It's month eighth of your pregnancy and you're so close you can practically smell that new-baby scent. You’re an old hand at this pregnancy thing now. Show In fact, you feel like you’ve been pregnant forever and though it’s not quite that long, you are absolutely forgiven if you feel a little bit fed up. But your due date is in sight! We take a look at some of the common symptoms in the eighth month of pregnancy plus what your baby's getting up to. Roughly speaking, you are between 33 to 37 weeks pregnant. Emotional wreck: How are you feeling deep down? A bit emotional? Yeah, that's normal for around now. You may be feeling a bit overwhelmed as the weeks are passing by, you're getting advice on just about everything, and it's a bit much. There’s every chance you don’t really know how to feel at the moment. One minute you’re shattered, the next you’re determined to build all that flat pack stuff in the nursery, the next you’re on the floor having a good old sob. This is going to be an emotional time, don't forget everyone goes through this. As you well and truly wallow in the hammock of the third trimester you find yourself uttering a new phrase... ...‘I’m SO ready now’: You want to meet your baby and the waiting is getting tough. It’s hard to give two hoots about anything other than you and your bump and that’s totally understandable. You might be at the point where you’re harrumphing about still having to go to work and you’re constantly daydreaming about lying on the sofa and doing that malteaser trick with your bump - and that’s all OK. You’re like a marathon runner who has hit a wall - so console yourself with the fact that you don’t have to run anywhere, at least. But, there’s plenty to keep you going. Your midwife is your new best friend: You’ll be thrilled to be seeing a bit more of your midwife. Secretly, you look forward to her visits like she’s an old friend who’s going to tell you everything’s alright. You know when you really like a celebrity and think ‘oh I wish she was my friend’? Midwives are a bit like that, aren’t they? You start to wish the two of you were best pals and you fantasise about hanging out after the baby’s birth and telling everyone the story of how you became mates. Chances are you’ll never see each other again, but for now, she’s got your back. Clumsiness: You're bound to feel a bit clumsy around now, but don't worry! Pregnant women feel more clumsy due to several things:
Dizziness: Dizziness is also common to happen around now too. You could be feeling dizzy and light-headed from severe morning sickness, or it could be because of all the changes in your hormones. Try not to stand up so quickly, keep your blood sugar levels high and take your time when walking and standing up. Breasts leak: Now is a good time to invest in some breast pads - your body is getting ready to feed your baby, whether you're planning to breastfeed or not! Varicose veins: Ah yes, the appearance of varicose veins! You may get these around now. They are blue or red swollen veins that most often appear in your legs. Haemorrhoids: The evil twin of varicose veins - haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lowest part of your rectum. They can be itchy, painful and could lead to bleeding. Braxton Hicks contractions: aka your body doing teeny (ha!) practice runs for the big day. They’re tightenings of the uterus that last up to about 30 seconds and can scare the living you-know-what out of you when you first feel one. Don’t worry, they’re just your body’s way of letting you know what’s to come. How thoughtful. Less movement: You’ll be really sensitive to every ache and pain now and you’ll also be pretty used to your baby’s movements. Last month you got fed up with being woken up by a kick in the ribs but this month, they might worry you by going a bit quiet and slowing down their movements. Just remember your baby is almost full-term now at 33 to 37 weeks pregnant and they have less room in there now to flip about. Here's an illustrative look at what your baby will look like in the womb when you're eight months pregnant. 1 of 6You're now in the middle of your third trimester and your baby is now the size of a cantaloupe melon. Your baby should weigh around 2.1kg. If you haven't already, you might want to start putting together your hospital bag with all those essentials for you and baby. If you're not sure where to start, don't worry, our hospital bag checklist will help you out. Check over your birth plan It's worth having a read over your birth plan (or birth preferences) before you reach month nine of your pregnancy to check you're happy with everything. By now you will know where you would like to give birth and you’re wondering a lot about whether it will happen the way you’ve planned. Consider learning the quickest route to the hospital or birthing centre where you plan to give birth, taking into account alternative routes in case there is traffic. If you’re staying at home you might have had a birth pool practice run - whether you laughed hysterically as you tried to fathom how it goes up or your partner ended up going off in a huff, you’re just thankful you got through it without going into early labour! When you are 37 weeks pregnant, you are officially considered 'full-term.' This means your baby will not be considered premature when they are born after this point. Either way, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the signs of labour.
