Pregnancy Week 28: What to Expect This Week

Pregnancy Week 28 marks the official start of the third trimester—which means you’re in the final stretch (even if it feels like you’ve been pregnant for a thousand years already). Your baby is getting bigger, stronger, and wrigglier by the day, and your body is working overtime to keep up.

Let’s break down what’s happening this week.

Baby at Pregnancy Week 28

Your baby is about 37.5cm long and weighs just over 1kg—that’s roughly the size of an aubergine (a big one). They’re laying down fat to help regulate their temperature, and their cute features are becoming more defined.

Inside the womb this week:

Baby’s eyes can open and close, and they can now see light and dark

Their brain is developing quickly—they might even be dreaming now

Bone marrow has taken over red blood cell production

Their movements are becoming stronger and more deliberate—you may feel kicks, rolls and the occasional elbow jab to the ribs

Your Symptoms at Pregnancy Week 28

The third trimester can bring a whole new set of pregnancy quirks. At this point, you might notice:

Backache or pelvic pressure

Heartburn or indigestion (thanks, squashed stomach)

Leg cramps, especially at night

Braxton Hicks contractions—your uterus is rehearsing

Leaky breasts—your body may already be making colostrum

Tiredness—your energy might dip again, so rest when you can

Top tip: This is the time to start paying close attention to baby’s movements. You’ll likely start hearing the phrase “get to know what’s normal for your baby”—and it’s true. If anything feels off or reduced, always get checked.

What to Do at Pregnancy Week 28

Now’s the time to start getting your practical and mental prep going:

Attend your 28-week midwife appointment (you might be offered blood tests or an anti-D injection if you’re Rh-negative)
Look into antenatal classes—we’ve got brilliant options below
Make a list for your hospital bag (you don’t need to pack just yet, but having a checklist helps)
If you’re working, you might want to finalise your maternity leave dates
Think about how you want to feed your baby—breast, bottle, combo or just figuring it out as you go

Honest Midwife Thoughts

Pregnancy Week 28 can feel like a bit of a turning point. You’re far enough along that labour doesn’t feel like a distant theory anymore—but not quite at the “any day now” stage.

You might feel excited, anxious, completely unprepared—or some strange combo of all three. That’s completely normal.

Now’s a great time to start gathering some tools for birth, understand what your body is doing, and make space (mentally and physically) for what’s coming next.

Feeling Ready? Join Us for a Class

At Pregnancy Week 32, it’s a great time to dive into:

Natural Labour & Birth – our free session to help you understand how birth works and what to expect
Hypnobirthing Course – practical tools to reduce fear and increase calm (no whale music required)
Instrumental & Instrumental Birth Workshop – know your options and your rights
Infant Feeding Workshop – get ahead with feeding knowledge and bust the myths