Week 29 of Pregnancy (Trimester 3 of Preganancy)

It was my 34th birthday this week – lots of cards and best wishes from friends and family. Somehow it just doesn’t seem that significant, with all this amazing stuff going on inside my belly! The last time I was pregnant on my birthday, was when I turned 25.

The Birth Centre contacted me this week – they have assessed the notes from my previous labour and birth with Rosie, and can see no reason why I can’t attend their Centre for this experience! I am so very pleased – I really want to have a different labour and birth this time. Not only was my labour with Rosie a very long one (the latent phase lasted 36 hours), I also had an epidural and because Rosie was in a occipito-posterior postion, I was unable to push her out myself. Ventous, episiotomy and forceps were all used to get her out. This time I want to use active birth positions and be in control of what pain relief I use. The midwifes at the Birth Centre are very supportive of this, and I am sure they will help me get the experience I want.

The fetus starts to grow hair on his head – some old wives’ tales put a full head of hair down as the cause of heartburn in pregnancy! His head is now more or less in proportion with his body, and he is continuing to practice swallowing and facial expressions. Some research suggests that at this stage the fetus can taste sweet and sour – some of the food you eat will affect the amniotic fluid.