7 Months Pregnant and 63 Percent How Big Is My Baby

It's the official beginning of the tertiary trimester — congratulations!

You may not always feel similar jubilant if you're dealing with common week 28 symptoms like dorsum pain and sciatica. Hopefully, though, you're yet fairly comfortable now that you're in month 7 of pregnancy.

Baby is getting more skilled by the 24-hour interval and can now glimmer and even dream. And that'south only the beginning ...

Your Baby at Calendar week 28

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Information technology's week 28 and from here on out there volition first to be pocket-sized differences in the rate of growth depending on your whether your baby-to-be is a boy or daughter — a bouncing blue bruiser is likely to grow bigger and heavier than a princess playing on team pink. Genetics and other factors as well weigh on how fast a baby grows and how big she volition ultimately be on arrival.

So while on average, a 28-weeker is around ii and a half pounds and almost 16 inches tall, your trivial i may currently be longer, shorter, heavier, or less tubby. Every bit long she continues to get good reports at those prenatal checkups, yous tin rest bodacious your baby'due south on the right track and in the right range for growth.

Your infinitesimal miracle has added some other trick to her repertoire…hiccupping. If you haven't still, you'll non merely be able to feel hiccups on the inside, as piffling rhythmic twitches — you'll be seeing them on the outside, besides, making your belly shake similar a bowl of jelly. These tiny spasms are thought to be acquired by the sudden, irregular wrinkle of the immature diaphragm, which is still trying to fix for life exterior the womb by practicing the ins and outs of breathing.

Some babies hiccup several times a 24-hour interval every day, others not and so much — but yous're bound to experience those ambrosial twitches every so often — and an ultrasound might pick that little breast heaving from the hiccups, too. Entertaining for you lot, and happily, non uncomfortable for babe.

Another activity that can be picked upwards: REM or rapid center movement. Those tiny flutters of baby'due south optics suggests that she's is dreaming abroad, since REM is considered the "dream" phase of sleep — only there'due south no fashion of knowing what'south on your fiddling one'southward mind — or what, if anything, she might be dreaming of. What nosotros do know is that sleep cycles are coming at more regular times… meaning that your sweet sleepyhead is developing a more regular pattern of sleeping and wakefulness.

Problem is, your on-the-go movements lull her to sleep during the day, keeping her awake and raring to go but when you lot're settling downward for the nighttime. Yet, in that location'due south nothing more satisfying than feeling your amazing miracle summersault and stretch inside of yous. Plus, as they say, baby's keeping yous upwards with those antics now is good grooming for afterward she'southward born…and when every nighttime'southward a night to howl.

Want more satisfaction? Though the bun in your oven is far from existence fully baked, her chances of survival exterior the womb are at least 90 percent at this point.

At a Glance

Your lilliputian dreamer

Your baby begins to experience REM (rapid heart movement) slumber, which ways it's very likely your little ane is dreaming!

Baby tin glimmer

So far, your baby's eyes have been shut tight. Now, your little sweetie can open and close those cute eyes, complete with brand new fluttering eyelashes.

Making faces

Fetuses frequently stick out their tongues at this age. No one is sure exactly why, but it'due south possible that your baby is tasting your amniotic fluid.

28 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If yous're 28 weeks pregnant, you're in calendar month 7 of your pregnancy. Merely 2 months left to go! Still take questions? Hither's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are cleaved downwardly in pregnancy.

How large is my infant at 28 weeks?

Your little piece of work-in-progress now weighs about 2¼ pounds and is almost 15 inches long when measured head to toe.

Baby'due south getting into position

Your babe is settling into the proper position for birth, which will exist head-downwardly toward your trunk's nearest exit!

Baby is busy these days blinking — outside in the real earth, blinking is necessary to help go on foreign objects out of the eyes. That skill is but one of an already impressive repertoire of tricks she's working on, like coughing, more intense sucking, hiccupping and, perhaps most of import, better breathing.

Babe might be dreaming

Dreaming almost your baby at 28 weeks pregnant? Your baby may be dreaming about yous too. Brain wave activity measured in a developing fetus shows different sleep cycles, including the rapid middle motility phase — the stage when dreaming occurs.

Your Body at Week 28

baby size at 28 weeks pregnant

Sciatica (tingling leg hurting)

This is it — at 28 weeks pregnant, you're 2-thirds of the way to the end line as you enter the third trimester. And what a difference a trimester makes!

Gone, nearly likely, are the days when y'all could telephone call pregnancy "comfortable" — that is, if you ever did. Now, your baby's kicking (or lack of) is keeping yous up at dark and worried during the twenty-four hour period, your feet may be swollen, you're getting tired all once again and your backache is a pain that merely won't quit.

And even though she hasn't started crying yet, it may seem like your baby's getting on your nerves already — literally. As she gets settled into position for nativity, your lilliputian ane's head and your growing uterus may residual on the sciatic nerve in the lower role of your spine.

If that happens, you lot may feel sharp, shooting pain, tingling or numbness that starts in your buttocks and radiates downwardly the dorsum of your legs — otherwise known equally sciatica. The pain of sciatica can be quite intense at times, and though it may laissez passer if your babe shifts positions, it tin can likewise linger until you've delivered.

