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

Your baby is growing so much! They’re now almost 39 cm long from head to heel, and weigh about 1.2 kg, which is the weight of a small chicken!

Your baby is perfectly formed now, but has a lot of growing to do before they’re ready to greet the world. Crucially, they will spend the next several weeks laying on fat. Their organs also need to mature, to ensure they’re ready for life on the outside.

Baby’s weight gain

Your baby will more than double in weight between now and when they are born. Most babies are between 3 kg and 4 kg at full term. The fat they develop in the next few weeks will ensure they’ll be warm enough outside your womb – with lots of lovely babygrows of course.

Facial expressions

If you could see your baby right now they might be smiling, frowning, or even sticking their tongue out. Exercising these facial muscles helps them develop all the skills they’ll need in the ‘real’ world – like feeding and crying.

Hiccups

It’s not exactly clear why babies hiccup in the womb, and why some do it a lot and others hardly at all. It is normal, though, and not anything to worry about. However, as an involuntary movement, it’s important you don’t ‘count’ hiccups in the way you monitor kicks, as hiccups aren’t an indication that your baby is happy and healthy.

Kicking up a storm

Have you noticed an increase in the intensity of baby’s kicks? This is normal, as the baby grows bigger and stronger. The good news is, all this movement will be building strong muscles and helping your baby develop. The bad news is there’s absolutely nothing you can do to protect yourself from your little gymnast. Try to rest when you can, or else distract yourself with a walk. You might find the kicks don’t feel so intense if you’re keeping busy.

For many women, the third trimester is a period of increasing discomfort. Unfortunately, there’s no way around it – the baby is getting bigger, and the rest of your organs, bones, and all the rest of it just have to make room.

Getting breathless

If you’re getting breathless, it could be because your uterus is squishing your internal organs, which increases pressure on your diaphragm and prevents you from breathing as deeply as you’d like. This is common, especially later in pregnancy, and not a cause for concern. Sudden breathlessness, or breathlessness accompanied by wheezing, is more worrying and warrants medical attention.

Braxton Hicks

Those pesky practice contractions will likely increase in frequency throughout the third trimester. Remember, Braxton Hicks can be uncomfortable – some people describe them as ‘intense’ – but shouldn’t be painful. If your contractions are painful, call your maternity unit. You might need to be checked over.

Nasal congestion

Among the many weird and wonderful symptoms of pregnancy is nasal congestion – particularly at night. This is probably caused by hormones – what else?! – and can disturb your sleep and make you more likely to snore. Don’t reach for the cold medications if it’s just a stuffy nose and you otherwise feel well – they won’t help. Stay hydrated, get plenty of (gentle) exercise and try a humidifier or a warm shower before bed to help ease your symptoms.

Heartburn

Heartburn and indigestion affect some people more than others during pregnancy, but most people will experience at least some digestive discomfort. Again, it’s a combination of hormones and lack of space for those all-important gastrointestinal organs to blame. Over-the-counter heartburn medications might help, but talk to the pharmacist and make sure they know you’re pregnant before you pick one. You can also try other things like peppermint tea or eating little and often rather than one big meal to help relieve heartburn.

Breasts leaking

Your breasts are preparing to take on the incredible task of feeding your baby, which means big changes in that department! You may notice you’re leaking some fluid from your nipples now, which is colostrum – the first milk your body produces for your baby. You can use nursing pads inside your bra to stop the moisture from irritating or staining your underwear. Leaking breasts is nothing to worry about, but if you notice blood in the fluid talk to your midwife or GP.

Tips on pregnancy insomnia

It’s really common for pregnant women to lose sleep – particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. It’s hard to get comfortable when you’re being kicked from the inside, and then there’s that massively long ‘to do’ list scrolling through your head, keeping your mind awake. Try to give yourself the best possible chance of a good night’s sleep by:

How to prevent restless leg syndrome

Restless leg syndrome is a really common pregnancy complaint for which we have no real scientific explanation. Because there’s no definite cause (other than pregnancy!), there’s no clear means of prevention, though you’re advised to follow similar advice as above to help ensure a good night’s sleep.

Coping with back pain

Back pain can be debilitating and can make you feel really low. Developing coping strategies now will help see you through the remainder of your pregnancy. Pregnancy yoga and Pilates are both good for stretches that help ease back pain, while ensuring your bump is well supported both during the day and at night can help treat some of the causes of back pain.

Regular gentle exercise is really important. We all know how bad it is to spend all day sitting down, so try to get out for a walk at lunchtime and/or after work, even if it’s only a slow waddle around the block. Swimming can also help take the load off.

If you’re struggling, talk to your midwife or GP for further advice. They might be able to refer you to a physiotherapist or osteopath for further support and treatment.

What position is baby in at 29 weeks pregnant?

Your baby might have moved into a head down position by now, or it might not. Either way, they still have several weeks to flip, so it’s not worth worrying about just yet. Your midwife won’t worry about the position of the baby until you’re at least 36 weeks pregnant.

What should I avoid at 29 weeks pregnant?

It’s important to take care of yourself, so avoid taking on new, big projects at this stage that are likely to lead to more sleepless nights before you go on maternity leave. Continue to avoid alcohol and cigarettes. Even second-hand smoke can be harmful to you and the baby, so if your partner smokes now is the time to quit. In terms of food, you should still be avoiding things like liver, raw meat, unpasteurised dairy and goats milk products, while also limiting your caffeine intake.

You might have heard that raspberry leaf tea is good for pregnant women. It is said to strengthen the uterus, readying you for birth. If you’re interested in trying it, wait until after 32 weeks pregnancy and read up on the guidance. It’s recommended to start with just one cup a day.

How much weight should you gain by 29 weeks of pregnancy?

Everyone gains weight during pregnancy – some more than others. How much you ‘should’ gain will depend on your pre-pregnancy weight, if you’re carrying multiples, and other factors. If you’re concerned about your weight, talk to your midwife. You can also track your expected weight gain on our chart.

Why am I so uncomfortable at 29 weeks pregnant?

Your baby is growing so quickly now and that is bound to make you uncomfortable. If this is your first baby, your body is stretching in ways it never has before. Try not to ‘soldier on through’, but make adaptations to ease your discomfort – for example, by ditching the heels, adding pillows to support you in bed, and using a belly band if you need one to support your bump.

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.