Pregnancy week by week · trimester 3
🍆 28 weeks pregnant: your baby is about the size of an aubergine
At 28 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of an aubergine, their eyes can open and close, and you are now in the third trimester.
Your baby this week
Your baby is around the size of an aubergine, roughly 37.6cm long and about 1kg. Their eyes can open and close, and blinking practice has begun. The brain is growing quickly, and your baby is laying down more fat, making their skin smoother. Lungs are still maturing, getting ready for their first breath. Your baby is likely moving a lot, and you should notice a regular pattern of movements now. They may even recognise your voice.
You this week
Welcome to the third trimester. You may feel more tired, breathless, and achy as your bump grows. Braxton Hicks may become more frequent. Backache, heartburn, swollen ankles, leg cramps and needing the loo more often can return. Some mums feel anxious about the birth, or feel ready to start nesting. Whatever you feel, you are doing brilliantly, and you do not have to have it all figured out.
Kind things to do this week
- Always go to sleep on your side from now, as it is safer for your baby.
- Start your hospital bag list, even if you do not pack it yet.
- If you have not had your whooping cough vaccine, ask about it now.
Appointments around now
At your 28 week appointment, your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine, measure your bump, and offer blood tests for anaemia. If you are rhesus negative, you will be offered anti-D. If you have risk factors, you may be offered a glucose test between 24 and 28 weeks.
Questions to ask your midwife
- Do I need iron supplements?
- When should I start packing my hospital bag?
When to call your midwife or maternity unit
If your baby's movements slow down, stop or feel different to their usual pattern, contact your maternity unit straight away, day or night. Do not wait until the next day. Please also call your midwife or maternity unit if you have bleeding, fluid leaking, a severe headache, changes to your vision, sudden swelling, or itching (especially on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet).
OBubba from bump to baby
Follow your pregnancy week by week, free.
OBubba is free through pregnancy, with a weekly update, kick counting and contraction timing. On the day your baby arrives, the same app becomes your baby tracker.
Questions
Why should I sleep on my side from 28 weeks?
Research suggests going to sleep on your side in the third trimester is safer for your baby. If you wake on your back, simply turn over.
What is anti-D?
If you are rhesus negative, an anti-D injection can help protect your baby if your blood types are different. Your midwife will explain whether you need it.
Not sure how far along you are? Use the due date calculator.
Sources
OBubba gives general information. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Your midwife and maternity unit are always the right people to ask, any time of day or night.