It's the official start of the third trimester — congratulations!

You lot may not ever feel like celebrating if y'all're dealing with common week 28 symptoms similar dorsum hurting and sciatica. Hopefully, though, y'all're all the same fairly comfortable now that you're in month 7 of pregnancy.

Babe is getting more skilled by the day and can now blink and even dream. And that'south only the commencement ...

Your Infant at Calendar week 28

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It's week 28 and from here on out at that place will get-go to be small differences in the rate of growth depending on your whether your baby-to-be is a male child or girl — a bouncing blue bruiser is probable to grow bigger and heavier than a princess playing on team pink. Genetics and other factors also weigh on how fast a babe grows and how large she will ultimately be on arrival.

So while on average, a 28-weeker is effectually two and a half pounds and almost 16 inches alpine, your little one may currently be longer, shorter, heavier, or less tubby. Every bit long she continues to get good reports at those prenatal checkups, you can rest assured your baby's on the right track and in the correct range for growth.

Your minute phenomenon has added another fox to her repertoire…hiccupping. If y'all oasis't even so, you lot'll not only be able to experience hiccups on the inside, as piffling rhythmic twitches — you'll exist seeing them on the outside, too, making your belly shake similar a bowl of jelly. These tiny spasms are idea to be caused by the sudden, irregular contraction of the young diaphragm, which is still trying to gear upwardly for life outside the womb by practicing the ins and outs of breathing.

Some babies hiccup several times a day every day, others not so much — only you lot're bound to feel those ambrosial twitches every and then oft — and an ultrasound might selection that footling breast heaving from the hiccups, also. Entertaining for you lot, and happily, not uncomfortable for baby.

Another activity that can be picked up: REM or rapid center motion. Those tiny flutters of baby's optics suggests that she's is dreaming abroad, since REM is considered the "dream" phase of sleep — simply at that place's no way of knowing what'due south on your petty one's mind — or what, if anything, she might be dreaming of. What nosotros do know is that sleep cycles are coming at more regular times… meaning that your sweet sleepyhead is developing a more regular pattern of sleeping and wakefulness.

Problem is, your on-the-go movements lull her to sleep during the 24-hour interval, keeping her awake and raring to go just when you're settling downwards for the night. Withal, there'south cypher more than satisfying than feeling your astonishing miracle summersault and stretch inside of you. Plus, as they say, infant's keeping you up with those antics now is skillful grooming for after she'south born…and when every night's a night to howl.

Want more than satisfaction? Though the bun in your oven is far from being fully baked, her chances of survival exterior the womb are at least 90 per centum at this indicate.

At a Glance

Your petty dreamer

Your baby begins to experience REM (rapid eye movement) slumber, which means it's very likely your piddling one is dreaming!

Baby can blink

So far, your baby's optics accept been shut tight. Now, your piffling sweetie can open and close those cute eyes, complete with make new fluttering eyelashes.

Making faces

Fetuses often stick out their tongues at this age. No one is certain exactly why, merely it'southward possible that your babe is tasting your amniotic fluid.

28 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you're 28 weeks pregnant, you lot're in month 7 of your pregnancy. Simply 2 months left to go! Even so have questions? Here's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are cleaved downwards in pregnancy.

How big is my infant at 28 weeks?

Your piddling work-in-progress now weighs about 2¼ pounds and is almost 15 inches long when measured head to toe.

Babe'south getting into position

Your baby is settling into the proper position for birth, which will be head-down toward your body's nearest get out!

Infant is busy these days blinking — exterior in the existent world, blinking is necessary to assistance keep foreign objects out of the eyes. That skill is just one of an already impressive repertoire of tricks she'due south working on, like cough, more intense sucking, hiccupping and, mayhap most important, better breathing.

Babe might be dreaming

Dreaming about your infant at 28 weeks meaning? Your baby may exist dreaming most you likewise. Encephalon wave activeness measured in a developing fetus shows different slumber cycles, including the rapid eye movement phase — the stage when dreaming occurs.

Your Body at Week 28

baby size at 28 weeks pregnant

Sciatica (tingling leg pain)

This is information technology — at 28 weeks significant, you're ii-thirds of the manner to the end line as you lot enter the third trimester. And what a difference a trimester makes!

Gone, virtually likely, are the days when you could call pregnancy "comfortable" — that is, if y'all e'er did. Now, your baby's kicking (or lack of) is keeping you up at nighttime and worried during the day, your feet may be bloated, you lot're getting tired all over over again and your backache is a pain that just won't quit.

