29th Week of Pregnancy

Your Changing Body at 29 Weeks Pregnant

When you're 29 weeks pregnant, you begin your 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Now, most of your pregnancy symptoms are caused by your uterus continuing to grow. Here's what else is happening in your 29th week of pregnancy:

• Your heart and circulatory system work overtime as your body keeps on producing more blood than normal, carrying oxygen and nutrients to your baby.
• You occasionally might notice Braxton-Hicks contractions (false labor) as your body prepares for labor.
• Ready for more of the same? Most of your late-pregnancy symptoms are familiar by now. Look for some of these symptoms in the weeks to come. View the symptoms.
• Weight gain: Most women average about a pound a week or about 4 pounds a month.

• Veins bulging a bit or becoming blue? Your veins are becoming larger to accommodate increased blood flow.
  • You might notice veins bulging and becoming visible as bluish or reddish lines beneath the surface of your skin, particularly on your legs and ankles. Varicose veins often can appear for the first time during pregnancy, usually in the last trimester.
  • Varicose veins might be sore or itchy.
• Tips for care. You cannot prevent varicose veins, but you can keep them from getting worse and relieve any swelling or soreness with extra care:
  • Keep your blood flowing by limiting how long you stand or sit in one position.
  • Avoid crossing your legs, which can cut off circulation.
  • Prop up your legs whenever possible.
  • Try sleeping on your left side, which is best for circulation.
  • Watch putting on any extra pregnancy weight.
  • Avoid heavy lifting.
  • Work in walks or other exercise.
  • Avoid restrictive clothing, but ask your doctor about the benefits of support hose.
  • Eat foods rich in vitamin C.
  • Spider veins, similar to varicose veins, appear as tiny, reddish spots with raised lines that branch out from the center.
    • They might appear on your face, upper chest, or arms.
    • They usually disappear a few weeks after your baby is born.
    • To keep them from spreading, follow the same tips for varicose veins.
  • You also might experience hemorrhoids, caused by varicose veins in your rectum. Constipation increases this risk.