28 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Baby Development and What to Expect

At 28 weeks pregnant you are about 7 months along and at the very start of the third trimester by the ACOG definition, with about 12 weeks to go until your estimated due date.

At 28 weeks pregnant you cross into the final stretch. Your baby’s eyelids can partially open, the brain is busy folding and growing, and many people start to notice a regular pattern in their baby’s movements this week.

Below: development, size, symptoms, kick counts, the Rh shot, Tdap, sleep and when to call. Every clinical detail was read in November 2026 on the sources named in the text.

28 Weeks Pregnant at a Glance

How the weeks are counted. Mayo Clinic explains that your due date is set by counting ahead 40 weeks from the start of your last period, which is why it describes week 28 as 26 weeks after conception. If an early ultrasound changed your due date, go by your adjusted dates.

Is 28 weeks the third trimester? Yes, by ACOG’s definition and Cleveland Clinic’s. “28 weeks pregnant” means 28 weeks 0 days through 28 weeks 6 days, which is the 29th week of pregnancy, and UPMC says the third trimester starts at the beginning of that week and lasts until delivery. Not every chart draws the line in the same place; our pregnancy weeks to months guide compares them.

Your Baby’s Development at 28 Weeks

Head down or breech? Nemours KidsHealth says your provider may tell you at an upcoming visit whether your baby is headfirst or bottom or feet first (breech). It adds that your baby still has 2 months to change position and most babies switch on their own. Our breech baby guide explains the options.

How Big Is Your Baby at 28 Weeks?

Both sources measure crown to rump: from the top of the head to the bottom of the tailbone (Mayo Clinic). That leaves out the legs, so your baby’s full head-to-heel length is longer. These are averages, and healthy babies vary.

28 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

UPMC and Cleveland Clinic list these as common third trimester symptoms. You may have several or very few.

• Braxton Hicks contractions: on both lists. Painful or regular contractions this early are a different story: see the preterm labor signs below and what contractions feel like.
• Back and hip pain: on UPMC’s list. Cleveland Clinic says many people find walking, yoga or swimming feel best in the third trimester.
• Heartburn and shortness of breath: on both lists. Sudden trouble breathing or chest pain is an urgent warning sign.
• Swelling: of your face, ankles, feet and hands (UPMC). Extreme swelling of the hands or face needs care right away.
• Frequent urination, hemorrhoids and varicose veins: Cleveland Clinic lists all three.

Braxton Hicks or preterm labor? Cleveland Clinic defines preterm labor as labor that starts before week 37 and names painful contractions and your water breaking as warning signs. Not sure which you are feeling? Call. If you think fluid is leaking, read signs of leaking amniotic fluid and call your provider.

Your Body and Belly at 28 Weeks

Your bump is obvious now and keeps growing. Cleveland Clinic says your provider checks fundal height (a measurement of your belly that tracks your baby’s growth) along with your blood pressure, weight and the baby’s heart rate at third trimester visits.

Your baby’s movement pattern. Cleveland Clinic says that by the third trimester, around 28 weeks, you will usually start to notice a regular pattern of movement. It also says how often a baby moves can vary, but if you go longer than usual without feeling any movement, contact your provider.

Kick counts. Cleveland Clinic says kick counting becomes more important in the third trimester and suggests talking with your provider about when to start. It says 10 movements (kicks, flutters or rolls) in one or two hours is considered typical, and that ACOG advises checking whether you feel 10 kicks, flutters, swishes or rolls within two hours. It also says healthcare providers have different opinions on how many movements to look for, so follow your own provider’s method. Cleveland Clinic’s steps:

• Pick a calm time, such as after a meal, and lie on your left side or sit with your feet propped up.
• Start a timer, count each movement until you reach 10, and write down how many minutes it took.
• No 10 in two hours? Cleveland Clinic says that is OK and you can try again later. If you still cannot feel movement, contact your provider.

The CDC lists a baby’s movement stopping or slowing as an urgent maternal warning sign. Do not wait for your next appointment.

Prenatal Care, Tests and Appointments Around Week 28

Your visit schedule. Ask your practice which schedule it follows.

