Week28
As the uterus applies pressure to the colon, constipation becomes more frequent. Other symptoms such as fatigue, leg cramps, pregnancy pains, frequent urination, haemorrhoids, and insomnia continue to plague day-to-day life. Most women also begin to experience Braxton Hicks contractions at this point; this is a false sign of labor. Some women also experience heartburn as the uterus continues to rise above the belly button and apply pressure to the stomach. The average weight gain by this week is 17 to 24 pounds, but this number is only an average, as every woman and every pregnancy are different.
The baby’s brain is adding billions of new nerve cells. The senses of hearing, smell, and touch are developed and functional. During the third trimester, the brain triples in weight, and the cerebrum develops deep, convoluted grooves that provide extra surface area without taking up more room in the skull. A protective covering of myelin begins to form around the nerves during this trimester, a process that will continue for a year after the baby is born. The baby is about the size of a large eggplant, length is 14 ¾ inches and weighs 2 ¼ pounds.
Baby will start kicking, leg cramping, nail changes are symptoms seen in this week.
