Your little one has grown to the size of an acorn squash.

As you enter week 29 of pregnancy, it’s a great time to finalize the details such as stocking up on baby care essentials for the nursery. Pack a bag with essential items for the hospital and keep it close to the door to quickly add missing items.

During this stage, your growing baby is running out of space in the womb, leading to stronger kicks and jabs. You may even notice a repetitive twitch, which is a sign of fetal hiccups – how fascinating!

If you’re 29 weeks pregnant with twins, your growing babies are undoubtedly becoming more cramped inside your belly.

Pregnancy Week 29 Quick Facts

• At 29 weeks, you’re seven months pregnant
• You have 11 weeks until your due time “Calculate Your Due Date”
• This is your third trimester

Your Unborn Baby’s Size at 29 Weeks

How Big is Baby?

• Your little one has grown to the size of an acorn squash, measuring approximately 15.2 inches long. At this stage, your 29-week-old fetus weighs approximately 2.5 pounds (1.13398 kilogram). 
• However, your baby still has a lot of growing to do as they will triple in weight before birth, which is quite remarkable!

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 29

As you enter the third trimester, you may experience unpleasant symptoms such as Braxton Hicks contractions, leg cramps, heartburn, and nasal congestion.

• Resurgence of Fatigue

If you recall the exhaustion you felt during the first trimester, you may begin to feel that same fatigue during the third trimester. Even though you may have had more energy during the second trimester, some early pregnancy symptoms like fatigue often make a reappearance in the third trimester.

• Foot Transformations

Swelling of the feet and ankles is a typical pregnancy symptom. However, there is more going on with your feet than just swelling. Research shows that pregnancy can cause your feet to become wider and longer. Unfortunately, this transformation may be permanent, resulting in a need for larger shoe sizes after pregnancy.

The 29th week of pregnancy can lead to increased pressure on the digestive system, leading to common discomforts such as heartburn, pelvic pain, and hemorrhoids.

• Headaches and/or lightheadedness / itchy skin

You may experience headaches, lightheadedness, and itchy skin due to the stretching of your skin. To alleviate these symptoms, make sure to get enough sleep and eat at regular intervals to keep your blood sugar levels stable. Drinking plenty of water and applying lotion can also help with itchy skin.

• Back, leg or hip pain

Back, leg, and hip pain may also be present due to the additional weight you are carrying and the softening of your joints and ligaments in preparation for delivery. To manage this pain, you can try light exercises like prenatal yoga or brisk walks.

• Constipation 

Constipation may exacerbate hemorrhoids, but eating fiber-rich foods like leafy vegetables and drinking water can help combat both issues. Proper hydration is also essential for preventing preterm labor, even if it means frequent trips to the bathroom.

• Prepare hospital bag

Remember to pack your hospital bag and leave it by the door for easy access when the time comes. Don’t hesitate to consult your doctor if any symptoms become severe or if you experience any intense itching or rashes.

• With Twins

When you reach 29 weeks of pregnancy with twins, you may come to the realization that these little ones will require a lot of room! You will essentially need to have two of everything – two bassinets, two car seats, two bouncy chairs, and so on – which can be a daunting thought. To handle the challenge of taking care of two babies at once, consider increasing your support system by seeking additional help from friends and family members. It’s crucial to have someone to lend an extra hand because you won’t be able to manage it all on your own!

Prenatal Tests and Doctor’s Appointments

It may be difficult to believe that your next prenatal appointment with your physician or midwife will be around 30 weeks, coming up very soon. During this appointment, your doctor may suggest administering the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine, also known as Tdap, as per the CDC’s recommendations. This vaccine can help safeguard your baby after delivery, and is typically administered between 27 to 36 weeks of pregnancy.

If you have a high-risk pregnancy, your doctor may schedule additional specialized tests such as a contraction stress test, fetal non-stress test (NST), biophysical profile, modified biophysical profile, or Doppler of the umbilical artery.

– Risk in the 29th week of pregnancy

Iron is necessary for the production of hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. When your body lacks enough healthy blood cells to transport oxygen, it results in a condition known as anemia. During the second trimester, the volume of blood in your body increases by 45%, and your growing baby requires more iron during the third trimester, which can lead to low iron levels.

Symptoms of anemia may include 

• dizziness
• fatigue
• headache
• palpitations
• shortness of breath

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s essential to inform your doctor. Your doctor may perform a blood test to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment for anemia during pregnancy is usually straightforward and involves taking an iron supplement in addition to your prenatal vitamin.

Developmental Milestones

Throughout the remainder of the term, the baby will continue to develop by gaining fat and muscle. Additionally, the baby’s skin will mature and thicken, while the amount of fine hair (lanugo) covering the body will decrease as it reaches its peak.

Bones:

The baby’s bones experience significant growth from the second trimester onwards. During the third trimester, the baby increases its intake of calcium to strengthen and harden its bones.

Survival Outside the Womb:

If a baby is born at 29 weeks, it is considered very premature and will require specialized care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Although the baby will need to stay in the hospital for several weeks, the likelihood of survival at 29 weeks is approximately 94%.