Pregnancy week by week · trimester 3
🎃 29 weeks pregnant: your baby is about the size of a butternut squash
At 29 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a butternut squash, muscles are getting stronger and stretches may feel more definite.
Your baby this week
Your baby is around 38.6cm from head to heel and about 1.15kg, roughly the size of a butternut squash. Their muscles and lungs are maturing, and their head is growing to make room for a busy, developing brain. Fat is building under the skin, which will help them stay warm once they are in your arms. Kicks and stretches are getting stronger, and you may see your bump shift as they turn. Your baby is also getting a little better at managing their own temperature.
You this week
Tiredness often returns in the third trimester, along with backache, heartburn and constipation. Some mums notice varicose veins, haemorrhoids, or a little leaking from their breasts as the body starts making colostrum, the first milk. Getting comfortable at night can take some shuffling, and trips to the loo may wake you. If it all feels a lot some days, that is understandable. Rest when you can and let the people around you share the load.
Kind things to do this week
- Raise your legs when you sit to ease swollen feet and varicose veins.
- Pop breast pads in your bra if you notice any leaking.
- Ask about antenatal sessions on feeding and caring for a newborn.
Appointments around now
No routine appointment this week. If this is your first pregnancy, your next one is usually at 31 weeks; otherwise at 34 weeks.
Questions to ask your midwife
- What are the early signs that labour might be starting?
- How can I get ready for feeding, whichever way I choose?
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). If you have regular tightenings or period-like pains before 37 weeks, call your maternity unit too.
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 are my breasts leaking at 29 weeks pregnant?
Your body may be starting to make colostrum, the rich first milk. It is normal, and so is not leaking at all. Breast pads can help.
Why am I so tired again at 29 weeks?
Carrying a growing baby, disturbed sleep and changes in your blood can all bring tiredness back. If you feel exhausted or breathless, mention it to your midwife, as they may check for anaemia.
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.