28 Weeks Pregnant – What’s it like?

Welcome to the third trimester of your pregnancy! You are gaining weight quickly now - the fetus will grow the most rapidly during this stage, gaining up to 0.06 lbs (28 g) per day. Your belly will change in shape as the belly drops due to the fetus turning in a downward position ready for birth. During the second trimester, your belly would have felt tight and higher, whereas in this trimester it will drop down quite low, and you can lift your belly up and down. Your baby will start to nap regularly for 20- to 30-minutes, finding her own routine.

28 Weeks Pregnant - Your baby's growth

Body size

In the 28^th week, your baby measures about 14.5 inches (370 millimeters) and weighs about 2.8 pounds (1.3 kg). Your baby is still surrounded by amniotic fluid but this will decrease as your baby gains weight.

Head characteristics

Your baby may be able to open her eyes in utero and blink. Once your baby is born, his or her eyes will be closed most of the day. Her vision will be quite blurry at first as she learns how to focus on objects close up and far away. It will take about a year for her vision to develop fully.

Body appearance

Your baby continues to gain weight and additional layers of fat are added constantly. From this to the 35^th week of your pregnancy, your baby will gain about 0.42 lbs (196 g) per week.

Internal organs

During this week your baby may practice breathing movements by expanding and contracting her diaphragm. These movements can make him or her hiccup, which feel like sudden tickles in your uterus.

28 Weeks Pregnant - What happens inside your body?

Do you remember your mood swings in the early weeks of pregnancy? Like the Terminator, they’re back! More seriously, your progesterone levels are higher than ever now, and will continue to rise until birth. And while morning sickness is no longer a problem, your weight gain – about 19 pounds (9 kilograms) now may be causing problems of its own – back pain, leg and foot cramps, and edema. You may find it difficult to find a good sleeping position, and wake in the middle of the night with cramps. If it starts to feel like a lot to handle, take a deep breath and try to find a way to treat yourself, like with a warm bath or a prenatal massage.

Urinary incontinence

Find yourself peeing a little every time you laugh? Don’t worry – you are not alone. Your uterus is pressing on the bladder, stretching its muscles, and causing incontinence that will likely get worse as the pregnancy progresses. Practicing your Kegels as often as possible (at least twice per day) will help, as will emptying your bladder every time you need to go.

28 Weeks Pregnant - How different will you look?

You’re gaining weight quickly now, and your belly is becoming rounder. Your uterus is starting to move down, and is around three inches above your navel. As the progesterone and other pregnancy hormones kick in, relaxing your ligaments and muscles, your belly will start to feel looser and you may be able to move your belly up and down. Try not to wear high heels from now until the baby is born; they won’t help your swollen ankles and feet. Worse, your rapid weight gain is constantly shifting your center of balance, and it may make you feel clumsy and more likely to fall.

28 weeks pregnant; tips for fathers – taking her to the obstetrician

In the third trimester of the pregnancy, your partner will have to visit the obstetrician twice per month. While the dynamics of you and your partner’s relationship is unique, try to make time to go to these visits, especially if she has requested you are there. There are some important milestones coming up – the first time their toenails become visible (32 weeks) or the first time your baby detects light (33 weeks). Enjoying these events together is a great way for you to bond with mother and child.

28 Weeks Pregnant for mothers - Tips to help you go through trimester

• Easing foot pain. Rapid weight gain, edema, more blood flow – it’s no wonder your feet feel sore. As the little one uses up your calcium reserves, you may find the cramps worsen. Too much phosphorus can also be a cause, a mineral found in soft drinks, fast foods and processed meat. You can reduce muscle cramps by cutting out the sodas and junk food, taking calcium or magnesium supplements, continuing to take your pregnancy vitamins (which should contain extra calcium) and by eating foods high in calcium, such as dairy products, canned salmon, sardines or mackerel, greens, spinach, kale and broccoli. If the cramps are keeping you up at night or are too intense to handle, talk to your doctor.
• The Rh factor test. Your doctor may recommend an Rh factor test. The Rh factor is a type of protein on the surface of red blood cells. Most people who have the Rh factor are Rh-positive. The difficulty is if the mother is negative and the baby is Rh positive. In this case, if a small amount of the baby's blood mixes with your blood, which can easily happen, your body may respond as if it were allergic to the baby. Your body will make antigens which could harm the baby and the pregnancy. There are drugs (an injection or Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg), to prevent sensitization of an Rh-negative mother so it’s good to find out whether you might need them. The Rh factor test does not carry any risks and is usually done in the 28^th week.

The 28^th week is a big week of the pregnancy – the beginning of the third trimester and a time of rapid weight gain and your belly moving down. You’ve still got three months to prep, a time for your baby to gain weight and strength, and you to emotionally prepare. You’re likely going to gain an average of 10 lbs. during the final trimester, so it might be time to invest in a nice pair of stretchy pants or leggings.

What's Happened So Far:
27 Weeks Pregnant

What's Happening Next:
29 Weeks Pregnant

Related Content:
7 Months Pregnant
Monthly Guide To Pregnancy