Fetal development in pregnancy week 28:
This week your baby weighs about 2 ½ pounds and measures around 15 inches long. During the last four weeks the weight of your baby has nearly doubled. The baby is moving around a lot these days, but soon this will slow down as the baby starts to run out of room inside your uterus.
The smooth brain tissue continues to develop folds and wrinkles as it increases in mass. Brain functions include breathing and maintaining body temperature. Lanugo hair is starting to disappear over the body, but eyebrows, eyelashes and the hair on their head is growing. Bone marrow has taken over the production of red blood cells from the liver at this point. Muscle tone is improving and the baby’s body is filling out with warming body fat.
The third trimester is filled is aches and pains and general discomfort for many women. Some of the complaints you might suffer from include heartburn, varicose veins, hemorrhoids and indigestion. Knowing that you are closely approaching the birth of your baby can help you make it through these trying last few weeks.
Your health practitioner may order blood work at twenty-eight weeks and if you haven’t had a blood glucose screening done yet this may be done. Blood glucose screening helps determine if you have gestational diabetes.
Maternal Changes
In one more week you will have reached your third trimester! During pregnancy week 28 some women will receive a RhoGAM injection if they tested Rh-negative at the start of their pregnancy. This will prevent your body from becoming sensitized to your baby’s blood should it mix with yours during pregnancy. Fortunately one injection is all it takes to provide ample protection through delivery.
Most babies have less than 3 percent body fat by the time they reach the 28th week of pregnancy. Despite this you have probably gained up to 24 pounds already. Some women will have gained more and some women will have gained less. Remember that the weight you gain during pregnancy helps provide protection and comfort as well as nourishes your baby throughout your pregnancy.
You may find a massage very helpful around 28 weeks pregnant. A massage can help alleviate some of the lower back pain and leg cramps you may be experiencing due to your increasing girth. Other women start experiencing some mild swelling or itching around this time which surprisingly massage can also help.
Right about 28 weeks pregnant most women start seeing their doctors more frequently. You will probably start scheduling appointments once every two weeks until you are about 36 weeks along. Thereafter you will start seeing your doctor weekly until delivery. Your doctor will keep a close eye on you to monitor you for signs of labor during this time.
If you haven’t had a baby shower yet now is the time to start planning. You may find several people offer to throw you a baby shower. You can always suggest that they get together to plan a single event. Many women delight in spoiling themselves a bit during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Why not, you deserve it!
Before you get too big and bulky you might start considering stocking up on some nursery supplies. Be sure you are armed with a steady supply of diapers, wipes and onesies before delivery. While you don’t actually have to set up your nursery, you will need to change and clothe your baby before delivery! Some women prefer to set up their nursery after their bundle of joy arrives. This can work to your benefit. When friends and family members ask what they can do to help after delivery you can suggest they get down to the nitty gritty and help decorate the baby’s nursery.
Dad
Maternity Clothes
Expectant mothers deserve to look beautiful AND feel comfortable while sleeping. That is why all moms-to-be should invest in at least a little sleepwear that makes them feel elegant and pampered while pregnant.
Maternity sleepwear at Destination Maternity comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can find silky pieces, flannel wear and even cotton varieties to meet your personal preferences and needs. Keep in mind that you should look for sleepwear with fabric that not only supports but moves with you. Many women prefer silky sleepwear that helps them glide across the sheets when attempting to shift positions in the latter stages of pregnancy. Remember, if you want to catch your zzz’s you simply can’t live without a good set of maternity sleepwear!
Pregnancy Health Tips
There are literally thousands of women who are diagnosed with asthma every year. Asthma during pregnancy can be life threatening it compromises the health and safety of the mom-to-be. If you can’t breathe, then neither can your baby!
Many women are afraid of taking their asthma medications during pregnancy. However, the risks of not taking any medication for asthma during pregnancy far outweigh any potential risks to the baby.
It is important that you keep your breathing under control during pregnancy. Oxygen deficiencies in the mother can affect the baby in several ways. When asthma is controlled however during pregnancy, a woman will go on to have a normal and uncomplicated pregnancy. When asthma isn’t controlled in pregnancy, it may lead to: premature birth, low birth weight babies, and blood pressure changes.
Some women will find that their asthma actually improves during pregnancy. In fact, roughly 1/3 of women notice an improvement in their asthma symptoms, while an equal number may notice it gets worse. Most medications used to control asthma are perfectly safe during pregnancy.
There are several things that pregnant women can do to control their asthma aside from taking their medications. Among these include:
- Avoiding common allergy triggers.
- Avoiding any other triggers.
- Getting an appropriate amount of sleep.
- Seeking out regular prenatal care.
- Exercise lightly under the supervision of a qualified physician.
- Avoiding smoke or being around people that smoke.
The influenza vaccine is safe in pregnancy. An influenza vaccine is actually recommended for patients whose asthma is triggered by viral infections.
If you have asthma, your healthcare provider will work with you during your pregnancy to ensure that you receive the best care possible given your situation. Pregnant women will be monitored using several different methods including office spirometry and assessment of peak expiratory flow rate. The goal of your prenatal care will include maintaining a normal or close to normal pulmonary function rate.
Your baby will also be closely monitored throughout your pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will use ultrasound and electronic fetal heart rate monitoring as the key instruments for assessing your baby’s health and well being.
If a woman does experience an asthma attack during pregnancy, early intervention is vital to her health and well being and that of her baby. Pregnant women must seek medical treatment immediately if their medication isn’t resulting in improvement or if the episode is severe. In some instances an attack may result in a decreased amount of fetal movement that should be checked out immediately.
With proper care, most women will go on to deliver without any complications. During labor and delivery, you and the baby will be carefully monitored. Pregnant women with asthma will have peak flow rate measurements taken when they are admitted to labor and delivery and every 12 hours thereafter. Use of pain medications is recommended during delivery to help limit the chances of an asthma attack during delivery.
Twin Tips
Many practitioners ask that you stop working and get at least 6 hours of rest a day, even if you don’t have a high stress or physically demanding job.