Day 199 of 280, third trimester
You are 28 weeks and 3 days
If you feel you've been eclipsed by your belly, it's time to do something just for you.
81 days until your due date
Like many pregnant women, you may feel you've disappeared behind your bump, as if who you are has been lost under "pregnant woman." People may stop asking how you are or what's going on in your life; instead of "How are you?" it's "Is everything OK with the baby?"
It can be hard for others, and even you, to remember that you still exist apart from being a pregnant woman or mother. If this frustrates you, do something just for you, perhaps some pampering or dinner for two, to feel special again.
Focus on
Nutrition: Grazing through the day
You need plenty of good-quality protein for your baby's growth and your own health, so try to have eggs, cheese, lean meat, fish, legumes, or grains at every meal, plus lots of fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and some unrefined carbohydrates.
Split your food into five to seven small meals and snacks a day. If you usually have soup and a sandwich for lunch, have vegetable soup mid-morning and the sandwich later; graze on raw vegetables, cheese, nuts, and fruit through the afternoon; perhaps have oatmeal in the early evening and fruit later.
There are no rules about when to eat, so have these mini-meals when you're hungry. As long as you get the nutrients you need and don't overeat, graze as often as you like.
Ask a Doctor
I have a sharp pain in my lower back and leg. What's causing it?
It sounds like sciatica, a sharp pain down the back and leg when the sciatic nerve, the longest in the body, is trapped in a joint in the lower back. It isn't caused by pregnancy but can get worse during it. Warm baths, a warm compress, and gentle massage from an experienced practitioner can help, and yoga or water aerobics can strengthen your back muscles (check with your doctor before starting anything new). Watch your posture and wear comfortable, supportive shoes.
If you have sciatica, ask your doctor to refer you to a physical therapist, who can show you exercises to ease the pain and reduce the risk of it coming back.
Appointments and key dates around now
- Whooping cough vaccineUsually around 20 weeks, best before 32 weeks
- RSV vaccineFrom 28 weeks
Read the full 28 weeks pregnant guide
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.