The only job remaining for you this week is to have the baby. Congratulations!

By admin

Updated Apr 02, 2025

Photo: Mandy Milks, Erik Putz, Anthony Swaneveld. Felt: thefeltstore.com

What’s going on in there: Fetal development at 42 weeks

Your baby is clearly comfy in there, even if you’re not. At 42 weeks pregnant, she is still growing but is the same size as last week: She is as big as a turkey dinner, weighing about 3.7 kilograms (8.1 pounds) and 52 centimetres (20.3 inches) long. However, some babies born in week 42 start to lose a bit of weight because, in some cases, the older placenta isn’t as effective at providing nutrients.

Frog Went A-Courtin Lyrics, and other top stories from May 08, 2025.

Her skin is probably dry, cracked and peeling in spots, especially on her hands and feet, because she has shed much of the vernix coating on her skin and been soaking in the amniotic fluid. Her nails may be getting long enough to extend past her fingertips, and she likely won’t have much lanugo, the fine, downy hair that covers babies in utero. She may have more hair on her head, though. 

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Forty-two weeks pregnant symptoms

You may be feeling the same as the past few weeks but perhaps with a bit more intensity. Backaches, pelvic pressure, leg cramps and difficulty sleeping are all very common at this stage of the game. You may be feeling stressed, frustrated and impatient, too. But take heart: The wait is nearly over, and it really is babytime at last.

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What’s on your mind this week

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It’s time!

The countdown has been frustratingly protracted for you, but look at it this way: You’re off work, everything is ready and you’re going to be very, very busy—very soon. Savour the peace and quiet (and try to ignore everyone messaging you!). Chances are good that your baby is completely healthy and happy in there, but at 42 weeks pregnant, you’re at a higher risk of complications like low amniotic fluid, problems with the placenta and a pinched umbilical cord. Your healthcare provider will keep a close eye on you and your baby through ultrasounds, cervical checks and heart rate monitoring. If you don’t go into labour naturally this week, your doctor or midwife will probably recommend inducing labour. Methods include breaking your water (we’ll warn you now, sometimes they use a device that looks like a crochet hook), doing a cervical sweep (where your doctor uses a gloved finger to swipe around the amniotic sac and release hormones that start contractions), applying prostaglandin gel to your cervix to dilate it or using an IV hookup with a synthetic drug that will mimic the hormone oxytocin (Pitocin) to start contractions. All of this can feel scary and daunting, so make sure to ask questions and talk about your concerns.

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Be patient

You may also be fretting about a long labour—one of the possible side effects of induction. Obviously, you can’t control the length of your labour, but there are some things you can do to conserve your strength.  Moving around, taking pain meds to get you over the hump, doing breathing exercises you learned in prenatal class and having a supportive partner and birth team can go a long way toward helping you through labour. The sweetest approach? Focusing on holding your baby in your arms, and that wonderful new baby smell (there’s actual science behind it!).  

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Just for kicks

Yup, gestating a baby for 42 weeks is more like 10 1/2 months. Feel like you’re in the running for the longest pregnancy ever? You’re not even close. A Los Angeles woman named Beulah Hunter supposedly had the longest recorded human pregnancy, back in 1945. Her pregnancy lasted 375 days rather than the usual 280, putting her three months past her due date. (Her daughter, Penny, was born healthy.)

The clear winner in the animal world is the common frilled shark, which stays pregnant for—wait for it—three to five years! Other long-time pregnancies include elephants (22 months), walruses (15 to 16 months), sperm whales (14 to 16 months) and giraffes (13 to 15 months)—remember poor April the giraffe? 

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Baby names

Give me an E! Elsie, Edie, Evelyn—the newest baby-name trend. 

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Pregnancy to-do list: Week 42

You’ve spent a long time waiting for your little one, and it’s helpful to anticipate what life will be like once she is actually here. Read up on the first week, including waiting for your milk to come in, soft spots on your baby’s head and peeling skin (both totally normal!), postpartum recovery and first baths.

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And since your baby will be here soon (really!), then you might want to think about monthly milestone photos. We have 13 cute ideas to inspire you.

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Thirteen creative ideas for taking monthly baby photos

Loved beyond measure

If you want to keep track of your baby’s measurement the good ol’ fashioned way, this all-in-one backdrop and card set has you covered. Go with a blanket that has a ruler printed right on it and you can watch your baby’s progress with the included monthly cards.Photo via lulujo.ca

By the letter

The letterboard idea is trendy, simple and to the point. Include your child’s name, age, and any other memorable details or milestones, then snap a pic. Letterboards are available at retailers like Michaels and on Etsy, but we love how @janettmarieee added her own personal touch to this one with some bright pink flowers.

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Photo: Courtesy of @janettmarieee via Instagram

Sticky situation

Belly stickers like these are the go-to choice for plenty of parents. They’re affordable and easy to use. Bonus: if your baby’s a squirmer or learning to crawl, this keeps the photo shoot process quick and easy. Just peel and stick on your baby’s onesie each month, snap a photo and voilà!

Photos via pearhead.com

Block by block

These wooden blocks do double duty as both a classic nursery decor item and as a milestone marker. They can be placed into the frame of your shot quickly without much prep, but older babies will still want to play with them (and chew on them). Pearhead Wooden Milestone Age Blocks: $30, well.caPhoto via well.ca

Raid the toy bin

If this isn’t your first child, get your older kids involved in the monthly documentation project with something handy, like LEGO or Duplo blocks. It can even turn into a math lesson: Instagrammer @dayswithgrey had her older son measure his baby brother. “My baby brother is 12 Duplos long!  I am 26 Duplos long. ” It’s such a sweet way to include siblings. LEGO Duplo Deluxe Box of Fun: $60, shop.lego.com

Photo: Courtesy of @dayswithgrey via Instagram

Flower child

These floral wreaths have become quite the trend on Pinterest—we’re thinking they might be Beyoncé-inspired after her flowery twins announcement? We realize this might be tricky once baby starts to roll over and grasp at items, but if you can catch her while she’s napping, it’ll make a perfect photo! Also trending on Pinterest are floral number wreaths. You can make these wreaths yourself with supplies from Michaels, or buy them pre-made from sites like Etsy.

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Photo: Courtesy of @janeane_marie_photography via Instagram

Climb every mountain

Here’s another milestone blanket and card set option for parents who want something that’s inexpensive and requires almost zero work. The multipurpose lightweight blanket can also be used as a swaddle, car seat canopy, nursing cover or stroller shade.

Light bright

Light boxes are popping up all over Pinterest and nursery design blogs right now. This particular one by A Little Lovely Company comes with 85 pieces and three rows for your text, so you can customize it however you want. Once you’ve slid the letters in, just pose your babe in front of it (the lightbox can stand upright or hang on the wall) and switch it on!

Photo via westcoastkids.ca

Hot off the press

If you want something instant without having to leave the house (let’s be real—who has the time with a newborn?), then these printable milestone cards are the perfect option for you. Purchase online, then download and print. Instagrammer @lee_kristine keeps it easy (but super-cute) by using the same white chair as a consistent backdrop, which helps showcase her baby’s monthly outfits.

Photos: Courtesy of @lee_kristine via Instagram

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Best buds

Here’s a simple idea: take your baby’s photo next to the same favourite stuffie every time. In the early weeks, that stuffie will look huge next to your teeny-tiny newborn. But at the end of year one, you’ll be wowed by how big your baby has grown in comparison. We love this monochromatic shot from @ourlittlephotodiary’s Instagram page.

Photos: Courtesy of @ourlittlephotodiary via Instagram

Chalk it up

Nothing beats a classic chalkboard—it’s easy and reusable. If you want something other than your standard rectangular shape, opt for a heart or star. 

Photo via amazon.ca

Calendar girl

If an app on your phone has replaced your wall or fridge calendar lately, this idea will feel almost old-school: Buy an oversized wall calendar (the bigger the better), rip out the pages, and circle the date when you do your monthly photo session. Lay down a blanket or comforter as your backdrop, and place the calendar beside your little one. Tip: take a cue from @ourlittlephotodiary and add in some confetti for flare.

Photos: Courtesy of @ourlittlephotodiary via Instagram

Banner year

A garland or banner with empty spots for the monthly photo is a great visual reminder to make sure you capture a cute moment every month. (And it’s OK if you’re occasionally late by a few weeks—we’ve all been there!) These felt banners by Mud Pie are available in pink and blue.

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Photo via buybuybaby.com

The post Your pregnancy: 42 weeks appeared first on Baby & Kids.

Your baby’s eyebrows, eyelashes and fingernails are all in place and his organs are developed to sustain him in the “real world” — which he’ll soon be joining. Very soon, you’re hoping!

By Today’s Parent

Updated Apr 02, 2025

Photo: Mandy Milks, Erik Putz, Anthony Swaneveld. Felt: thefeltstore.com

What’s going on in there: Fetal development at 41 weeks

At one week overdue, you have probably literally said, “What is going on in there?” By 41 weeks pregnant, your baby is typically about 3.6 kilograms (7.9 pounds) and 52 centimetres (20.3 inches) long. He is the size of a pumpkin or watermelon (just a slightly bigger one than last week). His skin may be starting to peel a bit after such a long soak in amniotic fluid. Research suggests that his endocrine system, which is in charge of producing hormones, is getting ready to send out hormones that will trigger labour, although the exact process isn’t actually known. (Other research points to two proteins in the developing lungs, which enter the amniotic fluid and send a signal to the uterus to start contractions.)

Frog Went A-Courtin Lyrics, and other top stories from May 08, 2025.

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Forty-one weeks pregnant symptoms

Now officially past your due date, you are probably feeling pretty “over it” and so ready to meet your little one. Do you feel like a kid on Christmas Eve, waiting to meet the newest member of your family? It’s pretty wild. Or maybe you’re experiencing a strange mix of frustration, irritability and excitement? Add in backaches, pressure on your bladder and cervix as the baby descends further into your pelvis and general feelings of discomfort, which are all part of being extremely pregnant. (It’s also possible that you feel like a tranquil birthing-goddess Earth mama. Enjoy it!) You may be noticing more Braxton Hicks contractions, where your belly is tightening, as your body prepares for the real deal.

It’s not just nerves, hormones and the need to pee that are keeping you up at night; sudden leg, foot and calf cramps are common in late pregnancy, especially at night. (They’re caused by dehydration and the weight of the baby reducing your blood flow.) To help quell the pain, point your toes up, toward your knee, to help stretch the muscle. With your foot in this flexed position, carefully and slowly make circles with your lower leg. Ask your partner to massage the cramped muscle to get more blood flowing to it.

