Baby Bolin: 29 weeks

Baby Jeffrey now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel.

His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature. His brain is developing billions of neurons (important for later learning) at an amazing rate — no wonder his head is getting bigger now!

With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester. To keep yourself and him well nourished, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium. (About 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton — which is now hardening — every day.)

How mom's life is changing:

Even if your belly button was an "innie" before, it may become an "outie" now.

You should be able to feel your baby's movements strongly now. Pay attention to the kicks and nudges, and let your practitioner know if you ever notice a decrease in activity. She may ask you to do fetal kick counts to make sure everything's okay.

This Week's Activity:

Run some vital errands now.

Here are some things you'll need in the first few weeks when it's almost impossible to go shopping:

• Diapers and wipes. The average newborn goes through about 12 diapers a day.

• Baby care items such as nail clippers, a thermometer, a bulb syringe, and a pacifier.

• Baby-friendly laundry detergent.

• Thank-you cards and stamps.

• Paper towels and paper plates for easy cleanup after meals.