Day 206 of 280, third trimester
You are 29 weeks and 3 days
Start getting your baby's room ready now, while you still have the energy for shopping and decorating.
74 days until your due date
It's recommended that your baby sleeps in your room for the first six months, but many parents-to-be still like to prepare a nursery. It's useful for clothes and gifts, and you may want to breastfeed and set up a changing area there.
Check garage sales and eBay for secondhand equipment, a good way to get bigger items cheaply. If you buy a used crib, make sure it's certified by the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association and the slats are no more than 2⅜ in apart. Hand-me-down clothes, sheets, and towels save money too. If this isn't your first baby, you may have almost everything except disposables such as diapers (unless you use cloth).
It's good to be prepared (babies sometimes come early), but you won't be trapped at home forever, so there's no need to stock up for a siege. If you run out of something, you can get it after the birth.
If you don't know the baby's sex, choose neutral colors for the room; if you do, decorate accordingly.
Ask a Doctor
Do I need a carriage, travel system, or stroller?
There are many options, which makes choosing hard, and the right one depends on your circumstances. If you mostly drive, consider a car seat that attaches to a stroller frame, or a car seat plus a separate carrycot. If you'll walk a lot, a lightweight stroller may suit you better than a carriage.
Think about how long your baby will use it: it must be comfortable, lie flat for the first six months, have adjustable seat positions as your baby grows, and be weatherproof. If you do a lot of "around town" travel, a lightweight stroller as well as your main one may help. Look around in stores and online to compare models and get the best price.
Appointments and key dates around now
- Whooping cough vaccineUsually around 20 weeks, best before 32 weeks
- RSV vaccineFrom 28 weeks
Read the full 29 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.