Pregnancy week 28

You

Colostrum, a sweet watery milk, will be forming in your breasts in preparation for feeding, which could leak out at times. The increased load on your abdomen could cause back pain, discomfort when sleeping, an increased need to urinate and reduced mobility in certain situations (such as when you get out of the bath or a deep chair).

As muscles and ligaments stretch to support your growing uterus you may feel a cramping, stabbing pain in your side. As your growing uterus presses on nerves, this can restrict circulation in your legs and lead to cramp. Your placenta will be busy transferring antibodies from you to the baby so she is born with immunity to some diseases.

You will probably have another antenatal check this week. You will find now that some airlines will not accept you as a passenger from this point, you will have to get special permission to fly from your doctor.

Your baby

Your baby's nostrils are now open and her lungs are developing air sacs. She is now taking on a more normal flesh colour and a less wrinkled appearance. Your baby's bones will be hardening and the lanugo will start to disappear, though some patches may remain after birth.

As your baby grows bigger she will have less space to turn and roll, but will still kick vigorously. Your baby's arms and legs pull up towards the chest as she finds a position which is comfortable for her developing size.

Your doctors may check at this stage to see which position your baby is lying in. If born now your baby has over a 95% chance of survival.

Your baby will be learning to live with the sound of your blood humming and whooshing and all your digestive gurglings. Apart from the lungs, all your baby's major organs are functioning. The lungs are still full of amniotic fluid and the air-exchange sacs (alveoli) will not be formed for several more weeks. Your baby's brain has grown larger and a fatty protective sheath covers the nerve fibres. This allows the impulses to the brain to travel faster, so she can lean more quickly.