pregnant woman in field nausea

Pregnancy Guide: Week 29

You have been waiting for six long months to see your baby’s smile, and you’re going to have to wait for a few more. Luckily, she’s starting to smile in her sleep now, so she’ll be ready to delight you with it when she arrives. Remember although there are many reasons why babies cry they are also completely adorable and there will be many moments of bliss.

She still has the hiccups, but those will be the least uncomfortable things you’ll feel this week. Your uterus is cramped, so she’s kicking harder now. Try to imagine how strong those legs will be when a baby starts walking.

29 weeks pregnant is how many months?

You’re past the six-month mark and into your seventh month of pregnancy. You have less than three months to go.

Your Baby at 29 Weeks

Your baby is getting close to the length she’ll be at birth, but she’s still plumping out. She’s filling in her fat stores, and her skin is getting less wrinkly. Over the remaining weeks of your pregnancy, your baby will more than double her weight right now. She may even triple it.

Your baby is growing white fat, which is used as a source of energy. Brown fat is used for regulating body temperature, and she is no longer in need of that.

Living space is limited now, so you can feel those pokes and kicks even more, and a lot of them may hurt. She’s stronger, too, with more coordinated movements that make these targeted attacks more painful.

She can respond to light, sound, and movement, so she may like that candy bar you just ate or hate the way you push on her when she’s hurting you. As long as you’re counting at least 2-3 karate moves in thirty minutes, everything is okay.

How big is a baby at 29 weeks?

Your baby is the size of an acorn squash at 39.3 centimetres long and weighs 1379 grams. She’s close to her birth length, but she will gain some serious weight in the coming weeks.

Your Body at 29 Weeks

Unsightly varicose veins may be plaguing you as they do for almost half of pregnant women. There’s nothing to be concerned about, but they’re still not pleasant to see. As your blood volume increases and your veins expand, they can swell and pop out.

That means the veins in your rectum may be doing the same, causing painful hemorrhoids. They’ll go away after your baby is born, but until then, you may find water, exercise, and witch hazel pads to be comforting.

At this point in your pregnancy, you should be counting kicks. Make a habit of counting them at two different times during the day. It’s best to do it while you rest since it’s most likely your baby will be more active while you’re lying down. Go figure. That won’t change when she’s born.

See if you can count ten kicks in an hour. If not, have a snack and try again in a bit. She may be sleeping right now. 

Kick counting hack: you can count any movement you feel, not just kicks. That may help you get to ten faster.

pregnant woman in field nausea

Symptoms

Your constipation continues this week as you try to drink more water, eat more yogurt, exercise, and do anything you can to keep yourself regular. It sure doesn’t help your hemorrhoids either, when you have to push so hard to get anything to come out.

Instead, try to drink more water to soften your stools, so they come out more easily. Choose softer toilet paper now that you have a sensitive bottom and try some witch hazel wipes to alleviate the burning and discomfort.

The volume of brain cells during the third trimester is reduced, so you are likely pretty foggy, which is unfortunate because you have so many things to remember. Carry a notepad with you wherever you go and write everything down.

Heartburn and indigestion are unlikely to go away if you still have them now. Your uterus is putting pressure in all kinds of uncomfortable places, so stay away from eating at bedtime to make it easier to keep food down.

Tips/Things to do

You may already be lactating a bit, but if you aren’t, prepare for that day with some breast pads. You’re going to need them eventually anyway. 

Colostrum is starting to develop, and it may leak, making you uncomfortable and presenting a potentially embarrassing situation.

Restless leg syndrome is common in the third trimester. You already have difficulty sleeping due to the many other discomforts of pregnancy, so make sure you get some exercise, despite how tired you are. It helps stretch out your legs, keep your blood moving, and will hopefully help you sleep at night.

Be on the lookout for symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Pressure on your bladder and frequent urination can cause infections, so if you encounter any symptoms, talk to your doctor about a safe solution.

With darkening, sensitive skin and excess oils, a facial may be just what you need to help clear up your pores and make you feel better. Make sure your beautician knows you’re pregnant so she can use masks that are safe. 

Avoid aromatherapy, chemical peels, deep extraction, or electronic stimulation. Just focus on relaxation, moisturising, and massage.

Gear up to go out. It’s great that you’re still exercising. If you feel up to it, it holds a lot of benefits, even when you are completely exhausted. 

Just make sure you have the right tools. Comfy shoes, a supportive sports bra, water, identification, and your mobile. Just in case.

One of the most important considerations you can make at this point is whether you want to bank some cord blood. Cord blood has stem cells that are vital for certain medical treatments like cancer.

This is a safe and painless procedure that simply takes the leftover blood from your baby’s umbilical cord. You can donate it to a facility that distributes the cells as needed or you can save it for your own private needs later, should they arise.

It’s okay not to choose this option but talk to your practitioner about it now so that if you do choose to do it, you can fill out the necessary paperwork and get prepped.

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