PREGNANCY WEEK 28 ~ HEALTH and FITNESS

28 WEEKS PREGNANT

Welcome to the third trimester! Moms-to-be who are 28 weeks pregnant and beyond are known for their lack of sleep. If you find yourself up in the middle of the night, do something relaxing. This is not the time to vacuum the house from top to bottom—even though you might feel the urge to do that at some point. (It’s called nesting. You’ve probably heard of it.) Instead, read a book, drink chamomile tea, or listen to soothing music. Then get back to bed and try to get some rest!

How Big Is Baby at 28 Weeks Pregnant?

At 28 weeks, baby is the size of an eggplant. Putting on layers of fat, your baby now measures about 14.8 inches from head to toe and weighs in around 2.2 pounds.

28 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?

When you hit the 28-week mark, you are six months pregnant. This week, you’re embarking on both your seventh month and your third trimester. Can you believe you’ve made it this far?!

28 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

As your body gets more and more crowded by your growing 28-week fetus and starts prepping for his or her arrival, you might be noticing some new pregnancy symptoms. These are common at this stage of the game:

Trouble sleeping. As you get closer to your due date, you'll likely have more and more trouble getting Zzzs (which stinks, because you’re beat!). It could be hormones or nerves—or both!—causing your inability to snooze.
Shortness of breath. Baby continues to crowd your lungs and diaphragm, making it tougher to catch your breath. Give yourself permission not to push too hard and to take breaks.
Aches and pains. The third trimester can be really uncomfortable due to hormone fluctuations and the toll pregnancy is taking on your body. (We’re especially talking to you mamas who are 28 weeks pregnant with twins!) To deal, do yoga, stretch, swim, walk, and/or get a prenatal massage. Try wearing a maternity support belt if you’re on your feet a lot. Not sexy, we know, but it can relieve some of the pressure that’s making you so achy.
Braxton Hicks contractions. These practice contractions might be getting stronger, more noticeable, or more frequent as your body gets ready for labor. Keep an eye out and be sure that the contractions are only occasional. If they’re regular and continue getting closer together, and don’t stop when you switch positions, you could be in preterm labor and should call the OB ASAP!
Leaky boobs. Your breasts may already be producing baby's first food, a yellowish substance called colostrum. And surprise! Some of it might actually come out before baby does!

28 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

Your OB will probably measure your 28 weeks pregnant belly at your prenatal appointment. This week, fundal height—the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus—should be about 26 to 30 centimeters. Knowing you’re measuring within that normal range is reassurance that baby’s growth is on track and that baby’s in the right position, since a breech or sideways position could affect the measurement. For women who are 28 weeks pregnant with twins on the other hand, fundal height usually isn’t measured. That’s because it’s harder for doctors to estimate an “average” for twin pregnancies.

Doctors recommend you start doing kick counts at 28 weeks. You’ll be keeping tabs on how often baby’s moving and whether his or her movements are consistent from day to day. Here’s how you do it: Pick a time of day and set a timer. See how long it takes to get to 10 fetal movements—it should be less than two hours. The next day at the same approximate time, do the same thing. Record the times each day, and you’ll start to find an average range for your baby. It’s great reassurance that he or she’s doing well in there. If anything seems inconsistent, let your doctor know.

28 WEEKS PREGNANT ULTRASOUND

Inside your 28 weeks pregnant belly, baby's starting to develop more fat, so his or her once-wrinkly skin is starting to get smoother. In pretty amazing news, baby's practicing breathing. Your 28-week fetus’ lungs are mature enough that if he or she were to be born now, he or she would probably survive. Wow!

Baby will keep getting bigger—and smarter—after week 28 of pregnancy, and then baby will just need a few more finishing touches before he or she is ready to meet you.

Now that you’re 28 weeks pregnant, you’ll start seeing your OB twice per month (or every two weeks). If your pregnancy has been uncomplicated, don’t expect to get a 28-week ultrasound at this appointment. Even though you’d probably love to get a peek inside that 28 weeks pregnant belly, it’s simply not necessary to have more than a couple ultrasounds throughout your pregnancy—unless the doctor has a reason to monitor you extra carefully. Try to be patient! Soon your baby will be here and you’ll get to gaze at him or her as much as you want.