-lying placenta, vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, or have been told you are at risk of preterm labour.

31 Weeks Fetus

31 Weeks Fetus

32 Weeks Pregnancy

• Your baby is 1.8kg in weight, 43cm in length.
• You may gain weight, 1 pound/week, and ½ of this extra weight is from fetus growth.
• Till the end of pregnancy, your baby will gain 1/3-1/2 of birth weight.
• Toe nails, finger nails and real hair have already formed.
• Skin is now translucent and the skeleton is still hardening.
• Your blood volume is now 40-50% more than prepregnancy.
• You may experience heart burn, as your uterus is compressing your stomach. Try to eat small, frequent meals. When sleeping, try to elevate your head on a pillow
• Back pain may increase as pregnancy advances. But if you didn’t experience it before, consult your doctor immediately. It may be a sign of labour.

32 Weeks Fetus

32 Weeks Fetus

33 Weeks Pregnancy

• Your baby is 2kg now, and 44cm in length.
• The skeleton continues to harden, but skull bones will not fuse together. This allows the baby’s head delivery during labour, by allowing overlapping of the bones. This may lead to a cone-shaped head from pressure during delivery.
• These bones will not fuse until early adulthood to allow for brain development.
• Most babies are lying head down by now, ready for delivery, although some are still bottom-first and many of these turn by themselves by 36 weeks.
• Your Antibodies are travelling to your baby’s immune system, to help in fighting germs after birth.
• If delivery occurs at this time ,while the system is still immature, there may be a need to spend some time in a sterile environment.
• You need to consume more calcium in your diet in order to help your baby’s skeleton to harden.
• You may face a problem to find a comfortable, appropriate position for you to sit or to sleep.
• You may experience aches and numbness in your hands and wrists. Try to splint your wrist or take frequent breaks away from your work in order to flex your fingers and exercise your wrist.
• Swelling of your hands, feet and face could be a sign of preeclampsia. Consult your doctor immediately if this happens.
• As skin stretches more, it may become more itchy. You can use a moisturizer, but after consulting your doctor, as it may be a sign of obstetric cholestasis.
• Many babies are still not head down at this stage and most turn by themselves. If your baby is still bottom-first at 36 weeks, your doctor may offer to turn the baby gently by hand (external cephalic version); exercises such as hands-and-knees positions have not been shown to turn the baby.

34 Weeks Pregnancy

• Your baby is now 2.3kg in weight, and 45cm long.
• The brain is working effectively, and memory is forming so let your partner keep talking to your baby in order to be familiar with his voice.
• Your baby can sleep and even dream by this time.
• The brain will triple in size in the 1st year of birth, and at the age of 1 year the brain is ¾ the size of the adult’s brain.
• The body is filled with fat which will regulate temperature after delivery.
• Your baby’s lungs are nearly mature; most babies born now do well, but some still need help with breathing, feeding or keeping warm in the neonatal unit for a short time.
• You may experience polymorphic eruption of pregnancy, an itchy rash that is harmless to the baby. Moisturizers, a steroid cream and antihistamine tablets that your doctor prescribes can ease the itch.
• Take frequent rests and save your energy for the big day.
• Do not jump up immediately from a sitting position, as you may become dizzy.

35 Weeks Pregnancy

• Your baby is 47cm in length, and 2.7kg in weight.
• The nervous system and immune system are still finishing their final touches.
• The pupils react to light.
• The hair and toe nails are developed; your Baby will gain weight in the next few weeks, and if delivery occurs by this time there is 99% chance that your baby will survive.
• If you have a male baby then the testes will reach into the scrotum.
• You may have frequent urination or experience heartburn, because of the enlarged uterus..check out

Frequent Urination During Pregnancy

• You may experience Braxton Hick’s contractions as abdominal cramps.
• You may have an increase in vaginal discharge which may be accompanied with blood, this is called the show.
• It is safe to drive a car, but put the seat belt beneath your bump.
• If you are thinking of returning to your job, you should think about childcare
• By this week, you should determine your birth plan, and discuss it with your partner

Dr Najeeb Layyous F.R.C.O.G

Consultant Obstetrician, Gynecologist and Infertility Specialist

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