At 28 weeks you have reached the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and depending on how you are feeling, you may think that the weeks are flying by, or they may seem endless.
You might be planning to have a baby shower in the next few weeks, or even a gender reveal party! If these types of parties are not for you, don’t worry, there are plenty of other preparations to keep you busy and excited for your baby’s impending arrival:
24 weeks of pregnancy - Your baby is 29cms long and the size of a large aubergine. Your baby is growing fast and their main weight gain is due to their developing bones and muscles as well as starting to lay down fat for protection.
25 weeks - Your baby weighs almost 700 grams and your uterus is now the size of a football. Your baby’s hearing is developing well and they can hear your voice and music quite well. They may even react or be startled by loud noises. If you haven’t started already, look into pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your muscles.
26 weeks - Your baby is now 35.5cms long from head to toe. You may find that your “baby brain” is in full swing, so make a note of any questions you have before you forget. Baby brain is caused by high hormone levels and is thought to be the start of the process of mothers starting to focus on their babies.
27 weeks - Your baby is about 37cms long and can distinguish between night and day, they may even be starting to open their eyes. Planning time for you is important as minor ailments such as backache, pelvic girdle pain and heartburn could become more evident as your pregnancy progresses. Try using a wheat pack or a hot water bottle to ease aches and pains or take a long soak in the bath
28 weeks - Your baby now weighs 1.1 kilograms and you are entering the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Start to consider what you would like to do during your labour and birth and make a start on a birth plan. Your body and hormones will work together best if you are comfortable with your chosen birth environment. If you feel as though you would benefit from seeing your intended labour ward or birth centre, give them a ring and ask if you are able to come and look around so you can familiarise yourself with the environment.
To do list for the beginning of the 3rd trimester:
- Start to write your birth plan, you can change it or add to it as you go along. You can write your specific wishes for labour and birth on it and this will enable your midwife to tailor their care to your needs.
- Think about starting to pack your hospital bag or ‘birth’ bag. It will basically be a collection of essential items that you and your baby will need for the first day or two after the birth. Don’t forget to include things that will be helpful and comforting, such as your own pillow or a cooling spray, such as Spritz for Bits, which will help soothe and calm the area, providing instant relief from post-delivery discomfort.
- You may want to start planning your nursery and the items you want to buy now, whilst listing what can wait until after your baby is born.
- You may find that your normal wardrobe of clothes have become tighter and more uncomfortable. Think about buying a select few items of maternity clothing to go with your existing clothes that are still comfortable. Try to choose clothes that you might still wear once your baby is born or that will be easy to use for breastfeeding and skin to skin contact with your baby.
- Call your labour ward or birth centre for a tour to familiarise yourself with the surroundings.
- If you are having a homebirth, start to think about where and what you would like to have in your birth space, such as which water pool you want, the type of lighting and perhaps some birth affirmations to help you to focus.
Stay tuned for our next week-by-week instalment – 28-32 weeks pregnant – coming soon.
If you missed what happens from 0-4 weeks, 4-8 weeks of pregnancy, 8-12 weeks pregnant, 12-16 weeks, 16-20 weeks pregnant and 24-28 weeks take a look at our previous blogs on getting pregnant and the developments of your baby.
