Week 28

Carola Felchner is a freelance writer in the medical department and a certified training and nutrition advisor. She worked for various specialist magazines and online portals before becoming a freelance journalist in 2015. Before starting her internship, she studied translation and interpreting in Kempten and Munich.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

Good Morning! From the 28th week of pregnancy onwards, your child closes their eyes while sleeping and opens them when they wake up. And your uterus is already starting to prepare the “birth bed”. Read here how the development of your child and your body progresses in the 28th week of pregnancy and why you can already deal with the topic of breastfeeding.

28 weeks of gestation: This is how your baby is developing

The child already has a certain sleep-wake rhythm in the 28th week of pregnancy. After all, it has to savor the fact that it can now open and close its eyes. The iris is already fully developed at this point in pregnancy (28th week), but the final eye color is still a long time coming - it sometimes takes up to a year after the birth for the pigments to darken accordingly. Your baby can't see clearly yet. In week 28 of pregnancy and a little while after the birth, this is not necessary either.

In the 28th week of pregnancy, more "surfactant" is produced - the substance that prevents the alveoli from sticking together. If your child were born now, it would still be a premature baby, but would have a good chance of survival.

28th week of pregnancy ultrasound: That can be seen

Your baby is getting bigger and bigger: The 28th week of pregnancy means another two centimeters in length, so that the child now measures around 36 centimeters in total. A scale would read about 1,100 grams, so the weight gain that week is about 100 grams.

You can already see your child's unique face in the ultrasound image. Perhaps your gynecologist will offer you the option of a 3D ultrasound in the 28th week of pregnancy - then your baby can be represented even more realistically. The usual 2D views are put together in such a way that a three-dimensional image of your dwarf is created. However, the prerequisite is that the little one is lying in such a way that it can be photographed well. What you should consider in advance: A 3D ultrasound is not a cash benefit! So find out in advance about the costs that you could face.

28th week of pregnancy: That will change for you

In order to make it easier for the baby to turn around in its already very narrow dwelling, the shape of the uterus changes in the 28th week of pregnancy: it becomes thicker at the top and elongated and thinner at the bottom. This makes it easier for the child to assume the birth position with the head down. It can take up to the 36th week of gestation for it to actually do this. So don't worry if the youngsters prefer to do some gymnastics first.

Your child increasingly needs space in the 28th week of pregnancy. Your belly will continue to grow to make room for the baby and uterus.

28th week of pregnancy: That is important now

Breast milk is the most natural food for the newborn. So if you would like to breastfeed after the birth, you can start the appropriate preparation as early as the 28th week of pregnancy. But don't try to toughen your breasts with brush treatments. This is rather counterproductive, painful and can even trigger premature labor.

Instead, wash your nipples at 28 weeks and afterwards with water without soap to prevent them from drying out. Take care of them with some body lotion if the skin on the chest is very dry and flaky. Showering with cold water can help in preparation for breastfeeding if your nipples are having difficulty straightening up. Otherwise it is sufficient if you don't wear a bra from time to time or if you “let your breasts out” so that they get an incentive to sit up (through cold drafts).

Some hospitals, birthing centers and midwives also offer breastfeeding preparation courses. However, you can also drop by at about 28 weeks of gestation or later in a breastfeeding group and talk to mothers who have already gained practical experience. That gives you self-confidence for your own commitment.

Midwife tip

Around the 28th week of pregnancy you should think about where your child should be born. In this country, a hospital birth is the rule. If the pregnancy is not at risk, you can also give birth at home or go to a birthing center. This is an out-of-hospital facility run by midwives. Depending on which midwife you have chosen, she will also be present at the hospital or at home for the birth. The familiar face is reassuring for many expectant mothers. I recommend couples to the clinics and birth centers that come into question, to see the 28th week of pregnancy in person and then to decide on the basis of their guts where they would like to have their child best.