WHAT’S GOING ON WITH BABY?
Your Baby at 28 Weeks Pregnant
Baby’s growth and size
Your little one might not be feeling so little to you. Measuring between 14 and 15 inches in length, baby is right around 14.8 inches and somewhere between 2.2 and 2.6 pounds.
Pick up a quart of milk, that’s about how much your baby weighs right now!
What’s new developmentally?
Over the course of your third trimester, your baby’s brain will triple in weight. While the brain is still developing, baby’s central nervous system is developed enough to allow baby to begin to control their own body temperature.
As far as everything else goes, your baby is just continuing to grow and develop the organs and systems that are already in place. With each passing week, baby’s chance for survival outside of the womb goes up which is pretty incredible.
With specialized care, a baby born at 28 weeks has a 94% chance of survival!
Fun facts about your week 28 baby
- Baby can now experience REM sleep
- The amount of brain tissue begins to increase this week
- Baby’s head hair is getting longer
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH MAMA?
Week 28 of Pregnancy
Week 28 pregnancy symptoms
- Leaking breasts
- Round ligament pain
- Sciatica
- Stretch marks and itchy belly
- Constipation
- Darker and larger nipples and areola
- Braxton Hicks contractions
- Insomnia
- Pregnancy brain
- Moderate swelling in feet/ ankles
- Heartburn and indigestion
- Low back pain
- Linea nigra
- Leg cramps
- Hemorrhoids
How should I be feeling at 28 weeks pregnant?
Welcome to your third trimester, mama! As your belly grows and grows over these next 12 weeks or so it’s probably going to make you a bit more uncomfortable. The added weight can make sleeping more of a challenge, mundane tasks trickier, and it might be feeling difficult just to get from point A to point B some days!
To combat these pregnancy aches and pains, make sure you are staying hydrated, resting when you can, and using a belly support band as needed. Also know that it is completely fine to take advantage of warm baths and heating pads. Might I also recommend treating yourself to a prenatal massage or pedicure if you are able.
Unless contraindicated for some reason, it should be safe for you to take Tylenol for aches and pains so don’t be afraid to do so. I know it’s probably the last thing on your mind, but daily exercise can help boost your overall energy. It doesn’t need to be anything strenuous or long, even a short walk around the block will do!
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
More Week 28 Info
28 week pregnancy appointment
You will likely have your gestational diabetes screening test this week. I won’t go into too much detail because I have included some thorough resources for you below, but the gestational diabetes test is a screening test to track how your body handles a high dose of sugar. If you don’t pass the initial screening test, the 1-hour test, you will go on to have a 3-hour test. The 3-hour test give a much more accurate representation of how your body metabolizes sugar, and if you fail this test, you will officially be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. There are certain circumstances that put someone at increased risk for having gestational diabetes. If you fall into this category, your provider will probably want you screened earlier in pregnancy.
28 week pregnancy ultrasound
While it’s not common to have an ultrasound done at 28 weeks, there are a few reasons why your provider might schedule one. If you are experiencing any kind of complications or any conditions that make your pregnancy “high risk”, you might have an ultrasound this week.
28 weeks pregnant baby movement
Up until this point your baby’s movements might have been sort of sporadic and inconsistent, especially if you have an anterior placenta. You will probably hear your provider mention kick counts to you this week.
Kick counting is a free and effective way for mama’s to track the wellbeing of baby while in the womb, pick up on potential problems, and prevent stillbirth. I have included resources on kick counting below so be sure you check them out as there is a lot of evolving info on best practices related to kick counting and monitoring fetal movement.
If at any point during pregnancy your baby’s movements feel different, off, or decreased, call your provider, or get evaluated immediately! Your baby should not move less the bigger they get.
If you aren’t being heard or taken seriously, put your foot down, advocate, don’t take no for an answer. You should never feel bad, ashamed, or as if you are wasting anyone’s time if you are concerned about your baby’s movements. If your provider ever makes you feel this way, I recommend you find a new one ASAP.
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOUR BUMP?
28 Weeks Pregnant Belly
TIPS & RESOURCES FOR WEEK 28
Tips for 28 Weeks Pregnant
- Continue working on your baby registry and nursery
- Invest in a belly support band – my personal favorite
- Purchase a pregnancy pillow – I have a couple on my Amazon Storefront to help you narrow your search
- Curious about sleeping on your back in pregnancy?
- Plan or take your babymoons if you plan on taking one
- Baby shower logistics if you want to have one
- It’s never too early to start looking into childcare options – trust me on this one, mama, preschools and daycares fill up fast
- Treat yourself to a prenatal massage or pedicure this week – you and your mental health deserve it!
- Talk to your manager or HR department about maternity leave
- Contact your insurance company about maternity leave and FMLA
- Start thinking about whether a doula might be right for you
- Sign up for a birth class – there are SO MANY out there, but I actually have online natural, epidural, and C-section courses that you can take all from the comfort of your own home, so check them out here
- Sign up for my free second trimester prep pack to receive my second trimester checklist, baby registry checklist, and old wives’ tales checklist!
- Sign up for MLN weekly pregnancy updates to stay up to date on everything going on with your pregnancy. So much good information and it’s all free!
TIPS & RESOURCES
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TIPS & RESOURCES
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