29 Weeks Pregnant | Belly, Baby Position And Symptoms

Congratulations! You’re 29 weeks pregnant and in your seventh month.

You’re also into your third trimester, and it’s all starting to feel very real. You got this, mama!

Although you still have some time up your sleeve, it’s probably dawned on you by now you’ll be giving birth soon.

29 weeks pregnant

Fear and anxiety about labor and coping with contractions are very normal.

Most pregnant women experience these feelings at some stage – even mothers who have given birth before.

Just remember, being informed about your options can help you to prepare for birth.

If you have a doula or midwife, don’t be afraid to speak up about your worries and concerns.

They can help you work through your fears and discuss your options for pain relief during labor.

There are many ways you can relieve labor pain, without needing medication.

Be sure to read 13 Natural Pain Relief Options For Labor for more information. 

Now is also a good time to discuss your maternity leave and get it booked in.

29 weeks pregnant and your body

Now that you’re 29 weeks pregnant, your baby is putting pressure on your digestive system.

As a result, you’re probably experiencing a lot of gas and other digestive difficulties.

Your growing uterus continues to put pressure on your bladder; this leaves very little room for holding urine, so frequent trips to the toilet have also begun again.

Prenatal depression at week 29 of pregnancy

Those pesky hormones that caused pregnancy symptoms earlier on are back again. You might also be surprised to notice more mood swings these days.

It’s pretty normal to feel a little bit more emotional at this time in your pregnancy.

You might be worried about the arrival of your little one, or even wondering whether you’ll cope with parenthood.

Prenatal depression affects about 10% of women during pregnancy. You are at higher risk for postnatal depression if you have had perinatal depression.

Unfortunately, depression in pregnancy is on the rise and becoming quite common due to lack of support, and birth trauma.

You must contact your doctor, ob-gyn, or another healthcare provider if you’re experiencing depression during pregnancy.

Varicose veins at week 29 of pregnancy

You might also start to see varicose veins in your legs.

Varicose veins are swollen blood vessels. Swelling occurs because of increased blood volume, hormones, and pressure on the veins in the pelvis.

They aren’t pretty to look at, but varicose veins usually disappear once the baby is born. For some women, they will cause some aching.

You might also develop swollen veins in the vulva or rectum (hemorrhoids).

Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time. Apart from that, there isn’t much you can do about them.

Sitting with your feet propped up will give some relief from the aches and pains; a special support hose can also be helpful.

Heartburn at week 29 of pregnancy

Heartburn could be especially bothersome between now and your baby’s arrival.

That’s because the same hormone that helps your muscles to relax, to allow your baby to fit through your pelvis, also relaxes the muscles of your esophagus.

This allows stomach acid and food to creep back up, causing that burning sensation.

Find out what remedies can provide relief from heartburn during pregnancy.

The burn is more likely to happen when you are lying down. Avoiding eating too close to bedtime.

If you aren’t able to get comfortable in bed, you might also be having trouble sleeping.

You’re more likely to feel tired at the end of the day, so it’s very important to make sure you get as much rest as possible.

A warm bath or a massage might help.

Also try different sleeping positions, to maximize your comfort at night.

Week 29 pregnant belly

At 29 weeks of pregnancy, your baby is starting to put on a lot of weight. It’s getting pretty crowded in your uterus.

It probably feels like your baby’s kicking is becoming stronger and more intense.

Because there’s less breathing room, you’re feeling every movement and bump.

You might notice stretch marks now, as your body accommodates your growing baby and uterus.

They will usually fade after your baby is born. You can’t do anything specific to avoid the marks.

Try to keep your skin moisturized, and avoid rapid weight gain; this will minimize the impact.

What should I be eating at 29 weeks of pregnancy?

When you’re 29 weeks pregnant, you might also be experiencing headaches – particularly if you aren’t sleeping well.

They can also be caused by low blood sugar, so be sure to eat on a regular basis.

Now that baby is getting so big, you’ll probably feel much better if you eat several small meals throughout the day.

This can also help relieve problems with your digestion and keep your blood sugar stable.

Don’t forget to keep up your water intake.

Avoid orange juice. The acidity will not help if you are nauseous and you have recurrent urinary infections.

Caffeine is okay, but try to minimize your intake.

