Week 27
(counting
from first day of last menstrual period)
Around 25
Weeks After Conception
Fetal Development:
During this week, the brain continues its rapid growth,
and the lungs continue to grow. Eyelids begin to open,
and the retinas begin to form. The baby will grow over
1/2 inch this week and will be about 1 1/3 feet long
(from crown of head to the toes or 9.6 inches from crown
to rump)!
Maternal Changes:
Congratulations! At the end of this week, you will have
finished the second trimester already!
Sixth Month
You may be experiencing some shortness of breath. Your
uterus is close to your rib cage now, and your lungs may
not be able to fully expand. Don't worry though. Your
baby isn't lacking oxygen and your circulatory system is
actually working more efficiently thanks to those
pregnancy hormones that have caused you so much
discomfort.
To Work Or Not To Work . . .
In
week 25, we discussed paternity leave in the dads
section. If you're a working mom, you're probably
thinking about maternity leave and whether or not you'll
go back to work after your baby arrives. This can be a
very difficult decision for some families while easy for
others. If you're struggling over this, visit our
cubbies for stay at home moms, work at home parents, and
working moms:
* StorkNet's Stay At Home Moms
Cubby
* StorkNet's Work At Home Parents Cubby
*
StorkNet's Working Parents Cubby
Ideas
for Dad:
It's 2 am, and you're blissfully
dreaming about winning the Indy 500 in record-breaking
time. Suddenly, you're awakened by a pregnant woman who
is shaking the buttons off your pajamas. You come to
your senses (or at least you think you do), sit straight
up in bed and ask her if she's sure it's time. "No, of
course it's not time. But I HAVE to have some cold
mooshy McDonald's french fries NOW or I'll just DIE.
Hurry, PALEEEEEEZE." Nope, it's not labor . . . it's
cravings! She's craving weird things, and you just want
to sleep. She's insistent and you know there'll be no
sleep until you go. What's a dad to do?
Sound
remotely familiar? Think of this as preparation for
being awakened in the middle of the night by the baby -
and you won't have to go to McDonald's for him. Try your
best to suggest healthy snacks for Mom but realize at
this point, your suggestions may not carry a lot of
weight.
If all else fails, keep your slippers by
the front door and your car keys handy!
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