Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 17 inches long, she weighs 5lbs. And from this week, until 2 weeks before birth, she will gain about a half pound of weight every week.

The bones in her skull are formed, but aren't fused. They actually don't fuse entirely until early adulthood, allowing room for her brain to grow through childhood. Because they aren't fused, the bones in her skull will be able to overlap, helping her to fit through the birth canal during delivery.

Mom

You are probably gaining about a pound a week and everything might feel swollen, but you're almost there! You've almost made it! Just a few more weeks and you will be rocking your little one to sleep. Though it's common to feel swollen at this point in your pregnancy, remember to contact your health care provider if you experience sudden swelling, as this may be a sign of labor.

Perineum Massage - In the late 90's, a research study showed that first time mothers who did perineum massage were less likely to have perineum tears than first time mothers who did not.

Mother's who want to try to avoid episiotomy by practicing perineum massage usually start massaging around 33 weeks. Perineum massage can be performed by you or a partner you are comfortable with. The steps are outlined below if you would like to try this technique.

Preparation - Wash your hands before you begin, and make sure your nails are short. You may also want to grab a mirror if this is your first attempt. If you or your partner's skin is particularly rough you may want to use a pair of disposable rubber gloves. Find a comfortable position; some women lie down, others stand, some sit and others elevate one leg.

Massage – Lubricate your fingers with oil or water-soluble jelly, avoid using mineral oil or petroleum jelly. Use enough jelly to allow your fingers to move smoothly over the tissue and lower vaginal wall.

Note: It might be easiest for you to use your thumb. Your partner may find it easiest to use their index finger.

Your goal is to stretch tissue around the vagina, the muscles around the vagina and the perineum. To achieve this, you'll insert fingers inside the vagina up to the second knuckle and move them upward along the sides of the vagina in a rhythmic U movement. You want your perineum to sting from stretching. While you apply pressure, practice relaxing your muscles. At first you will feel tight, but with regular practice, the tissue will begin to relax and stretch.

Try massages 5-10 minutes daily from now until the big day!