Changes In The Third Month Of Pregnancy

by Patricia Hughes

The baby continues to develop at a rapid rate. It is now a fetus. By the end of this month, the baby is about three and a half inches long. The baby weighs just eleven grams. The head is about half the size of the body by the end of the month.

The heart now has four chambers. The fetal heart rate can vary from 120 to 160 beats per minute. Some people say the fetal heart rate can be used to predict gender. This can be fun, but isn’t always reliable. For now, you’ll need to wait and just imagine the baby. The genitals are forming, but are too small to show on ultrasound.

The features continue to form and the fetus begins to resemble a baby. The eyes are forming and the baby can now open her eyelids. The ears are forming. Vocal cords begin to develop this month as well. By the end of the month, fingers and toes can be seen. The baby is moving her arms and legs. She is still very small, so you won’t feel any of these movements.

The umbilical cord is completely formed by the end of this month. The intestines are on the outside of the umbilical cord, rather than inside the baby’s abdomen. The baby is so small that they don’t fit.

The physical symptoms you will experience are similar to the second month. You may feel exhausted, have nausea and breast tenderness. Continue to get plenty of rest. If you have morning sickness, try getting up slower in the morning. Some women find that eating crackers or dry toast and some ginger ale helps with the nausea. You can also try sea sickness bracelets, like the ones used on boats.

You may start to experience more physical changes this month. Your clothing may begin to get tight in the waist. Your breasts are growing larger and you may begin to see veins in them. Veins may also be seen in the abdomen and legs. This is caused by the increase in your blood supply.

Women may experience a wide range of emotional feelings. Some women find a sense of calm and peacefulness during this time. Other women may feel emotional and switch from feeling happy to having fears about the future. You may be surprised at how quickly these feelings can change. These differences are normal and are caused by hormonal changes.

This is a good time for you to begin to think about the baby’s birth. What do you want from your birth experience? This is a good time to start reading and watching videos about pregnancy, labor and birth. The information will give you a sense of what you want and don’t want.

The type of birth you want may help dictate the type of child birth classes you take. The most common classes are Bradley and Lamaze. Talk to your doctor, midwife, friends and family members about the classes that are available in your community. Call and talk to the instructor about the class before you sign up. Ask what is covered and the basic philosophy that is taught in the class.