A heating pad, a warm tub, stretches or just some cocky-imposed bed residual can help with the discomfort. So can some complementary and alternative therapies.

Feeling sensitive (skin)?

Sensitive pare tin can surface during pregnancy — even in someone who'south never had sensitive skin before. Some parts of the torso may react because they're dry and flaky, others because of heat rash or an external irritant, similar the lotion you've been using for the past 10 years, which is suddenly driving you crazy.

Typically the most sensitive spot is the belly, as it stretches. Other potential trouble spots include your hips and thighs.

Your raging hormones make you lot more sensitive to contact with substances that might non normally affect y'all, such as sunlight, heat, detergents, chlorine and fifty-fifty certain foods. And if y'all've got eczema, you tin expect some major flare-ups — or if y'all're very lucky, a nine-month respite.

For itchy spots, a dab of calamine lotion should practise the trick. If any rash or irritation lasts longer than a couple of days, ask your practitioner about side by side steps. Avert products that are laden with tons of additives, dyes or fragrance, whatever of which tin exacerbate the problem.

Pregnancy Symptoms Calendar week 28

Bloating and gas

Faintness or dizziness

Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD)

Stuffy nose

Bleeding gums

Mask of pregnancy (melasma)

Tips for You This Week

Have the circumcision talk

Before you got pregnant, you may not take thought too much about whether or not to circumcise a baby boy if you had one. Just if you've got a son on the style, it'due south a decision you'll have to make — and information technology may be a tricky one if you don't have religious or cultural traditions guiding you.

If you're having a boy, you may want to recollect nigh this now. Get your pediatrician'southward POV too!

Find out your Rh status

Do you know if yous're Rh positive or Rh negative? If not, information technology's of import to find out.

The Rh factor is a protein found in most people'southward red claret cells. If you have it, y'all're Rh positive; if yous don't take it, you're Rh negative.

Unless you're pregnant, your status usually doesn't matter much, merely bug tin can occur if, for instance, y'all're Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive.

In the case of Rh incompatibility, your immune system may view your babe's blood cells as "foreign" substances and mobilize an army of antibodies to attack them.

If y'all are Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive, you'll need a vaccine-like injection of Rh-allowed globulin, known every bit RhoGAM, this week to preclude the development of antibodies.

Inquire about breast changes

Though finding a breast lump during pregnancy can be scary, residue bodacious it's more than than probable zippo to worry about. Having breast cancer during pregnancy is very rare, particularly if you're nether 35, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) — plus the many changes that are happening to your breasts while you're expecting can cause them to feel much more than lumpy, heavy and firm than yous're used to.

Tender lumps are common during the third trimester, only yet, they shouldn't be ignored. Ask your provider for a breast exam at your side by side checkup.

Upwards your atomic number 26

Babies absorb the bulk of their iron stores during the 3rd trimester, so nosh on iron-rich foods like chicken, beans, spinach, tofu, beefiness and enriched cereals.

Apart from Popeye, vitamin C is atomic number 26'south all-time bud since it can improve iron assimilation. And so take a glass of OJ with that iron supplement during pregnancy, a side of red pepper with those shrimp or some fresh strawberries in your oat bran cereal.

Skip fish-oil supplements

Heard that fish oil supplements are the easiest way to popular your DHA — especially if you lot're not a fatty-fish fan? While they may be a cinch to swallow, when you're pregnant, they're not always like shooting fish in a barrel to keep down.

If you don't desire to exist burping up fish oil all solar day — because let's face up it, you're burping enough equally it is — stick to a prenatal vitamin that already has DHA in it, or if that has the aforementioned effect, you lot may desire to attempt a vegetarian DHA flaxseed supplement, which usually is easier on the aftertaste. Ask your doc first before calculation any supplement to your daily regimen.

Choosing a childbirth class

Now is a good time to research childbirth classes. You tin choose a class at the hospital or with a local instructor, merely sign upward early so you tin can finish several weeks before your due date. Ask whether your form includes lessons on infant care, CPR and breastfeeding (it should).

Have special requirements? There are classes for second-timers who need to brush up on their techniques, classes for moms who are attempting a vaginal nascence after cesarean (VBAC) and classes designed for those expecting multiples. Many places also now offer virtual classes.

Whichever course y'all cull, make sure your instructor is certified by a national childbirth pedagogy organization. And hither's a bonus: Your insurance visitor may cover your tuition, and so be sure to submit your bill.

Schedule a hospital bout

The start of the 3rd trimester (month 7) is a good time to schedule a tour of the hospital or birthing middle where you'll be having your baby. If you've signed up for childbirth classes and they're at the aforementioned place where you'll welcome your new arrival, check whether a tour will exist included (it normally is).

You lot tin also ask your practitioner virtually how and when to set i up. Information technology'due south a good style to go the lay of the state, and it helps to visualize where the magic volition happen!

From the What to Expect editorial squad and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Look When You lot're Expecting. What to Await follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only apparent sources, such equally peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Larn how we proceed our content accurate and up-to-engagement past reading our medical review and editorial policy.

What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.

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WhatToExpect.com, How to Relieve Breast Hurting and Tenderness During Pregnancy, April 2021.

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