Pregnancy Week 29
What to expect when you’re 29 weeks pregnant
Baby development at 29 weeks pregnant
At 29 weeks pregnant, you are getting ready to meet your baby. They will almost double in size over the next two and a half months.
Your baby now measures around 15 inches long and is now the size of a butternut squash!
During the 29th week of pregnancy, the majority of your baby’s organs (except the lungs) are fully formed. As they get bigger, you’ll start to notice those kicks and flips getting stronger.
Week 29 pregnant belly
By this time in your third trimester, you have gained the majority of your pregnancy weight. You are really feeling your baby move around. Right now, it’s vital for you to make sure your diet is full of calcium, iron and other nutrient-rich foods. The added calcium helps build baby’s teeth and bones, while iron helps transport blood throughout the body.
Common pregnancy symptoms at 29 weeks
You are roughly seven months pregnant during your 29th week of pregnancy. Frequent bathroom trips and sleepless nights are now normal. As you continue to feel your baby’s kicks, make sure you’re counting them. Try timing them to see how long it takes to reach 10 kicks.
- Varicose veins: All that pressure on your circulatory system causes new veins to pop up. Deep purple and occasionally elevated veins are normal in pregnancy. Keep moving and stay hydrated to prevent varicose veins.
- Pregnancy brain: Although “pregnancy brain” doesn’t have any science to back it up, it’s a common pregnancy symptom. Forgetfulness during pregnancy is thought to be caused by the increase in hormones.
- Itchy belly: Your skin may become more sensitive later in your pregnancy as it stretches and becomes thinner.
- Constipation: Along with an increase in progesterone, your body releases the hormone relaxin, which helps further relax the muscles in your body and contributes to constipation in some women during pregnancy. Drink plenty of fluids and eat fiber-rich fruits and vegetables to find relief. At this point in your pregnancy, you may also want to talk to your doctor about stool softeners and other methods of relief.
- Pain in pelvic region: As your body prepares for labor, joints and ligaments loosen and cause your body to become more flexible, especially in the pelvic region. This increased flexibility can cause some increased aches and pains.
- Braxton Hicks: While these labor simulations are totally normal, don’t hesitate to call your doctor if you have any concerns they may be the real thing.
Pregnancy checklist at 29 weeks pregnant
Next week, you’ll be heading back to the doctor for your next prenatal check up. Around this time, your health care provider may offer you the Tdap vaccine to help protect your baby after birth. Tdap protects against whooping cough, which can be fatal to newborns.
Reminders for
Week 29
- Get added iron. As your baby continues to grow in the womb, they need more iron. The extra iron comes directly from you, which leaves you with low levels of iron. Eat foods that are high in iron and check with your doctor to ensure you haven’t developed anemia.
- Shop for birth announcements. Many families send birth announcements to their friends and family. If you plan to send these, now is the time to decide whether you will go with a digital or paper card and have professional photos taken.
- Count those kicks. Your doctor may ask you to count the kicks you feel from your baby around this time. Keeping track of kicks and noting any changes in movements can help identify any potential problems early.
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Week 28 | Week 30
