28 Weeks Pregnant

Although you're definitely looking pregnant by now, you're not quite at that stage of feeling so big you're getting clumsy. You can still get around somewhat comfortably and not feel as if all you want to do is to lie down. Although by the end of the day your ankles and feet may be getting a bit swollen, by the next morning they should be back to their normal size.

This may be the time you need to branch out into some actual maternity clothes. Going for larger sizes with stretchy waistbands may have worked until now, but by 28 weeks you’ll probably need some clothes which are designed with a pregnant belly in mind.

Can someone please open a window?

If you're one of the unlucky ones who experience nausea throughout their pregnancy, you may find some relief in your third trimester. By now, you've experimented with different foods to see what you can tolerate and what's unbearable, but even cooking smells and just the thought of some foods may still turn you off. Some pregnant women develop a complication with extreme nausea and vomiting, called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Hospitalization and rehydration with intravenous fluids may be necessary in women who are simply unable to keep any fluids down. Fortunately, this is not a common condition and medical treatment is effective. Women who have experienced this level of unrelenting nausea say that there is almost instantaneous relief of their symptoms at the moment of their baby's birth.

You need a comfy chair!

Think about investing in a comfortable chair if you don’t have one. You will be spending an increasing amount of time sitting before you have the baby and after the baby is born. Feeding face. A chair which isn’t too hard to get up and a newborn consumes hours of every day, so does cuddling, gazing, and staring at their little out of is essential. Look for one with well-positioned arm rests, good lumbar support and which doesn’t push into the back of your knees. A footstool is an added bonus, and you’ll find this increasingly useful as your pregnancy proceeds.

A baby growth spurt

Baby is growing up a storm in your 28th week. Putting on weight and filling out beautifully. All those extra calories he needs to fuel his growth will start at your mouth with the foods you’re eating. There's been an enormous amount of research in the field of prenatal, maternal influences on children long term. One of the most influential factors within your control is your diet and the quality of the foods you eat while you’re pregnant. It has also been proven that stopping cigarette smoking and illicit drugs, not drinking alcohol, and generally living in a safe, clean community are other primary factors in determining a positive outcome for children as well. What this means is how you look after yourself when you’re pregnant will affect your baby in a major way, as he grows into adulthood.

Your physical changes this week

Stretch marks could be appearing on your belly now. If you've avoided them until now, don’t be alarmed. There’s nothing you can do to stop them forming. Although they start out red and very visible, within a year or less they’ll fade and not be as noticeable. Squatting and bending down is getting harder. You’ll discover the easier way of doing things in a hurry. Picking things up with your toes takes some getting used to but it can be done. Lots of pregnant women invest in a set of extendable calipers - look in a toy shop for some. If you have a desk job, organize your workstation to suit you. Your computer chair may need to be adjusted a couple of times a day. Your breasts could start producing colostrum, an early form of breastmilk. This is a clear to yellowish colored thick fluid, which is very high in antibodies. It is a sign that your breasts are starting early lactation, getting ready to produce milk for your baby after baby is born. If you breastfed a baby previously, you may find you produce colostrum a little earlier.

Your emotional changes this week

Feeling pregnant, looking pregnant, thinking pregnant can make your whole life seem to revolve around the coming baby. Some women long for their old identity at this stage of their pregnancy. Unfortunately, things are likely to get worse before they improve. You won’t always be seen in terms of your relationship with the baby, it's just that it's become so obvious now. People may be fascinated by your belly and reach out to touch it. At best, they’ll ask before they do, or next thing you know a complete stranger may be wanting to touch your belly. How you feel about this may depend on your mood or the day, or you may understandably find it too intrusive. Work could be getting to you by now. Many women stay in paid employment until they are close to their due date but may wish they had applied for maternity leave a little earlier. Check with your Human Resource Management department regarding options in taking earlier leave if that is an option. Really think about the financial cost vs. the emotional and physical cost to you of working all the way until the very end of pregnancy if you’re able to have options concerning the matter.

Your baby's changes this week

Baby continues to take practice breaths this week, breathing amniotic fluid in and out of his lungs and swallowing it as well. Baby can also suck, blink, roll, kick, grasp, and hiccup. More REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep in week 28, which is important for your baby's brain. Studies have shown that newborns spend a large portion of their time in REM sleep as well, so your little one is practicing in advance. Your baby's brain is changing from being soft and smoothly rounded to having the familiar grooves and indentations on its surface. This week your baby's hair may be going through a growing phase. Some babies are born bald or with fine, almost invisible hair on their head. Others are born with a thatch of hair. There does seem to be some evidence to support the link between maternal heartburn and the quantity of hair a baby will have. Blame those pregnancy hormones again, it seems they are responsible for sharing a link between the two.

Hints for the week

If you find yourself rushing to the bathroom every five minutes, just sit tight. Chances are this is because the baby is lying in a particularly prominent position on top of your bladder. Try lying on your side to see if this prompts baby to move into another position. Watch that indigestion and heartburn. Antacids may have replaced jelly beans as your favorite candy and you've got packets of them stashed in every bag and drawer. Things will improve as your body stops making such high concentrations of relaxin and progesterone. Speaking of relaxin, your levels of this important hormone will be ten times higher during your pregnancy than what they are normally. Ease that back pain by doing strengthening exercises. Check with a physical therapist about how you can target the muscles and joints which are causing you grief. Make plans for a getaway if you’re able to do so. Now is the time to think about organizing some time away before the baby is born. Having a break between leaving work and your due date can be incredibly restorative and help remind you of the important things in life. If you've got older children, this will be an opportunity for you to spend some quality, one on one time with them before they need to share your attention with their new sibling. Week 29 is next!