3rd trimester: Week 33

Fingernails reach over fingertips--the baby can now scratch himself.

Your Baby

Your little one is about 3 1/2 pounds and is gaining as much as eight ounces a week. He continues to sprout like a reed, his arms and legs perfectly proportioned to the rest of his body. He measures between 15 and 16 inches and has little room to wiggle, but he's still quite active, even if it means he has to squirm around most of the time.

Your Body

You're putting on a pound a week now, but eating isn't as enjoyable as it once was. After all, your growing baby is pressing up against your stomach, hampering digestion and exacerbating heartburn.

Do's and Don'ts

Do increase your servings of fiber-filled fruits and vegetables. Fiber-rich foods, such as prunes, apricots, plums, beans, and peas, will help you avoid constipation. If it becomes a problem, try adding psyllium, a natural, branlike stool-softener available at health food stores, to your meals. A fiber-rich diet only works if you drink more liquids, so aim for at least eight glasses of fluids, preferably water, each day.

Health

Heartburn can become a problem in the third trimester, as the baby takes up more room. Avoid spicy, greasy, and acidic foods. Eating frequent small meals may also help.

Mom to Mom

Advice from the trenches: "After having epidurals with my first two births, I decided to try a natural birth with my third. I was so happy that I did it! I delivered faster because I could feel everything and was aware of what to do when."--Charlene Gates, Detroit, MI