28 Weeks Pregnant – Everything You Need To Know

You’re 28 weeks pregnant — and that means you’re officially in your third trimester.

28 weeks pregnant is how many months?

You’re officially 7 months pregnant now. 

28 Weeks Pregnant – Everything You Need To Know

You’ll probably start to see your care provider every second week now.

This will continue until your 36th week, when visits will become weekly.

If you have developed, or are at risk of developing, gestational diabetes, it’s more important than ever to stay healthy.

As a result you might need more frequent monitoring and prenatal appointments.

Because you’re getting closer to baby’s due date, it’s time to start making a checklist of those last things you need to accomplish.

Make sure you have everything you need for your baby and that all the arrangements are made for your hospital visit.

If you haven’t toured the maternity ward of your hospital, it should be happening soon.

Your doctor or hospital birth educator will book this tour.

It’s important you don’t skip your birth class; you need to know what to expect and where to go in the hospital before the big day arrives.

You definitely don’t want to be wandering around the hospital trying to find your way while you’re in active labour.

If you haven’t looked into independent childbirth classes for more in-depth pain relief strategies, and tools to help your partner support you, it’s time to do that.

You might also notice Braxton Hicks contractions getting stronger and more frequent from now on.

These practice contractions are usually mild, and they are part of the way your body prepares for birth.

28 Weeks Pregnant Belly

Aches and pains are hallmarks of the final trimester of pregnancy.

Generally these pregnancy symptoms aren’t serious, but they can be annoying.

The extra weight and strain of your growing belly and baby are usually the cause.

Shortness of breath often becomes more noticeable after 28 weeks of pregnancy.

As baby gets bigger, your lungs become more squished up, and taking a deep breath becomes especially difficult.

Try to have at least a few breaks during the day, and take the weight of your belly off your lungs.

The best position to try is to lean forward, on your hands and knees. Being weightless by lying on your front in water is also particularly useful.

28 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms

At 28 weeks pregnant your breasts might have started to leak colostrum.

This yellowish fluid will be your baby’s food during the first few days after birth, while you wait for your milk to come in.

Not all women experience leaking colostrum and it does not indicate what your milk supply will be like after birth.

If your breasts have begun to leak, try placing breast pads inside your bra. It will make you feel more comfortable and prevent wet patches appearing on your clothes.

Your sleep cycles might be more disturbed now. This will make you feel even more tired as your pregnancy progresses.

Try to avoid doing anything too stimulating during the evening.

If you do find yourself wide awake in the middle of the night, reading a book or having a cup of warm camomile tea usually helps.

Of course, it’s a good idea to continue to exercise all the way through your pregnancy.

Be sure to make adjustments for your shortness of breath and your changing shape.

Moderate walking is a great exercise choice; yoga and swimming are good too.

28 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Position

Your baby is likely to be settling into a head down position around this time. 

It’s not unusual, though, for babies to change positions during the next few weeks.

Your own posture and body position can really help your baby find the optimal position for birth. 

Read Optimal Fetal Positioning – How To Make Birth Easier to find out more about how you can help your baby get into a good position for birth. 

28 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby

Your growing baby is putting on a lot of fat now.

The skin looks less wrinkled and at 28 weeks your baby is looking a lot more like a newborn.

If your blood type is Rhesus D negative you will be offered a a medication called ‘anti-D immunoglobulin’.

This is in case your baby’s blood type is Rhesus D positive, which can cause problems for future pregnancies.

The problem is called Rhesus disease. It is quite rare now, as pregnant women are offered blood tests to screen for their blood type early in pregnancy.

The anti-D injection is offered to Rh D negative women between 28 and 34 weeks of pregnancy.

To find out more, be sure to read Rhesus Factor And Pregnancy: A Must Read If You Have Rh- Blood.

It’s a good time to consider what you’ll need to take to hospital for your baby.

It’s not too early to start packing your bag. Start with items you know you will need.

Don’t worry too much about including everything right now.

You’ll have time to add more things as you think of them.

If you need daycare after baby is born, now is the time to finalise your choices.

At 28 weeks pregnancy, your baby weighs about 1.2 kg and is about 36-40 cm long – about the size of a cabbage.