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The 28th week of pregnancy is the seventh obstetric month and the very beginning of the third trimester, that is, most of the gestation period is left behind. The belly continues to grow, although by this time it has already reached an impressive size. The expectant mother has very little time left to prepare for the meeting with the baby.
Fetal development at 28 weeks gestation
In the fetus at this time, not a single day passes without some kind of “improvement”. The baby continues to actively prepare for the upcoming birth. At this time, his body weight is about 1,5 kg or more. Moreover, weight is gained due to the formation of subcutaneous fat, including. Growth reaches 38,5 cm.
The skeletal system of the fetus becomes stronger.
Alveoli form in the lungs, which will allow the child to breathe on his own.
The baby’s brain is intensively developing, new furrows and convolutions are formed in it.
The skin of the crumbs begins to gradually smooth out.
At this time, the child opens his eyes for the first time. They will be blue in color, but over time the shade may change. The baby’s eyes are already bordered by eyelashes, which, like the hair on the head, continue to grow intensively.
The child already hears very well. He can distinguish familiar voices and sounds, give a reaction to them. For example, with loud music, the baby begins to move more actively, and, hearing the calm voice of the mother, he calms down.
Although the baby at this time in the uterus becomes a little crowded, its activity does not decrease. It makes itself felt not only during the day, but also at night.
What tests should be done at 28 weeks?
At this time, the woman should visit the gynecologist’s office, who will send her to take the following tests:
General urine analysis;
Clinical blood test;
Blood sugar test;
Blood test for antibodies (assuming a negative Rh factor in a woman).
The last analysis is necessary to identify the Rh conflict, if any. Its timely diagnosis will avoid many complications of pregnancy. According to the indications, a woman can enter the drug. Its action will be aimed at suppressing the production of specific antibodies that the mother’s body can produce against the fetus.
The beginning of the third trimester must necessarily start with a visit to the gynecologist. Now visits to the doctor become more frequent up to 2 times in 30 days. During each appointment, a woman receives a referral for urinalysis (blood is taken for research as needed). Also, the doctor will definitely measure the level of sugar in the blood and control the level of blood pressure. In this way, it will be possible to prevent the development of diabetes in the early stages.
Ultrasound at 28 weeks of gestation
If the pregnancy has a normal course, then for a period of 28 weeks, ultrasound is not performed. According to the plan, three ultrasound examinations are recommended: the second has already passed, and the time for the third has not yet come. Of course, if there are indications, ultrasound can be performed, but the decision on its need should be made by the doctor.
Woman’s weight
Every day, starting from the first week of the third trimester, a woman will gain 50 g per day. Thanks to simple calculations, you can find out that the weekly weight gain is about 350 g. This is an average figure that is in the normal range between 300-500 g. The total weight gain since the beginning of pregnancy will be equal to 8-10 kg. At the same time, you need to carefully control your weight and monitor it daily. The best thing to do is get on the scale every morning.
Diet
The way a woman eats and what is included in her menu is reflected in the health of the child as a whole. Therefore, it is very important that the nutrients come to the crumbs in the proper amount. A properly structured diet will not only allow you to better endure pregnancy, but will also make it possible to facilitate the process of delivery.
It is necessary to take food in small portions, but often (up to 6 times a day). For a day, a woman should receive about 3000 kcal with the use of the most high-calorie foods in the morning. The last meal should take place 2-3 hours before going to bed. Of course, if the feeling of hunger haunts, then you can muffle it with an apple, kefir, cottage cheese, milk, vegetable salad or other light foods.
Separately, it is worth paying attention to the amount of salt consumed. It must be limited to prevent the appearance of edema.
To avoid an increase in extra pounds will allow the rejection of the use of sweets (chocolate, sweets), baking based on white refined flour.
