You at 28 weeks pregnantThis is the start of the third trimester. Some women find they want or need to start taking things easier around now, if they can. Show
From 28-36 weeks of pregnancy, your antenatal appointments are likely to be every 2-3 weeks. Work Depending on your job and work duties, you might need a midwife or doctor’s certificate to keep working past a certain point in your pregnancy. Pregnancy health problems
If you suddenly experience any symptoms of pregnancy health problems or your symptoms feel severe or won’t go away, see your midwife or doctor as soon as possible. Feeling stressed, worried or sad If you feel very stressed, worried or sad, it can affect your health and your baby’s health. If you need it, your midwife or doctor can refer you to another health professional – for example, a counsellor – or put you in touch with support services. More than mood swings Hormone changes can affect your mood or energy levels, or there might be occasional days when you or your partner feels flat or irritable. This is normal. But emotional changes that last longer than 2 weeks and get in the way of your or your partner’s daily life could be signs of antenatal depression, antenatal anxiety or another problem. Make an appointment with your midwife or doctor to discuss changes like these. You could also call Lifeline on 131 114, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or PANDA on 1300 726 306. Your baby when you’re 28 weeks pregnantYour baby is getting bigger:
Babies born at this stage are premature but have a good chance of survival – about 75-80% – with specialised care. Your baby’s movements should be regular and strong. If you notice a change in the number or strength of your baby’s movements at any stage, call your doctor, midwife or hospital immediately. Not all experts agree on when each trimester begins and ends, but once you reach 28 weeks the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) considers you to be in the first week of your third and final trimester of pregnancy. You have just a few more months until you'll be considered full term. This time will be filled with new experiences, new symptoms, and more prenatal visits. 28 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months? 7 months Which Trimester? Third trimester How Many Weeks to Go? 12 weeks Your Baby's Development at 28 WeeksAt 28 weeks pregnant, a baby typically measures about 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) from the top of their head to the bottom of their buttocks (known as the crown-rump length), and baby's height is over 14 inches (36.1 centimeters) from the top of their head to their heel (crown-heel length). This week, the baby's weight is about 42 ounces or 2 1/2 pounds (1,189 grams). Verywell / Bailey Mariner BrainThis week, your baby is in a period of rapid brain growth. Their brain tissue is developing the ridges and furrows that give the brain its well-known grooved and folded appearance. Eye MovementsBabies begin having eye movements as early as 14 weeks, but these movements increase around 28 weeks. The higher frequency of eye movements is associated with REM sleep and healthy brain development. Umbilical CordThe umbilical cord carries blood between the placenta and your baby. It supplies your baby with nutrients and oxygen and aids the removal of their waste products. The umbilical cord was fully formed by week 12, but it has continued to grow in both diameter and length. By the time a full-term baby is born, the umbilical cord will be between 1 and 3 feet (30–100 centimeters) long and over 1/2 inch (16 millimeters) wide. Survival Outside the WombAs each week passes, a baby's chances of survival outside of the womb go up and the risks of life-long health issues go down. With specialized care, a baby born prematurely at 28 weeks has a 94% chance of surviving outside of the uterus. Explore a few of your baby's week 28 milestones in this interactive experience. Real Moms Share Their Favorite Parts About Being PregnantYour Common Symptoms This WeekAs you move from the second trimester to the third trimester, you may see an increase in new symptoms and the return of past symptoms from previous weeks. Forgetfulness, nasal congestion, and skin changes may stick around while aches and pains tend to get a little worse. Back PainYour growing uterus, stretching muscles, and the pregnancy hormones that loosen your joints to prepare for childbirth all can contribute to back pain. Research shows that low back pain occurs in about 50% of pregnancies. Back pain that radiates down your leg caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve (known as sciatica) is seen in about 1% of pregnancies. Weight GainBy 28 weeks, you may have put on about 19 pounds. The recommended guidelines for weight gain in pregnancy suggest that those with a pre-pregnancy weight in the "normal" range should gain approximately 1 to 5 pounds during the first trimester and about 1 pound per week thereafter. Every pregnancy is different. Your health care provider will continue to monitor your weight gain at each and every prenatal visit and may advise you to try to gain more or less than the average guidelines. If you have any questions or concerns about your weight, be sure to talk to your doctor. Self-Care TipsThe same healthy habits you've been keeping up to now should still be at the top of your list, but you may find that you need to make some tweaks to your routine to deal with new aches and pains. You'll also want to start setting aside some time each day to relax and bond with baby while you monitor their movements. Dealing With Back PainIn the weeks leading up to now, you may have already been dealing with pregnancy-related back pain, but for many, it tends to get worse as your pregnancy progresses. To relieve discomfort from back pain or sciatica, try:
Talk to your provider about safe pain medication for when other measures don't work. Kick CountsYou can monitor your baby at home by keeping track of the movements you feel. Spending a little time each day feeling your baby's movements can also help to relieve any anxiety you may have about your baby's health and well-being. Though your baby has been moving since their first weeks of pregnancy, health experts recommend beginning "kick counts" around 28 weeks. There are two methods of performing kick counts (i.e., counting movements). Talk to your provider about which method they recommend.
