Your Pregnancy, Month 8

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The World of my Baby -

Your Pregnancy, Month 8

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Hi Ronak,

BIRTH DAY COUNTDOWN With only two months to go, you're likely to be
spending much of your time thinking about what the birth of your baby
will be like. Attending antenatal classes, reading about the subject,
and talking to friends who have already been through the experience of
giving birth will have given you an idea of what to expect. Good
preparation is vital, but remember every labour and birth is unique,
and you cannot always foresee what will happen. Writing a detailed
birth plan is a great way to ensure that your midwife and birthing
partner are aware of all your hopes and wishes concerning the big day.

In this issue, you'll discover :
Baby Development
Growing bigger and stronger by the day
Construction zone Your baby's brain is growing fast, developing more
folds and becoming more complex by the day. His bones are hardening
and his skin is getting thicker. If you're expecting a boy, his testes
are already making their way into the scrotum, although in some boys
the testes won't complete this journey until the child's first
birthday.

Plumping up Your little one is also getting plumper - storing up
layers of fat and getting chubby cheeks (both kinds). He's gaining
weight at the rate of about a quarter of a kilo each week. By the end
of this month, he will weigh approximately 2 to 2.5 kilos and measure
about 43 cms. The fat he is building up now will be a vital source of
energy for his future trip through the birth canal. He may be already
preparing for the journey by pointing his head down.

What's happening As your baby learns to respond more and more to the
changes that occur in the womb, he is getting tuned in to your cycles
of activity and sleep. By now, he too has developed patterns of sleep
and wakefulness that may loosely coincide with yours. But he still has
to learn about daytime and night-time, and it will take a number of
weeks in the outside world for him to develop a proper day-night (or
diurnal) cycle.

Tight quarters With proportionally more baby than amniotic fluid,
there's not a lot of room for wiggling in the womb these days. You can
really feel your abdomen stretched to the maximum whenever your little
one changes position or kicks. And you can often see the movement too,
now that your uterus is thinner. A poke in the ribs or bladder from a
tiny heel or a little fist no longer tickles, but is likely to stop
you in your tracks and elicit a loud "Ouch". Keep in mind that the way
your baby is behaving in the womb, performing his acrobatics,
responding to certain sounds and movements, all represent to some
degree the beginnings of his budding personality.
Health
Breastfeeding Misconceptions
SIMPLE TRUTHS You have probably heard some contradictory information
about breastfeeding over the past months - from other mothers keen to
share their opinions and experiences. It is true that breastfeeding is
not for everyone, and some find it easier than others. But don't let
misinformation put you off nursing your baby. Here are some facts to
replace the fiction:
* Myth: a woman with small breasts can't breastfeed. Reality:
actually, size doesn't matter when it comes to nursing.
* Myth: if your mother (or sister) couldn't breastfeed, neither can
you. Reality: fewer than one in a thousand women are actually
unable to breastfeed, and genetics has nothing to do with it. Most
breastfeeding failures occur when women get inadequate support or
guidance during the first crucial weeks.
* Myth: nursing always hurts. Reality: it is true that breastfeeding
can be uncomfortable during the first two weeks or so. It takes
time for your nipples to get desensitised and used to their new
job. And there may be a few days when your breasts get somewhat
engorged as milk production gets underway. But there are lots of
clever tricks for overcoming such discomforts so it is well worth
persevering. As long as your baby is latching on properly - and
your midwife will make sure of this during your post-natal visits once you've given your breasts a little time to adjust, things
suddenly improve and nursing your baby becomes second nature and a
joy for your both.
* Myth: you must toughen your nipples before you breastfeed. Reality:
Although massaging your nipples may help get you used to the idea,
preparation is actually only necessary if you have inverted
nipples. You should talk to your doctor if you have concerns. The
best preparation for you can do for breastfeeding is to look
forward to the closeness you and your baby will share. Try to
remember all the good tips you get from experienced mothers, and
forget the negative things you may hear. If you plan to breastfeed
or are thinking about it, set your mind to giving it a proper
chance when the time comes.