And even though she hasn't started crying yet, it may seem like your baby'south getting on your nerves already — literally. Every bit she gets settled into position for nascence, your little one's head and your growing uterus may rest on the sciatic nerve in the lower part of your spine.

If that happens, you lot may feel sharp, shooting pain, tingling or numbness that starts in your buttocks and radiates down the back of your legs — otherwise known as sciatica. The hurting of sciatica can exist quite intense at times, and though it may pass if your baby shifts positions, it tin can likewise linger until you've delivered.

A heating pad, a warm tub, stretches or just some self-imposed bed rest can help with the discomfort. Then can some complementary and alternative therapies.

Feeling sensitive (skin)?

Sensitive pare can surface during pregnancy — even in someone who's never had sensitive skin before. Some parts of the torso may react because they're dry and flaky, others because of heat rash or an external irritant, like the balm you've been using for the past ten years, which is suddenly driving yous crazy.

Typically the most sensitive spot is the belly, as it stretches. Other potential trouble spots include your hips and thighs.

Your raging hormones make you more sensitive to contact with substances that might not normally touch y'all, such every bit sunlight, oestrus, detergents, chlorine and fifty-fifty certain foods. And if you've got eczema, you can expect some major flare-ups — or if you're very lucky, a 9-month respite.

For itchy spots, a dab of calamine lotion should do the play a joke on. If whatever rash or irritation lasts longer than a couple of days, ask your practitioner nigh next steps. Avoid products that are laden with tons of additives, dyes or fragrance, whatsoever of which can exacerbate the problem.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 28

Bloating and gas

Your growing uterus may be putting extra pressure on your rectum, causing you to lose some control over the muscles in your rear. Add together your sluggish digestive organisation to the equation — thank you to pregnancy hormones that relax abdominal muscles — and yous may find that you're particularly gassy. Try to swallow six small meals a day instead of three large ones so yous don't overtax your digestive system. Read More

Faintness or dizziness

If y'all thought your days of feeling light-headed were over after your outset trimester, think again. For some women, that bulging abdomen puts pressure on claret vessels, which reduces blood flow to the brain and causes dizziness. Keep blood circulating and pumping to your brain by drinking plenty of h2o each day. Read More

Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD)

This weird pregnancy symptom develops when the hormone relaxin makes the ligaments in your pelvic joint likewise relaxed and stretchy, causing the pelvic joint to get unstable. If this is causing you pain, ask your practitioner about wearing a pelvic support belt, available online, which stabilizes the ligaments and helps go along the pelvic joint in place. Read More

Stuffy nose

High levels of estrogen and progesterone increase blood menses to the mucous membranes in your nose, causing them to swell. If your stuffy nose is making it hard for yous to breathe at night — or making you snore — try wearing a nasal strip at bedtime to open up your nostrils. Read More than

Haemorrhage gums

Inflamed and irritated gums are quite common during pregnancy since ramped-up hormones may cause gums to slap-up and exit your mouth more vulnerable to leaner and plaque. When y'all castor your teeth, call up to castor your tongue too every bit to minimize the amount of bacteria in your mouth. Read More

Mask of pregnancy (melasma)

Pregnancy hormones can crusade hyperpigmentation of the skin — particularly if yous have a darker complexion to begin with. This can issue in pronounced freckles or moles, a nighttime line down the center of your tummy (linea nigra) or nighttime or brown patches on your face called melasma. Don't worry — nearly discolorations fade a few months afterwards giving nativity. Since sunlight can intensify hyperpigmentation, try to stay in the shade and put on sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more than. Read More than

Tips for You This Week

Have the circumcision talk

Before you got pregnant, y'all may non have idea also much almost whether or not to circumcise a infant boy if you had one. But if yous've got a son on the fashion, it'due south a determination you lot'll have to make — and it may be a tricky one if you don't have religious or cultural traditions guiding you.

If yous're having a boy, you may desire to think about this now. Go your pediatrician's POV too!

Find out your Rh condition

Do yous know if you're Rh positive or Rh negative? If not, information technology's important to detect out.

The Rh factor is a poly peptide found in most people's red blood cells. If you have it, you're Rh positive; if yous don't accept it, you're Rh negative.

Unless you're meaning, your status commonly doesn't matter much, but bug can occur if, for case, y'all're Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive.

In the case of Rh incompatibility, your immune system may view your infant's blood cells as "foreign" substances and mobilize an army of antibodies to set on them.

