Your baby is now around 19 centimetres long and weighs about 300 grammes, around 0.6lbs. Her heartbeat is much stronger now and you may be able to feel it yourself if you lie quietly and rest one hand on your abdomen. Your partner may be able to hear the heartbeat if he places his ear on your tummy.
By now her skin become more opaque and is well covered with vernix. She’s beginning to prepare her immune system by forming white blood cells, or leukocytes, to help fight disease and infections, and you are passing on your own immune cells to protect her from viruses you’ve already had for the first few months out of the womb.
You baby is continuing to put fat onto her bones in preparation for birth and her legs are growing to their proportional length - so get ready for her kicks to grow stronger over the coming weeks.
What’s happening with Mum?
By now you’ve probably begun to show enough for other people to notice your pregnancy and may have put on between 4.5 and 6.5 kilos.
You might experience some swelling in your ankles and feet as you become heavier, you can help temper this by drinking plenty of water and resting with your legs elevated. Better news is that the blood supply will also increase to your clitoris, so you may find that sex is particularly enjoyable at this stage of your pregnancy and some women even experience their first orgasms or multiple orgasms.
On the other hand you may be completely turned off sex, which is also perfectly normal. Discussing how you feel about sex honestly with your partner can help you both work through this time of your pregnancy if one or the other of you is not interested in sex.
NB: All pregnancies are different and fetal growth rates vary, this is meant only as an approximate guide to development. If you have any concerns about your developing pregnancy then speak to your doctor.
Calcium intake - Calcium is one of the most important minerals for pregnant women, yet many pregnant women simply don't get enough.
Pregnancy for dads - If your partner has been a bit slow to realise his role in pregnancy so far then it's time to nudge him in the direction of this article.
How to prepare for a girl? - 
Hi all I have a boy who is nearly five and though I hoped for another one it looks as though I maybe having a girl. Help. I have no idea how to cope with changing girls. Is my house going to turn pink overnight? 
Georgina's a little worried, but there's plenty of good advice for her on the forum.
Why not join in the discussions and share pregnancy experiences and advice with other ThinkBaby members in the pregnancy folder?
If you haven't already started your own pregnancy blog it's not too late to start one now. You can email the web address to family or just keep it to yourself. Here's where to start your own blog?
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