Youâre in the home stretch. But being this far along doesnât mean the journey is over. In fact, itâs a time full of subtle (and sometimes surprising) changes â both for you and your baby. Hereâs a full guide to whatâs going on, how you can support yourself, and what to get ready for next.
At 38 weeks many people say, âYouâre full term now!â ⌠which is technically correct, but thereâs more nuance. The truth is: your baby is still undergoing significant brain and lung development. While many organs are ready, the last few weeks matter.
So instead of thinking âtimeâs up,â think: âLetâs finish strong.â
This stage comes with some little-known symptoms:
Lightning crotch: sudden zaps down low as babyâs head presses nerves. Normal, but name it so you donât freak out.
Nesting bursts: late-pregnancy oxytocin surge means you might suddenly clean
...Whether you're 17 weeks pregnant or days away from meeting your baby, the thought of labor can stir up anxiety. But what if I told you thereâs a simple, science-backed technique you can practice right now that helps your body shift from panic to peace in just two minutes?
No meditation. No yoga. Just a powerful nervous system reset you can use anytime â especially during labor.
Fear during labor isnât just a mental hurdle â itâs a physical one. When you're scared, your body releases adrenaline, which can slow down contractions, tighten your pelvic floor, and make labor more painful and prolonged. But when you feel safe, your body produces oxytocin â the hormone that fuels contractions and helps labor progress smoothly.
Thatâs why calming your nervous system is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for birth.
Youâve officially made it to 37 weeks pregnant! First of all, congratulations, mamaâyouâre in the home stretch! But letâs be real⌠this week can feel both exciting and utterly exhausting. Everyoneâs probably asking, âIs the baby here yet?â And while people love to say, âBaby could come any day now,â thereâs actually a lot happening with your body and your baby that no one really talks about.
This guide will break down:
Whatâs happening with your baby at 37 weeks
Common and surprising pregnancy symptoms
How to tell real labor from false labor
Practical tips for the next few weeks
How to prep for birth and breastfeeding
By the end, youâll feel more confident and prepared for this final stage of pregnancy.
At 37 weeks, youâre considered early term, not âfull termâ yet. Full term is actually 39â40 weeks.
Why does this matter? Babies born at 37 weeks often do well, but research shows they may be more likely to:
...If youâre pregnant and thinking, âI want to breastfeed, but I have literally NO idea where to startâŚââyouâre not alone.
Most first-time moms feel unsure (or overwhelmed) when it comes to breastfeeding. And while itâs something your body is designed to do, the truth isâit doesnât always come naturally.
But guess what?
With the right guidance and prep (yes, even before baby arrives), you can feel way more confident, calm, and ready. Letâs dive into what you really need to know before baby latches for the first time.
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Letâs get this out of the way first:
â âBreastfeeding is natural, so itâll just happen naturally.â
I hear this all the timeâand itâs one of the biggest mindset traps out there.
Hereâs the truth:
âď¸ Breastfeeding is a learned skillâfor both you and your baby.
Just like birth, walking, or talkingâit takes time, practice, and support.
So if it doesnât âclickâ on day one? Youâre not failing. Y...
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Youâve made it to 29 weeks pregnantâcue the applause! đđ˝
But while youâre busy being told to ârestâ and ânest,â there are some real changes happening in your body and brain right now that no oneâs talking about. Letâs fix that.
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By week 29, your babyâs brain is developing rapidly. Think: folds forming, temperature regulation kicking in, and stronger muscle control. This is why those kicks suddenly feel...wild.
đĄ Pro Tip: Start noticing patterns, not just how often the baby kicks. Youâll thank yourself later when monitoring movement becomes more important.
That sudden zapping feeling in your pelvis? Totally normal. Babyâs dropping lower and irritating some nerves in the process.
đĽ Quick Relief Ideas:
Prenatal yoga
Gentle pelvic tilts
Warm compress on your lower pelvis
âPregnancy brainâ is real, but itâs not about being forgetfulâitâs about matern...
