28 Weeks Pregnant
Hello there, pregnant mothers and fathers-to-be! Welcome to the first week of the third trimester: the last stage of this long, crazy journey! Are things going the way you expected? Are you learning new things about yourself and your amazing body along the way? Despite the issues I’ve had with insomnia, frequent urination, pregnancy veins, and pain in my lower back and buttocks (sexy, I know), I’m thankful that overall, my pregnancy has been healthy. But I am still worried about the upcoming weeks, as I do have a history of preterm labor. Two of my five children were born during week 35 and two were born during week 36. Only my oldest child, now 17, was born at what by some is considered full term, at 37 and a half weeks. Get prepared and don’t assume you have twelve weeks to go since you never know, ok? Let’s dive into the details of your 28th week of pregnancy.
28 Weeks Pregnant: Recurring Symptoms
28 Weeks Pregnant: Common Symptoms
Increased Body Temperature
Is it just me, or is it getting hot in here? With everything that’s going on within your body (such as your growing baby, swelling, and an increased heart rate), your metabolism is roaring, and your temperature has likely increased. Keep this in mind when you’re exercising so that you don’t overheat!
Sciatica
During pregnancy, many women develop a weird numb, tingling sensation from their lower back down into their legs that can grow into sharp pains. If you are feeling this, your baby might be pushing up against your sciatic nerve. This condition is called sciatica. I have a version of this as I have a contorted piriformis muscle which is pressing on the sciatic nerve, causing a lot of discomfort, pain and stiffness. I went to an orthopedist, who recommended that I stretch and use a heating pad to help relieve the pain. He also recommended a massage (that will be funny to have some person massaging my butt— have not done that yet, ha!). The pain comes and goes and is at its worst when I’m sitting down. If you have this or a form of sciatica during pregnancy, definitely make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. You will ascertain what you have and do what you can to treat it. Sciatica while pregnant can be very debilitating so get the help and advice you need.
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Stages of Fetal Development: Baby Growth & Size at 28 Weeks
At week 28, your baby weighs 2.25 pounds and is 15 inches long, about the size of an eggplant. Oh boy — if you are having a boy, your baby will begin to grow slightly bigger than a girl would at this point. But regardless of gender, your baby is beginning to make its way into the position it will take at birth: head facing downward toward your cervix. This is commonly referred to as cephalic presentation.
Continuing with the theme of weight gain, your baby’s brain will triple in weight during the third trimester! As your baby’s skin begins to grow smooth, your baby’s brain will become more and more wrinkly. Why all the wrinkles? These crevices and folds create more surface area for your baby’s brain, allowing more brain cells to grow and accumulate. What a smartie!
In the same way that you’ve been having some pretty weird dreams lately (I’m not the only one, right?), your baby may begin to have their own dreams. The fact that your baby undergoes REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is indicative that your baby may be dreaming.
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Fun Fact About Pregnancy To increase their chances of getting pregnant in the Renaissance, women were advised to bathe in cow manure and drink male urine. EWW! |
My Pregnant Belly Progression
Check out my 7 months pregnant belly!
Time to Count Those Kicks!
During the third trimester, your doctor may recommend that you use the kick count test twice a day. This test is a good and simple way to check in on your baby’s health and wellness.
I would talk to your doctor about kick counts before you begin doing it, as they may have slightly different procedures than my doctor. Contact your doctor if your kick counts take longer than two hours, as this may be the sign of something serious.
Your Pregnancy at 28 Weeks: Prenatal Appointments
The following prenatal tests are available at 28 weeks of pregnancy:
Biophysical Profile
Contraction Stress Test
A contraction stress test resembles the nonstress test and is conducted anytime after week 28 of pregnancy. This test analyzes your baby’s heart rate and movement patterns following contractions. The contractions may be induced using oxycontin or nipple stimulation. The goal is to determine if your baby can handle the “stress” of actual labor. The contraction stress test is typically done if the results from a nonstress test prove unclear. Consider that this test has a high rate of false-positives, meaning you may get an abnormal result when there is nothing wrong.
Fetal Acoustic Stimulation
Doctors employ fetal acoustic stimulation (FAS)(FAST when the word test is added), also known as vibroacoustic stimulation (VAS), in conjunction with a nonstress test to help stimulate your baby when they appear inactive. A nonstress test measures your baby’s movement and heart rate. Doctors use FAS when the baby isn’t moving by employing a device to emit sound waves and vibrations to “stimulate” the baby.
Glucose Screening
RhoGAM Injection
If you and your baby are red cell incompatible, this week you may receive a RhoGAM injection. This procedure is fairly simple and requires only a shot, which is administered to the muscles of your butt. A RhoGAM shot poses no threat to you or your baby, although you may feel a little sore from the shot for a couple days. The RhoGAM shot may need to be repeated after delivery and in other instances when there is a chance that your blood and your baby’s blood could mix.
Nonstress Test
No stress here! The nonstress test uses a fetal monitor to determine if your baby is experiencing any stress by measuring your baby’s movement and heart rate over a period of 20 to 40 minutes. During that time, you will be given a clicker device and will be asked to press that clicker every time your baby moves. This test is recommended anytime after week 28 and is used especially during high-risk pregnancies or if there is any cause for concern regarding the baby’s oxygen levels. This test does have a high false-positive rate, meaning that you may get an unusual reading when your baby is just fine.
Tdap Vaccination
Your 28 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Your 28 week pregnancy ultrasound likely will resemble your most recent ultrasound at week 24. Your doctor will continue to measure your amniotic fluid. I was curious as to the importance of the levels of amniotic fluid. My doctor told me that having too much or too little amniotic fluid can indicate some issue with either fetal development or the pregnancy itself. Super important! During your week 28 ultrasound, your doctor also will measure your baby’s activity as well as their muscles, heart rate, urine levels, and growth. I’ve put some images from my week 28 ultrasound into this week’s video so check those out. Can’t wait to meet this little creature who’s looking so cute!
Week by Week Pregnancy Food Guide
For the nitty gritty of eating healthy during pregnancy, go to Week 4 and Week 5 of this series. Take a look below and keep checking back each week to find a new healthy recipe.
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Quick, Healthy Snack Tip Roasted Chickpeas: Drain, rinse, and dry 15 ounces of chickpeas and roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes at 375 degrees. They should be golden and crunchy with no moisture. Combine 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and ⅛ teaspoon of salt in a medium bowl. Mix chickpeas with 2 teaspoons of olive oil and toss with the garlic-salt seasoning while hot. (SuperHealthyKids) Why Chickpeas? Chickpeas, also commonly referred to as garbanzo beans, are legumes that can be a replacement for meat. These legumes are protein rich and full of folate, iron, copper, and manganese. As a result, chickpeas make you feel full and help you better control your blood sugar levels, which can be vital in lowering your risk of gestational diabetes. |
How Many Months Is 28 Weeks?
Wow! At 28 weeks you are approximately 7 months pregnant!
Week 28 Pregnancy Checklist
- Celebrate making it to the last trimester of your pregnancy!
- Hoist that iron (exercise) and eat it, too
- Confirm or schedule your week 30 prenatal appointment
- Buy some nursing bras if you’re considering breastfeeding
- Check in on your partner and do something together
- Have your doctor determine your and your baby’s Rh status
Resources
- What to Expect & What to Expect When You’re Expecting – 5th Edition (2016)
- The Bump
- Baby List
- Parents.com
- Healthline.com
- WebMD
- The Mama Natural Week to Week Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth (2017)
- Mayo Clinic’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy – Second Edition (2018)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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