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What’s on your mind this week

Induction

Only about 10 percent of women don’t give birth by the end of this (41st) week, or one week after their due dates. Your doctor or midwife will continue to monitor you and your baby carefully through an office visit, an ultrasound and possibly another non-stress test to make sure that the baby has a good heartbeat, is moving well and has enough amniotic fluid. A small percentage of overdue babies will have health problems, possibly because the placenta is getting older and fewer nutrients, blood and oxygen are reaching the baby. This is why your midwife or doctor will want to talk to you about inducing labour if you don’t go into labour spontaneously.

An average of one in five Canadian women have induced labours, although some are due to health conditions like pre-eclampsia, not an overdue baby. Induction carries a higher chance of intervention, such as forceps or vacuum delivery, so if you are with a midwife, your care may be transferred to a doctor. (Your midwife may still be able to assist with labour and delivery, depending on your hospital’s policy.)

If your cervix hasn’t started to soften, your doctor may apply a prostaglandin gel directly to help dilate it. Or your doctor may insert a Foley catheter into your vagina and inflate the catheter to stretch your cervix, followed by an IV drip of Pitocin, which mimics the hormone oxytocin, to start contractions. In natural labour, the contractions increase slowly and less regularly, but induced labour can be more painful (sorry) because the contractions are faster and more regular.

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Just for kicks

A sense of humour is a powerful tool. While you’re gearing up for labour (which really is going to happen anytime now, we promise), check out this video about what not to say to a woman in labour. Is there anyone you should send it to in advance?

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Baby names

This piece sparked some backlash when the Clooney twins, Alexander and Ella, were born. Did you like George and Amal’s classic, simple name choices? Why we were so underwhelmed by the Clooney twins’ names.

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Pregnancy to-do list: 41 weeks

If you already tried all the old wives’ tales (and your friends’ not-so-helpful suggestions) for inducing labour last week, just do what you can to stay chill, comfortable and distracted: a swim, a walk, lunch with friends, music or a fun non-baby book. (You might not have the energy—or the peace and quiet—to read a novel for a long while after the baby is born.) Or maybe you’d like to pick one of these cute necklaces, rings or bracelets to celebrate your new baby. Shopping is always a good way to kill time. 

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Twelve beautiful jewellery pieces for moms

Alex and Ani bangles

If you want to honour your newborn with something simple, Alex and Ani have many gorgeous options to choose from. You could go with initial bangles, stamped with script letters and available in a gold or silver finish. Want a stack of bangles? Pair your initial bracelet with a birth-month bracelet that features a Swarovski crystal or your child’s zodiac sign. If you want something that focuses more on your baby, check out the stork (in pink and blue) and baby-block charm bangles.

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Visit alexandani.com for initial, zodiac, baby-block and birth-month bangles.

Photos courtesy of Alex and Ani

Hand-stamped initial and birthstone necklace

Sometimes simplicity is the best way to go! Honour your little bundle of joy with this adorable necklace by Etsy’s Hammered Heart Design (hammeredheartdesign). Personalize it with your baby’s first initial and birthstone.

Baby handprint and footprint earrings

These lovely studs are the perfect everyday accessory with a personalized touch to them. The seller will send a mess-free inkless print pack with easy-to-follow instructions so that you can send along your baby’s handprint or footprint. You scan or take a picture of the prints afterwards and send them back to her to impress on the oval, silver-fronted earrings. Jewellery by Nicola (JewellerybyNicl) even creates custom cufflinks for Dad.

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$113, etsy.com/ca

Photos courtesy of JewellerybyNicl via Etsy.com

Charms

Add any of these adorable, baby-themed charms to your Pandora charm bracelet. Our favourite is the heart-shaped sterling silver baby handprint with a pink or blue cubic zirconia. Bonus: When you flip it over, it says “It’s a girl” or “It’s a boy” engraved on the back. If you’re looking for something more generic, the baby carriage, pram and pacifier are cute options.

Baby carriage charm, $35, baby girl/baby boy and baby pram charm, $50 each, and pacifier charm.

Photos courtesy of Pandora

Heartbeat sonogram ring

Record your baby’s heartbeat in the womb or once he or she is born and turn it into a piece of jewellery that you can keep forever. You can engrave a message or sound that is up to five seconds long, with the option to have it on one or both sides of the sterling silver ring. You’ll literally have your baby’s heartbeat wrapped around your finger! This seller offers a heartbeat bracelet, among other cool options.

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Starting at $53, etsy.com/ca

Photo courtesy of MyKosmima via Etsy.com

Engravable signature necklace

This beautiful bar necklace by Stella & Dot is simple and modern in design. Engrave your new baby’s name, initials, birthdate or birthplace coordinates—or whatever sentiment you hold near and dear to your heart—on the bar, which is available in a sterling silver or gold-plated brass finish. As the website says, use this necklace to “tell your story” or, in this case, your baby’s.

Michael Hill Mother & Child ring

If you’re looking for a symbolic accessory, check out this Mother & Child ring. This beautifully moulded heart looks as though there are diamonds surrounding mom and baby, but there aren’t, which makes this an afforable yet stunning piece of jewellery. Whether you’re buying this for yourself or as a gift for someone else, it will definitely be a well-worn accessory and a personal favourite.

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Photo courtesy of Michael Hill

Name jewellery

For a classic yet customized piece of jewellery with your child’s name, look no further than Etsy. We love these scripted name necklaces, handmade by CaitlynMinimalist, which come in a variety of fonts. You have the option to add your child’s birthstone, and the necklaces are available in multiple finishes—we love the rose gold one! Necklaces not your thing? This California-based seller also creates beautiful bracelets and rings that can be designed with a full name, a roman numeral or initials.

Name necklace or rings, etsy.com/ca

Photos courtesy of CaitlynMinimalist via Etsy.com

Mother’s birthstone baby feet pendant

Whether you’re having a boy or a girl, this beautifully personalized pendant is the perfect keepsake for your little one. Peoples Jewellers will customize this sterling silver baby footprint necklace with your child’s name, birthdate and 2.5-millimetre birthstone. If you want something more original, you can choose whichever scripted message you’d like (up to eight characters in length per foot).

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Photo courtesy of Peoples Jewellers

Kate Spade Mom Knows Best elephant necklace

The Mom Knows Best collection from Kate Spade includes charming earrings, brooches and bracelets. Just like mom, the elephant symbolizes strength and power. We love the necklace option, which is handcrafted with shiny 12-carat gold-plated metal and glass stones for the eyes and is 17 inches long. It’s a sweet and understated way to honour your baby.

Photos courtesy of Kate Spade

Dimples fingerprint rings

With their delightful little hands and chubby feet, we all want our babes to stay babies forever. Why not get an imprint of your newborn’s tiny fingers to keep as a memento from his or her birth? These customizable rings from Dimples range in size and colour. Whether you want stackable rings for more than one child or a standard four-millimetre ring, they’ve got you covered. You can also engrave the inside of the ring with your child’s name or birthdate or anything else that’s meaningful to you. Bonus: If you aren’t sure that you’ll like the design, Dimples lets you approve the proof before handcrafting the piece for you.

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Photos courtesy of Dimples

The post Your pregnancy: 41 weeks appeared first on Baby & Kids.

It’s go time! Anytime now you’ll be prepping to give birth.

By Today’s Parent

Updated Apr 02, 2025

Photo: Mandy Milks, Erik Putz, Anthony Swaneveld. Felt: thefeltstore.com

What’s going on in there: Fetal development at 40 weeks

A full-term baby typically weighs about 3.4 kilograms (7.5 pounds)—about the size of an average watermelon—and is about 51.3 centimetres (20.2 inches) long. Her eyes are open when she’s awake, but they’re closed when she’s sleeping. At 40 weeks pregnant, your baby’s immune system isn’t fully developed yet, so your placenta will continue to provide antibodies up until the birth. Her hair and nails are still growing.

Frog Went A-Courtin Lyrics, and other top stories from May 08, 2025.

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Forty weeks pregnant symptoms

Sore ribs? Your ribcage has probably shifted to accommodate your baby, who might be causing pressure and pain as she moves and kicks. It’s OK to give that baby hand or foot a firm nudge—it won’t hurt the baby. Leaning back in a chair or applying a cold pack to your ribs might ease the ache, too.

Your doctor may order a non-stress test, which monitors the baby’s heartbeat and checks that it speeds up with movement. You might have an ultrasound this week to check on growth, movement and amount of amniotic fluid.

Anxious, excited, huge, uncomfortable, irritated, mellow, exhausted: That’s all part of these final few days. Pep talk: About 85 percent of babies are born within a week before or after their due dates, so hang in there!

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What’s on your mind this week

All baby, all the time: Even when you’re getting on with your non-mama life, your little one is likely always in your thoughts at this point in your pregnancy. It’s totally normal (plus everyone keeps texting you, asking “Have you had the baby yet?”). Of course, labour and delivery are on a continuous loop, too. Anxiety and fear about giving birth aren’t always easy to talk about. To deal, talk it out with someone with common sense who won’t feel the need to share freak-out birth stories. Review your pain-management options and reframe your view of labour and delivery as step-by-step parts of a process rather than one overwhelming event.

Birthing plans

Booking a doula, labouring at home until your contractions are one minute long and three to five minutes apart, taking warm showers and baths and talking to your doctor or midwife about reducing the need for interventions like IV lines (and, therefore, staying mobile during labour) are good ways to up the odds of an easier labour. Still, despite your best-laid plans, you may not have the labour and delivery you want, which is a real-life kickstart to the uncertainties of parenthood!

If everyone from the parking lot attendant to your mother-in-law is sharing tips on how to kick-start labour, it helps to know which ones have legit science to back them up. Sex (even if it’s not exactly what you’re in the mood for) can, in fact, lead to labour. Semen contains prostaglandins, which help soften the cervix, while orgasm releases the hormone oxytocin, which signals the uterine muscles to contract. Skip sex, though, if you’re bleeding or your water has broken.

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We get it, you’re ready to give birth

Pineapple, spicy foods, castor oil and red raspberry-leaf tea are traditional methods, but they tend to fall into the old-wives’-tale category. Nipple stimulation to bring on uterine contractions may help start labour, but research shows that it can cause more contractions and a more intense labour. Are more babies born during the full moon? While the hospital staff may say yes, studies show that it’s not the case.

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Just for kicks

It’s definitely not required or expected, but a little treat for the labour and delivery nurses is a class-act move. A box of chocolates, gift cards for a coffee shop near the hospital and a basket of mini hand lotions are thoughtful ways to become patient of the week. 

