28 Weeks Pregnant: The 28th Week of Pregnancy
Congratulations! You are one week closer to meeting your bundle of joy. Here are some topics to think about during the 28th week of pregnancy. Get the Fetal Life App for Apple and Android endorsed by the American Pregnancy Association.
What changes are occurring with your body?
Each week your uterus continues to grow. The top of your uterus can now be felt well above your belly button, about 3 ½ inches (8.9 cm) or more. Your weight gain is most likely between 17 and 24 pounds (7.7 to 10.8 kg). Discuss weight concerns with your healthcare provider at your next appointment. As you have entered the third trimester, you may notice that your pregnancy symptoms are changing once again. Many women will begin experiencing leg cramps, constipation, insomnia, and hemorrhoids at this point.
How big is your baby during the 28th week of pregnancy?
Your baby is about 14 ¼ inches (36 cm) long and weighs in at 2 ½ pounds (1.13 kg). This still seems very small, but remember that during the last several weeks of pregnancy your baby will gain a significant amount of weight.
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby’s brain is beginning to develop into a more complex organ. Up until this point, your baby’s brain has appeared relatively smooth, but beginning this week the brain will develop grooves along its surface. The amount of brain tissue also begins to increase during the 28th week. Hair growth also continues. Eyebrows and eyelashes are visible, while the hair on your baby’s head grows even longer. Your baby is also starting to look a little rounder as fat storage under the skin continues to develop. This is an important part of development that will continue through the remainder of your pregnancy.
What should you plan for when you are 28 weeks pregnant?
At your next prenatal appointment you should be prepared for the following:
- Administration of Rhogam if you have the Rh Factor: If the Rh antibody was not found in your blood, you will be given Rhogam at 28 weeks and possibly after delivery.
- Discussion of the fetal movement chart
- Instructions on how to calculate kick counts.
- Childbirth class options
- Breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding discussion.
Most likely, you will begin visiting your health care provider every 2 weeks until you reach 36 weeks. After 36, weeks your appointments will be scheduled on a weekly basis.
Tips for making your pregnancy better
You may feel like the delivery of your baby is still weeks away, but you do need to begin making plans for the trip to the hospital. This can be especially helpful if your little one decides to arrive early. Make sure you have your partner’s phone number(s) with you at all times so you can reach him when you go into labor. Also, it is always good to have a plan B in case he is unavailable. Additionally, you will want to map out the various routes to your birthing location. Some men find this part of planning exciting as they get to be creative and find the shortest and quickest route possible.
Tips for mom’s partner
Be involved in making these decisions and plans, particularly as the delivery of your child approaches. Discuss your fears of her not being able to reach you and ways that this can be avoided. Maybe there needs to be a specific text message to signal that she is going into labor. Talk with other parents who have dealt with these issues to see what worked for them.
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