🤰 Third trimester
29 weeks pregnant
Your baby is about the size of a butternut squash
By Emma Whitfield · Pregnancy & Baby Writer
Your baby at 29 weeks
The baby's muscles and lungs are maturing, and their head is growing to accommodate the developing brain. They're getting stronger — kicks and jabs can be quite forceful now.
Your body at 29 weeks
You may feel out of breath more easily as the uterus presses on your lungs and stomach. Constipation and heartburn are common; eating smaller meals helps.
Common symptoms this week
- Breathlessness
- Constipation and heartburn
- Forceful kicks
- Warm, disturbed nights
Symptom lists are typical, never exhaustive — and having none of them is normal too.
Focus this week
Keep iron levels up — the baby draws heavily on your stores in the third trimester. Ask about your latest blood test results.
Week 29 checklist
- Check your recent blood results and ask about iron if you're flagging
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals to manage heartburn
29 weeks pregnant: common questions
Is it safe to take iron supplements in pregnancy?
Yes, when prescribed — anaemia is common in the third trimester as the baby draws on your stores, and your 28-week bloods check for it. Take prescribed iron with orange juice (vitamin C aids absorption), away from tea and coffee, and expect it to darken stools and sometimes constipate.
How big is my baby at 29 weeks pregnant?
At 29 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a butternut squash, about 38.6cm and around 1150g. These are approximate averages — every baby grows at its own pace.
What's happening at 29 weeks pregnant?
The baby's muscles and lungs are maturing, and their head is growing to accommodate the developing brain. They're getting stronger — kicks and jabs can be quite forceful now. For you: you may feel out of breath more easily as the uterus presses on your lungs and stomach. constipation and heartburn are common; eating smaller meals helps.
Which trimester is 29 weeks?
29 weeks pregnant is in the third trimester. The first trimester runs to the end of week 12, the second from weeks 13 to 26, and the third from week 27 to birth.
Sources & further reading
This is general information, not medical advice — every pregnancy is different. For anything that worries you, and for all your antenatal care, speak to your midwife or GP. If your baby's movements ever slow down or change, contact your maternity unit immediately, day or night. Reviewed July 2026.