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Thoughtful gifts for labour and delivery nurses

Great ways to say thank you

If you’re pregnant right now, you’ve probably encountered this question in forums plenty of times: “What kind of gift can I buy for my labour and delivery nurses?” Of course, this isn’t something you have to do. Nurses don’t expect to receive gifts, but after some awesome nurses help you through such an important time (trust us, the nurses who are on duty can make or break your whole labour experience—you barely see the doctors!), here are some great ways to give an extra thank you.

Photo: iStockphoto

Sandwich tray

Nurses always appreciate food, especially if it’s something that can be shared with the team and eaten throughout the day for lunch or dinner. But make sure you go to a grocery store to buy it instead of opting for homemade—most hospitals have to throw out homemade food given to them to prevent any possible transmission of disease from potential food-handling issues.

Photo: iStockphoto

Punny badge holder

If you had a smaller group of nurses helping you, say thanks with this punny badge holder. They’ll surely have a laugh and remember you every time they look down at their badge.

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Photo: BadgeBlooms via Etsy

Cute pens

There’s no such thing as too many pens, especially when boring-looking ones have the tendency to go missing. Buy a few packs of cute pens that can be shared with the team that helped you. Plus, you know that they’ll definitely get use out of them.

Photo: Indigo

Pastries or snacks

Not about the savoury? Bring the nurses something sweet that they can share like a box of donuts. But, again, play it safe and stay away from the homemade goods. Packaged snacks, which can be packaged in a gift basket, are perfect to keep in a staff room for everyone to share, too.

Photo: iStockphoto

Card with a heartfelt note

You can never go wrong with a card with a sweet message inside—it’s the best way to say thank you! 

Photo: iStockphoto

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Flowers

Feel like a card isn’t enough? Add in a bouquet of flowers! This is a classic thank-you gift that never fails.

Photo: iStockphoto

Hand cream

With all the handwashing that goes on in a hospital, some hand cream would be welcomed with open arms. Go for mini ones that can easily be stored in a pocket or purse.

Photo: Bath and Body Works

Tim Hortons or Starbucks gift card

Keep the nurses fuelled during their long shifts with a gift card they can buy coffee or tea with. Make sure the gift card is for a coffee shop that’s either in the hospital or close to it—nurses are busy people and don’t have time to walk far to get a coffee.

Photo: Tim Hortons, Starbucks

Baby names

Ines, Moana, Gunther, Kyd?! The hottest baby names for 2017 are…

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Pregnancy to-do list: Week 40

R&R should be at the top of your list this week. It’s a great time to take a power nap, watch TV, read, catch a movie or meet up with a friend. Actually, it’s also a great idea to canvass your friends for great Netflix, TV and download recommendations. Seriously, make a list and stock up on entertainment options so that you can turn all that time on the couch, snuggling with a baby on your boob (or snoozing in your arms), into a cozy night in with your partner. When the going gets tough, a fun, frivolous show to binge-watch or a comedy special can help lighten the mood (and keep you awake during late-night feedings).

Check the pre-baby prep details, too, making sure that both phones are charged (and there’s an extra charger in the go bag), the camera has working batteries and an SD card and the car has gas. If your partner is going out for one last night on the town with friends, remind him not to overindulge: Your water could break at any minute—even at 1 a.m. on a Saturday night.

The post Your pregnancy: 40 weeks appeared first on Baby & Kids.

Your baby’s neck muscles have strengthened and he can hold his head away from the chest wall, but that buoyancy is helped greatly by the amniotic fluid. Once he is born, you will need to support his head when you’re holding him.

By Today’s Parent

Updated Apr 02, 2025

Photo: Mandy Milks, Erik Putz, Anthony Swaneveld. Felt: thefeltstore.com

Thirty-nine weeks pregnant: What’s going on in there

When you’re at the grocery store this week, head over to the baking section and pick up a bag of flour. Practise rocking it to sleep and you’re essentially training for what’s to come in a few short weeks (minus the enormous baby bump currently hindering your cuddling abilities). By 39 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs about 3.2 kilograms (seven pounds) and is about 51 centimetres (20 inches) long. The bones in his skull haven’t fused together yet—rather, they’re separated by membranes, which allow for greater squeezability through the birth canal. His stomach is tiny—about the size of a large marble—so he won’t need much breast milk or formula to satisfy him for the first few days after birth. His brain and nervous system are well developed, meaning that he can suck, swallow and stay awake long enough to eat after he is born, which isn’t always the case with babies born earlier.

Frog Went A-Courtin Lyrics, and other top stories from May 08, 2025.

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Thirty-nine weeks pregnant symptoms

Is this it?

Chances are, every weird feeling seems like it could be the start of labour. Aside from contractions (rhythmic, repeated cramps), some signs of labour include the baby dropping further into your pelvis and rhythmic back pain. Nausea and diarrhea are also possibilities as your muscles—including those in your intestines and rectum—loosen when labour approaches. Your water may break—either in a gush or a trickle—and kick off labour or your water could break after contractions have already started.

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What’s on your mind?

Stretch and sweep

When your doctor or midwife examines you during a regular appointment, she will use her fingers to check and see if your cervix is dilated. She may ask if you want a “cervical sweep” or “membrane sweep,” where she puts a gloved finger into the cervical opening to separate the amniotic membrane from the cervical tissue. The sensation varies from woman to woman, but chances are, this will hurt at least a bit. However, it’s considered a low-risk way to encourage labour because the sweep tells the uterus to start producing prostaglandins, which soften the cervix. 

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If you’re having a planned C-section, it may be scheduled for week 39 because that’s when your baby is officially full term. In some hospitals, there’s a trend toward “gentle C-sections” whenever possible, where there isn’t a curtain or drape between you and the baby or the baby is laid on your chest for immediate skin-to-skin contact (if you’re both safe and healthy). Ask your doctor in advance if these adjustments are possible. Either way, familiarize yourself with what to expect with a C-section before the big day arrives.

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Just for kicks

Pick up some pointers from Beyoncé and Jessica Alba or, hey, just be a little bit nosy and see how the stars give birth. We won’t judge.  

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Chrissy Teigen

As candid as Chrissy Teigen normally is on social media, we were surprised she hadn’t said anything about her postpartum sex life with her husband, John Legend. Well, in an interview for Women’s Health in September 2018, she finally spilled the deets. The model and cookbook author had just been cleared for exercise—and sex!—after giving birth to her second kid, Miles, earlier in the year, but the exhaustion of parenthood can get in the way. “It doesn’t matter who you are—even if you’re a sexy R&B crooner or an ex–swimsuit model, you’re just tired! We still have that passion for each other, but are we doing it randomly in a dressing room? No!” she said with a laugh. “We’ll get back into it again. But it is funny: If he performs somewhere, and I go, I’m like, ‘Oh, he’s sexy.’ We’ll probably have sex that night.”

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Pink

As if there weren’t enough reasons to love Pink! The outspoken singer says that her marriage with Carey Hart takes a lot of work. “There are moments where I look at [Hart] and he is the most thoughtful, logical constant…,” she says. “He’s like a rock. He’s a good man. He’s a good dad. And then I’ll look at him and go, I’ve never liked you. There’s nothing I like about you. Then two weeks later, I’m like, things are going so good. Then you’ll go through times when you haven’t had sex in a year. Is this bed death? Is this the end of it? Do I want him? Does he want me?” She adds, “Monogamy is work! But you do the work and it’s good again.”

Read more: 20 celebrity moms reveal what it was really like to give birth

Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher took a different approach to his sex life after he and Mila Kunis had their daughter, Wyatt, in 2014. “I decided to stop having sex,” says Kutcher. “I took that out of my life. That was taking up so much time.” We guess that cutting sex out cold turkey is one way to do it—there just simply isn’t enough time in the day when you have a newborn! But clearly he changed his mind because he and Kunis welcomed their son, Dimitri, in November 2016.

Photo: Todd Williamson/Getty Images

Eva Amurri Martino

Celebrity blogger (and Susan Sarandon’s daughter) Eva Amurri Martino was very open about what postpartum sex is really like in a post on her Happily Eva After blog. “By the time the famous ‘six-week mark’ came around [postpartum], I was totally not ready to hop back into the saddle,” she says. “So we waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, it was nine weeks postpartum and I thought my husband was going to spontaneously combust, so we had sex…and it was terrible. In my opinion, having sex for the first time after birthing a baby feels like having sex for the first time ever. It’s awkward, emotional and extremely painful.”

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Read more: Postpartum sex—why it sometimes hurts

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Kristen Bell

Hilarious actress Kristen Bell and her equally funny husband, Dax Shepard, have two kids together: Delta and Lincoln. In an appearance on The Talk, Bell admitted that sometimes she and Shepard make time for nookie while the kids are home, which means that coitus interruptus sometimes happens. “Oh, they’ve walked in on us having sex,” she told the hosts. “That’s how they were made. It’s OK. We sort of just went like, ‘Hey, what’s up? What do you need?’ And then we just said, ‘Mommy and Daddy are just going to take a nap for a couple of minutes.’” Great cover-up, guys!

Read more: Kristen Bell smells like urine—and has to schedule time for sex

Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham and her soccer star husband, David Beckham, have been married for nearly 20 years and have four beautiful kids to show for it: Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper. With all of those kiddies, one would only assume that their sex life would take a hit. Back in 2013, she told the Daily Star that then-19-month-old Harper liked to snuggle with Daddy. “David and I are lucky to get down to business at all because Harper still won’t sleep on her own,” she says. “David is so mad about her, he can’t resist letting her snuggle in and sleep between us. She’s a real daddy’s girl. But Mummy needs some Daddy time, too!” Can’t say we blame you, Victoria!

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Kelly Rowland

Former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland sat down with ET to talk about how her marriage to Tim Witherspoon has changed since welcoming their son, Titan, in November 2014. “It actually brought us closer,” she said. She later admitted that she couldn’t wait to get their intimacy “rocking again.” “You know, that six-week period [after] feels like forever. And as a gentleman, [Tim’s] very gentle, so he wanted to give me a little more space. I’m like, ‘No, let’s go!’ I’m still a mom and it doesn’t matter. I’m a woman and I have physical needs.”

Photo @kellyrowland via Instagram

Jada Pinkett Smith

Relating to her character in Girls Trip, actress Jada Pinkett Smith opened up about how, after 20 years of marriage and two kids with her husband, Will Smith, it’s only normal that she has lost her mojo at times. “I think every woman who’s had kids has definitely lost her groove at some point because, naturally, all of our focus goes into raising our child or our children. And then you just kind of wake up one day and you go ‘Oh my gosh, where did I go?’ And then it takes us a minute to regain ourselves.”

