It may feel as if there's no way your belly can get any bigger, but there's no doubt about it — your belly will get bigger over the course of the third trimester of pregnancy. Your little one will get a whole lot larger too as he grows from about 2 1/2 pounds and 16 inches long (in week 28 of pregnancy) to between six and nine pounds and 19 to 22 inches long in week 40. The baby will also be test-driving some skills like blinking and dreaming and regulating his own body temperature. By week 31 of pregnancy signals from all five senses, perceiving light and dark, tasting what you eat, and listening to the sound of your voice will be developing.

During week 34 of pregnancy a baby's head turns southward, settling into a heads-down, bottom-up position. By week 36, you've got about a six-pounder in there, with fat continuing to accumulate. Two weeks to go in week 38 as your baby sheds the vernix (the waxy substance that protects his skin from your amniotic fluid) and lanugo (the hairy coat that keeps him warm in there). All's pretty quiet through week 39, though you may find yourself waddling as your little bundle drops even lower in your pelvis.