1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months 7 Months 8 Months 9 Months Birth 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months 7 Months 8 Months 9 Months 10 Months 11 Months 12 Months 13 thru 18 Months 19 thru 24 Months

Body Shop: How you’ll change

Strong, regular fetal activity is now the norm, and your baby’s kicks are strong enough to form the outline of a small heel or elbow against your abdomen. You may still have to deal with a lot of the discomforts of the last few months, with constipation and shortness of breath becoming more of a challenge.

Understandably, you’re more eager than ever to come to the end of your pregnancy and begin your new life with your baby. You may be anxious about labor and delivery and the baby’s health, and feel clumsier and more absentminded. Hang in there-it’s almost time!1

Back to Top

Mommy-Do List: Things to do this month

  • Do a home safety check and baby-proofing.
  • Stock the medicine cabinet with baby essentials.
  • Cook and freeze a bunch of meals for yourself for after the baby is born.
  • Get the baby’s car seat ready and learn how to install it.
  • Water is still an important part of your diet, but if you’re getting bored with the taste, try adding a splash of juice or a wedge of lemon or lime for a little extra flavor.

Back to Top

Nutrition Watch: Eating right for two

Protein is important throughout your pregnancy, but especially during the second and third trimesters when your baby is growing rapidly and your organs are getting bigger to accommodate his needs.

You should get about 70 grams of protein per day, which is about 25 grams more than you needed before pregnancy. Most American women eat more protein than they need anyway, so you shouldn’t have any trouble meeting your body’s requirements. As an example, two glasses of milk, a chicken breast and two cups of yogurt fill the bill. If you’re not a meat eater, you can get your protein from dairy, beans and soy products.8

Back to Top

1 “Pregnancy, Month by Month” University of Michigan Health System Web site at www.med.umich.edu

8 “Protein: Your Body’s Building Block” www.babycenter.com

The information on this Web site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding you or your child's health.

Consult your physician or dental professional if using another fluoridated product.

Helpful Tips
for Parents

Ponder the Pacifier

Whether or not to use pacifiers is an age-old debate, but the American Academy of Pediatrics gives it the thumbs up through the first year of life. Sucking is comforting, familiar and calming to babies and a pacifier can be the ideal way to provide contentment between feedings.
More

Drive Time

You’re always careful to protect your baby from the sun’s harmful rays with sunscreen, clothing and a hat when he’s outdoors. But did you know he also needs protection when he rides in the car for an extended period? The glass in car windows blocks some but not all ultraviolet rays that can cause sunburn, so if possible, move his car seat out of direct sunlight and apply broad spectrum children’s sunscreen to his exposed skin.

Hand in Hand

Are you wondering whether your baby will be right-handed or left-handed? Be patient; it may be months or years before you know for sure. Most babies start showing a preference for reaching for things with their right hands between six and nine months, but it’s not until they’re 18 months or older that they start using their preferred hand more consistently. By age three or four, their handedness should be fairly evident. If it’s not, you may want to talk to your pediatrician.

Source: “How Handedness Develops in Infants,” by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P., www.drspock.com, June 10, 2001