28 Weeks Pregnant? Here’s What No One Tells You (But You Need to Know!)

EP 99:

You just hit 28 weeks pregnant—welcome to the third trimester! But there’s way more going on right now than most people talk about. In this episode, Stephanie Poole (your go-to birth bestie and certified doula + lactation expert) reveals what’s really happening at 28 weeks—from surprising symptoms to the real prep work that helps make birth and breastfeeding way easier.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why blurry vision, leaky boobs, and insomnia show up now
• What symptoms are not normal (and when to call your provider)
• The one third-trimester mindset shift that makes labor less scary
• How breastfeeding success actually starts now—before birth
• Stephanie’s top prep hack that barely anyone teaches!

Resources & Links:
💻 Ready to prep for birth and breastfeeding? Get the Bump to Bundle Blueprint 
📱Subscribe on YouTube
 

Transcript

0:05

Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founder and CEO of Birth Prep Academy. I'm on a mission to help pregnant moms prepare for their first hospital birth. I'm sharing revealing conversations about what it really takes to successfully transition into motherhood. So join me. Here to discover things like what to expect in childbirth, how to prepare for your birth. We'll also talk about breastfeeding and so much more. I'm so grateful to share it all with you right here on Oh Baby, the podcast created for pregnant moms preparing for their first hospital birth. Let's get started. You are 28 weeks pregnant and while everyone is probably telling you to rest while you can or get ready for no sleep, I'm about to share what no one else. Is telling you, but they absolutely should. Like the weird symptom that might hit this week that has nothing to do with your belly or the one mistake pregnant moms make that messes up their first days of breastfeeding. Yep. It starts now And if you stay with me till the end, I'm giving you the number one third trimester prep hack that almost guarantees smoother labor and way less panic when baby gets here. Sound good? All right. Let's talk about what's really going on at 28 weeks and what to actually do about it. okay, so technically at 28 weeks, you know already that you are in the third trimester, but here's what no one tells you, that this is when everything changes. Again, your uterus is now the size of a basketball. Your lungs, well, they're getting squished and your digestive system. Let's just say it's officially on the struggle bus, but the wildest part. Well, many moms start noticing vision changes. That's right. Blurred vision. Blurred vision, and dry eyes. Actually, these things are totally normal and tied to your hormones. Most moms never talk about it, but just know that you're not imagining it. There may be some changes with your vision. Now, with that being said, here is a quick tip. If your vision suddenly gets worse or you're starting to see those floaters or flashing lights. Then don't wait. I want you to call your provider. That could be a sign of something more serious, especially now that you're in the third trimester. So I always tell my clients to error on a side of caution. I would rather for you to. Check in with your provider and it be absolutely nothing, then for you to ignore something that could potentially be serious. So if you're feeling a little iffy or you notice any of those symptoms with your blurred vision as far as the floaters or the flashing lights, then definitely reach out to your provider. Coming up in just a bit, I'm gonna tell you the one thing that you can do right now at 28 weeks to make breastfeeding go smoother later. It's something that most moms skip and end up regretting, so be sure to stick with me. All right. Now let's talk symptoms. Some are expected and some are just playing weird. Let's start with what's normal at 28 weeks. First up, Braxton Hicks. You know, we've talked about this a few times before, and essentially it's just your uterus that is practicing but not actually going into labor. Think of it as a rehearsal for the big day. Okay, next up is shortness of breath. And essentially what's happening is your baby is pretty much cramping your diaphragms style. Everything is starting to really get cramped in there. Space is definitely at a premium and that causes shortness of breath in the third trimester. All right. Let's talk about insomnia. Welcome to the 2:00 AM scroll. Mama. Don't worry. I've got some survival hacks coming, so just sit tight. And finally, let's talk about leaky breast. When it comes to colostrum, colostrum can actually start right now while you're pregnant, and that's totally normal actually. It's a really good sign that your body is starting to prep for breastfeeding, so those symptoms are all normal. Okay, so now that we've gotten all of those symptoms out of the way, let's talk about what's not normal. Swelling that doesn't go down, especially in your hands and face is something to definitely reach out to your provider about. Also, intense headaches, severe upper abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding and leaking. Fluid, if any of these pop up, always, always call your provider. Never try to wait it out. You know your body better than anyone. And again, I always encourage my moms to err on the side of caution and reach out to your