Week 28 of Pregnancy

The Third Trimester Reality Check

Welcome to Week 28 and congratulations — you're now officially in the third trimester. Here we are in wire-cutter home stretch (ish) reality time. The belly is larger, the kicks are stronger, and you are suddenly counting down to meeting your baby and it feels closer… and yet also so far away. Regardless of whether you're slogging your way through pregnancy (and/or work/children or what remains of your sanity), this week is a pretty major milestone you should acknowledge. You've changed — in size, but also in your heart — so much, and it's time to start preparing for what comes next.

But don't be fooled: the third trimester is not all cute kicks and baby showers. It can be painful and draining and full of new questions. You're on the phone with the mat done but Christ, also having to pee because all that water must have gone somewhere, and you're thinking — you don't really even HAVE to pee, in retrospect — but there you are, lying wide awake in the wee hours, wondering if "pregnant" dreams count as "good" sleep, and is this little twinge "just" pregnant or do you need to make that call? The good news? It's not a bad week to get a fresh start. You have 12 weeks (more or less) to get your head and body in the game so you can unroll whatever yoga mat you have at home for this 20-minute daily flow. Involves, that is, getting clear about your birth preferences, switching up your self-care routines, and making peace with the fact that your body is doing a ton of work even if you feel only a little alive.

My Baby! Smart, Fast and Fabulous on the Rise

Your baby now clocks in at about 14.8 inches (like the length of a large eggplant) and 2¼ pounds. And as obscenely large as they appear, it's what's inside that counts. At this stage, baby is accumulating fat in layers, building muscle tone and practicing reflexes. By this point, you may notice more regular movements. The types of movements you feel will depend on your baby and how far along you are, but they should become more regular.

What's even cooler? Your baby's body is working overtime to grow billions of neurons every day. They're learning your voice, which is to say those bedtime podcasts and distinctly one-sided car conversations aren't just for your consideration now. They have actually opened their eyes, now with lashes, and are starting to blink. And while baby's lungs are maturing, she still has a bit more growing to do before she's 100 percent ready for life outside the womb. If they were born today, odds are that they'd need to be taken to the neonatal intensive care unit — but their chances of survival are high and growing by the year.

My Body: Third Trimester Energy Shift (The Plot Twist)

You've likely put on 17 to 24 pounds, but everyone's number is slightly different. You are top of the world! An irradiant goddess of a light beam! And some days you're just a bloated marshmallow. It's normal. Do you, because your feelings are what matter there — if something feels funny to you, ask about it at your next appointment. You've officially entered the biweekly OB-visits territory — as in, everything will be looked at once every two weeks. Use them. Jot down your questions (pregnancy brain is no myth) and bring them in with you. This is your time.

And you may notice that you begin experiencing the occasional Braxton Hicks contractions — those painless, irregular practice tightenings your uterus is tossing into the mix. All totally normal, unless they're frequent or painful (in which case, call your provider). Other fun third-trimester symptoms? Short of breath, round ligament pain, achy ankles, the return of varicose veins and sleepless nights. Oh, and also do not get me started on all the leaking colostrum (yes, pre-game breastmilk). Glamorous? Not really. So signs that your body's prepping for the main event.

If you've had any issues, for instance gestational diabetes or PIH or placenta previa, your OB might want to check in more frequently. It's not to scare you; it's to keep you from getting sick. Be sure to advocate for yourself and ask questions. Besides, you're the one in the stirrups.

My Health: Let's Discuss Birth Plans (and Sanity Plans)

If the concept is empowering and appeals to you, this week is a good time to start getting serious about your birth plan. Some mothers-to-be adore the idea of scripting every last detail. Others say it causes pressure they don't need. And now the Caitlyn take: you do not need to choreograph your labor like it's going to be on Broadway. But it can be useful to have a sense of what you're looking for before those contractions are bearing down on you.

Ask yourself:

• How do I feel about epidurals? Pitocin? Interventions?
• Do I want to be tracked in spurts, or around the clock?
• Is there a tub or a shower I can have access to?
• If there is low lighting, music or silence?
• What sort of situation would make it feel safe and that I have some control?

Put your answers in writing. If you want to be brief, sure, and often, less is sweeter — but clear and specific is easier for your care team. Even if all goes to pot on the day, a plan grounds you — and prevents you from feeling as if you're winging it half-naked in a paper gown.

Also? Birth plans are not just for first-timers. If you had a horrific first birth and you want something completely different this time — say that. Own it. Advocate for yourself, even if it means challenging "normal routines.

🧠 Mental Load Moment

You're thinking about things like birth plans, breathing exercises, backaches, and worrying about not having enough Tums. You are trying to keep your career afloat, remember which texts you replied to, and solve the mystery of whether those Amazon boxes on your stoop contain something you actually ordered. That's the mental load. And it's heavy. So delegate, release what can wait and be kind to yourself.

🍫 Caitlyn's Self-Care Pep-Talk:

You've made it 28 weeks. Your body is a miracle, your brain is doing more than it ever gets credit for, and even if you're too worn out for the toasts, I will: 🥂 (with juice or ice cream or decaf chai or whatever suits). Take the break. Eat the carbs. You are doing amazing.