Week 28

Mum

This is the beginning of the third and final trimester. You may find it uncomfortable to sleep at night as your tummy swells. Soon you may find it difficult to lie on your back. Health professionals advise sleeping on the left side during the last trimester as it improves circulation to the heart and allows for the best blood flow to the baby. Also, lying on your left side helps keep the uterus off your liver. Experiment with putting a pillow under your tummy to support it, and another one behind your back to help you sleep on your side. Tucking a pillow between your bent knees helps take the pressure off your lower back. If you have heartburn, try an extra pillow or two to raise your head while sleeping. You can use regular pillows or check out body-length pillows, C-shaped pillows and U-shaped pillows.

Some women may experience what’s known as restless legs syndrome which is a weird sensation in the lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while lying down. Nobody knows for sure what causes it, but iron supplements can sometimes help.

Dad

Your partner may find it more difficult to relax at bedtime. Offer her a glass of warm milk in bed. Many experts claim that the amino acid L-tryptophan found in milk raises the level of a sleep chemical in the brain called serotonin. You can also try reading her to sleep (the baby will like hearing your voice), or even sing a lullaby for mum and bub – good practice for when the baby arrives.

Baby

Hello, eyelashes! That’s the new feature this week. Other than that, you continue to put on fat, which is crucial for developing more neurons in your brain. You are now as big as a large eggplant.