8 Months Pregnant: Symptoms & Fetal Development

Congratulations, you are almost there! You might start feeling fully pregnant this month. You will experience some more changes in your body while your little one continues to grow. So, are you done with all the preparations to welcome your little bundle of joy? If not, we may be able to help you. To know everything in detail, keep reading!

Common Symptoms at 8 Months Pregnant

Here's what you might experience at 8 months pregnant:

Shortness of breath

The space in your abdomen is becoming less as your uterus continues to grow, pushing your stomach against your lungs. This makes it difficult for you to breathe deeply. Try standing or sitting straight to make more room in your lungs.

Haemorrhoids

You might have enlarged veins due to increased blood circulation, and when this happens near the rectal area, it is called haemorrhoids. Eat enough fibrous foods and stay hydrated to prevent haemorrhoids. In case of haemorrhoids, apply an ice pack or take a warm bath.

Varicose veins

Bluish, raised veins might appear on your legs that can also be itchy and uncomfortably sore. Although they are harmless, they can be painful at times. You can try keeping your feet elevated to relieve the swelling and pain. Avoid sitting with your legs crossed.

Leg cramps

Leg cramps are quite common during pregnancy. Stretch your calf muscles and gently massage the calf using downstrokes to relieve the cramps. You can also consult your doctor for some stretching exercise recommendations.

Fatigue

With your grown belly, simply going about your day can be tiring. You may also find it difficult to sleep comfortably. For that much-needed energy boost, keep following your pregnancy diet and the exercises recommended by your doctor. Don't forget to rest well.

Frequent urination

As your little one drops lower into your pelvis, it might put pressure on your bladder, leading you to use the washroom more frequently. You might also notice that when you laugh, sneeze, or cough, your urine leaks. Try using a panty liner and go to the washroom before leaving the house.

Anxiety

Feel like you're riding on a roller coaster of emotions? Relax! It's totally normal to feel nervous and worry about childbirth and the changes in your life after it. However, don't let the negative thoughts get to you. Talking and opening up about your feelings and fear to your friends, family, doctor and other moms in your network might help you calm the thoughts.

Braxton Hicks contractions

False contractions are quite common in this month. They are irregular, not that strong, and usually go away when you move or change positions. These are different from real contractions, which are regular and stronger, appear after intervals, and don't go away soon. If you have any concerns regarding the contractions you feel, you can talk to your doctor.

Fetal Movement in the Eight Month

At 8 months pregnant, the baby's position will be head-down, as he will begin to settle into your pelvis. As your baby moves closer to the birth date, he is quickly putting on fat and weight. The lanugo covering his body begins to disappear, and he will grow hair on his head. As your little one's brain develops further, he can now control his body temperature in a better way. This function is very crucial for him when he steps into the outside world.

Your baby's bones have now started hardening, except the skull. The skull remains soft for your baby to pass through the birth canal smoothly. Your baby might also be more active at 8 months pregnant. You might experience some distinct movements from his hiccups, kicks to stretches. By the end of 8-month pregnancy, the baby's weight will be around 2.3 to 2.5 kgs.

Track your baby's development with our month-on-month expert tips on pregnancy.

Pregnancy Tips at Eighth Month of Pregnancy

You are almost there! Now is the time for the final touches and last-minute preparations, so here are some tips that might be helpful:

• Take a hospital tour: Plan your route to the hospital before the day arrives. Ensure you have planned out a few routes, just in case, there is peak-hour traffic on the D-day. If the hospital allows, take a tour of the maternity ward and get yourself familiarised with the hospital. Make sure you have the contact details of the people in the birthing team. Keep the address and number of the hospital noted at a place that's easily accessible to avoid the last-minute scrambling of details.

• Exercise regularly: Practice Kegel exercises, breathing exercises, and a good posture, as these will help you during labour, delivery, and post-delivery. If exercise is not your cup of tea, you can also simply walk and do prenatal yoga.

• Get vitamin D: As vitamin D is very essential for you and your baby's bones. So, make sure you get enough vitamin D — soak in the morning sun and take your supplements as recommended by your doctor.

• Stay hydrated: Drink enough water regularly to stay energised. This will also prevent cramps and help you to be a little extra comfortable during this month.

• Finalise your birthing plan: Once you are ready with your birthing plan, run it through your doctor for approval. After it is finalised, print out copies for you and your medical team.

• Learn about nursing: Read about breastfeeding and other baby care techniques. You can also join classes or online forums, talk to other moms in your network, or consult a lactation consultant.

• Things to avoid: Stay away from processed and junk food as it can cause indigestion or heartburn. Do not consume alcohol or smoke. Also, avoid aerated and caffeinated drinks.

• Eat healthy food: Make sure you include fibrous foods and foods rich in omega-3 in your diet. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Also, opt for healthy snack options to satiate your mid-meal hunger pangs.

Advice for Partners

Parenting is about the equal participation of both partners. A father's role is as important as a mother. So, here are some things that you can keep in mind as a dad-to-be:

• Be there: The mom-to-be will be going through a lot of ups and downs throughout the journey of pregnancy, be it her health, your baby's health, her looks, her career, etc. All you can do is cater to her emotional well-being and reassure her that everything will be okay.

• Provide help: With the growing belly and pregnancy symptoms, household chores can become difficult for the mom-to-be. Lend a helping hand with tasks at home and let her relax and rest for some time.

• Pamper her: You can massage the expecting mother's legs or book a spa appointment for her. Once the baby arrives, self-care and me-time will be coming to a halt for her. So, make sure you pamper her as much as you can before the baby arrives.

• Plan your finances: As delivery and neonatal care can be expensive, make sure you plan your finances carefully. This will help you support your hospital bills. You can also speak to your insurance agent and know how the procedure of claims/reimbursement works.

• Prepare your hospital bag: Once you are done helping the mom-to-be with her hospital bag, it is your turn to pack yours, as you will be staying overnight. Pack a pair of clothes, labour support tools like speakers for music, massage oil, etc., any notes from childbirth class, phone charger, battery backup, camera to capture precious moments, snacks, toiletries, and any medications you take.

As you move closer to your due date, your body will adapt to the changes suitable for your baby. So, take some time off, rest well, and pamper yourself while you enjoy the final phase of your pregnancy.