Your guide to being 28 weeks pregnant

Your guide to being 28 weeks pregnant:

Feeling huge? Tell us about your pregnancy niggles at 28 weeks?

It’s a big week in the life of your little baby – her eyes, which have been fused shut until about now, open and she begins to blink. The irises don’t have any pigment yet, they’re a slate grey, but her pupils will react to different levels of light by contracting and dilating. And she may respond to a bright light from outside by giving a little kick. Your baby already looks a lot like she will appear at birth. She’s still quite wrinkly though, because of being surrounded by the amniotic fluid.

Her respiratory system is still very immature (were she to be born now she would still need very intensive care and lots of intervention and help with breathing), but it has developed to the point where gas exchange is possible.

What’s happening to you:

Continue to expect lots of movement from your baby this week, and don’t be surprised to feel aches and pains as your bump continually increases to accommodate your growing child.
As your baby gradually settles into the head down position for birth, her head may come to rest on the sciatic nerve in the lower part of your spine. This can cause a sharp, shooting pain or tingling and numbness in your buttocks and backs of your legs. It’s nothing to worry about but may be uncomfortable.
If you are rhesus negative, you can expect to have your first injection of anti-D immunoglobulin at your antenatal appointment this week. It’s given in your arm and prevents your body from producing antibodies against your baby if she happens to be rhesus-positive. You’ll get a second dose at 34 weeks.

Normal niggle:

Remember needing the loo the whole time in early pregnancy? Well, get ready for frequent wee stops again as pressure mounts on your bladder. There’s little you can do about it (try to look upon it as a symptom of the miracle that’s occurring inside you!), but if you’re going every half an hour, then you’d do well to cut out substances that can irritate your bladder, such as anything containing caffeine and acidic foods and drinks such as vinegar, tomato-based sauces and vinegar. Don’t be tempted to stop drinking water though: your body needs it more than ever.

When to check it out:

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more common in pregnancy because of changes in the urinary tract caused by the pressure of your growing uterus. If you notice your urine is cloudy, strong-smelling or if it burns when you wee see your GP. Untreated, UTIs can lead to kidney infections which can be dangerous for you and your baby.

‘To do’ this week:

If you haven’t already got round to doing it, now’s a good time to start your pelvic floor muscle exercises – you’ll be very glad of having done them after the birth. Trust us! Try setting yourself a regular time to do them, for example when you’re brushing your teeth or when you’re in the car at a red light.

Wow! Did you know:

Your baby’s fingernails are starting to form and her eyebrows and eyelashes are now complete!