36 Weeks

Baby should soon descend into your pelvis, which will give your lungs a little room to breathe (literally). The bad news: This puts the brunt of baby's weight on your hips and pelvis, and will make them pretty sore. Add in your ever-loosening ligaments, and you may soon be taking on that oh-so-adorable pregnancy waddle.

With four weeks to go, our baby is almost ready. S/he could drop into the birth canal at any time now. This week, the fat is dimpling on the elbows and knees as well as forming creases in the neck and wrists. The baby's gums are very rigid.

Baby's skin is getting smooth and soft, her gums are rigid, her liver and kidneys are in working order, and her circulation and immune system are basically good to go. Her lungs are the only organs that still need to fully mature, but every day she gets a little closer to breathing on her own.

About a month to go ~ you'll probably be visiting your care provider once a week at this point. The average weight gain now is between 25 and 30 pounds. You should be consuming about 2400 calories per day. Make them count! Your body is working hard now and needs quality fuel.

Here are some of the signs that labor is approaching. You may not experience all of these symptoms or be aware of them.

• Lightening ~ aka the baby dropped
• Bloody Show ~ aka the mucous plug
• Rupture of Membranes ~ aka your "water broke"
• The Nesting Urge ~ aka you want to clean everything in sight
• Effacement ~ aka ripening of the cervix
• Dilatation ~ aka opening of the cervix
• Diarrhea ~ aka you know this one
• Contractions ~ aka OUCH those labor pains!