29 weeks pregnant
Our guide to your 29th week of pregnancy
Your Baby
The sex organs of your baby continue to form this week and are almost completely in place. Your baby’s brain is getting larger almost every day and activity inside of it is rapidly rising.
Your baby is becoming much more sensitive to light now its eyes are open. It can blink quite frequently and its eyelids are lined with a beautiful layer of delicate eyelashes.
You
Your breasts are really starting to feel the strain, so if you haven’t already, invest in a few, supportive maternity bras.
There is less moisture in your eyes during pregnancy and if you wear contact lenses this can mean your eyes are becoming dry and itchy. It’s a good idea to limit contact lens wearing to only essential periods and wear your glasses at all other times.
You may be advised to count the number of kicks and punches you get in a set time period. This is just to make sure your baby is developing in the normal way. There will be certain times of the day when you baby is more active and this will probably affect your daily routine; good practice for when your baby is born.
Pain Relief Options During Pregnancy
There are several types of pregnancy pain relief to choose from, each with their own list of pros and cons.
A mixture of gas and air is one of the most common forms of pregnancy pain relief. Entonix is a mixture of 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide and you’ll take it through a gas mask. It is a straightforward form of pain relief and the oxygen is good for your baby. However, it offers only mild relief and you might feel a little sick afterwards.
Pethidine is injected into your thigh or bottom and helps you relax and feel distant from the pain. It takes 20 minutes to be effective and lasts for two to four hours but could make your baby tired.
An epidural is becoming a more frequent choice particularly for first time mothers scared of labour pain. It is very strong and you can end up feeling no pain at all. But it can increase the length of labour, cause a sudden fall in blood pressure and it increases the likelihood of assisted delivery.
TENS or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation machine is a device with small pads that attach to your back and stimulate your nerves using an electric current. This form of pain relief can be used at home, but it isn’t very strong and does more to relieve back pain than actual birthing pains.
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