Week 29 of your pregnancy is finally here, and you’re now 27 weeks from conception. So, let’s learn all about 3D ultrasounds, weight gain (yours and baby’s,) and pregnancy symptoms in week 29!
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
By week 29, your baby weighs about 2 1/2 pounds. And she’s getting taller, too! She now measures about 15 1/4 inches from crown to heel. Now that your baby has developed all of her major organs, the focus shifts to gaining weight rapidly through the third trimester. Your little one will start gaining quickly from here! During these last 2 1/2 months of your pregnancy, half of the baby’s birth weight will be added. So be sure that you’re eating a nutritious diet and supplementing with a prenatal vitamin to give her everything she needs to help complete her growth (3).
The top of your uterus now rests around 3 1/2 to 4 inches above your belly button. When your doctor or midwife measures the fundal height, it now measures a distance of about 11 1/2 inches from your pubic symphysis. By this week, you’ve probably gained somewhere between 19 and 25 pounds (2). Don’t panic if you’re not in that range — definitely don’t try to diet or cram excess calories all at once — but do check in with your healthcare provider about how to make the healthiest choices for the rest of your pregnancy.
3-Dimensional (3D) ultrasounds create images of your baby that look more like a photograph. While the procedure is similar to a normal 2D ultrasound, the main difference is that computer software turns the picture into a 3D image.
When medically necessary, 3D ultrasounds can be a valuable diagnostic tool. A 3D image can help assess babies with facial problems, hand and foot problems, spinal problems, and neural tube defects (2). Additionally, 3D ultrasounds can measure the volume of amniotic fluid and help your doctor observe subtle differences in cleft-lip and cleft-palate problems (2).
However, some non-medical facilities, like shopping malls and baby boutiques, also offer keepsake 3D ultrasounds. While there are no known risks of ultrasounds during pregnancy, they should be used cautiously and only when necessary. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists discourages the non-medical use of ultrasound for entertainment, keepsakes, or finding out baby’s gender (3,5).
Constipation is a common discomfort during pregnancy. There are a variety of reasons why pregnancy brings a higher-than-average chance of experiencing constipation. These reasons include:
Fortunately, there are effective self-care measures to help combat the constipation blues. For example:
Starting at around week 28 or 29, your doctor or midwife might encourage you to track your baby’s movement. This is known as fetal kick counting. Most babies have several active, wakeful periods in the day. Also, you’ll find that there are times when they’re normally asleep. Your goal is to record your baby’s movements each day at roughly the same time when he’s normally active.
One way to record this is the count-to-ten method. First, find a comfortable position. Then time how long it takes your baby to move ten times. (Ask your provider for specific instructions.) Over time, you’ll develop a good sense of how active your little one is. Then, if your baby becomes noticeably less active, you’ll know to reach out to your doctor to assess baby’s well-being (4).
What happens if you have been doing kick counts for long enough to know what baby’s usual pattern is, and baby seems to be moving less than you’re used to? First, don’t panic. It may be that baby is just sleeping at a time of day when they’re often awake. Eat or drink something — the boost from the food or drink will likely wake baby and get him or her moving. Then lie down and do your kick counts again. If you are still concerned about your little one’s movement, call your doctor or midwife. They’ll either advise you to observe for a while longer or they’ll have you come on in to take a peek at baby and make sure that everything looks okay.
Visit us again soon to learn all about the changes you and baby are experiencing in week 30 of your pregnancy!
Kopa Birth’s online birthing classes allow you to prepare for natural childbirth in the comfort of your own home, 24/7. Enroll today in our free online childbirth class to learn more about preparing for natural childbirth.
References:
Week 29 of your pregnancy is finally here, and you’re now 27 weeks from conception. So, let’s learn all about 3D ultrasounds, weight gain (yours and baby’s,) and pregnancy symptoms