provider sooner than later if you have a concern about something. All right. Now, in just a minute, I'm gonna tell you the weird but genius third trimester routine that I recommend to every one of my moms inside of my course, and I'm gonna explain why it's a total game changer for labor prep. Now, before I do, let's talk about the one thing to do right now to help you with breastfeeding later. So here's what I wish every pregnant mom knew. Breastfeeding success actually starts right now during pregnancy. Yeah, not after birth. Your brain and body are laying the foundation right now. Your milk making hormones like prolactin and oxytocin are already starting to shift, so if you wanna give yourself the best chance at success, then here's what I want you to do At 28 weeks. I want you to start breastfeeding. Visualization. It only takes five minutes a day. Now here, picture yourself feeding your baby calmly and confidently. This isn't woo woo is not just some pie in the sky type thing. It's you actually training your brain for success, and you know why it works. Because it's evidence-based and research fact, so much so that athletes do it. The world renowned athletes that we all know, like Jordan and LeBron James, Steph Curry, they've all been known to really picture themselves winning the championship before it ever even happens. Now, if they do it, why shouldn't you? What you're doing is important too. Okay? Now. With that being said, I want you to get a basic understanding of how milk supply really works. And here's a spoiler alert. It's not about having enough milk, it's about knowing what normal really looks like. Now if you are already inside of Bump Tob bundle blueprint, kudos for you. If not, this is a good time for you to consider it because inside I take you step by step through birth and breastfeeding prep so that you are not left guessing. All right, now. Next, I'm dropping a little known red flag at 28 weeks that often gets dismissed, but can seriously affect your labor. So you don't wanna miss this. Sit tight. All right, so quickly, let's just have some real talk here. Third trimester emotions are no joke. You might feel weepy, you might feel anxious or just over it. And that's not weakness. That's hormones and your nervous system gearing up for the big event. And speaking of that big event, birth prep starts now, not at 38 weeks when your OB suddenly says so you got a birth plan. here's what I tell every client. First step, I want you to get a mental rehearsal for labor. Start creating that right now with just five minutes a day. We just talked about what to do and why it's so important. Mm. Next I want you to start stretching and daily pelvic tilts right now. That's gonna help open up your pelvic for labor and delivery. It's gonna help in those real intense moments. So start stretching and daily pelvic tilts. Now. Also, learn how to work with contractions instead of fearing them. Now listen again, I break this all down inside of my course, but the point is you don't have to go in blind. Knowledge equals power and less pain. Okay, so I promised you my number one third trimester prep pack that no one really talks about, and we're almost there. But first, let's talk about your baby. At 28 weeks, your baby is about two and a half pounds right now and the size of an eggplant. But here's the cool part. Your baby can hear your voice, and I know I sound like a broken record because if you heard previous weeks, you know, I've been pounding away at this. But it is so important to just remember that engaging with them now with early bonding. Right playing music, reading a short book out loud, that is helping with their brain development, and it creates a bond that they'll remember even after birth. In fact, it wires their nervous system and helps them to start connecting right now. So talk to your baby, sing to your baby over and over and over again. This may or may not be the last time you hear it, so just keep it in mind. Okay, now here it is the number one third trimester prep hack that no one really tells you. And that is drum roll please. Start your morning with 10 minutes of birth focused breathing and body awareness. Now, you may be asking why, because your breath is your superpower in labor. Doing it now helps you. It helps you to get into your body. It helps to calm your nervous system, and it helps to build muscle memory for birth so that when you need it. It'll feel natural and it'll be something that you're used to doing and you'll move right into it. It'll be like a flow. This is exactly the kind of stuff that we work on inside of Bump to Bundle Blueprint, because it's not just about pushing, it's about preparing your body and your mind before you're in the thick of it. It. Woo. 28 weeks is no joke. Right? But now you know the real deal from your weird symptoms to emotional shifts to breastfeeding prep. Because you deserve to feel calm, confident. And ready. The link is below. Go check it out and I'll see you inside. And don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell so that you don't miss next week's video on what to expect at 29 weeks. And here's a spoiler alert. There's a very uncomfortable symptom coming your way. I'm sorry. Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just. Giving you the message. Okay, mama, you've got this. See you next week for week 29, pregnancy update.