The days are long, but the weeks are short. By the end of the day, you’re probably wiped out, making your to-do list seem overwhelming as the weeks tick away. This week, we’re going to chat not only about what’s going on with your babies but also about outsourcing tasks to alleviate some stress.
Wondering what’s new on the baby development front this week? Let’s take a look! You’ll be surprised at how much they’re changing.
How are the babies?
Your little ones’ lungs are working in big ways as they practice breathing inside the womb. The air sacs in their lungs are developing, and their nostrils are beginning to open, priming them to breathe air once they’re born.
Your babies are looking more like newborns each week. They likely have a bit of hair on their heads now, which even has color and texture to it, though that may change before birth. Their skin is becoming less translucent and is beginning to fill out with baby fat.
Your babies are around 1.5 pounds each now — about the size of a cabbage!
How are you doing?
You’re coming up on your third trimester, which is both exciting and a bit uncomfortable. The second trimester tends to be the smoothest in terms of symptoms, as your morning sickness is (hopefully) a thing of the past. As you approach the third trimester, some of those unsavory gastrointestinal issues might be making their return, along with the aches from your growing belly.
Many people report heartburn around this point in pregnancy. If you fall in this category, speak to your healthcare provider about pregnancy-safe medications you can take to keep symptoms at bay. You may also consider keeping a food journal to see which foods trigger your discomfort so you can eliminate them from your diet — or at least cut down until delivery.
Gas can also be an unpleasant yet common pregnancy symptom. This occurs because increased progesterone slows down your gastrointestinal tract and your growing uterus is putting increased pressure on your abdominal cavity. While it’s inevitable, gas is another symptom that can be helped slightly by tweaking your diet. Fatty or spicy foods and carbonated beverages may exacerbate your symptoms, so if you’re struggling with gas pains, try cutting these items out and see how your body feels.
Will testing take place this week?
Within the next month, you will have your glucose challenge test (GCT) to screen for gestational diabetes. In this routine test, you’ll drink a sugary drink and then your provider will draw your blood drawn an hour later to see how your body processes glucose. This is typically performed between 24 and 28 weeks but may be done sooner if your healthcare provider feels you are at an increased risk.
You can expect your office visits to pick up at this point to ensure your babies are progressing on target and without complications. Your monthly appointments will now shift to biweekly or even weekly, depending on how closely your babies need to be monitored.
Let’s plan ahead!
Whether you’re decorating a nursery or setting up a space in your bedroom for your babies, now is a good time to move toward completing the project. Multiples tend to arrive earlier than singletons, and while you’ve likely got a bit to go, it’ll feel good to have that scratched off your list.
If you’re not up for tackling it yourself, recruit friends and family to help. Your nearest and dearest are also excited about your babies and will love to say they played a role in getting their space in order. Go ahead — give them a ring! After all, what’s sweeter than baby decor?
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Multifetal gestation: Twin, triplet, and higher order multifetal pregnancies.” National Guideline Clearinghouse. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, May 2014. Retrieved May 15 2021.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Twin pregnancy: What multiples mean for mom.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, December 13 2014. Retrieved May 15 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/twin-pregnancy/art-20048161.
- “FAQ: Multiple pregnancy.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, July 2015. Retrieved May 15 2021.
