You are 29 weeks and 1 day

Be prepared to spend more time in waiting rooms, as your care providers want to see you more often.

76 days until your due date

Remember that pregnancy is a natural, healthy process. With more frequent appointments and long waits at the doctor's office, sometimes surrounded by people with medical conditions, you may start to feel you have a medical problem. You don't: you're fit and well, and just happen to be pregnant.

At every appointment you'll be asked for a urine sample to check for protein. If it's getting harder to aim into the tiny, awkward bottle, don't worry. Only a small amount is needed, so start urinating and then move the bottle into the flow.

Explainer

Urine samples

Urine is sterile (unless you have a urinary tract infection), so don't worry about getting some on your hands; just wash them thoroughly afterward.

The lowdown

Freebirthing

Giving birth with no medical help from a midwife or doctor may seem crazy, but a small minority of women believe "freebirthing" is the ultimate way to welcome their baby. Some plan an unassisted home birth after a bad experience in a previous labor; others want a "natural," private birth with no medical intervention.

Freebirthing isn't illegal, but it's radical. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association oppose home births because complications, such as the baby needing oxygen, can and do happen even in low-risk pregnancies.
Some women have an unplanned DIY delivery, usually because labor is very short, and mothers and babies are usually fine. But choosing to go it alone is definitely not something to consider lightly.

Ask a Doctor

We know our baby has Down syndrome. How can we prepare?

Knowing now gives you time to come to terms with it. You won't need special equipment or toys when your baby is born, but you will need emotional support, so turn now to the people you think will best provide it. Contact the Down Syndrome Association for information and support, including meeting parents of children with Down syndrome through a local group.

Explainer

Worth the wait

Regular appointments take time out of your day, but they reassure you that all is well with your baby.

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.