8 Months Pregnant

Diving deep into the third trimester

As your due date approaches, you may be feeling a wide range of emotions—excitement about meeting your little one, nervousness about the labor process and how it will play out, and a sense of urgency to prepare everything in your life for the birth of your baby. You may also be experiencing some of the physical changes of pregnancy at full force. Pregnancy symptoms like breathlessness, leg cramps, and swelling can make moving around feel like a much bigger task. With the big day getting closer, you may even begin to experience nesting—this is the desire to prepare and organize your home for the arrival of your baby. 

Weeks 32–35 of pregnancy are a time of rapid growth and development for your baby. Your baby is putting on fat during this time and likely weighs around 4–6 pounds—roughly the size of a cantaloupe! Your baby is also growing in strength daily and is refining their senses. It is likely that your baby's suck reflex has fully developed by the end of this month, which is going to be very helpful for breastfeeding!

At eight months pregnant, your body is still making space for your rapidly growing baby. However, by the end of month eight and into month 9, your baby may move down into position for birth, causing a downward shift of your baby bump known as lightening. This downward motion may relieve some of the physical symptoms you’ve been feeling. Some physical changes you may be noticing include:

• Weight gain of about ½–1 lb per week during your third trimester—totaling about 25–35 lbs by the end of your pregnancy. 

• Your uterus continues to expand and put pressure on nearby organs and structures.

• Pressure on the bladder can cause frequent urination. Decreased space for full lung expansion may lead to feelings of breathlessness. Upward pressure on the stomach may contribute to reflux. Added pressure on your digestive system can sometimes slow digestion and cause constipation.

Remember that everyone experiences pregnancy differently! Try not to compare your experience to someone else's. If you are feeling good during these weeks of pregnancy—that's great! If you have been or are starting to feel uncomfortable—lean on your support system and remind yourself that your body is doing the amazing work of growing a human!

Some common symptoms during month 8 include:

• Feeling tired or fatigued

• Aching joints and muscles, especially the lower back

• Difficulty sleeping or interrupted sleep

• Heartburn and indigestion 

• Constipation and hemorrhoids

• You may start to feel Braxton Hicks contractions, or "practice contractions" towards the end of month eight

• Swelling in the feet, legs, ankles, and hands due to water retention

• Varicose veins (bulging blood vessels) and pelvic pressure

• Nosebleeds—may happen more frequently now due to hormonal changes   

• Shortness of breath

• Frequent urge to urinate

• Round ligament pain—a common pregnancy discomfort caused by stretching ligaments as your uterus continues to make room for baby

1. Continue biweekly prenatal visits

• Your provider will continue to monitor your blood pressure and check baby’s positioning—head down or breech presentation.
• Discuss signs of preterm labor and when to call your provider.

2. Continue to monitor and get to know your baby’s activity levels and patterns

• You’ll use fetal kick counts as a way of keeping track of these movements.

3. Prep for baby

• Wash and organize baby clothes and gear.
• Finalize childcare and postpartum support plans.
• Prepare your feeding plan—check out our Ultimate Breastfeeding Prep class for all of the information on starting your breastfeeding journey! 

4. Wrap things up at work

• Keep a running checklist of tasks and projects you’ll need to hand off with links to helpful resources. 
• Finalize maternity leave details with your employer and manager.

5. Pack your hospital bag 

• Need some ideas? We've compiled a hospital bag checklist for you!

6. Keep up your protein, iron, and fiber intake and ensure proper hydration

• Eat small frequent meals and avoid lying down after eating to manage reflux

• Stay hydrated and increase fiber intake to prevent constipation

7. Rest when you can! 

• Rest throughout the day and practice gentle exercise like stretching, pelvic floor exercises, or prenatal yoga.

• Use supportive pillows at bedtime to encourage restful sleep and try to sleep on your side.

We created a handy, downloadable checklist that includes the key things to do or think about this month. Simply download, save it on your phone, and bring it up whenever you need a reminder! 

Weeks 32-35 are a time of growth, not only physically but mentally as well. You may be growing in patience as you await the arrival of your baby, folding tiny clothes, and setting up baby gear. You may also be growing in self-compassion as you find yourself waking up (sometimes repeatedly) to use the bathroom at night. Your growth may show up as perseverance, too, as you continue tackling work projects while navigating swollen ankles, backaches, and changing energy levels. Keep reminding yourself of the strength of your body. Tap into the connection that you are already forming with your baby—talk to your baby and key in on movements and patterns. Lean into your support network, and begin preparing for birth and postpartum with prenatal education and routine appointments.

Learn about early feeding practices, latch and positioning, milk production, signs breastfeeding is going well, and so much more.

As you start to think about your birth plan, our lactation consultants have compiled a list of questions to think through and discuss with your provider.

Learn about the different types of breast pumps—standard, portable, and wearable—and find the best pump for you.