Pregnancy Week By Week

28 Weeks Pregnant: Development, Symptoms and Care

At 28 weeks pregnant, you are entering the third trimester. Your appointments, movements and sleep habits are useful things to review now, alongside how you are coping day to day. Your baby still has important growing and maturing to do.

Your baby’s development at 28 weeks

Your baby’s eyelashes are growing and their immune system continues to develop. Vernix, the creamy protective coating, covers the skin. Their position may still change; a baby who is bottom-down now is not necessarily in the position they will be in at birth.

Body changes and symptoms

Reflux, back or leg discomfort and tiredness can affect daily life. Some people also notice colostrum leaking from their breasts. Mention symptoms that are persistent or worrying, and ask for help with comfort rather than treating discomfort as a test of endurance.

New or worsening breathlessness needs prompt medical advice. Severe breathing difficulty, chest pain or collapse is an emergency: call 000. Sudden swelling, severe headache, vision changes or pain under the ribs also needs urgent assessment.

Movements should remain a priority

By this stage, movements are usually becoming more consistent and you will be learning your baby’s pattern. There is no universal daily count. A change in strength or pattern, or fewer movements than usual, needs immediate contact with your midwife, doctor or maternity unit.

Do not wait overnight, try to stimulate movement with food or drink, or rely on a home Doppler. If your team is unavailable, attend the nearest hospital maternity or emergency unit. Babies should continue moving as pregnancy progresses; less room is not a reason to dismiss reduced movement. If you have never felt movement, seek advice immediately.

Start each sleep on your side

From 28 weeks, go to sleep on either your left or right side for both naps and nighttime sleep. If you wake up on your back, roll onto your side before going back to sleep. Pillows may help you find a comfortable position.

If pain, worry or poor sleep is affecting your ability to cope, tell your GP or midwife. Emotional wellbeing belongs in pregnancy care alongside the physical checks.

Your care around 28 weeks

Confirm the plan for blood tests and any outstanding glucose tolerance test or result. If you are RhD-negative, check whether you need repeat antibody testing and Anti-D. These decisions depend on your test results and individual care plan; not everyone needs the same treatment.

Whooping cough vaccination is recommended in each pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. Current Australian guidance also recommends the maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, in each pregnancy from 28 weeks, with vaccination by the end of 36 weeks encouraged to help protect the baby after birth. Discuss timing and your vaccine history with your clinician.

Ask how often your appointments will be from here, rather than assuming everyone follows the same schedule. If a test, treatment or vaccination is offered, you can ask about its purpose, benefits and risks before deciding. Our prenatal care guide can help you organise the next steps.

When to seek medical help

In Australia, call 000 for heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, severe breathing difficulty, chest pain or collapse. Do not drive yourself if faint or very unwell.

Contact your GP, midwife or hospital immediately for vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, fever, vomiting that prevents drinking, severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling or pain under your ribs. Regular or painful contractions, pelvic pressure or persistent lower back or abdominal pain before 37 weeks may be signs of early labour: call your maternity team and go to hospital. Seek urgent care if your usual team is unavailable.