28 weeks pregnant: Boost your baby’s IQ
Seven months down, only two left to go!
The third trimester is well underway, and at 28 weeks your baby is growing and developing quickly.
At this stage, the uterus has expanded to a considerable size, reaching above the belly button and you might be feeling uncomfortable with the increased pressure on your abdomen and pelvis.
What else is happening? Let’s take a look…
What’s happening at 28 weeks gestation?
Your body at 28 weeks
The growing weight of your baby may lead to changes in posture and some discomfort. Hormonal fluctuations contribute to other common symptoms like fluid retention, swelling, and changes in skin pigmentation.
Internally, various organs are shifting to make room for your growing uterus and as the cardiovascular system works harder there will be changes in blood pressure and circulation.
How your baby is developing at 28 weeks
If your baby were born now, although her lungs are still immature, with the help of a ventilator (a machine that aids breathing) and other technology, she would have a good chance of survival.
Your baby, now approximately the size of an eggplant, weighs about 1.1 kilograms and from crown to rump is about 25cm and the total length is 39cm.
Bub is becoming more active and responsive and fetal movements are not only felt by the mother but can also be visible from the outside. Your little one’s organs and systems continue to mature, with the lungs developing surfactant, a substance crucial for breathing after birth.
Regular prenatal check-ups become increasingly important to monitor the baby’s growth and to ensure mama’s well-being.
Feed me, feed me now!
From now until your baby is born, their nutrient demands surge, so you need to eat around 840 extra kilojoules a day to ensure your baby gets the nourishment they need.
Eating oily fish (such as sardines, mackerel, salmon), which contain omega-3 fatty acids, can boost your growing baby’s brain development and may even influence their future IQ.
Getting enough of these fish oils is particularly important now. Try to eat two portions of oily fish a week, but if you’re not keen on the taste, take a fish oil supplement designed for pregnancy instead.
Boost bub’s brain power
There’s a lot of action this week in your baby’s brain, which increases in size and forms grooves and indentations called gyri and sulci on the surface.
The cerebral cortex, responsible for advanced cognitive functions, is becoming more complex, setting the stage for future learning and memory.
Basic functions like breathing and heart rate regulation are underway, and sensory areas are maturing – this all helps contribute to your baby’s ability to perceive sights and sounds.
The beginning of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles is a key stage in the development of the central nervous system, showing important progress in brain sophistication during pregnancy.