Week Twenty-Eight Pregnancy

You Are

Welcome to the third trimester! During the 28 weeks of gestation, you may experience a change in your feelings from excitement to mild discomfort as your body adjusts. Your growing uterus is causing your baby bump to stand out and you may notice that familiar symptoms such as backaches, leg cramps and heartburn are more intense. Many women at this stage may feel even more tired, have difficulty breathing, and experience swelling in their feet or hands because of the increased fluid level.

This week is the best to start preparing for childbirth. Around this stage of pregnancy, caregivers often recommend taking a test to screen for gestational diabetes. Braxton Hicks contractions – soft, irregular contractions that prepare the body for labor – may also happen at this stage. It is important to stay on top of proper hydration, eating healthy foods, and giving yourself enough time to rest for your wellbeing.

Your Baby

Your baby is now about 14.8 inches (37.6 cm) long and weighs about 2.2 pounds (1 kg) measuring approximately the size of an eggplant. The brain is developing fast and the baby can now blink and respond to light. Your baby is also accumulating more subcutaneous fat which helps to regulate their body temperature when they are born out of the womb.

Although your baby’s lungs are strengthening, they are still waiting for extra weeks to become mature. Your baby may give stronger kicks and movements when stretching and moving around in the small space in you. When your baby shows regular movement at specific intervals, it means that they are strengthening.