Months of anticipation were finally coming to an end as first-time mother-to-be Supriya Basu entered her 8th month pregnancy. Supriya was fortunate to have a healthy pregnancy and she was preparing herself for a normal delivery. What week is 8 months in pregnancy? Women who are between 33 weeks to 36 weeks pregnant are 8 months pregnant. “My husband and I wanted to know everything there is to know about the 8th month of pregnancy and what we should expect during this time,” said Supriya. The couple came to Dr. Anita Sabherwal Anand, Consultant Obstetrician-Gynecologist at Sitaram Bhartia Hospital prepared with a list of questions that you should also go through if you are eight months pregnant. Why is eight month of pregnancy critical? Dr. Anita remarked, “It is a common misconception that 8th month of pregnancy is very crucial and you have to take extra care during this time. “ “You don’t require special attention if your pregnancy is progressing smoothly. “ Supriya was pleasantly surprised to learn that the 8th month of pregnancy does not require any special care, despite all the changes that take place. “Are there any symptoms of 8th month pregnancy I should be aware of?” she wondered aloud. Physical changes in the Mother-to-Be in 8th month pregnancyYou may notice certain changes or symptoms such as: Difficulty in breathing: Your uterus expands further to make space for your growing baby. This puts pressure on your lungs making it difficult to breathe at times. Leaking breasts: Your body may prepare for breastfeeding by producing yellow coloured milk, called colostrum, closer to your due date. You may notice this as slightly leaking breasts. Constant back pain: The growing weight of your baby makes your abdomen heavier and puts pressure on your back. This could lead to back pain. “You can lessen the pain by sitting straight and avoiding standing or sitting for too long without proper back support,” says Dr Anita. “You could also do exercises to strengthen the back.” At the mention of back pain, Supriya remembered the tightening sensation in the abdomen she had felt a few days ago. She tried to describe the 8 month pregnancy pain by comparing it to the feeling of being stretched by the stomach. Dr Anita soon realized Supriya was referring to false contractions. Dr. Anita explained, “This type of pain resembles real contractions that you experience in labour and are called ‘Braxton hicks contractions’.” “This is just a way for your uterus to prepare for actual labour and is nothing to worry about.” “Remember, if these contractions last for longer than a day then you must see your doctor.” Now that Supriya was well informed about changes to expect in her body, she was keen to know about baby movements in 8th month and the weight of her baby. Physical Changes in Baby during the 8th month of pregnancyIncrease in weight: Your baby will weigh more than 2.1 kilos during this time. Most of its organs will have developed. Increase in movements: As you enter into the 8th month of pregnancy, baby movements tend to increase. Shift in baby’s position: At 8 months pregnant, the baby’s position changes and the baby moves into the pelvis, with its head facing downward. As Supriya processed the information, she asked about what to do in 8th month of pregnancy to ensure her and her baby’s well-being. What care should be taken in 8th month of pregnancy?“We recommend checking a few parameters to make sure they are all normal.” These are:
Supriya and her husband wanted to make sure they don’t miss any of these tests so they talked to their doctor and worked out a schedule. Precautions during 8th month of pregnancy“We always reiterate that pregnancy is not a disease and should not be treated as such.” “There are no precautions that are required unless you have a medical condition,” explained Dr Anita. What should you do for normal delivery in 8th month?If you haven’t begun preparing for a normal delivery as yet, you should definitely begin to focus on your diet, incorporate exercise into your routine and read up about tips for a normal delivery. Supriya was keen to know whether there was any special diet she should follow at this time. Monitor your pregnancy diet at 8 months “There is no special diet that you should follow” reassured Dr Anita.“You should eat small frequent meals. Make sure you avoid oily and spicy food, especially junk food.“ “Continue eating fresh fruits, vegetables and fibres to prevent constipation, which is common in pregnancy. Drink enough water to keep yourself hydrated at all times.” Read: Piles during Pregnancy – How to Cope with Piles when Pregnant Prepare for Labour and Delivery Many couples find it helpful to attend a Labour and Delivery Class to understand what to expect in labour and to learn techniques to manage labour pain. Learn how to Breastfeed You can attend classes that teach you how to breastfeed and hold your baby. You can also use the classes as a forum to ask a pediatrician and a lactation counselor any concerns about breastfeeding. Supriya and her husband Arun jumped at the opportunity of enrolling in the ‘Preparing for the New Arrival’ class. They wanted to be as informed as possible about how to take care of their newborn. Pack Your Hospital Bag You should also start packing things you will need during your delivery so that you don’t have to search for necessities at the last minute. Don’t know what to pack for the hospital? Check out our list! Supriya and her husband listened to all the healthcare tips given by their doctor with rapt attention. Five weeks later, Supriya went into labour and had a successful vaginal delivery. The couple welcomed their son Danish into the world. Are you 8 months pregnant and have similar doubts? Consult our obstetrician today! Come in for a complimentary consultation with our senior gynaecologist at our hospital in South Delhi. Please call on +91 9871001458 to schedule a free consultation. |