28 Weeks Pregnant: Third Trimester, Baby's Movements & Anti-D

28 Weeks Pregnant: Third Trimester, Baby's Movements & Anti-D

Welcome to the third trimester. At 28 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of an eggplant, weighs around 1 kg and is even dreaming. From now on, two things matter most: getting to know your baby's movements and going to sleep on your side.

Baby's size
About the size of an eggplant (around 38cm head to heel, 1kg)
Milestone
The third trimester begins
Common symptoms
Vivid dreams, heartburn, aches and pains
This week
Know your baby's movements and sleep on your side

What's happening this week

Your baby is fully formed and now spends the coming weeks growing, maturing and getting ready for birth.

Sleep and dreams

REM sleep

Your baby has regular sleep and wake cycles and experiences REM sleep, the stage when dreaming happens. They may be busiest when you're trying to rest.

Brain

Rapid growth

Your baby's brain grows fast in the third trimester. Deep grooves form on its surface, giving it more room for the billions of nerve cells developing.

Practising

Getting ready

Your baby blinks, sucks, hiccups and practises breathing movements. Over the coming weeks, most babies turn head down, ready for birth.

Know your baby's movements

Your baby's movements are one of the best signs that they're well. Every baby has their own pattern, so take time each day to notice what's normal for yours. There's no set number of kicks to count. What matters is any change from your baby's usual pattern.

Do

  • Get to know your baby's normal pattern of movements
  • Keep feeling for movements right up until labour
  • Contact your hospital straight away if movements slow down, stop or change, day or night
  • Trust your instincts, even if you've been checked before

Don't

  • Wait until the next day to see if things improve
  • Use a home doppler or app to check your baby's heartbeat
  • Believe that babies move less near the end of pregnancy. They don't
  • Worry that you're wasting anyone's time

Go to sleep on your side

From 28 weeks, research shows that going to sleep on your side, either left or right, lowers the risk of stillbirth compared with sleeping on your back. This applies to naps as well as night-time sleep. It's normal to change position in your sleep, so if you wake up on your back, simply roll onto your side. A pillow behind your back or a pregnancy pillow can help you stay comfortable. Here's more on sleeping comfortably in pregnancy.

Your third trimester check-ups

Your antenatal appointments now become more frequent, often every two to three weeks, then weekly from around 36 weeks.

Regular checks
Your blood pressure, sometimes a urine test, your baby's heartbeat and your fundal height, which at 28 weeks is usually around 26 to 30 cm. Your baby's position will be checked as your due date gets closer.
Blood tests
You may have blood tests around now to check for anaemia, and your glucose tolerance test if you haven't had it yet.
Anti-D, if you're Rh negative
If your blood group is RhD negative, you'll usually be offered an anti-D injection at around 28 weeks and again at 34 weeks. It stops your body making antibodies that could affect a future baby.You'll also be offered anti-D after any bleeding or knock to your tummy
Vaccines
Ask about the RSV vaccine, recommended between 28 and 36 weeks, and your whooping cough vaccine if you haven't had it yet.

Symptoms at 28 weeks pregnant

  • Vivid dreams. Hormones and all the emotions of the final stretch can make dreams stranger and more intense. They're completely normal.
  • Heartburn. Small meals, sitting upright after eating and raising your head at night can help. Here's how to ease heartburn.
  • Aches and pains. Back pain, round ligament pain, leg cramps and sciatica are common. Change position often, stay gently active and try a pregnancy support belt.
  • Mixed emotions. Feeling excited, tired and anxious all in one day is normal. If worry or low mood is affecting your daily life, talk to your doctor or midwife, or call PANDA on 1300 726 306.

Contact your hospital straight away if your baby's movements slow down, stop or change. Also call if you have bleeding, fluid leaking from your vagina, regular contractions, a severe headache, blurred vision, sudden swelling or pain under your ribs.

Looking after yourself

Keep active with exercise suited to the third trimester, like walking, swimming, aqua aerobics and pregnancy yoga or Pilates. Water exercise is especially good now, as it supports your body's extra weight. Sex is generally safe until the end of pregnancy if you've had no complications. If you're planning a last getaway, check your airline's rules, as many need a letter from your doctor later in pregnancy.

Your to-do list for week 28

Helpful for this stage

Pregnancy pillowsSupport for side sleepingShop pillows The pregnancy listWhat you'll need for the third trimesterSee the list Hospital bagsGet organised for the big dayShop hospital bags

Week 28 FAQs

Should I count kicks at 28 weeks?

In Australia, you're encouraged to get to know your baby's own pattern of movements rather than count to a set number. There's no normal number of kicks. What matters is noticing if your baby's movements slow down, stop or change from their usual pattern.

What should I do if my baby is moving less?

Contact your hospital or midwife straight away, any time of the day or night. Don't wait until the next day, and don't use a home doppler to check. You won't be wasting anyone's time.

Is it safe to sleep on my back at 28 weeks?

From 28 weeks, it's recommended that you go to sleep on your side, for naps and at night, as it lowers the risk of stillbirth. If you wake up on your back, don't worry. Just roll onto your side.

What is anti-D and when is it given?

Anti-D is an injection for people with RhD negative blood. It stops your body making antibodies that could affect a future baby. It's usually offered at around 28 and 34 weeks, after any bleeding or knock to your tummy, and after birth if your baby is RhD positive.

Do babies move less towards the end of pregnancy?

No, this is a myth. The type of movement may change as your baby has less room, from kicks to rolls and squirms, but they should keep moving just as often right up until labour.

This article is general information and isn't a substitute for advice from your doctor or midwife.

Sources: