Week 29 of your pregnancy
Braxton-Hicks contractions
You may have felt an occasional squeezing or tightening across your abdomen in the last few weeks. As you enter your third trimester, this feeling, called a Braxton-Hicks contraction, may get stronger and more frequent. As you near the end of your pregnancy, you may wonder how you can tell the difference between a Braxton-Hicks contraction and a true labor contraction.
* The uterus is a large muscle, and a Braxton-Hicks contraction is an irregular, involuntary flexing of that muscle-a gentle workout to prepare it for the hard work of labor. Usually, women feel them begin near the pubic bone and move up toward the top of the uterus.
* True contractions that kick off labor tend to be felt much lower and deeper. Many women describe them as a strong pulling around the vagina that rises toward the pubic bone. True contractions may be intense yet rarely exceed one minute. In real labor you usually see a pink- or red-tinged plug of mucus from the cervix, the “bloody show.”
* Braxton-Hicks contractions can be strong enough to require deep breathing and can occur more than three to four times in an hour, like labor contractions. They are especially likely to be strong and frequent if you are a little dehydrated or running a fever. If they are Braxton-Hicks, drinking four to six glasses of water and lying on the left side usually calms them down, while true labor contractions will increase in frequency and strength.
* Braxton-Hicks contractions may also occur after a sudden burst of activity, like running up the stairs, or first thing in the morning when you awaken with a full bladder, or following sex.
* Fetal movement can also mimic a contraction. You can tell the difference by placing your hands on the top and sides of the uterus. If it’s a contraction, the uterus will feel hard all over and tight to your pressed fingertips. If the uterus feels hard in some places and soft in others, your baby’s movements are probably causing the sensation.
Your Baby’s Development
* His growth in height or length will be slower from this point on, but he will continue to gain weight.
* His skin still looks red and wrinkled, but as he adds more fat, his skin will become more flesh colored and smooth.
* Lanugo, the fine hair covering his body since the fifth month of pregnancy, is beginning to disappear.
* If the baby is a boy, sometime between now and birth, the testes will have completely descended.
Parenting Q&A
Q:“Is it possible to make the baby move in response to your touch outside your stomach?”
A:Yes, and sounds can also cause your baby to move. If your baby has her foot in your ribs, try changing positions, moving around, or rubbing the area. See if these things will get your baby to move and make you feel more comfortable.
Courtesy: University of Virginia Health System
Great post!