For more straight talk on nursing, read "Breastfeeding Basics"
http://email.uk.pampers.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eCINT0ceXKI0BMf60Ccgk0E3
. Or contact www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk who also have a
nationwide telephone helpline. Your local NCT group should also be
able to put you in contact with breastfeeding councillors in your
area, see
http://email.uk.pampers.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eCINT0ceXKI0BMf60Ccgl0E4
.
Health
Signs of preterm labour
EARLY ARRIVAL? Very occasionally, babies decide to make their big
entrances several weeks before they are due! You should not worry
unnecessarily about this, but it is useful to know what to look out
for. Most women experience "practice" contractions, or Braxton-Hicks,
during the final weeks of pregnancy. This sort of tightening of the
uterus is not painful, tends to occur irregularly and disappears
quickly. It is completely normal and can just be ignored. Real
contractions, by contrast, grow increasingly regular, strong and
uncomfortable, and closer together. If you are experiencing early
labour, you may also have one or more of the following symptoms:
* Menstrual-like pains and cramping
* Pressure and aches in your groin, thighs, or lower back
* Increased vaginal discharge, pinkish or brownish fluid or spotting
Call your midwife or doctor immediately to get it checked out. For
more information about preterm labour click here
http://email.uk.pampers.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eCINT0ceXKI0BMf60CchC0EP
.
Food
Your growing needs
FILL UP FOR THE HOME STRETCH Like you, your baby's nutritional needs
will be at their highest over the next few weeks. The energy
(calories), protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium you've
already been consuming up to now are particularly important during
this final pregnancy growth spurt. To ensure you both have a good
supply of nutrients each day you should consume at least:
* 4 to 6 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables
* 4 servings of dairy products
* 4 servings of protein like lean meat or fish
* 8 or 9 servings of whole-grain foods such as breads, cereals, and
brown rice. You may find eating large quantities difficult now that
baby is taking up so much space inside. Eat small amounts often and
remember to always drink plenty of fresh water. Keep some by your
bed as you may find you get rather thirsty during the night as the
big day approaches.

HEALTHY TAKEAWAYS To eat healthily and avoid fast-food pit stops when
you're out and about, follow these simple tips:
* Pack a sandwich of whole-grain bread piled high with fresh veggies
and protein such as tuna, cheese, or turkey.
* Bring along nutritious snacks, like fresh or dried fruits or a
yoghurt.
* Invest in a small cooler bag to keep your packed-lunches and snacks
fresh. It will come in useful in the future too if you need to
transport expressed breast milk or baby food.
Be Prepared
Shopping for your newborn
A FEW MUST-HAVEs Time for a little shopping trip. You may think it's a
bit too soon to be worrying about baby's wardrobe, but it doesn't hurt
to be prepared. Your baby may arrive earlier than expected - so best
not leave everything to the last minute. Here's a list of items you
will need for your baby's early days. How many items you end up opting
for will depend, to some extent, on how much washing you are prepared
to do!

* Newborn nappies
* Cotton wool
* 2 or 3 soft, baby-sized towels for bath-time
* a bath thermometer
* Muslin squares (always useful to mop up baby dribbles or leaking
milk!)
* A well-fitting mattress for the cot, moses basket or carrycot you
plan to use at first.
* Several cotton cellular baby blankets (so that you can easily
adjust the number of layers covering your sleeping baby to prevent
overheating - remember a folded blanket counts as two layers).
* Several cotton sheets
* 6 or so front-fastening cotton stretchsuits, babygroes, or
all-in-ones
* 6 or so cotton body vests (long and short-sleeved with poppers)
* 1 or 2 cardigans
* A few pairs of socks or booties
* a couple of cotton hats
* 2 pairs of scratch mittens
* a baby shall or small pram blanket for baby's journey home. Don't
go overboard shopping for your little one. Baby items are designed
to be irresistible, especially to impatient mums-to-be. But
remember that your newborn will quickly outgrow his clothes, and
you may also receive many more items as baby gifts after the birth.
Buy the basic essentials now, and get the rest when you need it.
You'll have a much better idea of exactly what is useful once your
baby has arrived and you have embarked on the exciting new job of
caring for your newborn.

