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Pregnancy Week 28

Pregnancy Week 28

Your Baby's Development This Week

Baby is now between 15 and 15 1/2 inches long and between 2 and 3 pounds.

Hair is becoming more noticeable, with lashes and brows getting longer as well as the hair on the head, although it is very much an individual trait now. Some babies will be born with full thick, long hair while others will have just a trace of fine hair.

Muscle tone is sharper, more controlled and the overall appearance of the baby is plumper and more filled out now.

At this point the baby is capable of breathing.

This is the peak time of activity with the baby, as the muscles are strong and there is still enough room to really kick and stretch still.

In the final weeks of the pregnancy, the baby will still be active but the uterus so crowded that the movements are somewhat limited.

Baby's sleeping pattern now includes REM (rapid eye movement) stages, meaning dream states.

Pregnancy Symptoms You May Feel During Week 28

Uterus is so large now that the complaints associated with it are growing as well, such as heartburn, back pain, varicose veins, and fatigue. Good news is, the uterus will begin shrinking back to normal size right after delivery.

Visit With the Obstetrician

This is an important time to begin doing kick counts and keeping track of them. To help with this, keep in mind that babies are most active after you eat, have a cold drink, or have been physically active. Try to find a good position to feel the movements easily, such as sitting holding your belly, or lying on your left side, which allows for good circulation also. You want to feel at least ten movements within a two hour time period, and often it'll take much less than that to count to ten. Keep a record of when you were timing, how long it took to get to ten and what activity you were engaged in if applicable. What you want to get from the count chart is a reliable pattern. Then you can detect deviations from your baby's normal activity level.

Preparing for Baby

While you may have been thinking about this earlier in your pregnancy, now is definitely the time to decide on breast and/or bottle. Read up on the pros and cons, the honest experiences and opinions of those you trust, and talking to health professionals. Yes, breast is best, but if there are certain issues that you have to overcome to do it, and you attempt it out of guilt you might be setting yourself up for extra stress. Some women go into it planning on a limited time to nurse, but discover it's easier than they expected and continue nursing longer. Others won't hear of using bottles, but life forces it upon them due to unexpected circumstances. It's best to be informed about both in case you need to change your plans. Find out what type of equipment you need for your choice, and what is recommended.

Pregnancy Lifestyle

At this point in your pregnancy, you might be feeling less like exercising as the uterus takes up so much more space and seemingly takes over your life too! Talk to your doctor about your fitness regime and what accommodations you might need to make at this point. You need to be honest about how you are feeling, any symptoms you are experiencing and don’t exaggerate or embellish. You want to be as active as you safely can, but safe is the key word.

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