How Your Baby Is Developing In The Third Trimester Of Your Pregnancy

In this final article in our series, we tell you exactly how your baby is developing in the third trimester of your pregnancy

Nine months: It may seem a long, slow journey, but each week there’s something happening fast and furiously inside your burgeoning belly. Not only is your baby growing but your own body is changing to keep up. Here’s a look at all the stages of development in weeks 28 to 40.

WEEK 28

Baby’s getting ready for exit by settling into the proper position for birth, with his head facing downward. His eyes are now open and able to blink. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurs—it’s very likely that your baby screaming! Ona scan, you could possibly see the baby sticking out his tongue, perhaps tasting the amniotic fluid.

WEEK 29

The wrinkled skin is smoothing out as more fat is deposited under surface. This “white fat” differs from the earlier brown fat your developing baby accumulated and serves as an energy source. Baby’s also much more active now, responding to any movement, sound, or light—you’ll feel constant kicks and jabs from knees and elbows since his living space is getting quite cramped. He’s quite happy, and may even smile for the first time!

WEEK 30

Your belly is really expanding now, to match the baby’s rate of growth. Even his brain is growing, with the surface getting its characteristic grooves and indentations; this is to accommodate an increased amount of brain tissue. The soft, downy lanugo hair is beginning to vanish as baby’s new fat cells regulate his body temp. Thanks to the bone marrow now completely taking overproduction of red blood cells, baby will be able to thrive on her own once born. Look out for baby grabbing his foot with a fully formed hand.

WEEK 31