Your baby has now grown to approximately 18 inches long and weighs around 5 pounds.

Lanugo, the fine downy hair that has covered you baby’s skin is beginning to disappear, along with the vernix caseosa. Vernix caseosa is a thick, creamy substance that has protected your baby’s skin while she has been in amniotic fluid. Your baby, along with additional amniotic fluid, swallows both of these. Combined together these will form meconium, or your baby’s first bowel movement.

Around this time, your baby will be in the head down position. If by next week she is still not in that position, do not panic, your health care provider may suggest trying external cephalic version.
Babies generally settle into the head down, or cephalic, position around this time. Rarely the baby remains breech, meaning that their buttocks or feet would be delivered first. It is possible to have a vaginal birth if your baby is in the breech position, although your doctor may recommend that you deliver by caesarean.

To try and encourage your baby to turn around so that she can be delivered head first, this simple exercise may help: Lie on your back with supportive pillows under your bottom so that your pelvis is propped up about 10 inches from the floor. Stay like this for about 20 minutes, and repeat 2-3 times a day. (Don’t do this just after you’ve eaten and make sure that you’re wearing loose, comfortable clothing).

When your labour starts, choose a position that suits you best. Some women prefer to stand; others sit back-to-front on a chair leaning forward. Ask your partner to massage your lower back to relieve back pain.