About now, you're beginning to feel used to this pregnancy thing. You probably have your new, slightly larger wardrobe hanging in the closet and have gotten over the fact that you won't wear your favorite jeans again until sometime next year. You may experience some swelling in your legs, feet, or hands. Try to elevate your feet when you can; sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees may become your new favorite sleeping position from now until delivery.

A Growing Person

This month, baby is becoming more of a person than ever, with eyes that open and close, ears that hear, and the ability to suck its thumb. This, of course, leads to hiccups, which you'll notice mostly by the rapid, repetitive movements you feel in your lower abdomen. At the end of this month, your precious cargo may be one and a half pounds and measure up to thirteen inches in length.

Your journal entry may be longer this month as well, since you'll want to write about:

• What you were feeling this month

• Funny dreams you had this month

• New foods you ate

• Fun things you and baby did together this month

• What the doctor said at this month's checkup — and what the ultrasound showed

Moms in Dreamland

The baby was born, and as I held it in my arms, it began speaking to me.

I went to the doctor, and he told me that I wasn't really pregnant … that it was really just the flu.

The baby's head was coming out, and in this otherwise beautiful moment, I looked down in horror to see that it was not a baby at all, but a monster.

Are these experiences real? Of course not. Do they seem real to the pregnant woman who is dreaming them? You bet. Many an expectant mother has awakened in a cold sweat, shaking with fear and wondering just what made her dream such awful or strange things.

Strange, or even disturbing, dreams are not uncommon during pregnancy. In fact, nearly every mother will tell you she has had at least one dream that made her worry. Some tell their partners; others tell their doctors; but the response is likely to be the same: “Don't worry about it. It was only a dream.” These words are easily said, but anxious mothers-to-be do not so easily heed them.

So, what do these dreams mean? Should they be totally ignored, or do they really have meaning? Actually, they do have a meaning, and it's usually tied to your fears or anxieties about the baby's welfare or your own ability to be a good mother. Mind you, this does not mean that you are a sick, paranoid individual or that you really aren't cut out for the mothering thing. What it does mean is that you may have some underlying fears or doubts about motherhood; the dreams may be nature's way of encouraging you to give these worries a little more thought.