Pregnancy Week 29

Your Baby's Growth and Development

During pregnancy week 29 your baby will reach almost 2 ¾ pounds and probably measures more than 16.5 inches long! Keep in mind every baby grows at his or her own pace. Some baby's will be born weighing slightly more than six pounds, whereas others weigh in at a whopping 10 pounds or more! Size varies significantly from baby to baby. The average is between 7 and 8 pounds.

How do you know how big your baby will grow? Ask your mother how large her babies were. You may find you have similarly large or small babies! My mom told me all of us were over 10 pounds, so it didn't surprise me that all my babies were 8 pounds or larger, even when delivered 2 weeks early!

Changes In Your Body

Congratulations! By pregnancy week 29 you are entering your third and final trimester! From here on out your job and that of your baby will be to grow. Most women gain the most amount of weight during their third trimester. Sometimes this is due to the baby's growth spurt, whereas at other times it is due to increasing levels of water retention. Don't be alarmed if you notice a sudden weight jump within a two-week period.

There are times however during the third trimester when a sudden weight jump may be cause for alarm. If for example, you gain several pounds within a couple of days, accompanied by high blood pressure, increased swelling of the hands and face and a terrible or debilitating headache, you may be at risk for preeclampsia. If this is the case, your doctor will have to monitor you very closely for complications to ensure a healthy and safe delivery for you and your baby.

You can occupy your time with many fulfilling tasks during the third trimester, including shopping for you and your little one. If you have not already invested in a Snoozer Full Body Pregnancy Pillow, what are you waiting for? Ask someone to buy it as a gift if you must. The pregnancy pillow is one of the most important items a woman can own during and after her pregnancy. It’s just like having three pillows in one. It is one of the most comfortable weapons in your arsenal against pain during the final trimester of your pregnancy.

Full body pillows or pregnancy pillows from the Maternity and Baby Shopping Mart are crafted of the finest materials. You can even buy a luxurious White European Natural Goose Down pregnancy pillow, one you can continue to use even after you have your baby! In fact, you may find the whole family hunkering down on one of these large, cozy and comfy pillows. As an added bonus, you can wrap it around your belly while nursing, or use it to gently prop your baby safely once he or she arrives in this world. Pregnancy pillows are definitely one luxury that will take you mind off all the aches and pains you normally associate with pregnancy.

You may find during your third trimester you have a hard time eating. I found not only did I have less room in my stomach, but when I did eat I felt uncomfortable for several hours. The reason is your digestion slows significantly during the third trimester. Couple this with the lack of space in your abdomen, and you can understand why eating becomes uncomfortable. Nonetheless, you need to be sure you eat enough to support your growing baby.

The easiest way to eat well and without a lot of discomfort is by eating several mini meals each day. This will help you digest your food without terrible heartburn and even help stimulate your energy levels throughout the day.

Be sure you keep drinking plenty of water especially during the third trimester, when hemorrhoids often creep up. Take some time during your last trimester to pamper yourself if you can. One of my favorite things to do included getting a pedicure, so I knew if nothing else my feet would look good during delivery!

Breastfeeding Your Baby

Many women start leaking colostrum during their third trimester. Colostrum is the antibody rich premilk your body produces in the first couple of days after delivery, before your milk comes in. By now you have probably given some thought to breastfeeding and looked at a few nursing bras. Breastfeeding is by far the healthiest and most affordable way to feed your newborn.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization support human milk or breastfeeding as the ideal nutrition for all newborns when possible. Breastfeeding is especially helpful for premature infants or those who are ill in the first few weeks of life.

If you can, you should try to breastfeed your baby for at least the first year of life. Most women who breastfeed try to do so for at least six months. There are many benefits associated with breastfeeding. These include:

• Reduces the food allergies your baby may be susceptible to later in life.

• Breast milk automatically adapts to provide your baby with the best possible nutrition and ratio of fats, proteins and other nutritious substances.

• Breastfeeding is less expensive than formula feeding.

• Breast milk contains antibodies that can help combat illness in young babies.

Don't forget, breastfeeding also helps stimulate uterine contractions that can help prevent hemorrhaging after delivery and also serves as a natural contraceptive for women after delivery.