29 Weeks Pregnant
At 29 weeks pregnant your baby is about the size of a butternut squash — roughly 15 inches long and around 2.5 pounds — and starting a big weight-gain stretch. About half of total birth weight is packed on between now and delivery, a lot of it fat laid down under the skin to round out their appearance and help them hold a steady temperature after birth.
Your week at a glance
| This week | Details |
|---|---|
| Baby size | About a butternut squash, roughly 15 inches and ~2.5 lb (38.6 cm, ~1.15 kg) |
| What is developing | Rapid fat and weight gain, hardening bones, fast brain growth, maturing lungs |
| Your symptoms | Heartburn, shortness of breath, frequent peeing, back and pelvic pain, leg swelling |
| To-do | Count kicks, manage heartburn, set up a safe sleep space, pick a pediatrician |
How big is your baby at 29 weeks?
Your baby is about 15 inches long and around 2.5 pounds this week, roughly the size of a butternut squash. The big story is rapid weight gain. Over the next 11 weeks your baby will roughly double in weight — about half of their total birth weight is packed on between now and delivery. A lot of that weight is fat being laid down under the skin, both to round out their appearance and to help them regulate body temperature after birth. The skin, which was wrinkled and translucent not long ago, is starting to look fuller and smoother.
Bones keep hardening, a process called ossification, and your baby will pull a great deal of calcium from your diet to support it — about 250 milligrams a day. The brain is in a particularly dramatic stretch, with billions of new neurons forming connections and the surface developing more of the wrinkles and folds that mark a mature brain. The lungs and digestive system keep maturing too. Your baby's adrenal glands are now producing hormones that will help trigger your milk production later, and the immune system is gathering strength as antibodies cross to your baby through the placenta.
Movement should feel strong and frequent now, although the kicks may sometimes feel cramped because the womb is getting cozier. Your baby has clear sleep-wake cycles, senses light through your belly, hears familiar voices and music, and may have favorite positions and routines.
29 weeks pregnant symptoms
Your uterus is now reaching about 29 centimeters above your pubic bone, and it is pressing on basically every nearby organ. That crowding drives most of what you feel this week:
- Heartburn as the stomach gets crowded and acid splashes upward more easily
- Shortness of breath and a return to first-trimester-level frequent bathroom trips
- Lower back and pelvic joint pain, plus round-ligament twinges when you twist or stand up quickly
- Leg swelling, especially by the end of the day — mild hand or foot swelling is usually fine
- Stronger, more frequent Braxton Hicks when you have been on your feet a long time or are dehydrated
- Hemorrhoids, varicose veins, night-time leg cramps, restless legs, and vivid dreams
- Colostrum leaking from your breasts and broken-up sleep
Sudden, severe, or one-sided swelling deserves a call to your provider. Emotionally, anxiety about labor and delivery is normal and almost universal at this stage — it usually just means your brain is processing the big change ahead.
Taking care of yourself this week
A few small changes take real weight off the late-third-trimester aches. For heartburn, eat smaller, more frequent meals rather than three big ones, avoid lying down for at least an hour after eating, prop up the head of your bed or sleep with extra pillows, and steer clear of triggers like spicy or very greasy foods, citrus, tomatoes, chocolate, mint, and evening caffeine. For hip and back pain, sleep on your side (left is often best) with one pillow between your knees and another supporting your belly. Pelvic tilts on hands and knees, hip circles on a birth ball, and short walks keep stiff joints mobile.
- Calcium from pasteurized dairy, fortified plant milks, leafy greens, and tofu supports your baby's hardening bones.
- Iron from lean meats, beans, lentils, fortified cereals, and spinach (with a squeeze of citrus to boost absorption) helps your body keep up with your increased blood volume.
- Hydration — aim for around 80 to 100 ounces a day — also eases constipation, leg cramps, and Braxton Hicks.
