You will feel movements now on a daily basis as baby turns their head, grasps firmly and responds to light, sound and touch. Baby may sometimes push up against your ribs and make you a little breathless – in the next few weeks baby will drop and breathing will become easier again.

Your baby’s development

This week marks the start of a period of rapid weight gain. Your baby will gain an astonishing 220-340 grams each week between now and the time they are born. As they grow, the volume of amniotic fluid shrinks in your womb. Your baby will now fill almost the entire space.

Foetal movements may now become more subtle like a slow stretch or roll, but they should not decrease in frequency. If you do notice that your baby isn’t moving as frequently as normal, you should contact your doctor or midwife immediately.

Meanwhile, your baby’s intestines will fill with a greenish substance called meconium, which is made from waste from their liver and bowel. This may be passed during labour, or if not will certainly be in one of the first nappies you have to change.

Your Body

By now, you’re probably feeling tired and heavy. And it’s not surprising. Your uterus, which was once tucked inside your pelvis before you conceived, now reaches up under your ribcage.

The mood swings you experienced earlier in your pregnancy may have returned, making you feel irritable.

Colostrum, a watery liquid, may start leaking from your breasts. This is the first milk you’ll produce once your baby is born and it is extremely rich in nutrients. Try adding breastfeeding pads to your bra, which will absorb any leaks.

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Please note: These pregnancy week-by-week articles, are meant to give you a general sense of the growth and development going on within you. However, it’s important to remember that every baby develops differently, even during pregnancy.