Photo: Alberto Rodriguez/Getty Images

Whitney Port

The Hills alum Whitney Port and her hubby, Tim Rosenman, welcomed their first son, Sonny, last July. In a video posted to her YouTube channel, she and her husband were really open about their post-baby sex life and how it has changed. She thought about how she pushed “an eight-pound baby out of a tiny little hole.” To her husband, she said, “I thought a lot about if you were attracted to me and that was hard because I was never insecure before,” which is when he reassured her by saying “I was, and I am.” She isn’t so sure that she would feel the same if the roles were reversed. “Sometimes I’d put myself in your position and be like, ‘I wonder if Timmy gained 40 pounds and had, like, a huge basketball sticking out of his stomach if I’d still be attracted…and I don’t know!”

Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

Jessica Simpson

After giving birth to her daughter, Maxwell, by C-section in 2012, Jessica said she “ignored her doctor’s advice” and had sex three weeks postpartum because she just couldn’t keep her hands off her husband, Eric Johnson. “I’ve kind of broken one rule,” she told People. “I think I have the sexiest man in the world, so that’s the rule I break.”

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Kate Hudson

In her book, Pretty Happy: Healthy Ways to Love Your Body, Kate Hudson discusses “rediscovering pleasure” in sex after childbirth. “All women are so different,” she told E! News. “For some, their sex drive is just gone. For some, it amplifies and men are like, ‘Hey, you’re terrifying me.’ Hormonally, you just never know how you’re going to react.” As the actress and mom of Ryder and Bingham explained, “There’s sort of this great little bubble that you go into after you have a baby that both Mom and Dad sort of experience—and I don’t mean this in a negative way but in a very positive way—where [kids] shift the balance of the home. Some things [like] do kind of get put to the side.”

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Kourtney Kardashian

The eldest Kardashian, Kourtney, has had three kids with her ex-partner, Scott Disick: Mason, Penelope and Reign. After Mason’s birth back in December 2009, she told Kim that she was planning to have a second baby. Kim was curious about whether it was true that she had to wait six months after birth to have sex. “Most people can have sex six weeks after, but the doctor told me to wait two months,” she told Kim. When she asked why, she said, “I don’t know, but once the doctor gave us the OK, we were excited to try it, but it was very painful. It felt like a metal pole is literally ramming you in the crotch.”

Photo: David Becker/WireImage

JWoww and Snooki

In a HuffPost Live chat back in 2014, Jersey Shore alum Jenni “JWoww” Farley and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi were, not surprisingly, straight up about their post-pregnancy sex lives. “It’s, like, worse than being a virgin,” said JWoww. “It’s like a black hole.” Apparently, she waited about seven weeks after her first baby, Meilani, to have sex with then-fiancé Roger Mathews. Snooki agreed, saying that she is “scarred after looking down there” and that she is only getting intimate with her husband, Jionni LaValle, under one condition: “The only time I’m going to have sex is if I want to have a baby again,” she says.

Photo: Steve Zak Photography/FilmMagic

Coco Austin

According to actress and model Coco Austin, “Sex is nonexistent for the first couple of months” after baby. She and her husband, rapper Ice-T, had their daughter, Chanel, in November 2015. In a People’s Mom Talk chat with other famous moms, she explains that it’s not something you really think about in those early post-baby months. “It definitely changes,” she said. “You don’t get the OK to even have sex or go to the gym until 16 [weeks]. But you don’t even want sex, that’s the thing. Everything is about the child, and nothing is sexual in your world. I never thought about it!” We feel you on that one, Coco.

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Baby names

Understandably, some parents want to wait until they meet their baby to decide on the name. But if you don’t have your list of final contenders yet, you’re running out of time! Here’s how to name your baby without the stress. 

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Pregnancy to-do list: 39 weeks

Look at a cheat sheet of different labour positions to try. While TV and movies tend to show a labouring woman on her back in bed, there are actually lots of different moves that allow you to stay a little more comfortable and keep things moving. For example, you can lean into a wall, lean over the hospital bed, sit on an exercise ball, slow-dance with your partner with your head leaning against his chest or shoulder (music not required), do a lunge or lie on your side with your upper knee bent. There are also a lot of labour props, such as birthing stools, squatting bars and tubs.

For C-section moms, research what’s needed while you’re recovering from a C-section. For example, know that it’s OK to take pain meds if you’re breastfeeding.

The post Your pregnancy: 39 weeks appeared first on Baby & Kids.

At this point in your baby’s development, most of the lanugo, or fine downy hair, that covered her body has disappeared along with the vernix caseosa, or whitish protective coating.

By Today’s Parent

Updated Apr 02, 2025

Photo: Mandy Milks, Erik Putz, Anthony Swaneveld. Felt: thefeltstore.com

Thirty-eight weeks pregnant: What’s going on in there

At 38 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs about three kilograms (6.8 pounds) now and is about 50 centimetres (19.5 inches) long from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. You may feel like you’re ready to pop and, of course, your baby could be born at any time now, but she isn’t technically considered full term yet (that happens next week). In the last few weeks inside the womb, your baby’s brain, lung and liver development are moving right along. For example, a baby born before 38 weeks has a higher risk of jaundice at birth because her liver is a little less efficient at processing bilirubin (the leftovers from used-up red blood cells).

Frog Went A-Courtin Lyrics, and other top stories from May 08, 2025.

Your baby is also starting to shed some of that vernix (the cheesy white coating on the skin) and lanugo (fine, downy hair that covers the skin) into the amniotic fluid. She will swallow some of that amniotic fluid, which becomes her first poop (a thick, sticky, dark goop called meconium).

Pro tip: After she is born, apply a thin layer of coconut oil or petroleum jelly to her bum during the first day or two to make cleaning up the meconium easier.

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Thirty-eight weeks pregnant symptoms

Lots of moms have swollen feet and ankles in late pregnancy. Why? Blood isn’t circulating effectively because the weight of the baby is putting pressure on the veins between the legs and the heart. Puffy feet are the result. Break out the comfy slip-on shoes or go up a size if needed. You can help reduce the swelling by lying down, with your feet propped on pillows, or soaking your feet in cool water. Gentle exercise, such as walking, can also help improve circulation. Your doctor may even suggest compression socks. (Remember that significant swelling in your hands and face can be a sign of high blood pressure, which should be checked out pronto.)

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This may be the grossest-sounding of all pregnancy terms, right up there with leukorrhea (vaginal discharge). Mucus near the cervix protects the baby from bacteria, and losing your mucus plug (also known as the “bloody show”) can be a sign that your cervix is beginning to soften in preparation for labour. As the cervix begins to dilate, the discharge may be clear or blood-tinged, and it might come out right before active labour starts or a few days before. Not every pregnant woman remembers or sees her mucus plug coming out, so don’t worry if you don’t notice anything different.

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What’s on your mind when you’re 38 weeks pregnant

Your amazing body (seriously, look at how you’ve grown an entire human being in there) has been through quite a lot and is about to go through even more. You can do some TLC prep now to help you feel better after you’ve given birth. If you’ve already bought some extra-big maxipads to absorb the postpartum bleeding (known as lochia), take a few and make some “padsicles.” Just pour some water and witch hazel onto them and freeze them. (If you freeze them in the bottom of a large mixing bowl, they will freeze in a more natural, rounded shape.) Trust us; you will appreciate the soothing coolness on your lady parts after you’ve delivered the baby.

Some relaxing tub time or a sitz bath (a plastic basin that fits over the toilet bowl, which you fill with lukewarm or cool water and Epsom salts) can help with post-delivery healing and swelling, too. Pee stings when your vagina is healing, so use a plastic squeeze bottle filled with warm water to rinse as you urinate. Chrissy Teigen joked that the perineal bottle she ordered on Amazon was her push present to herself.) If you plan on breastfeeding, it’s not a bad idea to have a couple of different kinds of nipple cream on hand.

Just for kicks

After shopping for a sitz bath and a perineal squirt bottle, you could probably use something a bit more fun. While not everyone believes in “push presents,” it’s definitely a big trend—some moms even expect them. Where do you stand? Is there anything on your wish list? We’ve rounded up some of our favourite gifts below. Now, you probably don’t have the budget of these celebrity push presents, but it’s nice to fantasize. 

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Push presents: Gifts for the new mom

Olive + Piper Mama Necklace

What better way to congratulate her on becoming a mama than with a 14k gold-plated necklace? This simple, but gorgeous piece has the perfect sentiment to welcome her to motherhood. Also available in silver. $44, oliveandpiper.comPhoto: oliveandpiper.com

Really good slippers

The new mom will love slipping her feet into these soft sheepskin mocs while burning the midnight oil. Bonus: The cuff flips up, creating a cozy booty.

Alena cuffed slipper by Ugg Australia, $120, victoriassecret.com

Photo: Victoria’s Secret

A personalized necklace

Some special personalized bling is a sweet way to reward the hard-working mama.

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Photo: JewelryVV via Etsy

Blanket scarf

A woolly blanket scarf is perfect for warmth or dressing up an unshowered look. It’s also a terrific nursing cover!

Wilfred diamond mosaic blanket, $85, aritzia.comPhoto: Aritzia

A new phone

Let the new mom document every special moment with the iPhone 6s. It packs a powerful 12-megapixel camera that shoots 4K video and offers loads of storage space. Baby, meet Instagram. Instagram, meet baby.

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Photo: Rogers.com

Zodiac-themed bracelet

These bracelets are subtle and chic. We love that you can choose the zodiac sign of your new babe.Photo: Kate Spade

Expensive cookware

If your love is a foodie and enjoys cooking, high-end cookware is a well-deserved gift. Beware: If she doesn’t cook or enjoy being in the kitchen, you should probably steer clear.

Le Creuset round French oven, starting at $400, thebay.comPhoto: The Bay

Flowers

This simple gift is great because it can be tailored in so many ways! Nothing will cheer a tired new mom up more than a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

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Photo: Coriander Girl

Give her a break

After nine months of growing a human, your lady will appreciate some well-deserved spa treatments. Especially because now she can actually see her feet! Send her for a mani and pedi, or go all out with a spa day complete with massages, facial treatments and anything else her weary body craves.

Check out some of our favourite spas across Canada.Photo: Scandinave Spa Whistler

Sleep

Want to go beyond material possessions? Hiring a night nurse to help with those long, long, long nights with a newborn can be a lifesaver.

