8th month of pregnancy: your unborn child will change direction...

Plenty of other great things are about to happen: during this 8th month of your pregnancy, your unborn child will do a great big somersault so that they are facing head down. And you? Your bump will continue to get bigger as the big day approaches. Not much longer to wait now...


The time has come for the final somersault!

The curve of their cheeks, the outline of their lips, the line of their eyebrows: your unborn child’s face is wonderfully complete. During this 8th month of pregnancy, they will continue to develop and get ready to be born the most beautiful baby in the world.

At the beginning of this month, they measure around 39 cm and will grow to around 45 cm by the end1


From now, they will grow to a weight on average half their birth weight!1

Their nails continue to grow and, somewhat strangely, the ones on their fingers grow more quickly than those on their toes.

They are finally ready for one final big somersault: it is during this 8th month that your baby will turn around (in the vast majority of cases) so they are head down with their legs bent against their chest.

Waiting for baby…

With your fully rounded baby bump and increasing tiredness, you will feel the full weight of your baby... the end of an extraordinary adventure of your pregnancy is just around the corner. The moment has come to prepare the conditions for your birth depending on your choices and desires.

In terms of diet, your unborn child’s bones are growing stronger and they are relying on you, hence the importance of eating a balanced diet rich in calcium.

Lastly, although it’s all been about your bump during your pregnancy, let’s not forget your bust: it has also undoubtedly grown in size. Just like the rest of your body, it is getting ready to welcome your baby and preparing for breastfeeding2.

1Béatrice Knoepfler, with the participation of Dr Jean-Philippe Bault, Le calendrier de votre grossesse, Eyrolles.

2Laurence Pernoud and Agnès Grison, J’attends un enfant, éditions Pierre Horey

BA20-629


Breast milk is the ideal food for infants. WHO recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months and then continuation thereof until the age of 2 alongside the introduction, from 6 months, of safe and appropriate complementary foods. Please consult a healthcare professional if you need any advice about feeding your baby.