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During this period, the future child begins to deposit fatty fiber, the function of which is to provide protection to the newborn from temperature extremes and hypothermia immediately after delivery.
The fetus has a marked increase in blood flow and its lungs are developing significantly. The baby’s eyes are still closed, but they begin to react to light and shadow. This period is characterized by the appearance of individual patterns on all surfaces of the pads on the fingers, both hands and feet.
In a pregnant woman at this term, the abdomen begins to grow actively. If she used to sleep on her back, she should accustom herself to sleep on her side, slightly bent, as sleeping on the back can lead to dizziness and even loss of consciousness due to the fact that the uterus when lying on the back presses on the neighboring organs and, above all, on the vena cava, which can significantly disrupt blood circulation.
During this period, it is advisable for the future father and mother to choose and attend courses for new parents. Women’s clinics and maternity hospitals offer various options in terms of volume and duration, from one-day courses to week-long courses and more.
The central nervous system of the future child is undergoing rapid development at this time. The brain begins to distinguish the perception of touch, and the future child’s visual and auditory analyzers are actively developing.
The fetal body is no longer leaning against one of the walls of the uterus, but is in it, completely surrounded by amniotic fluid. The baby’s kidneys produce urea, and hairs may appear on the baby’s head. The skin of the unborn baby develops a special protective coating that creates a barrier against the amniotic fluid.
During this period, a woman may experience short-term lower abdominal pain, especially when overexerting herself or changing positions abruptly. This may be due to the fact that the ligaments supporting the uterus are developing along with the growth of the uterus to support the increasing weight. You should not pay serious attention to this and should not be concerned. As a last resort, you should consult your doctor for advice.
Due to changes in the hormonal background in a pregnant woman may appear temporary changes in pigmentation. The hands may become red. Dark spots that sometimes appear on the upper lip, cheeks or forehead are called “pregnancy mask”. The nipples on the mammary glands become noticeably darker. Darken usually existing freckles, scars on the body, armpits, inner thighs. A so-called “dark line” may appear, running from the navel to the pubic bone.
Such pigmentation usually goes away soon after childbirth. The direct rays of the sun hitting the skin of a pregnant woman can increase the effect of pigmentation during this period of pregnancy. Therefore, you should be especially careful to protect your body and skin from direct sunlight.