29 Weeks - Pregnancy

Baby

This week, your baby’s head is finally in proportion with the rest of his body. He weighs about 2 ½ pounds and is 15 inches long. Fat continues to accumulate under the skin, to get him ready for that newborn baby look. His brain is able to control primitive breathing and body temperatures, and continues to grow billions of neurons, ready to make new connections with everything he sees, feels, touches, or hears.

His eyes can move in their sockets and he is becoming increasingly sensitive to changes in light, sound, taste, and smell. He is already developing his preferences and dislikes for particular tastes and odors. He may be a picky eater before he even comes out of the womb!

He is still actively moving and is head up. In the next few weeks, most babies make the transition to the head down birthing position. Before then, you will feel like he’s doing back flips in there. This is the time when the movement starts to get entertaining, and can feel very strange as well.

Mom

As you start to progress into your third trimester, you may notice that the hormones that have ebbed some since the first trimester, are picking back up. You may become more easily fatigued than in recent months, your body may start to swell, and heartburn and constipation may make a comeback. As the hormone, progesterone, starts to increase, the smooth muscle tissue throughout your body relaxes as well, including your digestion system. This, along with your expanded uterus crowding your abdomen, causes the heartburn, gas, and constipation. As you become more constipated, you may have to start dealing with hemorrhoids as well. Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in your rectal area and are quite common in pregnancy. If they are itchy or painful, try soaking in a warm bath and apply hot or cold compresses with witch hazel to the area. Talk to your doctor before you apply any over the counter creams or gels. Prevent constipation by increasing your fiber intake with more vegetables, high-fiber cereals, and fruit.

Many women at this time elect to start a childbirth class with their partners. This is a great way to prepare yourself for labor, to bond with your partner, and to meet other parents in the same stage of their lives. Talk to your midwife or obstetrician for a list of groups and classes offered in your area. Sign up now, as classes can fill up quickly.

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PLEASE NOTE

This should be used as a general guideline and is for general information and educational purposes only. Please remember that all pregnancies develop at different rates. If you have questions about your baby's development, please contact your doctor or midwife.