7 Months Pregnant

As your uterus expands and your baby grows, your organs can get a bit squashed and cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including:

• Shortness of breath from squashed lungs
• Frequent urinating from your growing uterus pushing on your bladder
• Abdominal cramps from your muscles stretching and your uterus squashing your stomach

Another strange symptom that can happen in the last few months of your pregnancy is leaky breasts. The creamy liquid that leaks from your nipples is called colostrum. It is the beginning of your breast milk and usually only a drop or two will leak. Nursing pads for your nipples can be helpful if your leaking is becoming excessive.

Your baby measures a whopping 12-15 inches at this stage, a far cry from the tiny pin-sized embryo that it started out as.

Weighing in at about 3 pounds, your baby's increasing weight gain is protecting his major body systems and organs.

Also, around this time, your baby is quickly becoming a unique little person. Your baby's intelligence and personality are becoming more complex and advanced. If you pay enough attention you can start to learn about your baby's reactions to different foods, movements, and sounds.

Your baby may have also settled into a sort of sleeping pattern. Here's hoping that their pattern matches with yours.

Some pregnancy symptoms become more intense in your seventh month of pregnancy, including:

Heartburn and indigestion. Ease these symptoms by avoiding spicy, acidic, or fizzy foods and drinks and by eating five or six smaller meals instead of three larger ones during the day. Less food in your stomach at a time makes it easier for your body to digest.

Swollen hands and feet. Remember to drink lots of water. Water will help to flush excess fluid through your system to help minimize swelling. Wearing support stockings can also help.

As you near the final months of your pregnancy, you should decide on a birth plan that suits your personal preferences. This can help to reduce the feeling of being out of control when labor hits.

Arranging childcare can take time to investigate choices so it's a good idea to look at your local options now. This is especially important if you're planning to return to work within a year of giving birth.

From conception to birth, track your pregnancy week by week with Huggies.