Pregnancy - Month Eight

If you have not became bored with pregnancy, this is usually the month women will become bored and ready to have the baby. Most women will experience the tired feeling they had in the first trimester. This tiredness will sometimes last until you deliver the baby, but some women will regain energy 2-3 weeks before delivery (also known as nesting syndrome). 

These Are Things You May be Feeling:

1. You may feel sleepy or tired. Try to get more rest so that your body can concentrate on getting the uterus ready to carry a fetus full-term. If you work or stay very busy, consider cutting back on your schedule until after the delivery of your baby. Make sure you are taking your prenatal vitamins and eating right.


2. You may have to urinate (pee pee) more frequently. This usually begins 4-6 weeks after conception and lasts throughout pregnancy.


3. You may crave or dislike certain foods. Some women do experience this very early in the first trimester, but most will experience this around the end of the first trimester (3^rd month).


4. You may have symptoms like premenstrual syndrome again. You may feel depressed, irritable, moody, sad, or bouncing between any and all of these. Remember your body is going through a lot of hormonal changes. You may feel guilty about becoming bored with pregnancy. Try to do something for yourself during this month. You may want to talk to your husband about something other than the baby. If your husband is the one talking about the pregnancy and baby, let them know you would like to talk about something else. One suggestion is to go out to eat and rent a movie. Try to focus on your relationship rather than the baby.


5. Morning Sickness (or any other time). Usually women will begin to experience this around 2 to 8 weeks after conception. A diet that is high in protein and/or carbohydrates can help. High protein foods are foods such as: nuts, whole-grain products, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, and soy burgers. Carbohydrate food sources are things such as: baked potatoes, whole-grain (wheat) bread, rice, dried beans and peas, and vegetables. You should also drinks lots of fluid to replace the fluids lost by vomiting.


6. You may experience headaches. If you had headaches while taking birth control pills and/or before becoming pregnant, you have a greater chance at having headaches now. Aspirin and Ibuprofen medications (Advil, Nuprin, Medipren) should be avoided during pregnancy. Most doctors will suggest Tylenol (Acetaminophen) after the first trimester (after 3^rd month). Please check with your physician. You can try a cool wash cloth on your forehead or the back of your neck. If lights bother you, go to a dark room that is very quiet. If you can, try to take a nap.

Note: Some women get migraines or headaches because of too much sleep. If this is the case, try to regulate your sleeping patterns.

7. You may be getting dizzy or having faint like spells. Try to stand up slowly will raising from a sitting position. If you are standing a lot, try to turn your head slowly. Sometimes you may be in too big of a hurry for your body to deal with at this time. If you continue to have these spells check with your doctor.


8. You may be experiencing constipation more now. If this is happening during your pregnancy, try to eat more raw vegetables and fiber. One suggestion is to eat celery and carrots dipped in Ranch dressing. Not too much Ranch though! You should also try to drink more fluids.


9. Your appetite may remain the same during this month or it may increase. Make sure you eat things that are nutritious.

Development of Fetus:

By the end of this month, the fetus will be about 18 inches long and weigh about 5 pounds. The bones of its head are soft and flexible for easier passage through the birth canal. The fetus may be in the head down position. Continues to gain more immunities from the mother. The brain of the fetus is developing at a rapid pace during this month.