Your baby continues to grow and develop. Your baby can now open and close her eyes and can sense light changes. The soft downy hair, called lanugo, is starting to disappear from the baby's face. And her sense of hearing is getting better. She can now hear the outside world quite well over the sound of your heartbeat. She exercises by kicking and stretching and can also make grasping motions. Some babies at this point really enjoy sucking their thumb. By the end of this month, your baby will be approximately 15 inches long and weigh about 2 or 2 1/2 pounds. If your baby was born now, her chances of survival are no greater than last month.

Your health care provider will continue to check your weight gain, blood pressure, urine, the fundal height, edema, varicose veins, and any symptoms you are experiencing. He or she will also check the size and position of the fetus and the fetal heartbeat. If you haven't already, start thinking about any questions you have about labor and delivery and discuss them with your provider at your prenatal check-ups. Also, consider writing a birth plan so your wishes can be carried out. You are likely still experiencing constipation, heartburn, indigestion, gas, and bloating. Your lower abdomen may feel achy as well. Some women may have occasional headaches, faintness, and dizziness. If you have experienced dental problems your gums may still be bleeding and sensitive. Your leukorrhea (whitish vaginal discharge) is getting increasingly heavy and several hormonal changes may be causing nasal congestion, occasional nosebleeds, and ear stuffiness. Other common physical symptoms include leg cramps, backaches, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, mild swelling, shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, and clumsiness. Also very common during this stage of your pregnancy is feeling Braxton Hicks contractions. These are usually painless and often pass unnoticed. During a Braxton Hicks contraction, your uterus hardens for a minute and then returns to normal. You may also notice that colostrum may be leaking from your enlarged breasts. By this time, women often find themselves feeling bored and a bit weary about their pregnancy. It is normal to feel like you just want this to be over. At the same time, you may also be feeling more and more apprehensive about becoming a mother, your baby's health, and about labor and delivery. Hormonal changes may make you grumpy again and you may be a bit absentminded.

You and your partner are probably both fantasizing and dreaming about your baby and your baby's future. Tell each other your hopes and dreams for your child. You and your partner also should discuss any fears about the increased responsibility involved with becoming a parent. You can work together to prioritize responsibilities and decide how the two of you can share the workload.