Week 28: Your pregnancy
Your baby's growth: Brain development
At about 2 pounds 4 ounces and 13.8 inches from head to toe, your baby has certainly come a long way!
This week marks an important milestone for your baby's brain development. Until now the surface of your baby's developing brain was smooth. During this week, her brain begins to form its characteristic grooves and indentations, allowing the brain's surface to expand while it develops within your baby's tiny skull.
Other important developmental advances:
- More fat. Your baby will continue to add layers of fat under her skin and will become plumper with each passing day.
- More hair. Hair on your baby's head will continue to grow.
- Testes. A boy's testes are usually completely descended into the scrotum by this point.
- Labia. A girl's labia are still small and won't yet cover the clitoris. The labia will grow closer together in the last few weeks of pregnancy.
- Lungs. Her lungs are now capable of breathing air.
What's happening with you
- Weight gain. By week 28 your uterus is about 3 inches above your belly button. Your weight gain may range from about 17 to 24 pounds.
- Regular doctor visits. Starting now you'll probably be visiting your doctor every other week instead of every month. At your next appointment your doctor may be able to tell you how your baby is positioned in the womb.
Your baby's position. Ideally, soon you will feel her settle with her head pointed down toward your cervix—a sensation called "lightening." If you feel the baby's head pushing against your cervix, she's probably in the proper headfirst position for delivery.
A baby in a head-up or breech position during labor may need to be delivered by cesarean section if the doctor can't turn her around. However, don't be alarmed at a breech presentation at this point—it's not that unusual. She still has two months to change position, which most babies do.