28 weeks pregnant: Baby’s development, symptoms and top tips

At 28 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs about 1 kg and is roughly the size of a pineapple!

Doctors believe that your baby could be dreaming in the womb because by week 28 they are experiencing Rapid Eye Movement (REM). They are also opening their eyes for the first time and blinking – amazing! Of course, there’s not much to see inside the womb, but they’re practicing using their eyes and it will only be a few months before they are discovering the world through them.

Your baby will probably continue to change positions a lot for the next several weeks. Most babies get into the desired head down position by week 36.

Your baby is growing – and so are you. Lots of the discomfort you’re experiencing this week can be tied back to the way your body is adapting to accommodate the baby. This includes aching joints, back pain, itchy skin, heartburn, and the rest of it!

Nose bleeds

Nose bleeds may seem like an odd symptom, but if you’re experiencing more frequent nose bleeds you can (once again) thank the pregnancy hormones. Apply pressure to the soft part of your nose and tilt your head forward (not back) so the blood doesn’t go down your throat. Try to stay upright rather than laying down. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after you’ve applied pressure for about 10 minutes, seek medical advice.

Sciatica

If you’ve got a painful back, pain down one side of your bum, or down one leg, you could be suffering with sciatica. Sciatica is not caused by pregnancy. It’s caused by swelling or pressure from your back that impinges on your sciatic nerve. Sitting for long periods can cause sciatica, so keeping active is key. If you’re suffering, your GP might be able to refer you to a physio, who can give you exercises to help ease your symptoms.

Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD)

If you are experiencing pain in your back and pelvis, it could be down to SPD, otherwise known as Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP). This occurs when the ligaments keeping your pelvis aligned get too stretchy, creating instability in your pelvis. It’spainful, and can affect your ability to move comfortably. Try not to aggravate it by, for example, sitting down to put shoes on instead of attempting to stand on one foot. Treat it with heat or ice, and talk to your health professional about appropriate pain relief. They will also be able to determine if physiotherapy would be helpful, or what else can be done to ease the pain.

Linea negra

The dark line down the centre of your belly is called the linea negra and it commonly appears during pregnancy – another side-effect of those pregnancy hormones. This is nothing to worry about and will fade in the months after your baby is born.

If your midwife has determined you are at risk of gestational diabetes, your glucose screening should take place by week 28. If you don’t have an appointment already, make one this week. The test is very simple but takes a few hours, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time – and take something to do.You’ll start by having a fasting blood test (i.e. you have not eaten before the blood test), then drink a high-glucose drink, and then wait a few hours before having another blood test.

Gestational diabetes can cause problems for you and your baby, so if you are considered ‘at risk’, it’s important to get the test so that you can get the care you need to minimize those risks.

Though your risks are much lower in the later stages of your pregnancy, there are still things to watch out for to warn you that all is not quite right with you or your baby.

Reduced movements

The reason pregnant women are asked to monitor their baby’s movements is because movements are the baby’s only real way of communicating their wellbeing. An active baby is typically a healthy baby – though the levels of activity will, of course, vary from one baby to another, which is why it’s impossible to say how many movements you should feel in a given period. By week 28, however, you should be familiar with your baby’s patterns and what’s normal for them. An increase in movement isn’t usually anything to worry about. Reduced movements, however, could be a sign that your baby is in distress. If you’re concerned that your baby is moving less, go to your maternity unit for monitoring. You might worry about ‘wasting time’, but any midwife will tell you they would rather see you and reassure you, than not see you and miss an opportunity to help your baby.

Sudden swelling

It’s normal for your feet and hands to swell during pregnancy, particularly at the end of a long day. However, sudden or dramatic swelling could be a sign of pre-eclampsia, which requires urgent medical attention. Talk to your health professional if your swelling feels abnormal.

Severe headaches

Blinding headaches and blurred vision can also be warning signs of pre-eclampsia. If you experience these symptoms, call your midwife. They will check your blood pressure and test your urine for protein, which indicates pre-eclampsia.

Vaginal bleeding

It’s unusual to bleed this late into pregnancy. If you’re bleeding or cramping, or if you experience severe abdominal pain, call your maternity unit. They may want you to come in to check that everything’s ok.

Waters breaking

It would be highly unusual to go into labour at 28 weeks, but it does happen. If you experience any signs of labour, such as waters breaking or painful contractions (i.e. not Braxton Hicks) don’t hesitate to go to your maternity unit.

Whooping cough vaccine

Between 16 and 32 weeks pregnant, you’ll be offered the whooping cough vaccine. In fact, this vaccine protects against whooping cough, diptheria, tetanus and polio and is designed as a kind of ‘stop gap’ to protect your baby until they’re old enough to have their own vaccines at 8 weeks. Though you might have a bit of a sore arm, this is not a live vaccine and won’t give you whooping cough.

Hospital tours

Pre-COVID, hospital tours were commonly given to show you the facilities on offer and to help you familiarise yourself with the space. These days, hospitals do tend to be wary of letting people in, so the best thing you can do is phone up and find out whether or not your chosen hospital offers a tour, or if there’s a virtual tour you can look at instead. Knowing where you’ll be going, and whether there is the opportunity for a water birth, and what the ‘feel’ of the place is like can help you feel less worried about the birth, manage your expectations, and better prepare your hospital bag.

Iron intake

If you’re concerned that your iron levels are low, talk to your midwife who will be able to arrange a blood test. If you are anaemic, you may need an iron supplement, and this can disturb your digestion. Talk to your midwife about ways to alleviate these symptoms, and about foods you could add to your diet to increase iron intake, such as leafy greens and red meat.

Nutrition

By this point, you’re probably finding it uncomfortable to eat big meals because of how much room the baby’s taking up in your abdomen. Try breaking your meals up into four or five smaller meals so that you’re still getting the nutrition you need, but in a way your digestive system can cope with.

What position is baby in at 28 weeks?

Your baby may be moving into a head-down position this week, but there’s still plenty of time for them to move around, so don’t panic if they’re still definitely head up or lying transverse.

What tests are done at 28 weeks pregnant?

If you need it, the glucose screening test for gestational diabetes will usually be carried out by week 28. However, this is only offered to those who are deemed to be at risk. You will be seen by your midwife this week, who will measure your bump, take your blood pressure and test your urine to check for signs of pre-eclampsia.

Is my baby fully formed at 28 weeks?

Yes, your baby is fully formed, though their brain and lungs are still developing and they have a lot of growing left to do before they make their big entrance into the world. Growing is mostly in the form of laying on fat, and their translucent skin still needs to thicken.

How many kicks should I feel at 28 weeks?

The NHS guidance is that there is no set number of kicks that you should expect at any given time throughout your pregnancy. However, your baby should have distinct periods of activity, where you can feel them moving around. How much you feel will partly depend on where your placenta is located, but in any case you should grow familiar with what’s normal for your baby. Try not to worry too much, as it’s easy to get obsessed with baby movements. A good idea is to spend a couple of quiet periods each day ‘listening’ to your baby, either while you’re lying in bed, sitting at your desk or in your office. When you focus on your baby you’re more likely to notice their movements.

How long do babies sleep in the womb at 28 weeks

It’s hard to know how long babies are sleeping for – technology has its limits and your baby is only just starting to open their eyes!

Got questions? At the HiPPBabyClub, we bring you real-world advice and support from HiPP parents, midwives, nutritionists and more. Join our Baby Club to find out more.