are different and foetal 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.

ThinkBaby members in the birth folder. Great expectations The first hours - Recovering from birth and getting to know your baby, what to expect for the first hours. Getting started - Tangled emotions and a sore body, your first few weeks as a

. When this happens the plug of mucus that has acted as a seal for our uterus might come loose and give you a show. While everyone needs a fully effaced and dilated cervix before they can give birth vaginally, the process could take weeks for some women

weeks of pregnancy you get your best sleep when sitting in a chair, and it helps to take any opportunity to catch up on rest during the day so you don’t wear yourself out. After the birth erratic sleeping patterns are likely to be the norm, so

cell production by the matrix will continue until around week 34, and although it will have disappeared by birth this doesn't mean that the brain stops developing - your baby’s brain development will continue until he’s about five years old.The eyelids

diet to boost your energy levels.Things to do this weekStart preparing for the birth - With only ten weeks to go it's time to start thinking about the birth itself. Make sure you have read up on labour and birth and think about what kind of experience

31-week fetus - Image courtesy of BabybondWant to see a bigger pic?Your baby is now around 45 centimetres long, top to toe, but the rate of growth has slowed down a little. He’s still putting on weight rapidly though, adding more pre-birth fat

're having a home birth then join in the debate on the forum.You can join in the discussions and share birth experiences and advice with other ThinkBaby members in the birth folder. Other weeks 1-4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

, but instead remain quite pliable and won’t fuse together until some time after birth so that there is more flexibility in the head to make birthing easier.The fat that your baby is putting on in these last weeks is changing his skin appearance from red

30-week fetus - Image courtesy of BabybondWant to see a bigger pic?Your baby now weighs nearly 1.3 kg or 3lbs. The soft, fine early hair called lanugo that has been protecting your baby’s skin in the womb is beginning to disappear and she may now