Week 28: Baby becomes Viable

Read on to learn about the developments that a baby undergoes by the 28th week of pregnancy.This is the first week of your final trimester and the foetus is finally viable. This just means that were she to be born this week, survival outside the womb would be possible. The lungs, though quite mature, are not fully developed as yet and so the baby might face initial breathing difficulties.You see the lungs have to develop a substance known as surfactant to stop them from collapsing between each breath. But with the facilities that are available to us today, your child will have plenty of outside help in holding on to her life, were she to be born. In this articleBaby’s Brain DevelopmentBaby’s MovementsBaby’s Heartbeat and VisionDevelopment of Baby’s Hair and Weight GainPregnancy Fears and AnxietiesShortness of Breath during PregnancyUnderstanding Delivery ProcessAgenda for Prenatal Visits during 28th Week of PregnancyBaby’s Development during the 28th Week of PregnancyLet us take a look at the developments that may take place during the 28th week of pregnancy.Baby’s Brain DevelopmentBy now the thinking part of her brain has already been formed and your baby can experience sensations such as pain, warmth and cold just like a newly born one. Even her sense of taste is acute, even more so than after birth as she has plenty of taste buds at this stage.Baby’s MovementsYou can not only feel the baby move if you place your hand on your stomach you can actually identify body parts such as the head, foot or bottom. In fact this is the way for the doctor to assess her position without the use of the ultrasound scan. A simple abdominal examination is sufficient at this stage.By this week your baby measures one foot and two and a half inches or 37cm. and weighs approximately two pounds and three ounces or about 1kg.Baby’s Heartbeat and VisionHer heartbeat is really strong and you shall be able to hear it by placing your ear on the bump. Your doctor shall use the Doppler to listen to the heartbeat. She can now blink her eyes and she can now see to the point that she can see your face while you are breastfeeding her.Development of Baby’s Hair and Weight GainShe shall also start growing her hair. Her eyelashes and eyebrows are also visible now. With growth of her baby fat, she is gaining more weight now. She shall put on some more weight before the time of her birth.Pregnancy Fears and AnxietiesYou are more into this whole thing and thinking about the arrival of your little one. May be you shall also dream about her now. If you are going through fears and anxieties, it is perfectly normal. Talk to your partner and doctor to think of ways to deal with your fear. Talking to friends who have experienced the same will reassure you how normal the things are.Shortness of Breath during PregnancyIf you are experiencing shortness of breath, that too should be taken as a pregnancy symptom in the 3rd trimester. Your baby gets more compressed as she grows and it is getting difficult for her to fit inside. Exercising all through pregnancy under the guidance of your doctor is a good idea to stay active and keep at bay the troubles. However, you need to be careful while exercising and be sure to stay under supervision.Understanding Delivery ProcessThis is the time when you may talk about the different delivery options with your doctor. You can gather more information from the hospital unit about the facilities offered. In the third trimester you might experience a lot more pains and aches. It is better to overlook them, than get annoyed. These pains are a result of the extra weight your body has been bearing all these days. Also, you cannot rule out the hormonal surges in your body. All these contribute to the growing discomforts in your body.Agenda for Prenatal Visits during 28th Week of PregnancyHere is what should be on your agenda:You need to discuss about your foetal movements.Think about the child birth options.Discuss about breast feeding options.Know about ways to count kicks.Your visit to your healthcare provider shall increase now and continue till the delivery.As your baby is getting ready to meet you, you too shall be prepared to meet her. Do keep in mind the arrangements you should be prepared with before bringing her home. Look for the items and keep them in place before you get too busy with her.Do keep your doctor informed about the changes you go through and the new experiences that might put you in doubt.What kinds of developments take place in a baby by the 28th week of pregnancy? What precautions should be taken during the last trimester of pregnancy? How to take right care during pregnancy? Discuss here.