It's quite likely that you'll feel a bit breathless as your uterus is now pushing on your ribcage. Sleeping supine can be quite a challenge. It is advisable to lie sideways on the left to facilitate blood flow back to the heart. Your breast may leak now and again, and your belly button may pop out. Itís also common to feel constipated as pregnancy hormones slow down your digestive system. So make sure you get plenty of fiber and drink lots of water.
At this stage, you might begin to experience Braxton Hicks. These are like rehearsal contractions as your uterus tightens and hardens for a few seconds but they're not the real thing.
Baby
By 28 weeks your baby is turning her head towards bright light. Your baby has almost reached the length she'll be when she's born, but she's still putting weight on. In fact, she'll gain more than half her birth weight over the next few weeks. This will leave her a lot less room to move around.
You
Weeks 33 to 40. If your hands, feet and ankles feel puffy at the end of the day, try to rest with your feet up and care for your back. You could also try a cooling leg spray if your feet, ankle and legs are feeling hot and bothered.
As your bump grows ever bigger, it's only natural to feel tired. It's ironic that this is often coupled with a nesting instinct to tidy and spring-clean. Nesting is definitely a way to keep busy and this is a great time to pick up some last-minute essentials for when our baby's born - think nappies, wipes and bibs.
Baby
At around 33 weeks your baby has rapid eye movements while sleeping. By now, your baby is losing the protective, creamy vernix and downy lanugo ready for life outside the womb. She may already be engaged (fropped down inside your pelvis) in preparation for birth. She can hear more than ever and her fingernails are fully grown. She may even have a full head of hair. The time has finally arrived to meet your baby and your little miracle is ready for the world.
WeLuvMoms Contributor, Helen Ng-Pabilona, MD