There’s more advice here: 5 Yummy, Healthy Foods Every Pregnant Woman Needs To Eat | BellyBelly

29 weeks of pregnancy and iron supplementation

If you are feeling tired and lightheaded, as well as short of breath, it’s a good idea to have your iron level checked to make sure it’s not too low.

It is normal for levels of iron in the blood to be on the low side during pregnancy. This is because your blood volume has increased by about 50%.

Check with your doctor or health care provider on the best iron supplement to take, as they are not all equal.

Iron deficiency

A check for iron deficiency anemia should be considered. This condition must be treated, as it has been linked to an increased risk of preterm labor and low birth weight in babies.

29 weeks pregnant ultrasound

Generally, you would not have an ultrasound at 29 weeks unless there was a suspected concern about your baby.

Do some research, and speak to your trusted care provider to assess whether or not you really need to have the scan.

It is not advised to have ultrasounds unless completely necessary.

The ultrasound waves used to produce the image expose the baby to energy in the form of heat. Under some circumstances, heat can lead to fetus defects.

Unfortunately, many unnecessary scans are done without informed consent. They can lead to an intervention that is not required – especially if, as a result of the scan, you are told you have a ‘big baby’.

Can I squish my baby when sleeping on my side in pregnancy?

You can sleep on either side — preferably on the left, if possible. This is an ideal position for you and your baby.

Lying on the left allows for maximum flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta. This means less stress on the vena cava (a major blood vessel leading to the heart). It also enhances kidney function, which means better elimination of waste products and less swelling in your feet, ankles, and hands.

If you have trouble sleeping, try a pregnancy pillow that might ease your discomfort and help you into that comfortable sleeping position that is sometimes difficult to find.

How often should your baby move at 29 weeks?

Most women can feel their baby’s movements from around 20 weeks.

All babies have an individual pattern of movement that they develop.

It is different for all fetuses. Some move more in the evening, others in the morning. Some kick all the time and others not so much. This pattern should not change.

The important thing is, if your pattern changes or you feel reduced movements, you need to contact your doctor for an assessment.

There is some outdated information out there. For example, you might hear that if you have a cold drink, the baby will move, or that your baby’s activity slows down in the third trimester.

This information is not correct.

Babies do sleep, however, and will not be moving as much at this stage; some babies have extended periods of sleep.

It’s difficult to know whether your baby is sleeping for a long time, or whether there is a problem, so always check it out if you’re not sure.

There’s more information below, under ‘Counting baby kicks’.

How do I know whether my baby is okay in the womb?

You should be having regular antenatal appointments.

At these appointments, your care provider should discuss your baby’s activity and listen to your baby’s heart rate.

You should have had an ultrasound to check your baby’s growth and development.

If you are healthy and have a healthy pregnancy, there should be no reason to expect that your little person is not happy in the womb.

As long as you have had no bleeding or any other unusual symptoms, all should be well.

If you are concerned at any time, contact your doctor or midwife for an assessment.

29 weeks pregnant and your baby

Your baby’s development is progressing rapidly. All organs are formed and he’s starting to gain a lot of fat.

Your baby’s weight is now about 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds) and he is about 37-42 cm (14-16 inches) long – roughly the size of a butternut squash or large zucchini.

He still has a long way to go. Between now and your newborn’s arrival, he will double or even triple his current weight.

The fat he is putting on now is white fat – quite different from the brown fat your baby was developing early on in pregnancy.

Brown fat is for temperature regulation; white fat is actually an energy source.

This extra energy is responsible for your baby being much more active.

At 29 weeks pregnant, your baby’s permanent (adult) teeth are already forming.

His head is also gaining in size, to accommodate his rapidly growing brain.

This week your baby might even begin to smile – especially during sleep periods.

Once your newborn has arrived, you will often see these adorable grins during sleep.

This type of early smile is thought to be a reflex rather than an action triggered by emotion.

In fact, babies lose this reflex quite early. Premature babies will smile more often than full term babies.

Counting baby kicks

Now is a good time to start counting baby’s kicks, to make sure everything’s on track.

You can count kicks twice each day – once in the morning and once at night.

Your baby should be moving every day. You’re the one who’s growing the baby, so you can feel everything that’s happening all the time.

But get your partner in on the action, too!

Anything your partner can feel helps make it more real, and allows your partner to feel more connected to your baby and the pregnancy.

When you decide to start counting, look for ten movements (not just kicks) within one hour.

Read more in our article Baby Kicking – 9 Facts You Need To Know.