Why the Rh shot matters. Nemours KidsHealth explains that early blood tests check your Rh factor. If you are Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive, your baby could have problems such as jaundice and anemia, and your doctor can prevent these with Rh immune globulin shots this week and again after delivery.

Vaccines. Week 28 falls early in the CDC’s Tdap window, the part it prefers. The CDC page we read (updated October 7, 2026) also says a 2026 to 2027 COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all adults 18 and older. Guidance changes, so confirm with your provider.

What to Do This Week: A Simple Checklist

• Rh negative? Confirm your Rh immune globulin shot is scheduled (Nemours KidsHealth).
• Ask about Tdap if you have not had it: the CDC window (27th through 36th week) is open.
• Check that your gestational diabetes screening is done, or booked.
• Ask whether your provider wants formal kick counts.
• Choose a pediatrician. UPMC says the first visit should be two to three days after you get home.
• Start your birth plan and talk it through with your provider (UPMC).
• Begin your hospital bag checklist; UPMC lists packing it as a third trimester job.

Sleep at 28 Weeks Pregnant

Difficulty sleeping is on UPMC’s third trimester list.

Sleep position. UPMC says that as your belly grows, you should avoid sleeping on your back, because the weight of your uterus may compress a blood vessel that supplies it. It also says that if you roll onto your back at night, the discomfort will usually wake you so you can change position: just roll onto your side. Cleveland Clinic notes, in its kick count advice, that lying on your left side maximizes blood flow.

• Build a side-sleeping setup: for pillow positions, see how to use a pregnancy pillow.
• Move during the day: Cleveland Clinic suggests moving your body in a way that feels comfortable, such as walking, yoga or swimming.
• Ask before any sleep aid: check with your provider before taking any medicine, supplement or herbal product for sleep.

For Partners: How to Help at 28 Weeks

• Go to the visit where the Rh shot or Tdap is given.
• Learn the preterm labor signs and the CDC warning signs below so you can make the call if she is unsure.
• Sit with her during a kick count after dinner, when Cleveland Clinic says movement is often noticeable, and put your hand on her belly.

Looking Ahead: What Comes Next

• Week 29: Mayo Clinic says your baby can kick, stretch and make grasping movements. See 29 weeks pregnant.
• Week 30: Mayo Clinic says the eyes can open wide.
• Weeks 32 to 36: the CDC’s RSV vaccine window for pregnant people, during September to January. The other CDC option is an RSV immunization for your baby after birth.
• Week 36: Cleveland Clinic says visits usually become weekly and the group B strep test is done around now.

Looking back? See 27 weeks pregnant or our second trimester guide. For the full picture of the next 12 weeks, read the third trimester guide.

Related Betteroo Guides

• 27 Weeks Pregnant
• 29 Weeks Pregnant
• Third Trimester Guide
• Pregnancy Weeks to Months
• Hospital Bag Checklist
• How to Use a Pregnancy Pillow

When to Call Your Provider

Signs of preterm labor. Cleveland Clinic says preterm labor is labor that starts before week 37. Call your provider right away if you have:

• Painful contractions, or contractions that get closer together and longer.
• Your water breaking, bloody show or losing your mucus plug.
• Vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, dizziness or severe headaches.
• Noticeably decreased fetal movement.

Urgent maternal warning signs. The CDC says to seek medical care immediately for any of these, because they can be a sign of a life-threatening condition:

• A headache that will not go away or gets worse over time, or changes in your vision.
• Dizziness or fainting, or a fever of 100.4 F or higher.
• Extreme swelling of your hands or face.
• Trouble breathing, chest pain or a fast-beating heart.
• Severe nausea and throwing up, or severe belly pain that does not go away.
• Your baby’s movement stopping or slowing.
• Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking.
• Severe swelling, redness or pain of your leg or arm, or overwhelming tiredness.
• Thoughts about harming yourself or your baby.

The CDC also says that if something just does not feel right, or you are not sure whether it is serious, talk to your healthcare provider.

The CDC says to be sure to tell whoever you speak to that you are pregnant. If you cannot reach your provider quickly, go to labor and delivery or the nearest emergency room, and call 911 in an emergency such as severe chest pain, severe trouble breathing, a seizure or heavy bleeding. This article is general education, not medical advice.

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