Tips for kick counts:
Over time, you will get to know your baby's typical routine and patterns of movement. If you notice that your baby is moving less than usual, call your provider. Your Week 28 Checklist
Advice for PartnersReality might be very much kicking in right about now thanks to actual baby kicks. For many non-pregnant partners, pregnancy can feel abstract until they start to see or feel their baby's movements from the outside—typically at around week 28. Your pregnant partner has likely started performing a daily kick count, and you can join in the fun, too. To increase your chances of feeling the baby move from the outside:
Be patient and keep trying. Sometimes, you just have to have your hand in the right place at the right time. You will have better chances of feeling baby as the weeks go on, and you might even be able to see the baby moving underneath your partner's skin. At Your Doctor’s OfficeThe first prenatal visit of your third trimester often occurs during week 28. This appointment will be much like those you've had up to now as your doctor or midwife will:
Belly GrowthYour provider might feel your belly to find the top of your uterus (called the fundus) and measure the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus (known as the fundal height). This measurement helps your provider estimate the size of the uterus and your baby's growth. Doctors measure fundal height in centimeters. The number often matches the number of weeks pregnant (within a centimeter or two). At 28 weeks, your fundal height will likely be about 28 centimeters. Rh FactorEarly in your pregnancy, you had a blood test to check your Rh factor, a protein found in most people’s red blood cells. If you are Rh factor negative and your baby is positive, you have Rh incompatibility. This means that your body could make antibodies against your baby's blood and cause problems for their health. If you are RH negative you will have another blood test during week 28 to check for these antibodies. Your provider will also recommend that you get a shot of Rhogam this week. This injection of Rh immunoglobulin kills any antibodies that your body already made and stops it from making more. You will get another shot of the immunoglobulin 72 hours after the baby is born to help protect any future pregnancies. Upcoming Doctor’s VisitsYour next prenatal visit will likely be in about two weeks around week 30. Most will see their doctor or midwife every two weeks from now until week 36. Beginning with week 36, you can expect to see your health care provider every week until your baby is born. In some situations, such as a high-risk pregnancy, your doctor may order additional testing. These tests can include:
Special ConsiderationsThere are several variations of normal when it comes to the location of the placenta. Your provider will have confirmed where your placenta was located in your uterus during one of your early ultrasounds. If your placenta was low-lying, or toward the bottom of your uterus, your provider will continue to monitor its location as your uterus grows. Placenta PreviaPlacenta previa is a placenta that is low in the uterus covering all or part of the cervix. Low-lying placentas detected in early pregnancy often move up in the uterus as the uterus gets bigger. If you were told you have a low-lying placenta at one of your early ultrasounds, it might have migrated up. However, some placentas stay low the entire pregnancy. If you have been experiencing vaginal bleeding, your provider will want to screen you for placenta previa. Sometimes there are no signs and the condition is only seen on ultrasound. If you are diagnosed with placenta previa, your provider might advise you to:
When the placenta covers the cervix, it is covering your baby's way out of your uterus. This means you will need to have a Cesarean section (C-section). If you have a low-lying placenta, your provider will monitor its position with ultrasounds at 32 weeks and 36 weeks. If your placenta is still covering your cervix, your provider will schedule a C-section—typically around 37 weeks before labor starts on its own. If you have significant bleeding, the surgery might be scheduled sooner to ensure the health of you and your baby. A Word From VerywellWith the start of the third trimester, you're getting closer to meeting your baby. There will also be more challenges as your baby and body continue to grow and change. Use your additional visits with your provider to ask questions and learn how to deal with new symptoms. Don't hesitate to accept help at work and at home when you need it. Is 28 weeks considered 7 months pregnant?If you're 28 weeks pregnant, you're in month 7 of your pregnancy. Only 2 months left to go! Still have questions? Here's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.
How many weeks pregnant is 7 months?What Happens at 7 Months of Pregnancy? 28 Weeks Pregnant.
Is baby fully formed at 28 weeks?By 28 weeks, your baby weighs around 1kg and is perfectly formed. The baby's heartbeat can now be heard through a stethoscope. Your partner may even be able to hear it by putting an ear to your bump, but it can be difficult to find the right place.
What weeks are 8 months pregnant?Eight months pregnant could start anywhere from 29 weeks to 32 weeks and end anywhere from 32 to 35 weeks.
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