7 Months Pregnant

You're on the home stretch. Congratulations on hitting this big milestone!

You should be aware that your third trimester is typically the most trying. Your growing body and active baby will be taking their toll on you. It's normal to feel a sense of constant discomfort. Try relaxing in a bath and indulging in a massage or two to relieve any built up tension.

It's also important to try and accept your weight gain for what it is. Weight gain is a necessity in pregnancy. Remember that a lot of your added weight is thanks to your baby, the increase of blood and other fluids in your body, swollen breasts and the placenta. Your healthcare professional can help you understand exactly where all your extra weight has come from most of which will leave you at childbirth.

You at 7 months pregnant

As your uterus expands and your baby grows, your organs can get a bit squashed and cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including:

• Shortness of breath from squashed lungs
• Frequent urinating from your growing uterus pushing on your bladder
• Abdomen cramps from your muscles stretching and your uterus squashing your stomach

Another strange symptom that can happen in the last few months of your pregnancy is leaky breasts. The creamy liquid that leaks from your nipples is called colostrum. It is the beginning of your breast milk and usually only a drop or two will leak. Nursing pads for your nipples can be helpful if your leaking is becoming excessive.

Your baby at 7 months pregnant

Your baby measures a whopping 30-40 cm at this stage a far cry from the tiny pin sized embryo that it started out as.

Weighing in at about one and a half kilograms, your baby's increasing weight gain is protecting his major body systems and organs.

Also around this time, your baby is quickly becoming a unique little person. Your baby's intelligence and personality is becoming more complex and advanced. If you pay enough attention you can start to learn about your baby's reactions to different foods, movements and sounds.

Your baby may have also settled into a sort of sleeping pattern. Here's hoping that their pattern matches with yours.

Things to think about

Some pregnancy symptoms become more intense in your seventh month of pregnancy, including:

• Heartburn and indigestion. Ease these symptoms by avoiding spicy, acidic or fizzy foods and drinks and by eating five or six smaller meals instead of three larger ones during the day. Less food in your stomach at a time makes it easier for your body to digest.
• Swollen hands and feet. Remember to drink lots of water. Water will help to flush excess fluid through your system to help minimise swelling. Wearing support stockings can also help.

As you near the final months of your pregnancy, you should decide on a birth plan that suits your personal preferences. This can help to reduce the feeling of being out of control when labour hits.

Childcare can be very competitive in Australia and New Zealand so it's also a good idea to look at your local options now. This is especially important if you're planning to return to work within a year of giving birth.

If you haven t already, sign up for insightful updates on your pregnancy week by week with Huggies. There's still a lots of growing to do before your baby will be ready to meet you.