You are now in your 29th week and closing in on your big day, mum! As for week 29 of pregnancy, expect to really feel your baby move around as he grows rapidly in your belly. Read on to know what more to expect in your third trimester here.
29 Weeks Pregnant is How Many Months?
You’re 29 weeks pregnant, which means you already hit your third trimester and you’re on your seventh month. This is exciting news!
Pregnancy Week 29: Baby
Week 29 is an exciting time for any expecting mother.
The baby’s lungs are fully formed, and it can breathe on its own! Your baby’s heart is pumping blood through his or her body and lungs, and their tiny hands and feet are starting to look more like the hands and feet of adults.
The bones are hardening as well as lengthening, so your little one is starting to fill out its skeleton—which means it’s getting stronger! The brain continues to grow, as does your baby’s entire body.
Baby’s Growth
At week 29 of pregnancy, your baby grows at an astonishing rate—about 1 cm in length daily!
Your baby is now the size of a papaya, weighing 1.25 kg and measuring 26 cm. They have more fat under their skin and look plumper now than in the previous weeks.
That may not sound like much, but when you look at it in terms of percentages—your baby’s body will increase by more than 50 per cent over the next three weeks.
In addition to all that growth, your baby is also starting to develop the ability to move around. The brain and spinal cord are developing at an incredible pace, so your baby might be able to wiggle around a little bit soon!
Your baby’s bones continue to harden and grow stronger as they prepare for birth.
Suppose you have had regular prenatal checkups throughout your pregnancy. In that case, you should see your doctor at least once this week for an ultrasound evaluation of your baby’s growth and development.
Baby’s Development
In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, you’ll learn that:
- Your baby’s head is growing to accommodate their brain, which is also growing rapidly.
- If you are having a boy, his testicles are moving from their location near his kidneys down through his groin. If you are having a girl, her clitoris is fairly prominent, as her still-small labia don’t cover it yet.
- Their baby muscles and lungs continue to mature.
- Their hearing has improved greatly.
- Your baby starts to create more blood for its use.
- You may not see it yet, but your little one may begin to smile this week, especially when asleep.
- If you feel those tiny flicks in your tummy, your baby must have hiccups. Don’t worry as they are not uncomfortable in any way for you and your baby.
Baby’s Hearing
At 29 weeks, your baby can hear sound. You might be surprised at the range of things your little one can hear and understand! But don’t worry—you don’t need to talk like you’re in a library when your baby is around. In fact, it might be better if you’re not talking so loud all the time.
Your baby can hear inside the womb and outside of it, but what they hear isn’t as loud or clear as it will be once they’re out in the world. This means that what they hear now will be more like a muffled sound than anything else.
The sounds your baby hears are full of meaning because they’re learning language—they’re listening to people speak and learning how words sound. This will help them communicate with others later on in life.
Baby’s Teeth
Your baby’s teeth are forming in their jaw, but they’re still covered by a thin layer of tissue called enamel. This layer is so delicate that it can’t even handle being exposed to amniotic fluid, so your baby’s teeth will stay encased in their gums until they’re ready to come out.
The first tooth to emerge is usually the lower front tooth (also known as the canine), followed by other front teeth and the molars.
Baby’s Movement
You can expect to feel your baby move more frequently now. You’ll probably notice that your little one prefers certain movements. For example, some babies love being stroked from head to toe, while others prefer rubbing gently on their sides or bellies.
Your baby’s movements may feel stronger as they get bigger, but it’s important to note that every baby is different. Some mums say their babies move much more in utero, and others don’t feel much.
Talk to your doctor or midwife if you’re worried about your baby’s movements and think something might be wrong. They can reassure you that most babies move regularly, and you don’t need to worry!
Pregnancy Week 29: Your Body
Your body is preparing for this big change too. Your uterus is getting ready for birth by thickening the cervix. You may have noticed that your cervix feels softer than it did before or thicker than usual. This comes from the pregnancy hormones causing changes in your cervix’s tissues, making it easier for labour to begin when it’s time.
The breasts are growing bigger as milk production ramps up. They can become tender and sore as the glands that make milk fill with fluid, but this shouldn’t last too long—just until after birth!
You may notice that you have more gas than usual—this is because there’s extra room for gas in your intestines now that there isn’t room for food anymore! You might also find that you’re extremely tired throughout the day (especially if you’ve been working or exercising), because your body uses energy stores instead of food for energy production.
29 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms
Here are some more symptoms you might be feeling at week 29 of pregnancy:
- Your baby’s kicks and punches may be so hard that they may take your breath away, and even cause severe pain and unintentional loss of urine.
- As your baby uses most of the nutrients, you may feel like you need to eat again after a meal. But fight this temptation and trust that your baby is receiving all the nutrients he needs.
- As your hormones fluctuate, you will experience skin rashes, dryness, and intense itching. Refrain from scratching your skin, and keep it moisturised.
- You may experience mood swings and may feel fatigued due to the amount of weight you are gaining.
Maternal Weight Gain
With 29 weeks of pregnancy now under your belt, you may be thinking about how much weight you’ve gained.
Most women will gain around 6 to 8 pounds during this time, with some gaining as much as 12 pounds. It’s important to remember that this weight gain is healthy and will keep you and your baby healthy as well.
If you’re worried about gaining too much weight, talk with your healthcare provider about how much is right for you—they’ll help guide you in the right direction!
Nutrition
Nutrition is important during pregnancy for two reasons: 1) you want your baby to develop as healthily as possible, and 2) you want a healthy pregnancy yourself. You can take supplements before you get pregnant, but it’s especially important to start taking folic acid and iron once you know you’re expecting.
You should also make sure that you’re eating foods with plenty of vitamins C and D. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron—which is already hard enough for some women during pregnancy—and vitamin D helps protect against rickets in babies (which happens if there isn’t enough calcium).
You should also consider taking a prenatal vitamin if you’re not eating well or aren’t sure how much of each vitamin and mineral your diet contains—it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
The good news is that you’ve got time to work on your diet before your baby arrives. But even if you haven’t been super strict with what you’re eating, now is a good time to start making changes—and not just because it will make it easier for you to lose weight after giving birth!
Suppose you learn how to eat right during pregnancy. In that case, it could help prevent complications during labour and delivery, reduce your risk of gestational diabetes (or type 2 diabetes later in life), and even increase your chances of having an easy labour experience.
Image Source: Shutterstock
Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist For Week 29 of Pregnancy
Two months to go before the baby comes out! You may be on the receiving end of your baby’s kicks and jabs, but that’s a small price to pay when you know that baby is developing properly. Here are some reminders as you go on with your pregnancy journey:
- Your iron levels may dip now at week 29 of pregnancy. So take an average of 30 mg daily from prenatal vitamins or dietary sources.
- Lie on your side (usually, your left side is best) to make yourself and your baby comfortable and improve blood circulation.
- Start researching which birthing class you want to take; best to book it to ensure your slot.
- Planning on some postnatal massage? It’s best to start hunting for the best packages and book services. You want to ensure you are pampered when your baby is out.
- In some cases, varicose veins may begin to form on your legs. Use compression stockings and elevate your feet to minimize this.
- Ensure you eat plenty of iron-rich food, which helps you make red blood cells.
- If you’re a working mum, plan your maternity leave.
Your next week: 30 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 28 weeks pregnant
Updates from Pheona Ilagan
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