Pregnancy – Month 8

Month 8 is when pregnancy starts feeling like a full time job. Your bump is big, your patience for it might be getting thin, and that's completely fair. You're close now, closer than it probably feels most days.

Physical changes you might notice

Everything from Month 2 through Month 7 can still be in play, plus a few new ones. Shortness of breath is common as your uterus pushes up against your lungs, and you might notice scattered Braxton Hicks contractions, where the uterus tightens for about a minute and then relaxes again. These are considered your body's practice runs for labor. Clumsiness, leaky breasts, hot flashes, and back or leg pain from carrying extra weight up front are all normal too. Varicose veins can also show up now, and supportive maternity hose can genuinely help with the achiness.

Emotional changes you might notice

Some apprehension about labor and delivery is completely normal here, and so is real joy watching your baby move around, sometimes hard enough that you can see it from the outside.

Appetite changes

Appetite stays similar to Month 7. Drink plenty of water too, since your body temperature runs a little higher during pregnancy and you lose more fluid through your skin than usual.

The inside story

Your baby is about eleven inches long and weighs roughly three and three quarter pounds by the end of this month, close to the size of a honeydew melon. Fat stores are building up under the skin now, which is why babies born around this point tend to look leaner than full term newborns. Your baby may already suck a thumb, hiccup, or even cry, and can respond to pain, light, and sound from outside the womb. If born now, survival odds are excellent, current estimates put it at around 99 percent with a low risk of lasting complications, though a NICU stay would still likely be needed.

Sleep and energy

Some women feel more tired than they have in months, others feel oddly energetic. Both are normal. Stretching, light aerobic activity, extra sleep, naps, and frequent breaks during the day can all help if fatigue is winning. Heartburn can get worse at night, so try eating your last meal at least three hours before bed, sleeping propped up a bit, and favoring your left side. Frequent nighttime bathroom trips are also common, and cutting back on fluids isn't the fix, your body still needs them. As for travel, most healthy pregnancies can still fly with a doctor's okay up through about 36 weeks, but this is a good month to start thinking twice about long trips. Sitting for hours raises your risk of blood clots, and being far from your own doctor gets riskier the closer you get to your due date.

Easing the stress

Keep up with stretching and gentle exercise, and stay on top of childbirth classes if you're still working through them. If you're planning to use daycare, this is a good time to start comparing options with other parents. If you're employed, start wrapping up projects and handing off what you can at work.

Special risks worth knowing about

Preterm labor, meaning labor before 37 weeks, is the main thing to stay alert for this month. Knowing the warning signs below matters more now than it did earlier in pregnancy, since your body is getting closer to the real thing.

Curious what your baby looks like around now? Our ultrasound images page has real examples from this stage. If any of the warning signs above sound familiar, March of Dimes has a clear rundown of preterm labor signs worth bookmarking. When you're ready, Month 9 is your last month of the third trimester.