Photo: iStockphoto

Baby names

Will your child have your last name, your partner’s surname or a hyphenated combination? This couple had a creative solution: Each kid took a different last name.

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Pregnancy to-do list: Week 38

Getting antsy

If you’ve written a birth plan, take a few minutes to review it. Any changes you want to make? Jot down any questions you’d like to ask at your next appointment with your doctor or midwife. At week 38, your baby could come tomorrow or it could be another three (or four!) weeks. (Sorry!) The big “moment” may not be as dramatic as the movies you’ve seen, with women whose water always breaks in the middle of a restaurant.

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Have you heard?

There are a lot of other labour myths you may have heard. Read up on what’s true and what’s bunk. Keep this list—the signs of labour to watch for—handy.

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Testing 1, 2, 3

Familiarize yourself with the standard newborn screenings that doctors, nurses and midwives use to assess your baby right after the birth.  

The post Your pregnancy: 38 weeks appeared first on Baby & Kids.

In some pregnancies, the baby is lying head down with her head facing toward the front of the mother’s body. This is called “posterior presentation” and may make labour last longer and lead to back pain.

By Today’s Parent

Updated Apr 02, 2025

Photo: Mandy Milks, Erik Putz, Anthony Swaneveld. Felt: thefeltstore.com

What’s going on in there: Fetal development at 37 weeks

As you head into the home stretch, your baby weighs about 2.9 kilograms (6.5 pounds) and is 48 centimetres (19 inches) long. At 37 weeks pregnant, your baby is still shedding the lanugo, the fine, downy hair that covers her body and helps keep her warm in utero. Brain development is super-important in the final weeks—in fact, your baby’s brain will almost double in size between week 35 and 39. As well, she’s fine-tuning some skills—such as gripping, blinking, sucking, inhaling and exhaling—that will definitely be needed in the outside world. Most importantly, though, she is continuing to make a substance called surfactant in her lungs, which helps the lungs inflate with the first intake of air and keeps the lungs from sticking together as the baby exhales. Babies born prematurely (at or before 37 weeks) may be given surfactant when they’re born to help with their breathing.

Frog Went A-Courtin Lyrics, and other top stories from May 08, 2025.

As your baby gets squeezed in and has less room to move, she may not be as active as she has been earlier in your pregnancy. If you haven’t been doing kick counts already, your midwife or doctor may ask you to start (this means lying back and counting the number of times your baby moves, hoping for about 10 kicks before two hours has elapsed) to make sure that everything is on track.

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Thirty-seven weeks pregnant symptoms

Backed up

Hormones that help relax muscles in your body are also smoothing out and relaxing your intestines, which slow everything down. Plus, your growing baby is taking up more space, giving your digestive system less room to do its job and making you more prone to constipation in the third trimester. Ironically, you’re in the bathroom a lot to pee, as there’s also pressure from the baby on your bladder.

There’s not much you can do about frequent urination—it’s not a good idea to limit your fluid intake when you’re pregnant. In fact, plenty of water will help keep things moving if you’re constipated. Choose fibre-rich foods, such as fruits, veggies and high-fibre cereals, to help with constipation.

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Don’t push too hard yet

Be gentle when you’re going number two because straining can cause hemorrhoids (itchy, painful, swollen veins in the anus—good times!). Talk to your doctor or midwife about ointments to relieve the discomfort or a stool softener like Colace (this could come in handy after childbirth, too).

gorodenkoff / Getty Images

Practice contractions

Those Braxton Hicks contractions we talked about throughout your pregnancy often ramp up during late pregnancy, too. These “practice contractions” don’t dilate your cervix, but they can be painful. To deal, drink lots of water (mild dehydration can be a trigger) and practise deep breathing because Braxton Hicks can be a sign that you’re overdoing it. Also, try a warm bath or a hot water bottle (wrapped in a towel) on your abdomen.

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What’s on your mind this week

The stages of labour

Were you traumatized by childbirth videos in your prenatal class? Or maybe your instructor used a doll and a turtleneck sweater to demonstrate how the baby makes it through the birth canal? (Yep.) Believe it or not, thoroughly understanding what’s happening to your body (and your lady parts) can ease your fears about labour or, at the very least, tell you what to expect as you anticipate the big day. There’s active labour, where the contractions get stronger, longer and closer together. Then you’ll want to know a little bit about what the transition phase feels like. Finally, you get to the pushing stage, followed by delivering the placenta (also known as the afterbirth). Give yourself a refresher on what’s about to go down during the stages of labour.

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Taskmaster

In the last month of pregnancy, lots of mamas-to-be find that their nesting instinct kicks into overdrive, with lots of cleaning, cooking and general prep for the new arrival. Sometimes all these projects are a great way to channel the pre-baby anxiety and excitement—even if it’s a completely random, non-essential home improvement task that you’re suddenly obsessed with checking off the list. (Or perhaps you’re snoring on the couch by 7 p.m. Both coping methods are cool with us.) One really productive nesting task is to set up a few different mini-stations for feeding or diaper changes, especially if your home has more than one floor.

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Just for kicks

Take a cruise through Pinterest or Etsy to see if there are any traditional birth announcements that catch your eye. You can take a standard social-media birth announcement up a notch using a digital-photo app. And even if you’re going low-key (and old school) with a simple email to friends and family, get your email address list ready now so that you and your partner can send out a picture and a short message when your baby arrives.

Liudmila_Fadzeyeva / Getty Images

Baby names

Is your partner already making “Luke, I am your father” jokes? We rounded up a list of creative baby name ideas for expectant couples who are also Star Wars fans. (And May the Force be with you… as you prepare for parenthood.)

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Pregnancy to-do list: Week 37

If you’ve started your mat leave, this is a great time to get some personal appointments out of the way before your baby arrives. Book a haircut or trim or maybe even a teeth cleaning. (Sorry to say this, but even a dentist appointment can feel like “me time” after the baby arrives!) A prenatal mani or pedi is also a totally doable luxury, especially when you haven’t been able to reach your own toes for weeks. (Some hospitals have a no-nail-polish rule if you’re having a C-section, though, so check on the policy if you plan on treating yourself in the next couple of weeks.)

The post Your pregnancy: 37 weeks appeared first on Baby & Kids.

The amount of amniotic fluid surrounding your baby reaches its peak this week. Although your baby will continue to grow over the next couple of weeks, the amniotic fluid will decrease as your body reabsorbs some of it.

By Today’s Parent

Updated Apr 02, 2025

Photo: Mandy Milks, Erik Putz, Anthony Swaneveld. Felt: thefeltstore.com

What’s going on in there: Fetal development at 36 weeks

Well, it’s all starting to feel pretty real as you enter your ninth month, right? At 36 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs about 2.6 kilograms (5.8 pounds) and measures about 47 centimetres (18.5 inches) long. He’s gaining a little more than 28 grams (one ounce) a day. His skin is becoming smooth and soft but is still coated with vernix, a thick white covering that helps protect the skin from drying out in the amniotic fluid. His gums have firmed up, and his circulatory system is fully formed. However, other crucial growth and development in the lungs, brain and liver are still going on in the weeks to come.

Frog Went A-Courtin Lyrics, and other top stories from May 08, 2025.

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Thirty-six weeks pregnant symptoms

As your baby continues to gain weight, she moves farther down into your pelvis (maybe you’ll hear people saying “Oh, the baby’s dropped!”). This creates pressure on your pelvis—not the most comfortable feeling ever. You may also experience “lightning crotch,” a non-medical, hilariously cartoonish—but sadly very accurate—name that some moms use to describe short, sharp pains in their vagina, rectum or perineum as their ligaments and muscles cope with the baby’s movements and weight. (If the pain is ongoing, check with your midwife or doctor.) There’s not much you can do about pelvic pain or pressure other than try different positions to feel more comfortable. But the upside is that your lungs now have more room again and you can breathe more deeply. Restless legs syndrome (RLS), which is characterized by jittery legs or a painful “crawly” feeling during the night, can also kick in during late pregnancy, if it hasn’t already. Before bed, stretch your legs, get a leg massage from your partner or enjoy a warm bath. Bedtime is also a good time to take your calcium supplement or drink a glass of milk, as calcium seems to reduce RLS.

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What’s on your mind this week

Your prenatal appointments will probably increase to once a week during this final month. You may undergo a variety of tests, including a urine test to check for protein, which can indicate pre-eclampsia (which occurs in five to 10 percent of pregnant women).

Group B strep testing

Between weeks 35 and 37, you will likely have a Group B streptococcus (GBS) test, where your doctor or midwife takes a swab of your vagina and rectum. (Some healthcare providers allow you to do the swab yourself in the bathroom.) She may also check your urine for this strain of bacteria. GBS isn’t a serious problem for you, but it could be harmful to your baby if it’s passed on during labour. If you test positive for Group B streptococcus, you will be offered antibiotics (through an IV) during a portion of your labour. Some women are able to opt out of GBS testing, so be sure to discuss it with your healthcare provider.

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Hey, baby!

You may have additional ultrasounds if you’ve had complications in previous pregnancies, such as high blood pressure, a breech baby, diabetes or gestational diabetes, concerns about the baby’s size or complications with your placenta. If there are no issues, the 20-week ultrasound pic may have been the last glimpse, until you actually meet your baby face-to-face. (Crazy, right?) Some women opt to pay out-of-pocket for an extra scan at a private 3D-ultrasound location. 

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Hairy topic

You probably haven’t seen your feet or nether regions for weeks. Are you considering some hair removal before the big day? Keep in mind that shaving after 36 weeks isn’t recommended due to an increased risk of infection with a C-section delivery from tiny cuts in the skin. Clipping is also recommended over waxing or depilatory creams because your skin is so sensitive during pregnancy and often reacts differently to wax. Of course, being au naturel is totally fine, too.

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Just for kicks

You might be into some mellow, distracting or motivating tunes during your labour—or you could tell your partner to turn off the music. Right. This. Instant. It could go either way, really. Go ahead and create a labour playlist like this couple did, but be prepared for all your best-laid plans and usual preferences to change when you’re in the moment, dealing with contractions.

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Baby names

Still stumped on a name? Have a look at some more baby names that are on the verge of extinction. When these names eventually come back in style, you’ll know that you were at the head of the pack.

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Pregnancy to-do list: 36 weeks

If you’re giving birth at a hospital or birth centre, sign up for a tour. It’s a great opportunity to check out the labour and delivery rooms and ask questions. Parents with babies who are close in age to yours are amazing resources and may be new friends, too. Research new baby groups and classes in your area or venues like mommy-and-baby movie screenings, baby-friendly cafés and drop-in centres for when you’re ready to go out again. Now’s the time to exchange contact info if you’ve hit it off with a cool mom-to-be at a prenatal class.

