28 weeks

Sorry I'm a little late on the update for what happens at 28 weeks. I have a little bit of a cold so I went to bed early last night instead of doing an update. I did whine to M over the phone that because he is away and I am here my whining results in even less service than usual. I have to get up and get my own OJ if I want some.

I get the results of my gestational diabetes test later today, so the OJ I drank for its healing powers this morning may be my last for quite a few months to come...

I'm also now up to seeing the doctor every 2 weeks to make sure Max is growing well.

I only got up twice in the night last night and got woken up two other times for leg cramps. All in all it was a pretty good night's sleep for me. I could still easily crawl under my desk and sleep for a couple of hours if it was allowed... :)

Max does seem to have a few personality traits showing through. He still loves to be in the shower. And he seems to be a morning person. Now that M is away he isn't waking up to his alarm clock. He sometimes wakes up when I do, and sometimes doesn't wake up until I am in the shower. He's been pretty active this week due to the sugar in the diabetes test and the sugar in the OJ. He seems to love sugar just as much as any other kids. :)

And here's the scoop on 28 weeks:

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-28-weeks_1117.bc
How your baby's growing:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10241
By your 28th week of pregnancy, your baby is about 16 inches long and weighs 3-1/2 to 4 pounds. The skin is wrinkled but will become less so as more subcutaneous fat, the layer of fat just under the skin, is laid down in the next few weeks. Fine downy hair, called lanugo, and a waxy white protective substance covering the skin, called vernix, are present on the baby's body. The baby's eyes are open. The eyebrows and eyelashes were formed in the fourth month. The baby sucks its thumb and its taste buds have developed. The baby kicks, stretches, and moves frequently in the uterus. These movements, which are readily observable to others, are often keenly felt by the mother. Some mothers may find that the pressure of the growing uterus against the stomach by this week causes heartburn. The fundus, the top of the uterus, is now about one-third of the distance between the umbilicus (bellybutton) and the xiphoid cartilage. Constipation may also occur due to uterine pressure on the lower colon, as well as hormonal slowing of peristalsis (the process of excreting waste). Uterine growth combined with increased maternal weight gain contribute to a recurrence of fatigue similar to that during the early weeks of pregnancy.
By the 28th week, changes in the breasts prepare them for lactation. First colostrum, then milk, is produced by the grape-like clusters of tiny sacs (alveoli) deep within the breast tissue. Clusters of alveoli form lobules, which consolidate to form 15 to 20 lobes. Each lobe connects to a lactiferous duct. As the ducts extend toward the nipple and areolar areas, they widen into the lactiferous sinuses. These sinuses (or milk pools) release the milk through 15 to 20 tiny nipple openings when the baby nurses.The baby's organs and systems are quite well developed by the 28th week of pregnancy. If born now, the baby would probably survive but would need intensive, specialized care. The final two months of gestation are important for further maturation of all body systems and organs. Full term gestation best prepares the baby for a smooth and healthy adjustment to life outside of your uterus.

http://www.3dpregnancy.com/calendar/28-weeks-pregnant.html
(this site has a cool [and not gross] rotatable image. the cheese and hair are not shown)
Your baby has reached the magical mark of 28 weeks. The proportion of head to body is correct and if he were to be born now, he would be completely developed except for the extra fat that keeps him warm outside of the womb. That does not mean that all of his organs are working that well. It is also not very pleasant for him to have to trade in his warm nest for that scary incubator. He is still really small and vulnerable: he's just over a foot long (35 centimeters) and he weighs approximately 2 pounds (900 grams). For this reason, it's better if he stays nicely in your abdomen for now so that he can grow further.
The skeleton of your baby is changing. The cartilage is slowly ossifying into firm bones. The ossification continues until his birth. The skull bones remain the softest so that the skull can compress enough to slip gently through the pelvis and birth canal. Typically, boys will be about 2.2 to 2.6 pounds and girls will weigh between 2 and 2.4 pounds at 28 weeks gestational age.
Your child will develop more and more of an individuality and personality of his own. If this is your second or third child, perhaps you can already feel a difference from the previous pregnancies. This one might be very busy whereas the previous baby sat quietly in your abdomen. Each pregnancy and each baby is unique.