3rd Trimester

The baby is now approximately 15 inches long and weighs about 2½ pounds. With the support of intensive care, a baby born at this stage can breathe air. The brain is developed enough to coordinate rhythmic breathing and regulate body temperature. As the baby gains...

The baby is now about 17 inches long, weighs 4½ pounds and continues to grow and mature. By this stage of development, the eyes are wide open, and if a light were shone into them, the pupils would constrict. The head is covered in hair, the fingernails have reached...

The baby is now around 20 inches long and may weigh 7 to 8 pounds. He or she has a plump body and a firm grasp. Typically, the baby is head-down in the mother’s pelvis and awaiting birth. Be patient— only 4% of babies are born on their due date!