27 weeks and 7 days pregnant

The amniotic fluid is approaching its maximum amount at this time and your baby will have plenty of space in which to move. Here the baby is looking down towards the umbilical cord. Your baby is still likely to change position several times a day.

If you’re the first among your friends to have a baby, be prepared for friendships to evolve and change.

Some friendships change as you go through different life stages. You’ll probably have had different groups of friends through school, college, and different jobs, with one or two close friends throughout. Friendships often develop with people when you’re at a similar stage in your lives. This means that during your pregnancy and when you have young children you may feel most comfortable with other women in similar situations. You’ll meet new friends at antenatal classes or postnatal groups, or in situations such as toddler swimming or music classes.

As you make new friends, you may find your old relationships begin to change. Friends without children may find it difficult to understand your new role as a mother, and the intense love that you have for your child, and you may start to drift apart. Of course this is not always the case; some friendships are unchanging, irrespective of whether your lives go along different paths.

I’ve seen a second-hand car seat advertised. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t buy it?

Don’t use a second-hand car seat unless you can be absolutely certain of its history as it may have been in an accident or damaged.

Car safety experts suggest that if you must use a second-hand car seat, only accept one from a family member or friend when you’re absolutely sure of its history and if the original instructions for the seat are still available. They strongly discourage purchasing a car seat for your baby through a second-hand shop or classified advertisements, or on the internet.

Eating organic food is one way to eat more healthily during pregnancy.Organic fruit and vegetables are grown without any chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are not given growth hormones or antibiotics. For these reasons, organic foods are free from pesticide residues, additives, and preservatives. They are also usually higher in nutrients. Organic farming also promotes the use of environmentally friendly practices. Most additives are safe during pregnancy, but eating organic is a second step that can add to a healthy foundation of food choices.

The downside of eating organic food is that it tends to cost more than regular groceries. Given the price of food, many families cannot afford the extra that goes with eating organic. If you can’t afford organic foods, eating whole foods in their least processed, most natural form, and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is the next best thing, and is still a very healthy diet.