Week 28- Baby Boy Chinese Cabbage

How your baby's growing: By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

How your life's changing: You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester. At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS.

From: BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 14.8 inches long, he weighs 2 1/4 lbs. He will continue to gain body fat in the coming weeks to prepare him for life outside of your womb. At 28 weeks, your baby can recognize your voice! His eyes continue to develop this week and his brain is developing millions of neurons. The hair on his head continues to grow. Muscle tone in her body steadily develops, and even though his lungs are now capable of breathing air, it would be difficult for him if he were born now.

Mom: Congratulations! You made it to the third trimester! How are you feeling? The average weight gain by week 28 is 17-24 lbs. Don't worry if yours is a little more or less. If you have any concerns, as always, speak to your healthcare provider. In your last trimester, you should be seeing your healthcare provider every two weeks so there should be plenty of opportunities to raise any concerns that you might have. In fact, it's a good idea to keep a pad and pen with you to jot down any questions. Having a list of questions at your appointment is a great way to make sure all of your concerns are addressed. If any high-risk situations are detected on a routine visit, like preeclampsia, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH), gestational diabetes or placenta previa, you may be asked to visit your physician more often. Are you thinking of using a Birth Plan? No matter what kind of birth you are planning, a written birth plan, or a written statement about you and your partner's preferences for your labor and birth, may be a good idea.
Bringing a copy of this plan with you to the hospital is a simple way to inform the people who will come in to contact with you of your preferences for the birth. There is no "one way" or "correct" way to compose a birth plan. Some can be several pages long, and address every aspect of the birth; other mothers simply compose a short paragraph.

From Planning Family