Your baby is approximately 17 inches long and weighs around 5 pounds.

The central nervous system is continuing to mature, and the lungs are well developed. Baby’s brain and nervous system are now fully developed. Your baby's bones are also starting to harden, even though the skull bones will stay soft to make the journey through the birth canal easier. If you are having a boy the testicles are now beginning to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum.

You may notice that your belly may have changed shape. This could be because baby’s head has moved into your pelvis and is pressing against your cervix.

 It’s not unusual for mums to get swollen ankles and hands around now. This is called oedema and is caused by water retention. The best way to beat this is to drink plenty of water. Any sudden swelling should be reported to your doctor immediately, as it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

The top of your uterus can now be felt approximately 5 inches above your belly button. You may have noticed that your belly button has become an "outie" or that it is extremely sensitive. If this is the case, you can cover it with a plaster.

There are three stages of labor:

• The first stage of labor begins at the onset of true labor and lasts until the cervix has dilated to 10 cm.

• The second stage of labor continues after the cervix is dilated to 10 cm until the delivery of your baby.

• The third stage of labor is the delivery of your placenta and is the shortest of the three stages. It typically takes 5 to 30 minutes to deliver the placenta.