The more easily digestible carbohydrates enter a woman’s body, the higher her risk of developing gestational diabetes. Therefore, you should try to include in your menu foods that contain complex carbohydrates. They allow you to prevent a sharp jump in blood sugar and do not create a load on the pancreas. Among such products, almost all cereals, whole grains, bread based on wholemeal flour. It is imperative that the body receives a sufficient amount of fiber, which is found in abundance in vegetables and fruits. Thanks to this, it is possible to regulate the work of the gastrointestinal tract and normalize the processes of digestion.
What might be the selections?
A woman has very few options for what kind of discharge at the 28th week of pregnancy can be considered normal. They should be light or milky in color, without foreign impurities, with a slight sour smell.
You should definitely consult a doctor if the discharge becomes cheesy, turns green, yellow or brown, blood or mucus appears in them. An infection may additionally be indicated by a sensation of itching and burning in the intimate area.
Allocations with blood do not tolerate delay, an ambulance team should be called immediately. It does not matter whether the woman has heavy bleeding or weak. Bloody discharge may indicate placental abruption or the onset of preterm labor. All these conditions pose a threat to the life of the health of the child and mother. It is necessary to contact the ambulance dispatch service even if, against the background of bleeding, the woman does not experience pain.
Watery discharge is also not normal and often indicates amniotic fluid leakage. They can be released in small portions or pour out en masse. This happens due to a violation of the integrity of the fetal bladder, which requires medical attention.
Intimate life
If the pregnancy is going well, then having sex at this time is allowed. Intimacy can bring joy to a woman, improve her mood, bring pleasure. It is now impossible to harm the fetus, provided that both partners are careful. It is important to choose a position that does not allow pressure on the abdomen.
In the case when the doctor says that it is best to abstain from intimate life, he has good reasons for this. It is imperative to follow the doctor’s recommendations.
What dangers can lie in wait at the 28th week of pregnancy?
A woman becomes clumsy not only because of a growing belly, but also because of a significant weight gain. Therefore, it is so important to take extra care to prevent injury.
At this time, many women begin to experience symptoms of anemia, as blood volumes increase significantly and hemoglobin levels decrease.
Perhaps a woman will be worried about increased swelling in her arms and legs.
Tips
It is important to track the number of movements of the child per hour. The norm is at least 10 pushes in 60 minutes.
Signs of increasing anemia are weakness, dizziness and pallor of the skin. If they occur, you must consult a doctor and donate blood to determine the level of hemoglobin.
It is good if there is an opportunity to attend courses for pregnant women.
The menu must necessarily include products such as honey, cranberries, prunes, nuts. This will saturate the body with iron.
All dishes that are included in the diet of a woman must be freshly prepared.
According to some experts, the emotional mood of a woman directly affects digestion. The better the mood, the more active the intestinal villi work, which means that the child receives more nutrients.
Answers to popular questions
Are the pains in the lower abdomen that occur at 28 weeks of gestation normal? Mild pains that do not cause discomfort to a woman can be considered normal. Their cause lies in the stretching of the ligaments of the uterus. Training contractions during this period can also be noticeable, but not painful. Therefore, if severe pain occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor.
What indicates water leakage at 28 weeks of gestation? As a rule, it is impossible not to notice the leakage of water, even if it is not too intense. In any case, only a doctor can determine what kind of discharge a woman has. Therefore, if you suspect a water leak, you should consult a doctor.
I have a very small belly for the 28th week of pregnancy, while the baby has a normal size. Is it possible? The size of the abdomen is a purely individual indicator. In this case, the height of the fundus of the uterus is important – if this indicator is normal, then you should not worry.
I’m 28 weeks pregnant and I have increased uterine tone. This is very bad? Is it possible to have sex while doing this? With an increased tone of the uterus, intimate life is prohibited. Moreover, a woman can even be hospitalized. Therefore, it is important to consult a gynecologist on this topic.
The child is in a breech position. Can it change at 28 weeks pregnant? There is still enough space in the uterus for the baby to be able to change its body position. Sometimes doctors recommend performing special exercises that will allow the fetus to roll over.