How your baby is growing this week
Eggplant size — 14.8 inches, 2.5 lbs. Brain developing deep grooves and folds for more surface area. Survival odds if born now are over 9 in 10 (92-94%). REM sleep cycles active — baby is dreaming. Movements are strong and regular now, which is why daily kick counts start this week.
What your partner is going through
Welcome to the third trimester. Fatigue returns hard — she is carrying 15-25 extra pounds. Sciatica (shooting pain down the leg) as baby presses on nerves. OB visits move to every 2 weeks; if she is Rh-negative, the RhoGAM shot happens around this appointment.
What to focus on this week, dad
- 01Kick counts start now — this is your monitoring job for the rest of the pregnancy. Once a day, count baby's movements: 10 kicks, rolls, or jabs within 2 hours is the benchmark (usually much faster). Noticeably fewer than her normal, or a sudden drop, means call the OB the SAME day. Do not wait until morning.
- 02