Your Baby at 28 Weeks

A Closer Look at Week 28

Welcome to the third trimester! At 28 weeks, your baby weighs approximately one kilogram and is entering the home stretch of development. One of the most enchanting discoveries about babies at this stage is that they experience Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep — the sleep phase associated with dreaming. While we cannot know what a baby dreams about in the womb, the presence of REM sleep indicates that the brain is processing and consolidating the sensory experiences it has been collecting: sounds, movements, light, and touch.

Your baby now has eyelashes, which frame the eyes that opened for the first time just two weeks ago. These delicate lashes serve the same purpose as adult eyelashes: protecting the eyes from debris and helping to diffuse bright light. The eyes can now track light, and if a bright torch were shone at your belly, your baby might turn their head towards or away from it.

Sciatica — a sharp, shooting pain that radiates from the lower back down through the buttock and into the leg — affects many women in the third trimester. It is caused by the growing uterus pressing on the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower spine through the pelvis and down each leg. Prenatal physiotherapy, gentle stretching, swimming, and applying heat or cold packs can help manage symptoms. Avoid sitting for prolonged periods, and when sitting, use a cushion or rolled towel to support the lower back.

Iron-deficiency anaemia is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in pregnancy, and your healthcare provider will likely check your iron levels around this time. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and shortness of breath. If your levels are low, iron supplements may be recommended alongside iron-rich foods such as red meat, spinach, lentils, and fortified cereals.