We continue for this exciting pregnancy tour week by week, and it is the turn of the 29th week of pregnancy, just started the third and last trimester, the final stretch of pregnancy, although these months are probably the slowest ones for us.
To the physical loads due to weight gain and that can cause varied discomfort, the psychological burden is often added due to the proximity of labor. As at each stage, we recommend maintaining healthy habits for the body and also the rest and relaxation necessary for the mind.
Certainly, the time of delivery is getting closer, so we must not forget the kind of childbirth preparation or the elaboration of our birth plan, as we explain below. In addition, they will surely be in a hurry and want to have everything they need for when the baby arrives: his room, his clothes ... We want to leave everything well tied by the time the big moment arrives.
The baby in the 29th week of pregnancy
The fetus in the 29th week of pregnancy It measures 26 centimeters from the crown to the buttocks (about 38 centimeters in total) and weighs about 1200 grams. The baby is increasingly likely to survive if born at this time, although still in training and many organs are immature.
The accumulation of fat continues and the baby is of sufficient size to determine its presentation, that is, its orientation in the uterus (buttocks or head). However, you will still have time to change this position during the next month.
The adrenal glands of the fetus produce androgenic substances that circulate in their blood and when they reach the placenta they become estrogen (estriol), to stimulate the production of prolactin in the mother's body (and that the breasts prepare to give breast to baby).
The skin of the fetus is pink and the irises of the eyes are blue in light-skinned babies and are usually brown in those with dark skin, although the final color will only be known months after birth.
The mother in the 29th week of pregnancy
Around this week many women can feel the first losses of colostrum, the first milk of the breasts that are prepared to breastfeed the baby. This aqueous substance, prior to the milk itself, provides the baby in its first days with everything necessary for its sustenance.
The breasts are producing this milk due to the action of the hormone prolactin, secreted at this stage of pregnancy in large quantities. The production is stimulated by the baby himself, as we have commented in the previous section.
It is at this stage when they are usually more frequent and the so-called Braxton Hicks contractions begin to be noticed. Although there are women who do not go through it, these contractions (which are called the first doctor to describe them) are shrinkages of the uterus that is prepared for childbirth. They are normal contractions, although it is recommended that if they are very strong and followed (more than five in one hour) it is advisable to consult the gynecologist.
For the rest, they will surely be more tired and you will notice fatigue when doing activities that you used to do normally. It is very common, due to the increase in volume and nerves due to the proximity of childbirth, but fatigue should not be ignored.
On the contrary, we must remedy as much as possible and try the psychic well-being of the future mother with rest, relaxation activities, exercise and hobbies, social relationships ... Any discomfort that is aggravated at this stage has to consult the doctor.
A plan to give birth
If all goes well, we have two months to go until the time of delivery arrives, but it is a good time to think about how we want it to develop. For this we can think and elaborate our birth plan, a document that is recommended to do during this week and that tries to make the birth a satisfactory experience for women.
At this point, we have time to inform ourselves about the recommended practices, and ask all our doubts to the midwife or the gynecologist, to know the hospital where we will give birth ... In this way we can elaborate our birth plan, a manifestation of our written will to consent or not to consent to the medical interventions proposed during childbirth.
We hope that this information on the changes that occur in the baby and in the mother during the pregnancy week 29 It is useful for you while we continue with our pregnancy journey week by week. Soon we wait for you with the 30th week of pregnancy.
Next week: pregnancy week 30
Photos | Phalinn OOi on Flickr-CC
In Babies and more | Pregnancy week by week, Pregnancy month by month: seventh month, Pregnancy calendar: from week 29 to week 32
