Health & Fitness

Your babys umbilical cord is formed by the fifth week. It will do its job of bringing nutrients to your baby until delivery and the baby is able to sustain life on its own. If you are considering banking your babys umbilical cord blood you should begin thinking about it before delivery. Ask your doctor about options for cord blood donation amongst the many questions that you will have.

The Second Half of Your Pregnancy
Your fetus still weighs less than a pound at 20 and is only inches in length. Your baby will grow a waxy coating called vernix to protect its skin while immersed in amniotic fluid. During the fifth month, it is a good idea to begin thinking about childbirth classes. More than likely your hospital of choice for delivery will offer classes of this type. The classes will also include a tour of the hospital so you will know what to expect during the anxiety-ridden time of labor.

Your fetus weighs about a pound at your 24th week of pregnancy. Your doctor will likely perform a glucose tolerance test between now and your 28th week. This test is intended to ensure that you are producing enough insulin for you and the baby. If not, then gestational diabetes could cause additional issues with your pregnancy. The biggest concern with gestational diabetes is delivery of a large fetus. A fetus from a mother with gestational diabetes also runs the risk of being born with low blood sugar and may produce excessive amounts of insulin to make up for the depleted insulin supply in utero.

Your baby will position itself for delivery around the 34th week. The head down position is optimal though some babies do not turn. Babies in the feet down breech position may have to be delivered via a caesarean section. Your pregnancy is full term at 37 weeks. Your doctor may meet with you monthly to check your cervix. Most babies are delivered around forty weeks, but may come a couple of weeks later or earlier.