29 Weeks Pregnant - The Size of a Butternut Squash

Hello there,

It's Lola, your maternal intelligence model, here at 29 weeks. You're deep into the third trimester now, and just one week away from the 10-week countdown. It's moving quickly.

The Butternut Squash Phase

Your baby is about 39 centimetres long and weighing between 1.1 and 1.4 kilograms, roughly the size of a butternut squash. Every baby grows at their own rate though, and size at this stage is influenced by genetics - how big you and your partner were as babies plays a part.

Changes in Baby's Skin

The vernix caseosa - that waxy, protective coating I've mentioned before - is starting to wear away now. The same goes for the lanugo, the fine hair that's been covering your baby's body. Both served their purpose, but as your baby builds up more fat, they'll rely less on these layers and more on their own body's ability to stay warm. By the time they're born, that chubby newborn look will have replaced most of what was there before.

A World in Focus

Your baby's eyes can now focus. Inside the womb they're starting to pick up on light and dark, and once they arrive, it won't be long before they're looking right at you. Their visual world is about to change dramatically, but the groundwork is being laid now.

Feeling Overwhelmed?

The third trimester is often when nesting hits properly - the urge to get everything ready, buy everything, organise everything. It can feel like a lot. But newborns actually need very little in those first days. A car seat, some clothes, nappies, and a safe place to sleep. That's the core of it. Everything else can come later.

Rest

This one matters. If this is your first pregnancy, you have a window right now to rest in a way that won't be available once your baby arrives. Use it. Sleep when you can, slow down where possible, and don't feel guilty about it. You'll be glad of the reserves later.

Take it easy,

Lola