Your Baby's Development
In these last few weeks before delivery, the billions of developed
neurons in your baby's brain are helping him or her to learn
about the in-utero environment - your baby can listen, feel, and
even see somewhat. Your baby's eyes can detect light and the pupils
can constrict and dilate in response to light. Like a newborn, your
baby
sleeps
much of the time and even experiences the rapid eye movement (REM)
stage, the sleep stage during which our most vivid dreams
occur!
Your baby's lungs are almost completely matured. Fat will
continue to be deposited on your baby's body for protection and
warmth. Babies gain a good deal of their weight in the final few
weeks before birth.
Your Body
With labor and delivery only 2 months away, you may be
considering how you'll cope with pain during childbirth. Among
the things you'll want to learn about are the most commonly
used techniques for pain relief. These include breathing techniques
such as those taught in Lamaze classes, pain-relief medications
given through injection, and epidurals, where doctors can give an
anesthetic by means of a soft, thin catheter that's placed in
your lower back. Whatever your ultimate choice, the more you know,
the better informed your decision can be. Although you don't
have to make a decision yet, talk to your health care provider now
about your choices.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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