FACTS: The last trimester is a crucial time for your baby’s brain development. As brain-mass increases, the tissue folds into its characteristic walnut-like appearance.

FACTS: The baby’s brain is rapidly developing as minute and intricate nerve fibres form. This will allow impulses to travel faster and increase the baby’s ability to learn.

FACTS: You may notice that your baby is more responsive to conditions and may become drowsy following a large meal or if the weather is hot.

FACTS: Your baby’s lungs will now have most of the airways and airsacs ready for breathing after birth. You may be aware of small twinges as your baby practises breathing inside the womb.

FACTS: Your baby is now perfectly formed and in proportion, all it needs to do from this time onwards is gain weight.

FACTS: Your baby’s skull has formed in several separate plates that remain soft and pliable so that the head can compress during labour to pass through the birth canal.

FACTS: The baby’s skin is becoming more pink than red in colour and the toes and fingernails are now fully-grown. Your baby could well weigh 2.5kg or 5lbs.

FACTS: Your baby will be gaining about 14gms of insulating fat daily to help cope with the lower temperature outside your body after birth.

FACTS: Your baby’s eyes open and close with ease and have lashes. If you are having twins, they will probably be born within the next week.

FACTS: A boy baby’s testicles will drop to form the scrotum. Often the genitals of both sexes seem disproportionately large and swollen at birth in response to the withdrawal of maternal oestrogen levels.