It is Monday! That means it is time for another installment of my week by week pregnancy guide. If you want to catch up with previous weeks, scroll to the bottom.

When exactly the second trimester is over can be debated by several sources. However, everyone can agree that this week is the absolute latest you can claim to still be in your second trimester. As you come to the close of this week you will start feeling more tired, no longer being able to sustain the energy jolts you were having throughout the second trimester. For those of you who never had those energy jolts, you won’t feel any changes in this regard.

Should you go into labor early, you will have a wonderful preemie. Very, very few babies don’t make it when born from this point forward. Your belly is going to really start expanding now (as if it hasn’t been doing this the whole time). If you are getting a last trimester ultrasound (I didn’t the second time around), then you can totally see the baby. If you trying to figure out the gender, and your little one hasn’t posed properly yet, this may be your last chance. Some women I know have opted for the 3D ultrasounds. They are pretty interesting. But I didn’t go in for one because, one, my tech was verycertain of the sex each time, and two, I didn’t want to spend the money since I would be seeing the real thing in just a few months. But if you can afford it, it really nice, so go for it!

I am hoping you have told your work by now that you will be going on maternity leave. If you haven’t, I am pretty sure they have guessed. So this would be a good time to really start setting into motion your maternity leave plans. Who will cover you? Will your work be divided amongst other co-workers? Who is taking over what? The last thing you want to come back to after at least six weeks of being out is a giant pile of work and everyone saying “Oh, I thought so and so was doing that.” Do you perform any duties that are specific to you and others are unfamiliar with? If so, leave a direction sheet as to how it is supposed to get done.

You definitely want to start on all the prep work now. I remember it took me months to compile a binder that would help everyone while I was gone. Also, keep in mind, at this point labor can pretty much happen whenever. So it may happen earlier than you had originally planned. I went into labor a week and a half early with Munchie, and about a week early with Ducky (although I had wished it had been earlier with him).

If you have had a smooth pregnancy thus far, chances are not a whole lot will start going wrong all of a sudden. But if you have had a few bumps in the road (pun totally intended), then there may be a chance your doctor will put you on early bed rest, meaning you will be going on leave earlier than planned whether the baby has arrived or not. Some women chose to take leave before their due date. I literally went into labor at work with Munchie, and finished out my day before going home, running errands, making dinner, and going to the hospital at 10 p.m. And yes, I knew I was in labor, but by God I was going to wrap everything up before the baby was born!

Also, are you even going back to work? Around this time a lot of women are starting to consider not returning to work when they had previously not thought about this option. Obviously there are many factors that contribute to the final decision, like your financial situation, your desire for a career, your personality type, and numerous others. Take some time and really think about it. Talk to your significant other if they are in the picture, or your friends. Do your research.

And enjoy the rest of your pregnancy, because by the end of this week you are officially starting your third and final trimester!