For tips from Dr. Dixon and Dr. Thornton on shopping for the safest
baby clothing, read "Layette Basics."
http://email.uk.pampers.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eCINT0ceXKI0BMf60Cchr0EC
And to find out what you'll need for your baby's nursery, click here.
http://email.uk.pampers.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eCINT0ceXKI0BMf60Cchs0ED
Be Prepared
Making the most of your maternity leave
TIME OFF FOR VERY GOOD BEHAVIOUR Although there is no reason why you
should not keep working right up to your due date, most mums-to-be
start their maternity leave several weeks before the birth. This is
your chance to concentrate on yourself and focus on enjoying the rest
of your pregnancy. See it as a well-deserved holiday - after spending
the past eight months creating a new little person, you've certainly
earned it! So use this time to do the things you usually can't fit
into your busy working schedule.

FILL YOUR DAYS WITH ALL THINGS NICE There are many ways to make the
best of your time off. Catch up with friends you haven't seen for a
while. It's much easier now that your days are more flexible.
Rejuvenate an old hobby you've been neglecting, or take up a new one.
This is the perfect opportunity to book into one of those cookery or
art courses you've been meaning to do for so long. Attend
pregnancy-related classes such as antenatal aqua aerobics or yoga. Go
swimming regularly. It's a great way to exercise during late pregnancy
- the buoyancy of the water will bring welcome relief from the strain
of baby's increasing weight. Organise your day so that you have a set
time to rest, listen to soothing music and connect with the little one
inside.

DON'T WISH THE TIME AWAY With only a few weeks left to go before the
birth, you're longing to hold your baby in your arms and probably
getting rather impatient. Try not to focus purely on the end point.
This free time is very special - it is yours to treasure. You'll
seldom get a moment to yourself once you're caring for your newborn.
So make an effort to treat yourself now, before the nesting instinct
kicks in and you become possessed with a constant urge to clean,
organise and rearrange everything in your home ready for the new
arrival!

To find out more about antenatal activities in your area, ask your
midwife, or look at notice boards in your doctor's surgery, at the
hospital or in your local leisure centre or swimming pool. Try calling
the National Childbirth Trust, visit
http://email.uk.pampers.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eCINT0ceXKI0BMf60Ccgl0E4
, or The Active Birth Centre at
http://email.uk.pampers.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eCINT0ceXKI0BMf60Cch50EB
. They will be able to give you local contacts for antenatal
activities.
Parents
How to write your birth plan
HOPES AND WISHES IN BLACK AND WHITE A birth plan is the best way to
communicate your intentions for the labour and birth with those who
will be present. Giving birth may seem a daunting prospect right now,
and you may be trying to block it out of your mind as much as
possible. But mental as well as practical preparation will make all
the difference on the big day. Writing your birth plan can help you
think about the labour and birth in a calm and structured way, by
making you focus on each individual stage from your first contraction
to the care you and your baby receive immediately after the birth. By
doing this, you can discover your feelings about certain key issues
now, rather than leaving important decisions to the last minute. You
may not be in the best state to weigh up all the options when you're
in the middle of giving birth! Have a "plan B" in case plan A doesn't
work out!

KEY POINTS You may already have a firm view of how you would like the
labour and birth to go. But whatever your preferences, it is a good
idea to include the following issues in your birth plan (even if only
to say that you have no opinion on the matter), so that your midwife
has all the information she needs to do the best job possible. After
all, although her main concern is to deliver your baby safely, she is
also responsible for ensuring you have the best experience possible.
Key headings for your birth plan are:

* Birthing partner(s), who, what role.
* Where you plan to have the birth (hospital, home, birthing pool)
* Your thoughts on pain relief. This is one of the most important
sections. It should include how you plan to manage the early part
of labour, what type of help you might want if things get too much,
and whether or not you are thinking of an epidural. Get well
informed about all the pain relief options available. Remember that
even if you have your heart set on a "natural" birth with no pain
relief drugs, you must keep an open mind and consider what your
choice would be if this turns out not to be possible. Have a "plan
B" in case plan A doesn't work out!
* Other soothing or pain management aids such as massage, movement,
or water you've chosen. This is especially important if you plan to
use alternative therapies such as aromatherapy, homeopathy or yoga
that your midwife may not be familiar with.
* Your intentions and preferences concerning labouring and delivery
positions, and intended use of aids such as beanbags, birthing
stools, water, etc.
* Your thoughts about certain medical procedures that may be
essential such as foetal monitoring, assisted delivery, and the
dreaded episiotomy.
* Whether your birthing partner wants to cut the cord
* How you would like to manage the third stage (the delivery of your
placenta).
* Any preferences concerning the administration of vitamin K to your
baby.

This is only a broad guide to help you start your birth plan. You
should also give careful thought to what sort of ambience you hope to
achieve in the delivery room (music, lighting, scent), whether you
would like you baby delivered straight onto your tummy or wiped and
wrapped in a towel, and whether you would like to try breastfeeding
immediately. Once you have finished planning every aspect of your
labour and delivery, put the birth plan aside and spend some time
considering the possibility that, on the day, nothing may go to plan
or your feelings might completely change once labour kicks in. Giving
birth is unpredictable business. You will be at the mercy of your
body, so you have to be prepared to listen to your instincts and just
go with the flow. Whatever happens, if the outcome is a
safely-delivered little bundle of joy, you can consider your
experience a total success!
Parents
Daddy's checklist
YOUR TO-DO LIST Time's ticking, so you'll want to start preparing now
for the arrival of the baby.
* Make sure the hospital bag for your partner is packed and ready at
least two weeks before the due date. Click here
http://email.uk.pampers.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eCINT0ceXKI0BMf60Ccht0EE
for a complete packing list. Don't forget to include a few things for
yourself, like an extra shirt, a change of underwear, some toiletries.
Closer to the day, make sure you also have snacks and drinks for the
two of you ready to take with you.
* Read your partner's birth plan several times until you are familiar
with all her hopes and wishes.
* Visit the hospital so you'll know where to park and how to check
in.
* Learn two routes to the hospital in case one is blocked.
* Prepare a list of numbers for everyone you want to call to share
the good news. Also pack some change in case you need to use the
hospital payphone. On the big day, you're guaranteed not to have
time to think about such little details.
* Get the camera, film, and batteries ready.
* Get used to installing the infant car seat for that joyous journey
home.

Learn more
http://email.uk.pampers.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eCINT0ceXKI0BMf60Cch40EA
about preparing for fatherhood.
Last Tip
Choosing the right car seat
SAFE AND SNUG Your baby will need an approved, correctly installed car
seat for his first ride home from the hospital. Not only is it safe to
use a car seat, it's the law.

Baby on board Babies under 9 kilograms (20 pounds) must be placed in a
rear-facing infant car seat. The safest place to put your infant car
seat is in a back seat that has a three-point harness. You must never
place any child car seat in the front if you have a passenger airbag,
as it could smother small children and infants.

Installation know-how Amazingly, nearly half the people who own an
approved car seat install it incorrectly, putting their children in
danger. Follow the instructions, and ask the shop where you purchase
the car seat to demonstrate the correct way to fit it if you are in
any doubt.

For more help on choosing the right car seat, read our "Car Seat
Buying Guide."
http://email.uk.pampers.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eCINT0ceXKI0BMf60CciD0ER
Last Tip
Pamper those sore feet
SOLE SEARCH You may not be able to see them, let alone reach them, but
your feet are probably feeling a little swollen, sore and neglected
now that they have to bear the extra weight of your growing baby. Time
to treat your feet to some loving attention! Let someone else care for
your soles, and maybe even paint those toes. Go for a pedicure or let
your partner have a go - it could be lots of fun. You'll be
rejuvenated, and you might just have the nicest tootsies in the
delivery room - aside from your baby's, of course!


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