- Wash all produce thoroughly under running water, and keep avoiding raw or undercooked meat, fish, and eggs, unpasteurized dairy, and high-mercury fish.
One small project that makes a real difference: set up your baby's safe sleep space. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing — your baby in their own crib, bassinet, or play yard in your bedroom — for at least the first six months. The sleep surface should be firm and flat with a fitted sheet, no pillows, blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals, and your baby goes down on their back for every nap and every night. If you have not chosen a pediatrician yet, this is a good week to interview a couple; most offices do free meet-and-greet visits in the third trimester.
Appointments & tests
From around now until 36 weeks, most prenatal visits happen every two weeks. A typical visit includes a blood pressure check, a urine dip looking for protein (an early sign of preeclampsia) and sugar, a weight check, a fundal-height measurement with a tape, and listening to your baby's heartbeat with a Doppler. Your provider will ask about your baby's movement patterns, your sleep, mood, swelling, headaches, and any new symptoms. Visits at this stage are usually fairly short — 15 to 20 minutes — so a small list of questions on your phone makes them more efficient.
If earlier screenings flagged gestational diabetes, your team will review your blood sugar log and may adjust your plan; if they flagged anemia, your provider may recheck your hemoglobin. If you had Tdap or RhoGAM around week 27 or 28, this visit confirms everything went smoothly; if you have not had Tdap yet, it can typically still happen at any visit between 27 and 36 weeks. Many practices also begin talking through your birth preferences around now, and a few start asking about your baby's position — most babies have not made their final choice yet, so do not worry if yours is still flipping around. Good questions to bring: how are my blood pressure and weight gain tracking, what signs of preeclampsia should I watch for, is my kick-count routine working, and which symptoms count as a call-now.
Call your provider if
- A clear and lasting drop in your baby's movement compared with their usual pattern
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain that does not ease with rest, or any vaginal bleeding (spotting included)
- Leaking fluid that could be amniotic fluid, or regular painful contractions before 37 weeks (especially four or more in an hour)
- A persistent headache, blurry vision or seeing spots, sudden swelling of the face or hands, or sudden pain under your right ribs — possible signs of preeclampsia
- A fever above 100.4°F, burning with urination, or sudden swelling, redness, or pain in one leg
Reflects Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic third-trimester fetal-development references and fetal-movement (kick count) guidance, 2024–2026.
Related questions
- How big is the baby at 29 weeks pregnant?
- About the size of a butternut squash — roughly 15 inches long and around 2.5 pounds. From now until delivery your baby will roughly double in weight, since about half of total birth weight is added in the last 11 weeks.
- How do I count kicks at 29 weeks?
- Pick a time when your baby is usually active, lie on your left side, and count distinct movements. Most parents reach 10 well within an hour. If you ever notice a clear and lasting drop from your baby's normal pattern, drink something cold, focus on the movements, and call your provider if movement does not pick up.
- Why do I have so much heartburn at 29 weeks?
- Your uterus is now about 29 centimeters above your pubic bone and is crowding your stomach, so acid splashes upward more easily. Eating smaller, more frequent meals, not lying down for an hour after eating, and propping up the head of your bed all help. Shortness of breath and frequent bathroom trips are common for the same reason.
- How often are prenatal visits at 29 weeks?
- From around now until 36 weeks, most prenatal visits happen every two weeks. A typical visit checks your blood pressure, weight, and fundal height, dips your urine for protein and sugar, and listens to your baby's heartbeat. Your provider will also ask about your baby's movement patterns.
Sources & further reading
ParentFlow: one free app, pregnancy to age six
ParentFlow follows your pregnancy week by week — baby size, what's developing, your symptoms, and the appointments and warning signs that matter — then becomes a free baby tracker for feeds, sleep, and growth after birth. Free on iPhone and Android.
App Store Google Play Open Web AppThis article reflects current ACOG, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, CDC, and FDA guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your obstetric provider. For any medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.