YOUR CHANGING LIFE
Room for growth
Welcome to week 29 of your pregnancy. You’re in the second week of your third trimester, which can be a very exciting period. As your baby grows, your body is continuing to transform in exciting ways, making week 29 one of the most memorable you’ve experienced yet.
By now, your weight gain should be between 19 and 25 pounds. If you’re not within this range, no need to worry, as every pregnancy can be different. However, it’s always a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider to make sure everything is on track. Speaking of which, your visits to the doctor’s office are likely becoming more frequent. By the time your pregnancy is in its final stages, you’ll probably be seeing your doctor every week.
With each week, your uterus expands, and by week 29, it’s probably 3 ½ inches to 4 inches above your belly button. This, coupled with your baby’s growing body, can place pressure on your ribs, diaphragm and bladder.
You may experience aches and pains throughout the day as a result and notice that you’re heading to the bathroom more frequently. The expansion of your uterus can also contribute to hemorrhoids, which are swollen blood vessels in the rectal area that can be a source of discomfort for expectant mothers.
If your mother and grandmother had varicose veins, you may also develop them during your pregnancy. These can vary, with some women sporting minor varicose veins and others developing larger, more pronounced blue veins. By monitoring your weight gain and avoiding heavy lifting, you may be able to prevent the formation of these common yet unsightly veins.
YOUR BABY THIS WEEK
From Chinese cabbage to butternut squash
Week 29 of your pregnancy is here at last, and your little bundle of joy is really starting to bulk up! Last week, your baby was the size of a Chinese cabbage, but this week, he or she weighs in at about 2 ½ pounds and stretches 15 inches from heel to head, making him or her roughly the size of a butternut squash.
Your baby is building up great muscle tissue this week, making it important that you take your vitamins and look for foods rich in vitamin C, protein, calcium, folic acid and iron. Milk, cheese and orange juice can be excellent foods to integrate into your daily diet this week – your developing babycould use all the extra nutrients that he or she can get.
This week, your little guy or gal will spend a lot of time thickening out and gaining weight. Over the next several weeks, this will become the primary goal on your baby’s development agenda. Don’t be surprised if you notice he or she kicking up a storm during the day or jabbing you with his or her elbows – it’s getting tight inside your belly!
HOW TO
Pick a name for your baby
When you were a little girl, chances are you looked forward to having a baby for one reason only: picking out an adorable baby name! For many women, choosing the perfect name for a little guy or gal is still one of the most exciting parts about welcoming a new life into the world and it can be a cherished activity for partners and family members to share in.
There are lots of things to consider when you’re trying to create the best name for your baby. To make the experience collaborative, try to set guidelines with your partner right away and be sure to set aside a list of your favorite names early into your pregnancy.
When naming a baby, it’s important not only to find a great name, but to avoid those that could be potentially difficult for a child to carry. Embarrassing initials, outdated monikers and names that sound funny or could be construed as puns are best when avoided, as they can be a source of frustration for children as they grow up.
While uniqueness can help a child take special pride in his or her name, honoring a beloved family member or mentor by naming the baby after him or her can be an endearing gesture and a sign of your appreciation for the role that person played in your life. Reaching out to family members can be a great way to gage their thoughts on this decision before you and your partner finalize your choice.
Before formally naming the baby, try saying his or her name aloud to see if the names are compatible. If a name ends in a vowel and your last name begins with a vowel, it can cause the two to run together, which is undesirable. In addition, names that sound harsh or difficult on the tongue may not be ideal for children as they age.
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