29th week: The 3rd trimester begins

Weeks and days
28+0 to 28+6
Month
8
Trimester
3

The 8th month and the 3rd trimester begin with the 29th week of pregnancy. This week, the fetus gains from about 1,190 to 1,350 grams. In Germany, the time window for the third basic ultrasound now opens.

A whole orange Hokkaido pumpkin lies on an open hand
Hokkaido pumpkinaround 1.35 kg, the weight of your baby at the end of the week

Week 29 of 40

Calculate your week
1st trimester2nd trimester3rd trimester

How big and how heavy is the fetus?

050100150200250300 mm27th week232 to 24228th week242 to 25029th week250 to 25930th week259 to 267

250 to 259 mm

By the end of the week, the fetus weighs about as much as a Hokkaido pumpkin. From head to heel, it measures about 36 centimeters.

Crown-rump length according to the values from Archie et al. 2006, weight according to the WHO growth charts. A Hokkaido pumpkin weighs 1 to 1.5 kg.

This week

Your baby

  • The eyelids open; eyelashes and eyebrows have formed.
  • From now on, in studies, unborn babies regularly respond to loud vibrations on the belly with a blink.
  • The heart beats about 140 times per minute and can be heard with a stethoscope.

Your body

  • Ankles, feet, or face often swell, especially in the heat. Have it checked anyway, as it can be preeclampsia.
  • Nosebleeds are more common during pregnancy, even during sleep.
  • In some, first milk (colostrum) already leaks from the breasts. This is normal.

What matters now

  • In Germany, the third basic ultrasound is scheduled between 28+0 and 31+6.
  • The German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends the whooping cough vaccination at the beginning of the 3rd trimester, that is, now, and in every pregnancy.
  • Fall asleep on your side; left or right is equally good. If you wake up on your back, simply turn over again.

Get checked right away: heavy bleeding, severe or persistent abdominal pain, fever, pain when urinating, or vomiting where you cannot keep anything down.

Gestational sacPlacentaFetus with heartbeat

On ultrasound

  1. 28+0

    Baby's position is recorded at the third screening.

  2. 28+0

    Head circumference is on average about 264 mm.

  3. 28+0

    Abdominal circumference measures on average about 240 mm.

At the third basic ultrasound, the doctor also checks whether the baby is growing on schedule. It is possible until 31+6.

Frequently asked questions about the 29th week of pregnancy

Which month is the 29th week of pregnancy?

The first week of the 8th month of pregnancy and of the 3rd trimester. Figures such as 28+3 weeks also belong to the 29th week of pregnancy.

Can a baby survive in the 29th week of pregnancy?

Yes, a very good one. In England, 92 out of 100 babies who were born in this week and admitted to a neonatal unit survived to discharge.

Can I sleep on my back in the 29th week of pregnancy?

It is better to fall asleep on your side. In studies, falling asleep on your back from this week on was associated with an approximately 2.6-fold higher risk of late stillbirth. The right side was as good as the left.

How much weight have I gained in the 29th week of pregnancy?

With a normal weight before pregnancy, about 6.1 to 7.6 kilograms up to 28+0 is usual.

Sources

Updated on 30 October 2026 · Fertilio Editorial Team