If you’ve been asking yourself, ‘when does the third trimester start?’ the answer is now.
At 28 weeks pregnant, you’ve reached your last three months of pregnancy – your third trimester – and it won’t be long before you can meet your little one for the very first time.
As you start this final stretch, you might begin to feel more tired or uncomfortable and experience some additional third-trimester symptoms1. We’ve got all the information you need at 28 weeks pregnant, including how your baby is developing, what’s going on in your body, and some things to think about as you look ahead to labour and birth.
You’re now into month 7 of your pregnancy and at the very start of your third and final trimester. You might be starting to think more seriously about preparing for labour and birth now, including packing your hospital bag and your options when it comes to pain relief.
Your baby's development at 28 weeks
Your baby’s heart rate has been changing a lot throughout your pregnancy. At 28 weeks pregnant, your baby’s heart rate ranges anywhere between 110 and 160 bpm2. Your midwife will likely be able to hear their heartbeat through a special stethoscope3.
Your baby’s heart has to beat faster than yours (around 80 to 85 bpm) because it’s much smaller. They need to pump blood at a faster rate to help them keep warm1.
By 28 weeks pregnant, your baby measures just under 38cm long from head to heel and weighs around 1kg1, 3. For context, that’s about the size of an aubergine.
Their skin now looks smoother and plumper as they store more fat ready for the outside world3.
Most of the weight gain you’re likely to experience during pregnancy happens after week 20 as your baby, uterus, and placenta grow. Your body also stores fat to help you produce breast milk once your baby is born4.
As you begin your third trimester, carrying this extra weight can be tiring. Your growing baby might also be putting pressure on your back and organs, leading to symptoms like backache and indigestion1. Listen to your body and rest whenever you get the opportunity.
Our expert midwife also advises that you may experience another hormonal shift at this point in your pregnancy, similar to that you may have noticed during your first trimester, so keep an eye on how you’re feeling both physically and mentally.
In addition, from 28 weeks, your midwife will start to pay closer attention to your growing baby bump, and measure it with a tape measure. This is so they can monitor your baby’s Symphysis Fundal Height (SFH) and record the measurements on a perosnalised growth chart. If your midwife has any concerns, they may organise for you to have a growth scan, to ensure that your baby is growing as they should5, 6.
Look out for these third-trimester symptoms as you reach the final stage of your pregnancy.
Most of the time, nausea (or morning sickness) clears up around week 16-20 of pregnancy. But, for some women, nausea during pregnancy can continue into the third trimester7 or make an unwelcome return around about now due to those pregnancy hormones.
If you’re feeling or being sick at 28 weeks pregnant, try to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid any tastes or smells that trigger your symptoms7. If you’re struggling to manage your symptoms, or if you’re struggling to eat or drink, always speak to your healthcare provider who can discuss potential treatment options with you.
As your baby and bump grow, you might get a sharp cramp on one side of your lower tummy. These are called round ligament pains or growing pains, caused by your ligaments stretching to support your bump8. Round ligament pains usually ease if you gently change positions or rest on your side with a pillow between your legs9, you may also want to contact your midwife to be referred to a physio to advise on safe exercises to help deal with the pain..
You might also be experiencing something called ‘pelvic girdle pain’, as your baby grows and put more weight on your pelvis10.
Piles or haemorrhoids are swellings around your bottom that can happen to anyone, but are common in pregnancy and after your labour. Symptoms include itching or soreness around your bottom and pain or bleeding when having a poo11.
Constipation (another common pregnancy symptom) can also cause piles. To avoid both, eat lots of foods that are high in fibre (like wholegrains, fruits, and vegetables) and drink lots of water11.
Don’t hesitate to contact your GP if you experience piles, as they can often prescribe you with a cream to ease any discomfort.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy make your ligaments stretchier, which, along with your growing bump, can put more pressure on your lower back12.
Try these tips to avoid and ease back pain12:
If the above tips don’t help, speak to your midwife about taking the recommended dose of paracetamol to help ease pain and discomfort.
Swelling in your hands, feet, and ankles is a common third-trimester symptom. It’s usually caused by water retention during the day and can be worse in the evenings13.
You can try to reduce swelling by13:
If the swelling comes on suddenly, this could be a symptom of pre-eclampsia, so get in touch with your midwife or the 24-hour maternity unit immediately13.
If you have light skin, you might notice darker patches on your face throughout pregnancy. This is called melasma, chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’1, 14. You can minimise melasma by using sunblock (our expert midwife advises always using a higher factor than you normally would due to the change in skin pigmentation) and avoiding excessive sun exposure.
Pregnancy cravings usually start to disappear by the time you’re 28 weeks pregnant, but for some people, they can persist into the third trimester15. You might want to eat or drink things you don’t usually like, and some women even crave non-food items such as dirt. This is known as a ‘pica’ craving and may indicate that you have low iron levels. Always seek advice from your doctor or midwife if this is something you experience1.
Cravings are usually nothing to worry about as long as you continue to eat a healthy, balanced diet15. However, keep an eye on your salt and sugar intake if you’re craving something particularly sweet or salty!
‘Eating for two’ is a common pregnancy myth, and in fact, you don’t have to eat more than usual during pregnancy until you arrive at your third trimester. Even then, you’ll only need around an extra 200 calories per day16.
Continuing to eat a healthy, balanced diet can help ensure that you gain a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy. Gaining too much weight can put you at risk of complications such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, while gaining too little can lead to premature birth16.
At 28 weeks pregnant, it’s recommended that you have the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccination. Having the RSV vaccine between now and when you go into labour can help reduce your baby’s risk of getting a lung infection called bronchiolitis in their first six months by 70%1.
You’ll be offered several screening tests in the days after your baby’s born to help spot certain developmental conditions.
This includes:
All of these screening tests are optional, but recommended to help provide your baby with the best care. Speak to your midwife if you’d like to know more about any of these tests.
Getting enough iron in your diet during pregnancy can prevent anaemia and help prevent fatigue21.
Iron-rich foods include21:
Your midwife will test your iron levels at your 28-week antenatal appointment. If your levels are too low, you might be advised to take an iron supplement22.
By now, you should be able to feel your baby moving and kicking. While there’s no set number of movements you should feel each day, you should notice that your baby gets into a fairly regular pattern23.
You should be able to feel your baby moving right up until, and during, your labour. If your baby’s movements slow down or stop, don’t wait – get in touch with your midwife or labour ward straight away23.
After you pass 24 weeks pregnant, your baby is considered ‘viable’, meaning they have a high chance of survival if they’re born early, given the right support24.
If you go into labour before week 37, your baby is considered premature. They will likely need additional care and may have short-term or long-term health conditions25.
You might be going into premature labour if you’re less than 37 weeks pregnant and have26:
If you have any of these symptoms or just feel like something isn’t right, call your midwife or maternity unit right away26.
Yes, 28 weeks in months is about 7 months pregnant – just 2 months to go!
Last reviewed: October 2025
Reviewed by Nutricia’s Medical and Scientific Affairs Team
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