You are now
- Week 1
- Week 2
- Week 3
- Week 4
- Week 5
- Week 6
- Week 7
- Week 8
- Week 9
- Week 10
- Week 11
- Week 12
- Week 13
- Week 14
- Week 15
- Week 16
- Week 17
- Week 18
- Week 19
- Week 20
- Week 21
- Week 22
- Week 23
- Week 24
- Week 25
- Week 26
- Week 27
- Week 28
- Week 29
- Week 30
- Week 31
- Week 32
- Week 33
- Week 34
- Week 35
- Week 36
- Week 37
- Week 38
- Week 39
- Week 40
Days 162 to 168
- Your baby
Your baby has grown to about 32 cms long and weighs about 500 grams (over a pound). Its skin is still very delicate and translucent - with the veins showing through quite clearly. Babies born this early can survive but they need a lot of intensive care. With today's technology and the dedication of doctors and nurses, more and more premature babies are surviving. Great news.
See how your baby grows in our week by week image gallery.
Have you heard your baby's heartbeat yet? Your midwife will check it at your antenatal appointments - why not ask to have a listen? It's a wonderful thing to hear. Besides listening to your baby's heartbeat, your midwife will now check for signs of pre-eclampsia. Tell-tale signs are high blood pressure, protein in your urine and swelling (because of fluid in the body tissue). It can be serious so it's important to see your midwife regularly.
You may sometimes feel a stitch-like pain in your side. Don't worry, it's simply the muscles of your womb stretching - not contracting (which is what happens with Braxton-Hicks contractions). If you've been feeling low for a while, you may have antenatal depression; it's more common than you might think. Talk to your midwife and your friends for support.
Daddy-to-be: depending on how long you've worked for your company, you could be entitled to paternity leave and pay. Some employers have their own arrangements which are more generous than the statutory entitlement - check your employment contract. You can always choose Statutory Paternity Leave if this suits you better. Take a look at Directgov for more information.
Disclaimer
All content within BBC Health is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the BBC Health website. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.
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