Your Pregnancy: Week 29

Week 29 of pregnancy is finally here — congratulations! You’ve made it to the very last trimester, and though you’re probably sore, exhausted, and over getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, the finish line is now in your sights and you’ll be meeting your baby-to-be soon.

Since things are constantly changing in pregnancy, this week brings another set of adventure. So what’s in store in week 29?

It’s kind of impressive how your symptoms are always changing, even at 29 weeks old. Though the true exhaustion may be setting in these days, it’s not the only thing that might be bothering you. Here are some of the symptoms you might be experiencing this week:

Frequent urination
Having a baby in your uterus can really put the pressure on your bladder! Do yourself a favor and don’t go too far from a bathroom.

Back pain
At this point, your muscles are starting to get really tired from carrying the weight of a baby (plus all that extra fluid). Your back, hips, and maybe even your knees may be extra sore this week.

Hemorrhoids
Thanks to the pressure on your butt, hemorrhoids are all too common at this point. Keep something like Tuck’s pads on hand if you need them, and keep up your water and fiber consumption to avoid constipation.

Heartburn
This is a pesky one that might be new, or might have plagued you all pregnancy long. Either way, it’s no fun. Try using some simple lifestyle changes to alleviate your discomfort. If you want to use OTC meds, make sure to check with your doctor first.

In week 29 of pregnancy, how many months along are you? Yay — you’re finally seven months pregnant!

Though you probably won’t get an ultrasound this week, if you did, you’d see a pretty active baby in there! They may already be head down, and they’ve probably started kicking you plenty. Notice those little rhythmic jumps in your belly? Yep — those are hiccups!

At 29 weeks pregnant, you’ve probably gained between 19-25 pounds (though that can vary from person to person). Your baby themselves weighs between 2 and 3 of those pounds — pretty darn impressive! At this point, they’re continuing their brain development and putting on weight so they’ll be nice and squishy when they finally come out to meet you.

Right around this time, you’re probably feeling extra itchy around your belly, and that’s normal — your skin is stretching almost constantly, after all. But if you feel like the itching is getting out of hand, you may have a condition called PUPP. It will present with extreme itching and even a hives-like rash, usually around your stretch marks. If you think this might be the case, it’s good to talk to your OB-GYN.

At 29 weeks pregnant, you might want to be doing the following:

• Packing your hospital bag
• Finishing up the nursery
• Counting baby kicks each day
• Making final decisions about baby names

Being that the hemorrhoid issue might be getting real, it’s a good time to focus on getting foods that are full of plenty of fiber to help prevent constipation, which could make the situation worse. Dietary fiber is found in foods like:

• Apples
• Avocados
• Bran muffins
• Nuts
• Citrus fruits
• Brussels sprouts

While you should definitely call your OB-GYN anytime you feel something might be amiss, any unusual bleeding or cramping are both reasons to get a visit in ASAP, as well as experiencing symptoms like painful urination. And if that lightheadness you might be feeling leads to actual fainting or passing out, it’s important to call or stop into your emergency room, too.

Keep an eye out for any unusual swelling, since that could be a sign of preeclampsia, and it’s important to call your doctor if you have itchy palms or feet, which might mean that you’re experiencing cholestasis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant women are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and death compared to non-pregnant women. Furthermore, pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk of delivering a baby before 37 weeks (preterm birth) and other adverse ramifications.

Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID, make sure to ask about the facility’s safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID protocols as indicated by the CDC.

Now that you’re in your third trimester, you might be starting to think about a birth plan, and for those in the BIPOC community — for whom maternal mortality is way too high — it can be especially important to make your needs during birth heard. To support you in this process, you may consider finding a doula who can advocate for you in labor.

“I’ve had a number of Black patients feel that having a doula is an extra layer of support where they’re able to more ask questions about their birthing experience and explore all measures to ensure a healthy outcome,” Dr. Ashanda Saint Jean told ABC News.