At 29 weeks your baby is a little over 15 inches from head to toe, and weighs almost 2.5 pounds(about the size of a butternut squash).
As more fat is deposited under the skin surface, its wrinkled skin is smoothing out. This white fat, as it's called, is different from the earlier brown fat your developing fetus accumulated. Brown fat is necessary for body temperature regulation, while white fat actually serves as an energy source. Your baby's muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and its head is growing bigger to make room for its developing brain. Around this time, the part of your baby's brain associated with intelligence and personality becomes far more complex. The skeleton hardens even more and the brain, muscles, and lungs continue to mature. To meet its increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, and iron. And because its bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day. Nearly all babies react to sound by 30 weeks. Your baby's very active now. Since space in your baby's living quarters is now at a premium, you'll be feeling jabs and pokes from elbows and knees, mostly. And they'll be more vigorous (and also less erratic) than before because your baby is stronger and excitedly responding to all sorts of stimuli — movement, sounds, light and that candy bar you ate half an hour ago. That means now's a good time to start doing a kick count twice a day to make sure baby's doing just fine (plus, it's a good excuse for a rest). If you haven’t felt baby move in a little while and you’re starting to worry, drink some ice water, play some music, or lie down on your side for a nice massage (ask your partner!). One of those activities should wake baby up. Anytime you’re worried about fetal activity, call your doctor; she may want to have baby checked out. You’ll want to start packing a bag with the things you know you’ll want with you at the hospital for baby’s birth. Leave it by the door, so you can add items you think of along the way—and so you can grab it at a moment’s notice.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. This information is to give you a general idea of your baby's size.
© Precious Images
