The development of the fetus week 29

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Tran Thi Mai Huong - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
At the 29th week of pregnancy, the mother has just entered the last trimester of pregnancy, this is a challenging period both physically and mentally during the whole mother's incubation. You're also approaching the time of labor, with so much to know and prepare for.

1. How does a 29-week-old fetus develop?

At 29 weeks, your baby kicks more often, and this is a good sign that your baby is doing fine. Your doctor will advise you to count the number of times your baby kicks each day with specific information. Mother count the number of kicks of the baby to check, like in the habit of counting the number of times the baby kicks twice a day, morning and night.
During this week of pregnancy, your baby is measuring about 39.3 cm long, and weighing about 1,239 kg (almost the size of a grapefruit). During this period, your baby will have accumulated enough weight to equal half of his birth weight. Your baby's muscles and lungs are continuing to mature. The growth of the fetus makes the mother more hungry, because the baby needs more nutrients to grow.
As your pregnancy is approaching the end of the seventh month, the moment when you can hold your baby in your arms is very close. Babies are growing at a very fast rate and are extremely active in the womb. You will see your baby kick and beat many times a day because he is working his muscles. Because the brain is developing so quickly, the baby's head makes up a significant portion of its total body mass. At the twenty-ninth week, the baby usually lies along the mother's belly with the head down towards the uterus.
Your baby's head is growing in size to accommodate the growing brain from last week and continuing this week. Babies begin to regulate their own body temperature. Hearing improves, muscles and lungs continue to mature. Baby's skin is getting smoother and softer and losing the villi. The spinal cord begins to produce red blood cells. Babies can also open and close their eyes.

2. Mother's body in the twenty-ninth week of pregnancy

The average weight gain of the mother this week is about 8.6 to 11.3 kg. The recommended calorie intake during this period is 2,400 kcal a day, which is higher than the general recommendation of about 500 kcal a day.
Hormone levels during pregnancy also make it easier for the mother to gain weight. You may also experience chest pain and varicose veins.
At the twenty-ninth week of pregnancy, the mother's belly is getting bigger and bigger and protruding, it will be difficult for the mother to see her feet. The height of the uterus is from 26 to 35 cm, the amount of amniotic fluid increases to about 9 cm around the mother's navel.
Mom's breasts are bigger, forcing her to choose the right bra. Other symptoms you may experience at 29 weeks pregnant include:
Fingernails and toenails grow faster due to hormonal changes. Constipation is one of the most common symptoms, and can be accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and solid stools. You should eat foods rich in fiber and drink lots of water. Varicose veins can form on the legs, and are also normal during pregnancy. Mothers can use medical socks to limit symptoms and prevent complications according to the doctor's advice. Mood swings. Stomachache. Shortness of breath due to the size of the uterus. Try to rest as soon as possible, if you have a lot of trouble breathing, tell your doctor. You also have frequent migraines, and you can relieve the pain by resting in a quiet room with the lights off, as well as applying a cold compress to your neck or forehead. Frequent urination is normal. Due to the increased pressure from the uterus and the baby on the bladder, try your best, because pregnancy is inherently tired, you still have to go to the bathroom many times at night. Hemorrhoids can be itchy and painful, so don't stand for too long. If the pain does not go away, you can consult your doctor before taking any medication during pregnancy. If you accidentally have rectal bleeding, you should go to the doctor right away. Regular exercise, drinking lots of water, and eating a high-fiber diet can prevent constipation. Preeclampsia is at risk of developing during this time. The main complication of preeclampsia is high blood pressure, which has consequences on liver and kidney function. Don't miss any appointments with your doctor, because preeclampsia can lead to many dangerous complications. You should check your blood pressure regularly and know what normal blood pressure is, so you can recognize abnormal blood pressure changes. Preeclampsia is often accompanied by symptoms that include swelling in the legs, headaches that don't go away, as well as nausea and vomiting.

3. What should mothers do at 29 weeks pregnant?

The most important thing is to have a healthy and balanced diet. Your baby is growing, so about 250 milligrams of calcium from your diet will be loaded into your baby's developing bones, which will also need calcium to develop nerves, muscles, heart, and teeth. If the mother does not get enough calcium, the baby will take calcium from the mother's bones, resulting in high blood pressure and low birth weight. Eat calcium-rich foods like low-fat yogurt, almond or soy milk, tofu, sardines, dried figs, and broccoli. Besides, you should drink a lot of water, this is essential. Moderate exercise such as walking or swimming for about 30 minutes will stimulate bowel movements.
Due to the rapid growth of the baby, make sure you get enough nutrients, including vitamin C, folic, protein, iron and calcium. Iron is very important during pregnancy. Iron deficiency anemia is a common problem for pregnant women, so eat iron-rich foods like beef, fish, beans, lentils and turkey.
If you have bleeding at any stage in your pregnancy, go to the hospital right away, as well as ask your doctor about the signs of premature birth to watch out for.
At the 29th week of pregnancy is when the pregnant mother begins to enter the 3rd trimester, this is a challenging period both physically and mentally during the whole mother's incubation. You're also approaching the time of labor, with so much to know and prepare for. Therefore, to ensure the best health for mother and baby, pregnant women need to know the signs of labor, distinguish physiological contractions to go to the hospital in time.
After the important antenatal check-up at 12 and 22 weeks, at 32nd week of pregnancy, the doctor will perform 4D ultrasound to screen for abnormalities in the late stage. Therefore, choosing a reputable hospital with good expertise is what pregnant women are most concerned about at the moment. At Vinmec, there is a team of specialists who are not only capable of detecting fetal malformations very early, but also can detect fetal malformations that can only be detected in the last weeks of pregnancy such as hydrocephalus. , congenital heart, .... This is the strength of prenatal diagnosis at Vinmec that not all hospitals can do. In addition, if abnormalities are detected at a late stage, at Vinmec, pregnant women can also perform fetal medicine intervention, gene testing, etc. When accurate results are available, doctors will advise consultation and make the best choice for pregnant women.
Doctor Tran Thi Mai Huong has 25 years of experience in examination and treatment in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, lower tract surgery, laparoscopic surgery. Has held the position of deputy head of the School of Obstetrics and Gynecology, deputy head of the delivery department - Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Has high expertise and strength in the fields of:
Lower tract surgery Laparoscopic surgery Difficult obstetric surgeries. Recommended video:
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Articles refer to sources: Mayoclinic.org, Webmd.com, Babycenter.com, Whattoexpect.com