7 Months Pregnant

Welcome to the third trimester and being 7 Months Pregnant — the final segment of your pregnancy. Very soon, you will give up your role as mom-to-be and become an actual mom! If this is your first baby, this realization may hit you hard this month, and you could begin feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety akin to the emotions you felt when you first discovered that you were expecting. These feelings are perfectly normal and may very well be your own way of preparing yourself for your baby’s birth. It may be a good idea to talk to your spouse or friends about these feelings; they will no doubt reassure you that you will be the perfect mom for your baby—the one nature intended for him to have. You could also begin keeping a journal or diary if you haven’t already as a way to release any nervous tension that you may feel as your due date gets closer and closer.

Mother’s Body:
As you continue to gain approximately one pound per week, you may begin really feeling the strain of this extra weight. You could start experiencing intense pain in your back, legs, and even abdomen and pelvic area. Accept this discomfort as your body’s way of telling you to slow down and take it easy. Your baby’s kicks are stronger than ever and may also be a source of discomfort, especially if your little one is very active at night when you are trying to get some well-deserved sleep. Perhaps this is your baby’s way of warming you up for those midnight feedings in your not-so-distant future! As your heart continues to pump extra blood for both you and your baby, you may experience some palpitations, shortness of breath, or a strong pounding feeling in your chest. Although this is nothing to be overly concerned about, it does mean you should rest for a minute and take a few deep breaths before resuming activity.

About Baby:
Not only will your baby begin resembling a newborn more and more, he or she will likely begin acting like one. Since brain waves are virtually indiscernible from a newborn’s at this stage, it’s likely that your baby is behaving as a newborn would—only inside your belly. For instance, your little one can hear as well now as he ever will, and although many sounds are muffled by the barriers of your womb, the baby will react to voices and music with kicking and even moving back and forth to a beat. The baby will also begin a sleep schedule, although as many new moms will tell you, this schedule will continue to be erratic for months after birth. Your baby’s hair is likely becoming thicker (although this can vary among individual babies), and your little one’s body will begin catching up with the size of his head, giving the baby a more proportionate look. At the end of the seventh month, your baby could weigh anywhere between two and four pounds and measure up to fourteen inches in length.

Conclusion:
Despite your ever-increasing weight and the aches and pains that come with it, the nesting instinct may very well kick in this month and you might find yourself cleaning and organizing with vehemence. This is completely natural and is nature’s way of helping you prepare your environment for your new baby. However, it is important to temper this instinct with some good old-fashioned common sense—if you become overly tired, dizzy, or weak, take the hint and go sit or lie down for a while. The messy closet will still be there when your nap is over—guaranteed!

You can also take a look and learn about Baby Delivery!