Week by Week (Third Trimester)

Week 27
He may look like he’s breathing, but he actually takes in water not air. While in utero, the amniotic fluid passes through the nose, the lungs and out again into the amniotic sac. This is a good practice for his lungs.

Week 28
Brain tissues continue to develop this week and your baby can now dream!

Week 29
Fat layers continue forming and you should be able to feel a frequent twitch in your rib cage; your baby is getting ready for the birthing position - his head is down and his feet are poking into your upper ribs.

Week 30
While your baby’s head is getting bigger, developments in his ( or her ) genitalia occur this week.

Week 31
In this week, lungs and digestive track are nearly mature and the foetus will be able to see in the womb.

Week 32
The foetus is laying down fat layers beneath the skin. At last, the arms and legs are fully proportioned when compare to the size of the head. This is also the week baby begins passing water from his bladder; it’s a form of practice for urination.

Week 33
Your baby’s exercising his lungs by inhaling amniotic fluid in a form of breathing practice. He may also have full head of hair by this week. If you’re having a boy, his testicles descend into the scrotum in this week.

Week 34
Your baby’s skeleton hardens but his head stays pliable so that he make it through the birth canal. By the end of this month, your baby will weigh five pounds and measure up to 16 inches (35 cm) long from head to toe.

Week 35
In these weeks 35 to 40 - your baby will drop into the pelvic cavity. This process is called lightening or engagement. Babies born in this week have a very good chance of survival.

Week 36 and 37
In order to control body temperature after birth, your baby’s body is now adding more fat layers to plump up. As growth slows down, amniotic fluid is at its maximum. After these weeks, the amount of amniotic fluid goes on the decline.

Week 38
By this week, your baby will be considered “full term”. This means, if he was born sometime the week, he will be treated as a full-grown baby.

Week 39
The skin coating that covered the foetus all this time as protection from the amniotic fluid - the lanugo hair and vernix caseosa - is now shed. All the baby’s organs are now ready to function outside your womb.

Week 40
Here’s the week of your baby due date, but remember, most babies are not born on schedule. By this time, your baby should weigh between 2.7kg and 3.2kg and be about 50 cm long. The anticipation of giving birth can make even the calmest woman feel frazzled. As the anticipation mounts, bear in mind that baby may need these last few weeks to grow just that little bit more to be fully ready for the outside world.