Week 29
(counting from first day of last menstrual period)
Around 27 Weeks After Conception

Fetal Development:
The baby's head is in proportion to the rest of the body. Fat continues to accumulate under the skin. The brain can control primitive breathing and body temperature control, and the eyes can move in the sockets. The baby is becoming sensitive to light, sound, taste and smell. Now, I wonder how experts know a baby can smell in utero?

Multiples: Your babies are on the same growth track as singletons at this point.

Maternal Changes:
Do you feel like you've been pregnant forever? Are those discomforts of pregnancy getting to you? This is the time when itchy skin, shortness of breath, hemorrhoids, leg cramps, heartburn and indigestion and achy muscles takes a toll. What do you do? Remember that these annoyances are temporary. Focus on the positive aspects of pregnancy and check out our suggested reading below by Sherry L. M. Jimenez.

Multiples: Fatigue is probably a constant companion. Try to rest when possible; take a nap or put your feet up to keep the edema at bay.

Birth Plans:
You've probably heard a lot about birth plans. No matter what kind of birth you're planning, a written birth plan can be a good idea. In Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn, by Penny Simkin, PT et al, a birth plan is defined as "a list of the options you and your partner prefer for your birth experience." Preparing a birth plan makes you take some time to research and think about your options in some detail which makes you ultimately better prepared.

Ideas for Dad:
Read our birth plan information and help Mom work on a plan. This will help educate you (and Mom) about labor and delivery and give you a pro-active role. Your input and support to Mom is invaluable and a special way to parent your unborn baby.