8 Months Pregnant: What to Expect

You’re 8 months pregnant!

You’ve finally reached the almost last stretch of your pregnancy, the third trimester. If you’re like most women, that means you’re feeling a little more confident about your body and its ability to do amazing things. You’re also probably starting to think about what it will be like when your new baby arrives—and wondering how long it will be until you meet them.

In this post, we’ll talk about what’s normal at this point in your pregnancy—and what you might have heard but isn’t true. We’ll also cover what to expect during the next 2 months of your journey and how to keep yourself healthy as possible.

As you get closer to your due date, it’s exciting to think about the birth of your baby and what will happen after!

But if you’re not prepared for what’s going to happen, it can be a little scary.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you understand exactly what will happen during each month of your pregnancy.

8 Months Pregnant Is How Many Weeks

If you’re 8 months pregnant, you’ve probably been wondering how many weeks that means you are. The answer is: 29 to 32 weeks. It’s a broad range, but it gives you a sense of where your baby is in its development.

8 Months Pregnant Symptoms

The following is a list of common symptoms that many women experience during the eighth month of pregnancy or third trimester:

• Weight Gain

The good news is that it’s not all in your head: In the last few months of pregnancy, many women gain as much as 25 to 35 pounds.

But before you freak out about how big you’ll be by the time baby arrives, remember that this weight gain is temporary. In fact, most of it will come off after delivery.

• Leg Cramps

Leg cramps are a common pregnancy symptom and can affect you at any point during your pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. As your body grows, your muscles stretch, and your ligaments loosen.

This leads to muscle fatigue, the primary cause of leg cramps. Leg cramps are also associated with dehydration, which is common during pregnancy because you have an increased need for water due to your growing baby.

If your leg cramps continue after drinking more water, it may be time to see your doctor. Some medications can help relieve leg cramps, including calcium-magnesium supplements and ibuprofen.

• Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are a common condition that many women experience during pregnancy. The increased blood flow causes them to your legs and pelvis, which can stretch the veins and cause them to bulge outwards.

If you have varicose veins, you may notice aching or throbbing sensations in your legs and swelling and discolouration in the affected areas.

While varicose veins aren’t dangerous on their own, they can be uncomfortable and cause pregnancy complications if left untreated.

• Insomnia

The most common cause of insomnia during pregnancy is your body running on overdrive. You’ve got all sorts of hormones rushing around your system, including progesterone and estrogen, which are responsible for your baby’s growth.

These hormones also make you feel more alert than usual, so even though you’re exhausted and want nothing more than to curl up in bed with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate (or two), your body won’t let you drift off without a fight.

Another possible culprit? Your growing belly. As it expands with each passing day, finding a comfortable position in which to rest becomes harder and harder. Carrying around 10 or 15 pounds may also make it harder to get comfortable enough to fall asleep at night.

• Back Pain

Back pain during pregnancy usually occurs when the uterus expands and presses against the spinal cord and nerves. Because of this pressure, walking or standing for long periods may not be easy. At 8 months pregnant, having back pain is a common occurrence.

If you have back pain during pregnancy, try using pillows or a body pillow to support your stomach as you sit or lie down. You can also try doing light stretching exercises to help ease the tension in your muscles and joints.

If these measures don’t work for you, talk to your doctor about other options like massage therapy or physical therapy; she might be able to suggest specific exercises that would help relieve some of your discomforts.

• Water Retention

If you’re 8 months pregnant, water retention is one of the most common and annoying symptoms you might be experiencing.

What does water retention feel like? It can feel like bloating, swelling, and weight gain. Water retention happens because your body retains extra water to help support the growing baby and prepare for labour.

As your baby grows, more blood vessels form in your body to carry oxygen and nutrients to your uterus and placenta. Your body then retains more fluid to help prepare for labour.

Although it’s common for women to experience some water retention during pregnancy, if you have severe swelling or weight gain, talk with your doctor or midwife immediately.

• Emotional Changes

This is a big time for emotional changes as well. You may feel like crying one minute and laughing hysterically the next—it’s all part of the transformation process! The hormones fluctuate wildly during this period, making even simple tasks seem overwhelming.  At 8 months pregnant, it’s not uncommon for mums-to-be to experience feelings of isolation or fear.

What to Expect at 8 Months Pregnant

Now that you’re in your 8th month of pregnancy, it’s time to start thinking about what you’ll need for the big day. You’ve been through a lot already—and now it’s time to start preparing for the little one’s arrival!

First things first: You’ll want to make sure your doctor is aware of any changes in your health or symptoms that could indicate a problem. Your doctor will help you determine if anything needs to be done before delivery.

Next up: When do babies typically arrive? It varies from woman to woman, but most babies are born between 37 and 42 weeks after conception. However, some babies are born earlier or later than this range. If your baby has not yet arrived by their due date, ask your doctor about inducing labour or other options, so you don’t have to wait any longer than necessary!

Finally: Are you ready for everything that comes with having a newborn? We hope so because it’s going to be awesome!

8 Months Pregnant: Belly Size

You may wonder how much bigger your belly will get during the ninth month. The answer is… A LOT! The reason for this is that your growing baby is taking up more and more space inside your uterus every day. You may notice that this also means your hips and thighs are getting bigger, too—and that’s normal!

This means that the baby’s head expands to accommodate more room for growth in the womb. In addition, your uterus becomes very big and heavy, which can cause back pain and discomfort for many women.

How big should your belly be?

You’ve probably noticed that your belly size has changed throughout your pregnancy. And it’s not just the shape of your belly that’s changing—the size of your abdomen is also growing. So how big is your belly at 8 months pregnant?

The answer depends on a few factors, including how much weight you’ve gained and whether you carry multiples. But most women in their second trimester likely have an average belly size of around 35 inches (89 centimetres) or more at this stage in their pregnancy.

8 Months Pregnant: Baby Size

At 8 months pregnant, the size of your baby will continue to grow at a rapid pace. They’re about 18 inches long and weigh as much as 5 pounds. Their eyesight is developing, and they can now recognise your voice. They can also make facial expressions that let you know how he feels.

Your 8-month-old fetus is growing and developing at a rapid pace. You may notice that they have already gained some weight in the last few weeks, especially around their face and thighs. The growth spurt between six and eight months is usually one of the biggest ones in your pregnancy—and it’s not over yet!

As you approach your eighth month of pregnancy, your baby will be able to hear sounds better than ever before—so don’t be surprised if they seem to be paying more attention than they did in the past. Your baby is moving around more frequently now—and by nine months, they’ll be doing somersaults in there!

You’re almost there, mum! If you have any concerns or questions about this stage of your pregnancy, do not hesitate to consult your OB-gynaecologist. 

Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.