Our 9 Months

Breast anatomy

The Women’s breasts contain fatty tissue, connective tissue and ligaments, which surround glandular tissue. The glandular tissue is made up of lobes (groups of milk glands or lobules) connected to milk ducts. The pectoral muscles of the chest lie underneath the breasts, but the breasts themselves have no muscle tissue. Breasts only have fragile ligaments, connective tissue, and skin for support.

Since gravity causes breast ptosis (saggy breasts), larger breasts are more likely to sag because they weigh more than smaller ones. Wearing a bra that properly supports your breasts can help take the weight off. Flat-chested women are less likely to see their breasts sag.

Stretching and Age Make Breasts Sag
The ligaments, skin, and connective tissue that support the breast stretch as they grow. Each time you gain and then lose weight from dieting or pregnancy it becomes harder for them to stretch back. So your breasts lose their natural support.

The eventual loss of elasticity in the breasts due to age also affects this support structure, even if you maintain a consistent weight and do not bear children. Collagen gives the breasts’ connective tissue its strength and flexibility. Collagen dries up as you age, especially during menopause, so breasts lose this support resulting in sagging breasts.

Fat content largely determines breast size. Loss of fat can make breasts look empty. So can the process of breast involution, which is the shutting down and shrinking of your glandular (milk producing) system after breastfeeding, pregnancy, and especially during menopause.

What to Do About Saggy Breasts?
Stop smoking, wearing a supportive bra during the day and a sports bra while you exercise can help delay droopy breasts, swimming. But eventually age will catch up.

Symptoms in the 2nd month of your pregnancy will be similar to the previous month. These include fatigue, nausea, dizziness, frequent urination, food cravings or aversions, and mood swings. You might no longer enjoy the taste of alcohol or the smell of smoke, which is good, because these substances can be harmful to your growing baby.

Breasts will continue to become larger, your nipples will be more prominent, and small nodules may appear on the areola, which is the dark area surrounding the nipples.

There might be a slight white vaginal discharge. Increasing hormone levels may cause you to develop acne. Some women, on the other hand, find that their skin clears up toward the end of the month, resulting in that famous pregnancy “glow.” Your hair may be less manageable. You might have a chronic stuffy nose, which may be alleviated with the use of a humidifier. Your gums will become softer due to the hormones in your system, so make sure to maintain good dental hygiene.

Hormones in pregnancy tend to make the intestines less efficient, causing constipation. To guard against constipation, make sure to eat a high-fibre diet and drink lots of water.

This month, cells in the ovary continue to produce a hormone called progesterone, which is important to maintain the pregnancy. The amount of blood circulating in your body will increase to meet the needs of the unborn baby. The increase in blood volume will make you feel warmer. Your abdomen will begin to swell ever so slightly. Your uterus is now the size of an orange but it is still hidden within your pelvis. The baby is moving gently but not enough for you to feel it. In order to avoid accidents that could harm your baby, make sure to get lots of sleep and exercise safely.

As pregnancy progresses, it is recommended that you keep track of your unborn baby’s kick counts from the sixth month of pregnancy, as a way of making sure that he/she is OK.

Everyday, do time how long it takes for your baby to make 10 kicks, flutters, swishes, or rolls. You should feel at least 10 movements within two hours, but you will probably feel that many movements in a much shorter amount of time.

Jot the details in a notebook to record the time that you feel each kick, flutter, swish, or roll, until your baby has made 10 movements. You may start to notice patterns and a general length of time that baby usually takes to make 10 movements. If you notice major deviations from the pattern, check with your health care provider.

In your 7th month, the movements of your baby will begin to change. As space in the uterus becomes cramped, your baby will make smaller movements such as shifting her elbows and knees. Your baby is likely to curl up and cross her legs. She is getting heavy now, and her weight may throw you off balance. Try to maintain good posture.

Your white vaginal discharge will become increasingly heavy this month and your breasts may begin to leak colostrum. Heartburn is still quite common.

The growing baby puts a lot of pressure on your diaphragm, liver, stomach, and intestines. The additional weight can cause backaches. Your baby puts pressure on your lungs, causing you to feel breathless at times. Your rib cage and pelvis will feel sore as your baby gets bigger. You will feel larger and clumsier, your movements will be slower, and you may begin to waddle.

Maintain good posture to decrease back strain.It is also advisable for you to wear flat shoes. Also ensure that you receive proper nutrition and exercise, to maintain your energy levels and increase your stamina for birth. Physical activities such as swimming fit well into late pregnancy. Don’t over-exercise, though!

Braxton Hicks contractions will continue this month and they will become more noticeable throughout the rest of your pregnancy. These are a tightening of the uterine muscles, which occur every 20 minutes or so. Braxton Hicks contractions serve to prepare the uterus for labour.

At 7 months, most airlines will not allow you to fly any more or they will require a medical certificate from your doctor stating that it is safe for you to travel. You may also want to avoid long car trips, as they will be uncomfortable. If you must travel long distances, make sure you get up and walk around for five minutes every hour to keep your circulation going.