It’s also a good time to take stock of what items you are missing from your registry—many stores will offer you a discount if you purchase all of the remaining products at once. And maybe you want to return these nine things baby doesn’t really need in the first year.

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Crib bedding set

These expensive packs of bedding invariably come with bumper pads and a quilt or comforter, items Health Canada recommends against using in the crib, as they can lead to suffocation, choking or strangling. Skip the fancy sets and stock up on cute fitted sheets and a few good mattress covers instead.Photo: iStockphoto

Change table

You probably won’t want to schlep baby to her bedroom every time she’s got a dirty diaper. Pick up a few change mats and set up stations with diapers and wipes in key areas. For the nursery, buy a thick changing pad that can attach to the top of a low dresser, something you’ll be able to use long after your babe’s out of diapers.

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Baby food maker

This kitchen appliance can cost as much as $200 and doesn’t do anything you can’t do with a stove and a regular blender. Plus, a mush-only diet lasts for a very limited amount of time—sometimes just a matter of weeks. After that, you’ll be wondering where to store the thing.

Read more: 5 dos and don’ts for introducing solids to baby Photo: Baby Bullet via amazon.ca

Shoes

It’s hard to resist pint-sized sneakers. But they aren’t necessary—doctors recommend babies who are cruising and learning to walk do so with bare feet, which allows the muscles in the feet to develop properly. When your babe is ready to venture outside, invest in a quality pair designed for beginner walkers.Photo: iStockphoto

Wipes warmer

This luxe gadget is designed to keep wipes warm for your baby’s comfort. It’s a nice gesture, but save your cash. A wipes warmer takes up space, uses electricity and gets your baby used to heated wipes, which you won’t have when you’re on the go. You can always warm up the cloth by holding it in your hand for a few seconds.

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Photo: Prince Lionheart via walmart.ca

Breastfeeding cover

If you feel you must cover up, a receiving blanket or muslin swaddling blanket draped over your shoulder serves the same purpose.

Photo: Skip Hop

Scratch mittens

Putting baby socks on their hands works just fine!

Photo: iStockphoto

Jogging stroller

Running with your baby is not recommended until she’s six months old and has developed better neck strength. Unless you have unlimited storage space, it’s best to wait. (Or buy used—swap-and-sell sites are rife with parents selling their jogging strollers.)

Read more: Stroller workout (that doesn’t require a jogging stroller)

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Photo: iStockphoto

Stuffed animals

These will accumulate in your home regardless of what you do—don’t “stock up.”

Photo: iStockphoto

The post Your pregnancy: 36 weeks appeared first on Baby & Kids.

Your baby’s hearing is fully developed now, her lungs are nearly mature, and her nervous system is continuing to develop.

By Today’s Parent

Updated Apr 02, 2025

Photo: Mandy Milks, Erik Putz, Anthony Swaneveld. Felt: thefeltstore.com

Thirty-five weeks pregnant: What’s going on in there

Your baby weighs nearly 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) and is almost 47 centimetres (18.5 inches) long. From now on, she won’t get much longer, but this is when she starts to gain weight rapidly—she’ll add up to 227 grams (1/2 pound) of adorable baby chub each week until you give birth. By 35 weeks pregnant, her arms and legs, in particular, are plumping up. Her overall layer of fat helps to keep her warm once she is born. In baby boys, the testicles have fully descended by now.

Frog Went A-Courtin Lyrics, and other top stories from May 08, 2025.

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Thirty-five weeks pregnant symptoms

Growing another human being means that you can experience a range of weird and amazing sensations (“I swear he’s wiggling his toes!”). In the final stretch (literally!), when accommodations are getting really crowded, your discomfort is starting to ramp up, too.

Back and pelvic pain are common issues, partly because of the weight of your growing belly (a changing centre of gravity puts stress on your spine) and partly because you’re producing all that relaxin (the hormone that’s helping your body’s joints loosen in preparation for delivery). To cope for the remainder of your pregnancy, try the following: Make sure that you bend with your knees if you’re lifting something, walk or swim for 30 minutes a day, avoid long stretches of standing, try rolling like a log rather than twisting awkwardly to get out of bed, and sleep with a body pillow or a bolster or firm pillow between your legs for support.

Have you been avoiding pregnancy heartburn until now? Thanks to your quickly growing baby, your uterus is pushing on your stomach. The result? Stomach acid may move up into your esophagus, causing heartburn (a burning sensation in the upper chest and throat). To prevent your stomach from getting too full, try eating smaller meals every few hours rather than three large meals. Avoid triggers like spicy and greasy foods, fizzy drinks and acidic foods like coffee (sorry!). Sleep slightly upright (try layering some thick blankets at the head of your bed) so that stomach acid is less likely to rise. Check with your midwife or doctor about over-the-counter and prescription meds, too.

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What’s on your mind when you’re 35 weeks pregnant

Family harmony is often about managing expectations

 Have an honest talk with your partner about what you both want when it comes to visitors during those first early weeks and make sure that your loved ones are clear on your wishes before the baby arrives. Do you want it to be just your own little family while you figure out breastfeeding and recover from the delivery? (If you’re nursing, you might be pretty much topless for a solid week or two!) Or would you rather have the grandparents at your house for an extended stay, pitching in with anything that needs doing? (Be warned that the all-hands-on-deck help from well-meaning relatives sometimes comes with a side of commentary or unsolicited parenting advice at a time when you’re feeling sleep deprived and sensitive. It really depends on your personal preferences (and sometimes on how birth and breastfeeding go). Some new parents feel very social and eager to introduce their little ones, in which case an open-door policy with friends and neighbours dropping by with gifts, casseroles and cigars can be great. Talk now—and make your expectations clear—to avoid hassles and family tensions later.

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Breech bum

Did your latest doctor’s appointment suggest that your baby is in a breech position? This means that your baby could be bum first, or feet first over your cervix, instead of being positioned head down. Your healthcare provider might order another ultrasound to confirm. Most babies in the breech position move to the head-down position on their own, so don’t panic. Around the 34- to 36-week mark, there are natural things you can do to encourage your little one to shift: About 15 minutes before bed, rock gently on your hands and knees or in child’s pose to help relax the pelvic muscles and let gravity go to work. You can also do a pelvic tilt, lying on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor and raising your hips. (Alternatively, prop an ironing board—yes, really!—or something similar between the couch and the floor to create a slope and lie down for 20 minutes with your feet up and your head near the floor, cushioned with a pillow. But please don’t attempt this technique alone.) You might also hear about alternative medicinal treatments for turning a baby, such as acupuncture and moxibustion, or a medical procedure called external cephalic version (ECV). We explain the ways to turn a breech baby here. 

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Just for kicks

You probably have quite the collection of belly pics by now, with more to come in the next few weeks as your bump reaches epic new proportions. And, of course, there will be nine million pictures and posts about your new baby. Investigate some of the no-stress apps, programs and tools to capture the sweet, silly moments in digital baby books. You might even consider backing up your home computer, buying an external hard drive or setting up automatic uploads to the cloud—any way to free up space on your smartphone before your baby arrives. (You don’t want to be bothered with tech problems when you’re low on sleep or bouncing a fussy baby.) If you’re not planning to post about your baby on social media, come up with a plan for sharing images privately with faraway friends and relatives.

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Baby names

If your main criteria for a baby name is knowing for sure that no other cubby in the preschool room will be labelled with the same moniker as your child’s—and no other parent will be shouting it on the playground—take a hint from these celebrities who chose super-unusual names for their kids. 

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Unique celebrity baby names

Apple, daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin

No, Apple wasn’t named after the computer company or because she’s “the apple of their eye.” In an interview, Gwyneth says that Chris had suggested the name, and she “loved it straightaway…I thought it was so unique and sounded cool.” The actress went on to say she liked how the name sounded “clean” and “wholesome,” which seems fitting for the Goop founder. 

@gwynethpaltrow via Instagram

North and Saint, daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian

When Kim was pregnant with her daughter, there was a funny rumour that the couple liked the name North West—this rumour wasn’t true. But then a few celebrity friends convinced them that it was an awesome name. Pharrell Williams said “that is the best name” and Vogue Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour, had said “North is a genius name,” and “I guess at that point it sort of stuck,” Kim told US Magazine. When Kim was pregnant with her son, there were rumours she would name him Easton West. In the end they named him Saint because he was their miracle baby. 

Photo: @kimkardashian via Instagram

Dusty Rose, daughter of Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo

The couple has Ellen DeGeneres to thank for their baby girl’s name. Adam sat down with Ellen and revealed that he had sent her what he thought was the perfect name, and she suggested better ones, Dusty Rose being a top choice. Behati didn’t like it at first, but warmed up to it.

Photo: @behatiprinsloo via Instagram

Major, son of T.I. and Tameka Cottle

The name means “greater” or “a military rank.” Maybe the rapper’s son has a future in the army? Or in baseball? 

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@troubleman31 via Instagram

Bodhi and Journey, sons of Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green

In a 2014 interview, Megan said that becoming a mother made her a more spiritual person. Bodhi is a Buddhist term that refers to a “Buddha’s understanding of the true nature of things.” Translated, it means “awaken” or “enlightenment.” The couple chose another spiritual name for their youngest son, Journey River. 

Photos: @the_native_tiger via Instagram

Zeppelin Bram and Arrow Rhodes, twins of Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris

The couple hasn’t explained the reasoning behind their twins’ names, but we can only assume that Zeppelin was inspired by the rock band. As for Arrow, it can be a symbol for moving forward and strength.

Photo: @jensenackles via Instagram

Ocean King, son of Alexa Vega and Carlos PenaVega

In a post on Instagram, Alexa explained the meaning of their unique name choice. “God called the dry ground ‘land’ and the water the ‘seas.’ And God saw that it was good. That is why we went with Ocean. And he is a son of the one true ‘King.’ For us, it has a beautiful biblical meaning.”

Photo: @vegaalexa via Instagram

Poppy, Petal, Daisy, Buddy, and River Rocket, children of Jamie and Jules Oliver

“I’m not sure where Petal Rainbow came from—apparently, it’s a My Little Pony! I wanted to call her Rainbow but Jamie told me to calm down,” Jools told Gurgle magazine. In keeping with their floral name theme: Poppy translates to “flower,” while Daisy means “the day’s eye” and stands for “energetic, fresh and wholesome.” River might hold a more meaningful memory for Jamie; could it be inspired by his time spent working as a Sous Chef in the River Cafe?

