Day 208 of 280, third trimester
You are 29 weeks and 5 days
Whatever your size, and your baby's, nature won't let her grow too big for you to give birth.
72 days until your due date
Your body shape isn't a guide to whether you'll have an easy birth. Hip size doesn't always reflect pelvis size, so slim hips don't mean a difficult birth, and wide "child-bearing" hips don't mean an easy one.
Although your child's eventual size is set by genes, you have extra influence over your baby's size in the uterus. So even if your child grows to 6 ft (1.8 m), if you're small, you'll limit how big she grows before birth. It makes sense: a small woman couldn't deliver a 12 lb (5.5 kg) baby, so her body limits the baby's size at delivery, and the baby catches up after birth.
In a condition called cephalopelvic disproportion, the baby is too big or the pelvis too small for the baby to engage, and an MRI scan is used to get exact measurements.
Time to think about
A support network
After the birth, your body will spring back overnight and you'll be bursting with energy. That's one scenario! The more realistic one is that you'll struggle to get breastfeeding going and brush your teeth before lunchtime. If you hate living in a mess, act now to stop resentment (and laundry) building up in a few months' time.
- Talk to your partner now about how you'll share the chores once you're parents.
- Your job will be nurturing your newborn, so you'll need domestic backup, especially in the first few weeks. Recruit family and friends, or pay professionals if needed, and delegate so you don't have to think about shopping, cooking, or cleaning.
- New parents need time to themselves, so line up babysitters for a few weeks after the birth. If you're breastfeeding, you'll need to express milk.
Ask a Doctor
What happens at gestational diabetes screening?
You'll be given a very sugary drink, wait an hour, and then have a blood test. If your level is high, you'll have a longer glucose tolerance test. If you do have gestational diabetes, you'll be taught to test your blood sugar at home and will probably be able to control it with diet and exercise. It's reassuring to know that most women with sugar in their urine have normal blood sugar on testing.
Explainer
Nature is on your side
As you marvel at the size of your belly, you may wonder how you'll ever deliver your baby, but don't worry; nature is on your side.
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.