Well, it seems no one can agree when the third trimester starts, but no matter when they say it starts, everyone agrees that by the time you are 28 weeks pregnant, you are there. And HERE I AM!!! I made it. There has been so much going on this pregnancy that it is just flying by. Circumstances being what they are, we had no option but to move across the province while I am in my third trimester, but even I agree that it seems a little crazy. I am exhausted already.
But we are doing okay. So far I have gained less than 10 pounds, my blood sugar is okay and there has been no signs of high blood pressure yet. So none of my previous complications have raised their ugly heads yet. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Every evening, I sit quietly and feel the baby moving and kicking inside me. I love it. It feels like our little mommy-baby bonding time. It is a lovely feeling that I will miss when it is gone.
Your pregnancy: 28 weeks
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.
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 or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. 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. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth.)
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.