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Photo: @jamieoliver via Instagram

Boomer, son of Michael Phelps and Nicole Johnson

Michael addressed how he and his wife came up with their son’s very unique name, saying that they thought it was “different and cool.” Boomer’s middle name, Robert, holds significance to Michael, as it was inspired by the name of his long-time coach, Bob Bowman, as well as his great-grandmother, Roberta. 

Photo: @m_phelps00 via Instagram

Dream, daughter of Robert Kardashian and Blac Chyna

The Kardashians tend to pick very unique; some would say odd, names for their kids. Rob and Blac Chyna chose the name Dream because “they’ve always said [their] is a dream come true.”

Photo: @blacchyna via Instagram

Wolfe, son of Kimora Lee Simmons and Tim Leissner

The term “wolf” represents a sense of fierceness and quiet nature. This may mean little Wolfe will have an instinctual need to wander or travel.

Photo: @kimoraleesimmons via Instagram

Ode Mountain, son of Jena Malone and Ethan DeLorenzo

Although the Hunger Games actress and her boyfriend haven’t revealed the reasoning behind their atypical name choice, we can only assume it’s an ode to their love of mountains?

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Photo: @jenamalone via Instagram

Elsie Otter, daughter of Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik

The New Girl actress told Ellen Degeneres that she gave her daughter the middle name Otter because “they’re so cute, and playful and fun. And they’re really smart.” Besides that, “they hold hands while they sleep.” Now that is pretty cute! 

Photo: CP images

Zuma and Apollo, sons of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale

According to Gwen,Zuma (which is an awesome unisex name) was inspired by Zuma Beach in California because “it’s really close to where we live.” Apollo, on the other hand, stems from Greek mythology after the Greek God and son of Zeus. Greek names are really in this year so we may see more Apollos in 2017. 

Photos: @gwenstefani via Instagram

Rocket, son of Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh

As the guy who approved of the name North West, it’s no surprise that he went with an unusual and space-inspired name for his son. Pharrell explained that the name serves as an homage to the couple’s musical idols, including Elton John (who sings “Rocket Man”) and Stevie Wonder (who sings “Rocket Love”). They also wanted “an inspirational name” for their son because it “is a symbol of soaring high.” Celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, loved the name too and picked it as a middle name for hisson, River.

Photo: @pharrell via Instagram

Blue Ivy, daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z

This power couple, both with unique stage names, have not spoken about why they chose a colourful name for their daughter. However, fans speculate that it’s Jay-Z’s favourite colour because of his lyrics, “my favourite hue is Jay-Z blue.” What about Ivy? Rumour has it that it represents the Roman numerals for the number four, which is a powerful number for the couple: both of their birthdays, their wedding date and the title of one of Beyoncé’s albums include four. 

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Photo: @beyonce via Instagram

Birdie and Cricket, daughters of Busy Philipps and Marc Silverstein

Busy and her husband had a good reason for picking uncommon and nature-themed names for their kids. “Since I grew up with a nickname—Busy being short for Elizabeth—when my husband and I started to have our babies, we decided that if wanted to call our kids something, we would just name them that thing that we wanted to call them.”

Photo: @busyphilipps via Instagram

Onyx Solace and Ever Imre, daughter and son of Alanis Morissette and Mario “Souleye” Treadway

Onyx is a popular gemstone found in Canada (Alanis is Canadian), that’s very strong and hard to break, while Solace “brings comfort in sorrow.” Fans were cracking jokes on Twitter, saying “Isn’t it Ironyx,” when the singer revealed her daughter’s name. As for Ever, the Hebrew name translates to “beyond,” while Imre (pronounced EEM-REH) represents “strength.” Although odd, these names are very meaningful. 

Photo: @alanis via Instagram

Satchel, daughter of Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee

Now you might be thinking “Who would name their child after a bag?,” but the name supposedly has a deeper meaning for the couple. They chose it to honour the great pitcher, Leroy “Satchel” Paige. Woody Allen also chose the name for his son (who now goes by his middle name, Ronan), making this a rare, unisex name.

Photo: Rob Rich/Everett Collection

Future, son of Ciara and Future

It’s not out of the ordinary to name one’s son after his father, right? Well, this one might be a bit of a head scratcher because the ex-couple named their baby boy after his father’s stage name, and not his actual name, Nayvadius. We guess they were just optimistic about his bright future?

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Photo: @ciara via Instagram

Bear Blu, son of Alicia Silverstone and Chris Jarecki

Alicia explains that she and her husband, Chris, chose the two names because they couldn’t choose just one. “We had narrowed our list to five boy names, and then we couldn’t really decide. He suggested Bear or Blu, and I loved them both.” Kate Winslet also chose the name Bear for her son, while Jamie Oliver opted for Buddy Bear for his little guy.

Photo: @aliciasilverstone via Instagram

Deveraux Octavian Basil, son of Mick Jagger and Melanie Hamrick

While Deveraux means “riverbank,” Octavian is a Latin word, meaning “born eighth,” which is perfect since this baby is Sir Mick’s eighth child. Basil is the name of Jagger’s late father.Photo: @melhamrick via Instagram

Ashe Olsen, son of Seth Meyers and Alexi Ashe

The Late Night talk show host explained, “We named our son Ashe, which is my wife’s maiden name. I can’t think of a better way to honour what she did. The middle name is Olsen, which is my mother’s maiden name.” Okay, so he named his son after two important women in his life…how sweet is that! But the name does sound a lot like Ashley Olsen! 

Photo: @sethmeyers via Instagram

Seven Sirius, son of André 3000 and Erykah Badu

The parents, who are no longer together, haven’t explained the meaning behind their son’s name, so we’ll just go with the fact that seven must’ve been a lucky number for them. The middle name, Sirius, is also the name of the brightest star in the sky. Hockey player, Brent Seabrook, also picked Seven as a middle name for his son after his own jersey number and so did David and Victoria Beckham for daughter Harper. 

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Photo: @fatbellybella via Twitter

Pilot Inspektor, son of Jason Lee and Beth Riesgraf

The My Name is Earl star said he and his then-partner named their son after a song on indie rock band Grandaddy’s album, called “He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s the Pilot.” It “absolutely blew my mind when I first heard it.” We sadly don’t have even the faintest clue of where the middle name came from.

Photo: @jasonlee via Instagram

Atlas, son of Edward Norton and Shauna Robertson

The actor and his wife seem to have gone the geographical route when choosing a name for their baby boy. The rarity of it makes it pretty cool, and the reasoning for it could have something to do with it being the name of a Greek god.

Photo: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock

Jermajesty, son of Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Oaziaza

Could it be that Jermaine Jackson Jr. was already taken by his older brother so the couple needed another name that paid homage to Dad? We get that the first part, “Jer,” was taken from Jermaine’s name, but we can only guess that the “majesty” part of the name was an attempt at sounding royal. 

Photo: @jermajestyjjackson via Instagram

Titan, son of Kelly Rowland and Tim Witherspoon

The former Destiny’s Child member says that she let her husband name their son. “Tim said that’s what he wanted the name to be. I gave him the complete responsibility because I did everything else! I pushed the baby, I carried the baby, I’m dressing the baby, I’m changing the baby. Everything else! So yeah, I’m like, ‘You name the baby!” she told E! News. She also mentioned that if the name was awful, she would’ve encouraged him to “try again until they got it right.” The moniker, meaning “defender,” was popular in Greek mythology as the name of “powerful, immortal giants.”

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Photo: @kellyrowland via Instagram

Axl Jack, son of Fergie and Josh Duhamel

In an interview with Ellen, Fergie revealed that she had a dream while pregnant of being at a music festival, where Axl Rose from Guns N Roses was performing on stage, and when she woke up, she felt her first kick from the baby. Right after she gave birth, she said, “I hear screaming. And over the side comes Axl, and he’s screaming at me, crying. And I went, ‘Okay, the name works.’” She also said that Axl Jack “just had this ring to it. It was very strong.”

Photo: @joshduhamel via Instagram

Keen, son of Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney

We guess the two were just keen on naming their son something unusual, just like his mom’s first name?

Photo: Gregorio T. Binuya/Everett Collection

Cy & Bowie, twin sons of Zoë Saldana and Marco Perego

Actress Saldana and her husband, artist Perego, chose some sweet names for their boys. Cy conjures up baseball great Cy Young, and Bowie is an honourable name to share with the late David Bowie.

Photo: @zoesaldana via Instagram

Reign, son of Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick

Kardashian originally had this name on the short list for her firstborn, Mason, and then for daughter Penelope (but spelled “Rain”). The third time was a charm.

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Photo: @kourtneykardash via Instagram

Hopper, son of Sean Penn and Robin Wright

In a recent interview, Hopper revealed that his dad chose the name because he was friends with fellow actor, Dennis Hopper, whom he idolized very much. It’s definitely better than the alternative! Sean had wanted to name him Steak after his love of meat. 

Photo: Buckner/Variety/REX/Shutterstock

Saylor, daughter of Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler

Inspiration can hit at any moment. The reality star chose the name after a chance meeting with a woman out walking her dog: “I loved her dog’s name,” she said.Photo: @kristincavallari via Instagram

Jagger, daughter of Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross

They wanted her to have the name of a rock icon.Photo: @ashleesimpsonross via Instagram

Briar Rose, daughter of Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen

The couple took inspiration from the princess in the original Grimm brothers’ tale of Sleeping Beauty.

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Photo: @rachelbilson via Instagram

Armie, daughter of Cam Gigandet and Dominique Geisendorff

The Twilight series actor and his fiancée gave their third child this exceptional name. Maybe there’s a connection between their name choice and the date of their pregnancy announcement, which was Memorial Day. Geisendorff’s Instagram caption of her ultrasound picture thanked “the troops out there that protect this little (expanding) family.” Coincidence?

Photo: @wildheartwhispers via Instagram

Rockwell, son of Lucy Liu

Liu welcomed her son late last year via a gestational surrogate, and the name means “from the rocky spring.”

Photo: @lucyliu via Instagram

Qirin, son of Terrence Howard and Mira Pak

The Empire star took the name from “a mythical half-dragon, half-lion who glides above the land so as not to harm even a blade of grass….”

Photo: @theterrencehoward via Instagram

Sistine, daughter of Kevin James and Steffiana de la Cruz

For their fourth child, the two comedians kept up their pattern: All of their daughters have a name that start with S, and their son’s starts with a K.

