Twenty-eighth week of pregnancy - what month is it? Should your baby's lower abdominal movements worry you and could it be a harbinger of preterm labor? How does the baby look at the 28th week of pregnancy and how much should the expectant mother gain weight during this period? If pregnancy is the main topic in your life at the moment, we will cover the 28th week in this text very carefully so that you know what to expect.
28 weeks pregnant: what month is it?
This question is often asked by friends, family, and even neighbors, so feel free to inform them that 28 weeks of pregnancy (27.1-28 weeks) is the beginning of the 7th month and the third trimester . If you're just entering the 28th week of pregnancy, labor is looming a bit more clearly on the horizon than it did even a week ago. With 12 weeks left until delivery, most expectant mothers start thinking more intensely about packing their layette and slowly considering which hospital they want to deliver their little one.
The twenty-eighth week of pregnancy is also a very good time to start antenatal classes or choose a place where we want to start antenatal education in the coming weeks.
Belly at 28 weeks of pregnancy, or a few words about the appearance of the future mother
In the 7th month of pregnancy, the belly becomes very visible. Back pain in the lumbar region usually starts to bother you more, pressure on the bladder forces you to go to the toilet more often, and when climbing stairs it is harder to catch your breath. The bottom of the uterus begins to rise higher and higher, putting pressure on the diaphragm and other abdominal organs.
On Internet forums, the question often appears: "How much did you gain weight in 28 weeks of pregnancy?"
Weight gain is mainly related to the growth of the fetus, the weight of the placenta and the amniotic fluid. The degree of weight gain of a pregnant woman is related to her starting weight, any comorbidities and the lifestyle she leads. It is worth taking care of a healthy diet and the right balance between rest and gentle exercises for pregnant women, which will help relieve back pain and keep the weight of the future mother in a healthy check.
Placing your baby in the 28th week of pregnancy: see what this medical term means
Many people, thinking about the position of the baby in their mother's womb, enter the phrase " 28 weeks of pregnancy, baby's position " into a search engine . However, what we're really interested in is the baby's position in the uterus, which includes the presenting part.
We meet the location:
- headstock;
- pelvic;
- transverse;
- oblique.
Positioning the baby
This, in turn, is the orientation of the fetus's various body parts relative to each other. At this stage, some babies are already positioned head-down, the optimal position for vaginal delivery. However, if your baby's 28-week ultrasound reveals a breech presentation (meaning the fetus is positioned with its buttocks toward the birth canal), don't worry! The baby can still turn, so while it's important to know the baby's position at 28 weeks, remember that both head-down and breech babies can perform quite a few acrobatics in your belly until birth.
28 weeks pregnant: baby's weight
In the 28th week of pregnancy, the baby's weight gain becomes increasingly noticeable to the expectant mother, manifesting itself through a clearly defined, pregnant belly. The little one measures approximately 36-38 centimeters and weighs approximately 1 kg – now there's a lot to carry!
Most of your baby's internal organs are formed, but at 28 weeks of pregnancy, they are still maturing. New neural connections are also rapidly forming in your baby's brain, as the little one in your belly is already recognizing voices and its eyes are reacting to light and darkness in the mother-to-be's environment.
What does a baby look like at 28 weeks of pregnancy?
The appearance of the baby in the 28th week of pregnancy really resembles newborns, which we associate with photos and videos from the delivery room. In the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy:
- baby's skin slowly smoothes and ceases to be excessively wrinkled;
- the impression of its excess disappears;
- eyelashes are visible on the eyelids (the child can blink from the 27th week of pregnancy);
- there is already hair on the head (if the baby's genes determine their growth in the womb);
- fingers are equipped with small nails;
- the abundant fluff, the so-called lanugo, the residual form of which you will see on the skin of a newborn baby right after giving birth.
Baby movements in the 28th week of pregnancy
Every expectant mother, at this time, begins to become more aware of her baby's daily rhythm . The baby sleeps most of the day, but enjoys performing acrobatics, usually when the mother wants to rest for a while – either by going to bed or eating something delicious. During this period, the baby grows rapidly, has less and less space, and stretches the mother's uterus even more.
Should your baby's lower abdominal movements at 28 weeks make you concerned?
If they're not painful, but only cause mild discomfort or a "tickling" sensation, there's absolutely nothing to worry about. However, if, at 28 weeks pregnant, your baby's movements seem excessively intense , and are accompanied by anxiety and unusual spotting (blood-stained or resembling amniotic fluid), you should definitely consult your doctor or go to the hospital.
Can there be a childbirth at the 28th week?
In physiological pregnancy, preterm labor in the 28th week of pregnancy may occur, inter alia, in after an extremely stressful event, external trauma or a serious infection. Earlier labor may also appear in the course of pregnancy, which was associated with abnormalities such as pathologies within the placenta or oligohydramnios.
Premature birth can also occur in multiple pregnancies. Every premature baby born at 28 weeks of pregnancy will require an incubator , which will replace the safety of the mother's womb until its organs are fully prepared to function independently.
What tests should the expectant mother perform at the 28th week of pregnancy?
During this period, we routinely perform a complete blood count and a general urinalysis . Women with Rh-negative blood type also undergo blood tests for anti-D antibodies . If necessary, after consultation with their doctor, expectant mothers are administered anti-D immunoglobulin between the 28th and 30th weeks of pregnancy.
Also during this period (between weeks 28 and 32 of pregnancy) , a third-trimester ultrasound is performed . The doctor carefully monitors fetal development, the condition and position of the placenta, amniotic fluid, and the condition of the cervix. The doctor also confirms the gestational age , which was determined not only based on the date of the last menstrual period, but primarily during the first-trimester ultrasound.
If, at 28 weeks' gestation, a patient is diagnosed with, for example, fetal growth restriction or poor placental health, the gestational age is re-evaluated based on previous ultrasound examinations and a third-trimester ultrasound, and additional diagnostics are recommended if necessary. It is advisable to schedule a third-trimester ultrasound and other tests at 28 weeks' gestation well in advance.
Consultation:
Ph.D. n. med. prof. IMID Tadeusz Issat - Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the Institute of Mother and Child;
Maria Krowicka-Wasyl – resident physician during specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Mother and Child.
