Your Baby's Development
The wrinkly, tiny fetus you may have seen on earlier ultrasounds has given way to an almost plump baby. Fat is deposited on the cheeks this week, and powerful sucking muscles also contribute to your baby's full face. Your baby now weighs approximately 6 pounds (2750 grams).

Maternal calcium intake has helped to create the baby's firm skull, but it's still soft enough to deform slightly when the baby passes through the birth canal. Don't be surprised if your baby arrives with a pointy or misshapen head! After a few hours or days, your baby's head will be back to a rounded shape.

Your Body
Starting this week, you may begin to see your health care provider every week. Your doctor or midwife may give you an internal exam to determine if cervical effacement (thinning of the cervix) or dilation (opening of the cervix) has begun. You may experience engagement (also known as lightening), which is when the baby drops into the mother's pelvis in preparation for labor. Your appetite may return because the baby is no longer putting as much pressure on your stomach and intestines, and if you've been experiencing heartburn, the baby's descent may somewhat alleviate it.