 So, youâve made it to the third trimesterâcue the celebration! But between âget your sleep nowâ and âbabyâs the size of an eggplant,â are people actually telling you whatâs happening in your body (and what to do about it)?
Letâs fix that. Here's what no one talks aboutâbut every pregnant mama should know at 28 weeks.
Normal:
Braxton Hicks (aka warm-up contractions)
Blurry vision (yep, hormones can affect your eyes!)
Leaky boobs (colostrum may start early!)
Shortness of breath + insomnia
 Not Normal:
Sudden swelling in your face/hands
Persistent headaches or blurry vision with floaters
Severe pain or bleeding
If youâre unsure, always call your provider. No shame in being cautious!
Hereâs the deal: labor isnât something that magically happens at 40 weeks. Your body is training alreadyâand how you support it now matters.
Try this daily:
Light stretching + p
...Welcome to week 27 of pregnancy â the official start of the third trimester. đ At this point, your baby is busy growing, your body is shifting in new (and sometimes strange) ways, and you might be feeling the pressure to "get everything ready." But letâs be real â most first-time moms feel a little unsure right now.
So hereâs your real talk guide to whatâs going on in your body, your babyâs development, and how to actually start preparing for labor and breastfeeding.
At 27 weeks, your baby is about the size of a head of cauliflower â around 15 inches long and 2 pounds in weight. But the most exciting change? Brain development.
Babyâs brain is building billions of neural connections
REM sleep (and even dreaming) begins this week
Baby can now recognize your voice â talk and sing away!
These changes are laying the foundation for learning, bonding, and early attachment. Itâs the perfec...
If youâre 26 weeks pregnant and wondering if that sudden belly pop or weird rib ache is normal⌠youâre not alone. This week isnât just another milestone â itâs a major turning point in your pregnancy.
Letâs dive into the unexpected truths, expert tips, and must-do actions to make this week count.
At 26 weeks, your baby is about the size of a head of kale or a long zucchini doing flips in a water balloon (yep, thatâs the vibe).
Whatâs happening inside:
Blinking & eyelashes! Your baby can now blink and even react to light.
Lung development: Tiny branches and surfactant are forming to help your baby breathe air after birth.
Amniotic fluid breathing: Yep, your little one is practicing those first big breaths.
This is when your body really starts shifting to prepare for labor and postpartum.
Here ar...
Welcome to week 25, mama! If youâre wondering whatâs normal (and whatâs just plain weird) this week, youâre in the right place. From achy backs and vivid dreams to surprising changes in your gums and boobs â your body is working overtime right now. Letâs break down exactly what to expect.
Your baby is now around 13-14 inches long and weighs about 1.5 pounds â about the size of a full cauliflower! Hereâs whatâs happening developmentally:
Fat layers are forming to help regulate temperature after birth
Lung development continues as surfactant production begins
The startle reflex (Moro reflex) kicks in â baby can react to loud noises
Voice recognition begins â baby can start to recognize your and your partnerâs voices!
Out of breath easily? Your uterus is pushing up against your lungs
You're officially six months in, and this week is a BIG milestone â viability week! That means your baby would now have a chance of survival if born early. đ And while you're not planning on that, it's still a powerful reminder of how far youâve come, mama.
In this weekâs guide, weâre sharing evidence-based, week-by-week pregnancy tips that go beyond the generic info â because you deserve the full picture.
Size: About 1.3 pounds and the length of an ear of corn đ˝
Whatâs developing: Lungs are maturing, taste buds are forming, and your babyâs face is fully formed!
Kicks are stronger now, and you may even notice a little routine â like baby being more active at night (because of course đ ).
Round Ligament Pain: That sharp, stretchy feeling in your lower belly? Totally normal as your
...This FREE cheat sheet will walk you through 3 evidence-based strategies to boost your breastfeeding confidence and increase your milk supply.