28 weeks pregnant
Baby Development at 28 Weeks
28 Weeks Pregnant – Your baby is now growing fast and getting ready for the outside world!
- 📏 Baby is the size of a large eggplant (~37–38.5 cm long)
- ⚖️ Weighs about 1 to 1.1 kg
- 👁️ Baby can blink and may see dim light through your belly
- 🧠 Brain activity increases – dreaming (REM sleep) begins
- 💨 Lungs are more developed, though not fully ready yet
- 🖐 Baby’s grip is strong, and body fat is increasing
- 🧡 Baby’s heartbeat is now strong enough to be heard with a stethoscope
🎧 Your baby might react to music, your voice, or loud sounds — time to sing or talk often!
🤰 Symptoms at 28 Weeks Pregnant
With your growing belly and shifting organs, discomfort increases this week.
Common Symptoms:
- Lower back pain
- Frequent urination
- Shortness of breath
- Mild swelling in ankles and hands
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Leg cramps at night
🛏 Try sleeping on your left side with a pillow between your legs for better comfort and blood flow.
Read More : 28 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms: Entering the Third Trimester with New Energy & Challenges
🥗 What to Eat at 28 Weeks Pregnant
This is the time to eat energy-rich and iron-packed foods to avoid fatigue.
✅ Best Foods:
- Iron-rich foods: spinach, rajma, black chana
- Vitamin C foods: oranges, amla, guava (help iron absorption)
- Calcium: milk, sesame seeds, ragi
- Protein: paneer, dal, boiled eggs, lean meat
- Healthy fats: nuts, seeds, ghee in moderation
🍲 Meal Idea: Vegetable paratha with curd + soaked almonds + banana
❌ Avoid:
- Raw or undercooked meats
- Excess salt (can cause swelling)
- Artificial sweeteners and soft drinks
🧘♀️ Safe Exercises for 28 Weeks
Even light movement helps your posture and reduces backache.
Recommended:
- 🚶 Daily walk for 30 mins
- 🧘 Prenatal yoga for hips and back
- 🪑 Squats with support (prepares for labor)
- 🧍 Pelvic tilts to ease lower back pressure
- 🧘♀️ Deep breathing to reduce anxiety
⚠️ Avoid exercises that involve lying flat on your back.
🧾 Week 28 Checklist
- Book your third-trimester ultrasound
- Take your glucose screening test (if not already done)
- Start counting baby’s kicks daily
- Discuss your birth plan with your doctor or midwife
- Get your Tdap vaccine (whooping cough protection)
- Finalize your hospital or maternity center preference
💬 Tip of the Week
“The third trimester is a time of bonding and preparation. Start speaking softly to your baby — the womb is now a classroom of love.”
— Dr. Ritu Jain, Maternity Consultant
❓FAQ – 28 Weeks Pregnant
Q: How many kicks should I feel in a day?
A: Ideally, you should feel 10 movements in 2 hours. Pick a time when your baby is most active.
Q: Is it safe to drive now?
A: Yes, if you feel comfortable. Use your seatbelt under the belly and take frequent breaks.
Q: Can I still have sex?
A: In most normal pregnancies, yes. But if you have placenta previa or preterm labor signs, avoid it.
🔗 Internal Links
- 🔙 Back to Week 27 – Baby Responds to Sounds
- 👉 Next: Week 29 – Baby’s Muscles and Lungs Strengthen
- 📘 Top 10 Iron-Rich Indian Foods for Pregnant Women
About The Author
8 thoughts on “28 Weeks Pregnant – Start of the Final Stretch”