What is the 29th week of pregnancy like? Changes in the baby and the mother

By (embryologist) and .
Last Update: 01/11/2023

The 29th week of pregnancy corresponds to the first week of the eighth month of gestation, so the woman is in the third trimester.

The fetus already has a properly functioning stomach, intestine and kidneys. In addition, the baby will accumulate fat and will be able to regulate its body temperature.

The mother may have mild contractions to train the uterus for delivery. However, these contractions should not be confused with labor contractions.

If the woman is having increasingly stronger and less frequent contractions, preterm labor may be occurring in the 29th week. Therefore, the pregnant woman should go to the emergency room as soon as possible.

What are the baby's measurements at week 29?

By the time the fetus reaches 29 weeks of development it has grown quite a bit, although it is still small. The baby measures approximately 36 centimeters in length and weighs an average of 1,250-1,300 grams. If the baby's weight is between 845 and 1,800 grams, there is no need to worry, as it is within the normal range. In addition, the diameter of the fetal head is about 72 mm and its fetus is about 56 mm.

The fetus has already learned to move and is comfortable in certain positions. It will become increasingly common for the fetus to be positioned head down, so the pregnant woman may feel more pressure in the lower abdomen, or even in the cervix.

Changes in the fetus

The baby's lungs and muscles continue to mature. In addition, there is an enlargement of the head so that the brain can fully develop. Despite this, the fetus is already able to regulate its body temperature and undergoes some changes, although it is not yet ready for birth at week 29.

Gum formation is also possible at this time of pregnancy. The eyelids of the fetal eyes open and close, and eye movement occurs. Their skeleton hardens, so a good intake of vitamin C, folic acid and iron is advisable.

Other changes in the baby that take place in the 29th week of pregnancy are:

  • The formation of red blood cells changes from being in the spleen to being produced in the bone marrow.
  • The testicles descend into the scrotum.
  • The skin becomes pink and smooth.
  • The amount of caseous vernix increases.

Finally, the development of the immune system continues. The amount of antibodies transferred from the mother to the fetus through the placenta is increasing.

What discomfort does the mother have in week 29?

When the mother-to-be reaches 29 weeks gestation, she will probably notice that her internal organs are being pressed by the baby. Pressure is exerted on the liver, diaphragm, stomach and intestine. For this reason, many pregnant women experience an increase in heartburn and gas as pregnancy progresses.

The woman's breasts will increase and prepare for breastfeeding. Therefore, it may happen that the pregnant woman has light colostrum stains on her clothes. It is also possible that the woman may feel Braxton-Hicks contractions in the 29th week of pregnancy to prepare the uterus for delivery.

As the size of the pregnant belly increases, the mother will find it increasingly difficult to sleep. For this reason, a woman may feel tired in the 29th week of pregnancy. Another consequence of belly growth during pregnancy is swelling in the legs or lower back pain.

Finally, nausea and vomiting are more common in the first weeks of pregnancy. However, some women experience nausea in week 29 as a result of taking iron supplements for a long time or for other reasons.

Tips for the 29th week of pregnancy

As mentioned above, weight gain in women and the size of the belly can cause problems in falling asleep and resting. For this reason, a recommendation would be to sleep on your side and use a pillow between your legs. This will help the pregnant woman rest for at least 8 hours.

In addition to rest, the woman should take into account the diet to be followed. At this time of pregnancy it is essential to eat foods rich in calcium, iron and vitamin C.

On the other hand, if the woman has not yet done so, the specialist may advise her to be vaccinated against whooping cough in the 29th week of pregnancy. This vaccine will help protect the baby, as the mother's antibodies will pass through the placenta and breast milk.

FAQs from users

Is it normal to feel contractions in the 29th week of pregnancy?

By Marta Barranquero Gómez B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist).

Yes, the contractions that arise in the 29th week of pregnancy are called Braxton-Hicks contractions. These contractions are mild in intensity, so the woman will not feel much pain.

The purpose of these contractions is to prepare the uterus for the moment of delivery. The pregnant woman will feel discomfort in the lower abdomen, but it will be completely bearable.

What care should be taken in the eighth month of pregnancy?

By Marta Barranquero Gómez B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist).

During the eighth month of pregnancy, pregnant women may experience some discomfort. For this reason, some recommendations to alleviate the symptoms of the eighth month of pregnancy are as follows:

  • Pour cold water on the extremities.
  • Sleep on the left side.
  • Eat small meals at small intervals.
  • Use moisturising creams.
  • Walk at least 30 minutes daily.
  • Elevate your legs.
Imagen: care-eighth-month-pregnancy-faq

In addition, it is important to rest as much as possible and avoid overexertion. If the pregnant woman notices any pain, it would be best to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

How is the baby positioned in the 29th week of pregnancy?

By Marta Barranquero Gómez B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist).

The baby's position in the 29th week of pregnancy is likely to be head down. In this way, the baby is preparing in the correct position for the birth to take place.

If the baby has not yet been positioned this way, it will probably do so in the next few weeks of the eighth month of pregnancy.

Suggested for you

If you want to know more information about the changes that will occur in the next week of pregnancy, you can visit this link: Week 30 of pregnancy.

If, on the other hand, you would like to know more about the vitamins you should take during pregnancy, we recommend you read this article: What vitamins should you take during pregnancy?

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References

Mustafa Hakan Satiroğlu, Murat Gözüküçük, Serife Esra Cetinkaya, Batu Aydinuraz, Korhan Kahraman. Uterine rupture at the 29th week of subsequent pregnancy after hysteroscopic resection of uterine septum. Fertil Steril. 2009 Mar;91(3):934.e1-3. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.08.075. Epub 2008 Dec 4 (View)

FAQs from users: 'Is it normal to feel contractions in the 29th week of pregnancy?', 'What care should be taken in the eighth month of pregnancy?' and 'How is the baby positioned in the 29th week of pregnancy?'.

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Author

 Marta Barranquero Gómez
Marta Barranquero Gómez
B.Sc., M.Sc.
Embryologist
Graduated in Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences by the University of Valencia (UV) and specialized in Assisted Reproduction by the University of Alcalá de Henares (UAH) in collaboration with Ginefiv and in Clinical Genetics by the University of Alcalá de Henares (UAH). More information about Marta Barranquero Gómez
License: 3316-CV
Adapted into english by:

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