The child has probably rotated into birth position by now, with her head pointed downward in the mother’s pelvis, where she’ll stay until she’s born. This shift will likely allow the mother to breathe more easily, but because the baby has settled lower onto the woman’s bladder, she may need to urinate more often.
Essential Facts
• The eyes are open during alert times, and closed during sleep.
• The child will notice light and turn toward a light source. • The child’s outer ears are now fully formed.
• Breast buds are present on baby girls and boys.
• The child can now grasp firmly.
For Further Discussion
The extra fat that the baby is putting on—about half a pound a week—will help her to regulate her body temperature after she is born. Her body weight at birth will be about 15 percent fat.