Starting third trimester, around twenty eight weeks, fetus is sixteen inches long and weighs from four to five pounds. It is adding body fat during this time. The fetus is becoming quite active and rudimentary breathing movements are present. At thirty two weeks fetus has grown to be about eighteen inches long and weighs about five pounds. The fetus has periods of sleep and wakefulness and actually responds to sounds. By end of third trimester (thirty six to thirty eight weeks), fetus has grown to six pounds and is about nineteen inches long. The lanugo, fine, downy hair which covered body earlier, is mostly gone. The fetus is also gaining immunities from mother during this phase.

At this stage, expectant mother's uterus expands to a level just below her breast bone. Crowded by enlarging uterus, in addition to high levels of progesterone hormone, mother may have violent episodes of heart burn and indigestion. She may also experience shortness of breath since uterus is pressing against her diaphragm and rib cage. Varicose veins in legs, hemorrhoids, and swollen ankles sometimes appear due to increased pressure with abdomen. By ninth month, expectant mother often looks forward to end of pregnancy. She may become more concerned about labor, birth and health of her baby. Through childbirth classes, expectant parents can learn more about labor, birth, and how to cope with stress of latter part of pregnancy.

About two weeks before birth, profile of expectant mother is likely to change as fetus descends into pelvic cavity. The mother may now feel less pressure on her diaphragm, consequently making it easier to breathe and to eat. However, because head of fetus can press against her bladder, she many need to urinate more frequently. As pregnancy reaches its conclusion, baby's head presses against mother's pelvis and her cervix becomes stronger and thinner. This thinning is a sign of readiness for labor and birth. Awkwardness and fatigue may add to expectant mother's desire for pregnancy to be over. At same time, she may feel a spurt of energy and feel a "nesting urge" which results from preparations for arrival of a new baby.

The Fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E and K. They can be sourced from both animal and plant sources. These vitamins can be stored by body, so generally speaking it will be longer before we notice a sufficiency. On other side, because they can be stored within body, there is a risk of toxicity if an over-consumption occurs.

The best sources of vitamins, is and always will be, within food source. Once it is isolated from food, its synergy is gone. It is no-longer in its natural balance. Without all other nutrients it is naturally found with, its efficiency will be greatly diminished. One thing does not work without another. As you will find as you further study nutrients, each vitamin, each nutrient, needs a series of others to work at optimum.

On other hand, our foods now lack a lot of nutrients that they once contained. This occurs because of depletion of soils from more “efficient” and modern farming techniques and over-processing of our food. Even though we may believe that diet we have chosen is generally accepted as healthy, it may in fact, fall short of supplying us with full component of nutrients we need to function optimally. To overcome this, best choice in foods will always be as natural as possible. Choose organic, where possible. If you have time and space, grow a few veggies. It will also help to connect you with earth.

There are many other factors in your life which will affect amount of vitamins you require. Stress is a large factor in our lives these days, and whether it is mental, emotional or physical, it will largely impact your vitamin requirements. Other factors which will impact your vitamin requirement include smoking, alcohol, medications and environmental pollutants, just to name a few.