If you are Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive, you'll need a vaccine-similar injection of Rh-immune globulin, known equally RhoGAM, this week to prevent the evolution of antibodies.

Ask almost breast changes

Though finding a breast lump during pregnancy tin can be scary, balance assured it'southward more likely naught to worry about. Having chest cancer during pregnancy is very rare, especially if you lot're under 35, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) — plus the many changes that are happening to your breasts while you're expecting can crusade them to experience much more lumpy, heavy and house than yous're used to.

Tender lumps are mutual during the third trimester, but all the same, they shouldn't be ignored. Ask your provider for a chest test at your adjacent checkup.

Upwards your iron

Babies blot the majority of their iron stores during the tertiary trimester, then nosh on iron-rich foods like craven, beans, spinach, tofu, beef and enriched cereals.

Apart from Popeye, vitamin C is iron's best bud since information technology can improve fe assimilation. Then take a drinking glass of OJ with that iron supplement during pregnancy, a side of ruby pepper with those shrimp or some fresh strawberries in your oat bran cereal.

Skip fish-oil supplements

Heard that fish oil supplements are the easiest way to pop your DHA — especially if you're not a fatty-fish fan? While they may exist a cinch to eat, when you're meaning, they're not always easy to keep down.

If you don't want to be burping up fish oil all day — because let's confront information technology, you're burping enough as information technology is — stick to a prenatal vitamin that already has DHA in information technology, or if that has the aforementioned issue, you may want to try a vegetarian DHA flaxseed supplement, which ordinarily is easier on the aftertaste. Ask your doctor commencement before adding whatever supplement to your daily regimen.

Choosing a childbirth class

Now is a good time to inquiry childbirth classes. You can choose a class at the hospital or with a local instructor, but sign up early on then you can finish several weeks before your due date. Inquire whether your course includes lessons on infant intendance, CPR and breastfeeding (information technology should).

Take special requirements? In that location are classes for second-timers who need to brush up on their techniques, classes for moms who are attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and classes designed for those expecting multiples. Many places too at present offer virtual classes.

Whichever class yous choose, make sure your instructor is certified by a national childbirth education arrangement. And here's a bonus: Your insurance company may cover your tuition, and so be sure to submit your bill.

Schedule a hospital tour

The start of the third trimester (month 7) is a practiced time to schedule a tour of the infirmary or birthing eye where you'll be having your baby. If you've signed up for childbirth classes and they're at the aforementioned place where you'll welcome your new arrival, check whether a bout volition be included (information technology usually is).

You can likewise enquire your practitioner most how and when to fix one upward. It's a proficient mode to get the lay of the country, and it helps to visualize where the magic volition happen!

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Wait When Yous're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such equally peer-reviewed studies, bookish research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Larn how we keep our content accurate and upwards-to-engagement by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Finding a Breast Lump During Pregnancy, February 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How to Relieve Breast Hurting and Tenderness During Pregnancy, April 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Rh Factor Testing and Pregnancy, March 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, RhoGAM Shot for Rh Negative Moms During Pregnancy, March 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How Much Iron Do Yous Demand During Pregnancy?, May 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Why Are Prenatal Vitamins And then Important?, Apr 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Your Guide to Birthing Classes, June 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Taking a Hospital (or Birthing Center) Bout During Pregnancy, March 2021.
  • American University of Dermatology, Melasma: Overview, 2021.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Where We Stand: Circumcision, July 2014.
  • American Cancer Society, Finding Breast Cancer During Pregnancy, October 2019.
  • American Higher of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, How Your Fetus Grows in Pregnancy, August 2020.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The Rh Factor, June 2020.
  • American Higher of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery, April 2019.
  • National Institutes of Wellness, National Middle for Complementary and Integrative Health, Omega-3 Supplements: In Depth, May 2018.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, PLOS I, Eye Movement Activity in Normal Human Fetuses Between 24 and 39 Weeks of Gestation, July 2017.
  • National Institutes of Wellness, National Library of Medicine, Rh Incompatibility, June 2021.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Sciatica, Apr 2021.
  • National Institutes of Wellness, National Library of Medicine, Your Baby in the Birth Canal, June 2021.
  • U.S. Department of Health and Man Services, Role on Women's Health, Stages of Pregnancy, April 2019.
  • U.South. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women'due south Health, Birthing, Breastfeeding, and Parenting Classes, Jan 2019.

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