WHAT’S GOING ON WITH BABY?
Your Baby at 29 Weeks Pregnant
Baby’s growth and size
Baby is measuring right around 15.5 inches long this week, the length of a bowling pin. With just over 10 weeks to go, your baby is weighing in between 2.5 – 3 pounds this week.
What’s new developmentally?
Baby’s lungs are still working hard to produce surfactant, the substance that helps keep the lungs open. By 35 weeks, your baby should be producing enough surfactant on their own to allow them to breathe air at birth.
From now until baby is considered full term, he or she will be packing on the pounds. In addition to adding fat, baby’s skin will keep getting thicker and will start to lose the transparent look.
The additional fat will also help the skin become less wrinkled.
Fun facts about your week 29 baby
- The fine hair (lanugo) covering baby’s body will now start to fall out
- Baby will double or triple their size between now and your due date
- Baby’s bones are getting harder and stronger as their calcium intake increases
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH MAMA?
Week 29 of Pregnancy
Week 29 pregnancy symptoms
- Leaking breasts
- Round ligament pain
- Sciatica
- Varicose veins
- Stretch marks and itchy belly
- Anemia
- 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 29 weeks pregnant?
You might start noticing that your balance is off a little bit. It can take a little while to get used to your growing bump.
Speaking of your growing bump, are you finding yourself a little bit out of breath these days? As your uterus expands, it can put pressure on your lungs, making it harder for you to catch your breath. The added weight you are carrying during pregnancy is more work on your body and might also be contributing to you feeling breathless.
Rest when you have the chance. I know this is easier said than done but try and throw your feet up whenever the opportunity presents itself. If you have noticed varicose veins or mild swelling in your feet and ankles, it’s probably worth the time and money to invest in a couple good pairs of compression socks. Motif Medical actually makes some specifically for pregnant women (and some pretty cute colors and patterns at that), so check make sure to check them out.
Another place you might notice varicose veins pop up is your labia. Increased blood volume, added pressure, and fluid retention can all contribute to vaginal swelling and varicose veins in your vulva and labia.
Tips to helping keep the swelling at bay include staying hydrated, perineal ice packs or padsicles, and compression garments (they actually make some specifically for vulvar varicosities).
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
More Week 29 Info
29 weeks pregnant ultrasound
There are a few things you should notify your OB provider about if they happen. I know I mentioned that mild swelling of your feet and ankles is normal in pregnancy, but there are times that swelling can be a cause for concern.
One thing you might be at risk for at 29 weeks, and really any point during pregnancy, is preeclampsia. If your swelling is severe or if it is accompanied by a headache that won’t go away, vision changes, sudden weight gain, stomach, shoulder, or lower back pain, sudden nausea, or shortness of breath or chest pain, it could be something more serious going on and you need to be evaluated.
Other symptoms not to ignore include a decrease or change in fetal movement, any kind of vaginal bleeding, if you think your water might have broken, or an intuition that something might be off.
The last thing we want you to do is sit around your house and worry when you can easily be evaluated and have a peace of mind.
29 weeks pregnant how many days left
At 29 weeks pregnant, you are in your 7th month of pregnancy. If you go to your due date, that means you have 11 weeks or roughly 44 days left in your pregnancy. Makes it not seem quite so long when you look at it like that, right?
29 weeks pregnant ultrasound
While it’s not common to have an ultrasound done at 29 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.
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOUR BUMP?
29 Weeks Pregnant Belly
TIPS & RESOURCES FOR WEEK 29
Tips for 29 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!
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