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Congratulations! |
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You have entered your third trimester
You are in
Week 28 of Your Pregnancy |
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Size: 8.4 inches
Weight: 1.2 pounds
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| Source: "Improved birth weight table for neonates developed from gestations dated by early ultrasonography."
Journal of Ultrasound Medicine. |
Your Baby
By this time your baby has a pretty good chance of surviving outside the womb. The eyes open and the retina form different layers which can sense light levels and send messages to the brain. Also, the once smooth surface of the brain starts to form grooves and indentations.
You
The glow of the second trimester is beginning to fizzle, and you're once again tired, tired, tired. You're getting bigger and have just about forgotten what it feels like to sleep through the night. Trips to the bathroom, kicks from the baby, cramping legs, and heartburn are all working against you. And to make matters worse, you've got (can you even stand it?) a hemorrhoid!
If you have hemorrhoids, you're in good company; over half of all women get them at some point during pregnancy. A hemorrhoid is basically a varicose vain in your bum. Increased blood volume is the main culprit, along with pressure from your expanding uterus. To avoid (or not aggravate) them, avoid constipation. Eat a fiber-rich diet and ask your doctor about fiber supplements and stool softeners. To alleviate them, try warm baths, cold compresses, or witch hazel pads or ask your doctor about topical creams.