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Pregnancy to-do list: Week 35

Think about how you’re going to streamline some household stuff in the early days after your baby arrives. Maybe this means test-driving some new easy one-pot or slow cooker recipes, making and freezing some favourite meals with your partner, signing up for a meal delivery service or looking into hiring a short-term helper (like a neighbourhood high school student who can conquer the laundry mountain or help walk the dog). Find out if your local grocery store delivers and try an order. Personally, we like this make-ahead bolognese recipe that turns into three different dinners.

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The post Your pregnancy: 35 weeks appeared first on Baby & Kids.

This week your baby’s bones are hardening. However, the bones in his skull are not completely fused yet and will remain flexible to help ease his passage through the birth canal.

By Today’s Parent

Updated Apr 02, 2025

Photo: Mandy Milks, Erik Putz, Anthony Swaneveld. Felt: thefeltstore.com

What’s going on in there: Fetal development at 34 weeks

At 34 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 2.1 kilograms (4.7 pounds) and almost 46 centimetres (18 inches) long. From now on, you may get “Oh, he’s totally dropped!” comments from people who see you often, as your baby will likely turn very soon, with his head engaged in your pelvis. Also, the baby won’t move less, but the movements will feel different—less kicking and more wriggling—because that kid is most definitely out of room. Your wee one’s hearing is fully developed now, too, so get your lullaby on (though we can’t promise that it will help with sleep once he arrives) or let your partner read a book to the bump.

Frog Went A-Courtin Lyrics, and other top stories from May 08, 2025.

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Thirty-four weeks pregnant symptoms

Things are just swell

You’ve no doubt heard expectant mothers complain about swelling—especially in the summer months—but as we mentioned in week 22, excessive puffiness can be an indicator of pre-eclampsia. This complication is related to organs that aren’t functioning as they should, and it can pose a risk to both the mother (causing kidney and liver damage) and baby (who might not be getting enough oxygen). If you notice pronounced edema (a fancy word for swelling), especially if it’s accompanied by headache, blurriness or flashing lights in your vision, don’t wait for your next doctor’s appointment; hightail it to the hospital and have the doctor check on your blood pressure and test for protein in your urine. Pre-eclampsia will resolve after the baby is born.

Henadzi Pechan / Getty Images

Sprung a leak?

Make sure that you have breast pads on hand from here on out because your boobs have tuned into their new job—feeding your baby—and may start to leak any day now. The liquid you’re noticing is colostrum (the nutrient-rich substance that precedes milk), and this pre-delivery leakage is nothing to worry about—it will ramp up as soon as your baby arrives, sustaining your infant until your milk comes in. Speaking of leaks, you may also notice more vaginal discharge than you’ve had up to this point. This is a result of increased blood flow to your pelvis, spurred on by the estrogen racing around your body, as well as the extra pressure of your growing baby. Panty liners are your friends.

Henadzi Pechan / Getty Images

What’s on your mind this week

What if I get too tired to push during labour?

Many women worry about enduring a long labour and then being way too exhausted to push. This is a legitimate fear, but try to look at it from a different perspective: Up to the point of pushing, you’ll have had very little control over the situation, but that’s about to change. Once you’re through the transitional phase of labour, you’ll likely be given the green light to give it all you’ve got, if you feel ready. (There has also been some recent research and advocacy around whether women should be told when—and for how long—to push. This piece on whether women are pushing too hard, and too soon, is worth a read.) When it’s time to push, keep your chin tucked in, focus on an image or a spot in front of you and bear down as if you’re having a bowel movement. Just be sure to listen when the doctor, midwife or nurse says to stop and take a break, try to avoid frantic pushing, and do your best to rest between contractions. Your body knows what to do (aren’t women amazing?). Check out some of our strategies for an easier labour.

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I have no sex drive right now. Will my libido rebound at some point?

Pregnancy affects women differently in terms of sex drive. Some women notice an increase in desire for sexual activity, while others would rather walk over hot coals than get frisky. In the third trimester, many women feel heavy, uncomfortable and tired, so sex is the last thing on their minds. Hormones also factor in, making some women hypersensitive, even to the point of vaginal discomfort. If there’s even a glimmer of passion, try to nurture it: Embrace your gorgeous curves (and the fact that you’re already knocked up!) and enjoy some pre-baby intimacy with your partner. But if you’re not feeling it, that’s OK, too. It may take some work, but your sex drive will show up again in a few months’ time.

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Just for kicks

Send this video to everyone (read: your partner) who might be near you during labour: 8 things not to say to a woman during labour. They’ll thank you later.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=JloYgO8gL20%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.todaysparent.com%26widgetid%3D1%26forigin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.todaysparent.com%252Fpregnancy%252Fpregnancy-by-week%252Fyour-pregnancy-34-weeks-pregnant%252F%26aoriginsup%3D1%26gporigin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.todaysparent.com%252F%26vf%3D1

Baby names

Does your family hail from the Emerald Isle? Or maybe you just want your baby to have as much luck as possible in their future? If so, these Irish baby names might be just what you’re looking for.

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Pregnancy to-do list: 34 weeks

If you are intending to breastfeed and haven’t purchased a breast pump yet, this is the week to get one. Make definitive plans to rent a medical-grade pump from your hospital or from a baby supply store or research models to buy (if you haven’t already). Here our the best electric breast pumps on the market. If you’re planning to pump frequently, you want an electric one. Make sure to open your new pump, assemble it and account for all the pieces it requires—the last thing you want to be dealing with postpartum is missing breast-pump components (especially when you have rock-hard boobs engorged with milk and a sleeping baby). We know it looks complicated and intimidating, but it’s not as bad as it looks, so check out this breast pump guide first. 

The post Your pregnancy: 34 weeks appeared first on Baby & Kids.

Your baby’s lungs won’t be fully mature until right before she’s born. But if she were born tomorrow, she would still have an excellent chance of survival.

By Today’s Parent

Updated Apr 02, 2025

Photo: Mandy Milks, Erik Putz, Anthony Swaneveld. Felt: thefeltstore.com

Thirty-three weeks pregnant: What’s going on in there

Your little one is now the size of a leek—about 1.9 kilograms (4.2 pounds) and 44 centimetres (17.2 inches) long. There’s an important milestone to acknowledge at 33 weeks pregnant: Your baby’s organs are now pretty much fully developed. (Her lungs are a little on the puny side and need a bit more time in the oven, but in a few weeks, they’ll catch up with the rest of her body.) This means that if you were to go into labour today, your kiddo would have a 98 percent survival rate. She has developed her own immune system, too, which will come in handy when she joins our germy world. As she continues to gain weight and fill out, she is losing that wrinkly, underdeveloped look and her bones are starting to harden. The exception is the bones in her skull, which will remain unfused to fit through the birth canal more easily. (Thank you, biology!)

Frog Went A-Courtin Lyrics, and other top stories from May 08, 2025.

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Thirty-three weeks pregnant symptoms

Belly in a china shop

There will come a point (if not now, soon) when you’ll feel encumbered by your burgeoning bump. If you have an older child (or a pet!), you’ve long since run out of lap space. It will become harder to manoeuvre around furniture, fit behind the wheel of your car and even stand at the counter or kitchen sink. Because you probably can’t spend the next seven weeks doing nothing other than lying on your couch watching Netflix (though that would be heavenly), you’ll have to learn to work around the bump, and that may mean asking for assistance. Have your partner help you clear paths in every room, and invest in a counter-height stool so that you can sit when you’re chopping or sautéing. As for your car, adjust your seat so that you have ample room to steer, but if you run out of space, you may have to consider handing over the keys until after baby is born. For more on driving in the third trimester, check out this link.

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Feeling numb

Don’t be surprised if you start to experience tingling, aching or numbness in your fingers, hands and wrists at this stage of your pregnancy. As your body retains fluid, the tissues in this area of your body can swell and put pressure on your wrists. It can be a one-sided irritation or affect both hands. Take breaks during the day to stretch out your hands and wrists, and (attempt to) sleep with your hands in a neutral position and resting on pillows. You’re likely to experience other late-pregnancy aches and pains, too, so make sure that you’re listening to your body and taking care of yourself.

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What the heck do I do with all this extra hair?

When it comes to hair, the upside to pregnancy is that you’re probably enjoying a shiny, strong mop that is growing faster than ever before. (See? Hormones aren’t all bad.) The downside? You may find that hair is sprouting in unfortunate places you’re not used to, like your face, back, nipples and belly. (Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.) If you’re not usually this hairy, you may not know how to handle this fun new development, and not all hair removal techniques are safe during pregnancy. Your best bets are threading and tweezing because neither requires chemicals or products but both give you longer-lasting results than shaving. Sugaring and waxing are probably OK as long as your skin hasn’t been too sensitive during your pregnancy (if you’re concerned, check with your doctor and always have the aesthetician spot-test an area). Bleaching, depilatories, laser hair removal and electrolysis are no-nos at this point because there haven’t been enough studies to confirm their safety for your baby.

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What’s on your mind when you’re 33 weeks pregnant

Placenta pills

By now, you may have heard of placenta encapsulation, where new moms have their recently delivered placentas dehydrated and turned into pills that they can ingest for extra postpartum nutrition. (Are you grossed out? Some celebrities do it, too!) There isn’t a lot of scientific evidence that it actually boosts energy levels, aids in recovery or prevents postpartum depression. Unless you’re a DIY type of person, you’ll have to pay a placenta encapsulation service (about $150 to $250) to dehydrate the organ and turn it into pill form. If you’re considering placenta encapsulation, talk to your doctor or midwife for her professional opinion. (Methods are not regulated, and it’s possible for a baby to get sick from Group B Streptococcus in the pills.)

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Just for kicks

Just because you’re in your last trimester of gestating a baby doesn’t mean that you can’t bust a move—it will keep you limber and laughing. Check out this mom, who danced her way through pregnancy!

Celebrating the growth of life

Baby names

Still at a stalemate with your stubborn, opinionated-when-it-comes-to-baby-names partner? Try this baby name app—it’s basically a Tinder for baby names, and it’s a game changer. 

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Pregnancy to-do list: Week 33

Stroller shopping

For many new parents, the stroller is a big-ticket item. If you live in a city and a stroller is your main mode of baby transportation, you’re weighing comfort, manoeuvrability and price against size. (You don’t want an SUV stroller that takes up the whole sidewalk or leaves you struggling to fit through the door of the coffee shop.) If you live in a community with a lot more driving, you’re going to want to think about how easy it is to fold up the stroller and fit it in your trunk, how much it weighs and whether it’s compatible with your car seat. Here are reviews for all the most popular strollers on the market. Plus, we’ve rounded up our favourite ways to deck out your stroller—hello, sippy cup for mom! 

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