The baby is rapidly gaining weight
By this week of pregnancy, the baby has already formed the most important organs and systems. Now their main task is to actively gain weight [1].
As the baby grows, there’s less space in the womb, which makes them curl up with legs to chest [2]. By about 36 weeks, most babies are positioned head-down.
Despite the tighter space, the baby will keep pushing and kicking. The expectant mother may feel these movements more intensely than before, which is normal. She needs to pay close attention to the pattern of the baby’s movements because they should remain relatively the same day to day. For example, if the baby has typically been more active in the evening, then they should continue this trend [3].
The baby is surrounded by more fluid because they urinate regularly [4]. The baby also swallows amniotic fluid periodically, which can taste differently depending on what the mother eats. By now, the little one has already developed a sense of taste [3].
At this stage, the baby begins to hear more and can pick out distinct voices, so start communicating more! Touch your partner’s belly and talk or sing to your baby [4].
If your partner is expecting twins
It is especially important for the expectant mother to watch her diet. If the babies gain too much weight, the risk of premature birth increases, because the uterus cannot handle the load. However, a diet that is too strict can also increase the risk of premature birth because the babies are not getting adequate nutrition [5]. This makes it especially important for the babies to receive sufficient amounts of vitamins and trace elements in the next four to five weeks. Overeating should be avoided.
What we can see on ultrasound
The image shows the baby's hand. In the upper left corner, the radius, or forearm bone, is visible. Below, we can see an open palm, the thumb, and the four other fingers.
