Your developing baby – week 28

by Kaiser Permanente |
Fetus at week 28, illustration

Week 28 is the beginning of the 3rd trimester, and your baby weighs around 2 pounds and is 14.5 inches long. They’re about the size of an eggplant.

In the third trimester, your baby gains most of their total birth weight. Your baby’s:

  • Eyelashes have formed and the eyes can open and close.
  • Skin is becoming smoother.
  • Hair on the baby’s head may be growing longer. 
  • Muscles and lungs are developed enough for them to practice breathing.

In the last months of pregnancy, your baby has less room to move, so you’ll notice fewer big turns and twists but more kicks and rolling movements.

You may also notice a rhythmic jerking motion that lasts several minutes, which means your baby has the hiccups! This is common, and isn’t harmful.

This article has been created by a national group of Kaiser Permanente ob-gyns, certified nurse-midwives, pediatricians, lactation consultants and other specialists who came together to provide you with the best pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and newborn information.

Some of the content is used and adapted with permission of The Permanente Medical Group.

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