Your baby’s development
Your growing baby now measures around 8cm and weighs about 23grams. All the organs are beginning to function and the kidneys are working with the baby swallowing amniotic fluid and urinating.
Fine hair is seen on your baby’s face and this soft, colourless ‘lanugo’ will cover most of the body. Your baby is now very active, stretching, kicking and turning, although still far too small for you to feel it.
Each week, your baby’s proportions become much more like that of a newborn baby.
It’s around this time that you may choose to have a nuchal scan. This test is non-invasive and is not considered a risk to your baby. Your health care professional may recommend this assessment which measures the thickness of the nuchal fold of skin at the back of your baby’s neck, and looks at your baby’s nasal bone usually in combination with a blood test to see if further diagnostic testing may be recommended.
Your normal bra size may go up 1-2 cup sizes at least during pregnancy! So it’s recommended to have a good support bra along with loose clothing and supportive, comfortable footwear.
Some health care professionals recommend switching to non-underwire bras or sport bras during pregnancy, because it is thought that underwire bras may restrict the natural changes that your breasts go through, and interfere with your developing milk ducts. There are plenty of good options around that will give you all the support you need.
You & your body
During this stage of pregnancy, your breasts can start to feel a bit lumpy – but don’t worry, it’s just that your mammary glands and ducts are developing and getting ready for feeding your baby when they are finally born. Your breasts may already have started making a thin yellow liquid called colostrum. This is packed with nutrients and will be the first milk that nourishes your baby after they are born.
Don’t worry about the size of your breasts. No matter how big or small they are, you should still be able to breastfeed.