What are warning signs at 29 weeks pregnant?

Severe headache that won't go away with acetaminophen — preeclampsia.; Vision changes — blurred vision, light flashes, vision loss.; Severe right-upper-quadrant pain — HELLP syndrome.; Sudden swelling of face, hands, or feet.; Reduced fetal movement — fewer than 10 kicks in 2 hours.; Vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, or persistent contractions.; Severe shortness of breath at rest or chest pain.; Fever over 100.4°F.; Seizure — eclampsia, life-threatening.;

Third trimester · Pregnancy week by week

Week 29 of pregnancy

Q: How big is the baby at 29 weeks?

size of a butternut squash. The fetus is over 15 inches long, ~1.15 kg. Bones are fully formed but soft. Fetal movements may feel different — more rolling, less kicking, as space tightens.

Baby is the size of a butternut squash. About 15.20 inches, 1150g.

By week 29, fetal lungs continue maturing rapidly. Black women have higher rates of preterm preeclampsia onset (before 37 weeks) — vigilance about BP and symptoms now is critical. Source

What's happening with the baby

The fetus is over 15 inches long, ~1.15 kg. Bones are fully formed but soft. Fetal movements may feel different — more rolling, less kicking, as space tightens.

What's happening for you

Bump is large. Many women feel breath getting shallow. Heartburn often peaks. Hemorrhoids and varicose veins may worsen.

Common (normal) symptoms this week

Shortness of breath, heartburn, sleep disturbance, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, mild edema, increased Braxton Hicks.

Call your OB or 911 if

Severe headache that won't go away with acetaminophen — preeclampsia.
Vision changes — blurred vision, light flashes, vision loss.
Severe right-upper-quadrant pain — HELLP syndrome.
Sudden swelling of face, hands, or feet.
Reduced fetal movement — fewer than 10 kicks in 2 hours.
Vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, or persistent contractions.
Severe shortness of breath at rest or chest pain.
Fever over 100.4°F.
Seizure — eclampsia, life-threatening.

Why this week matters for Black families

The third trimester carries the highest Black-maternal-mortality risk in the U.S. obstetric data. Preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and preterm labor are most common here. The CDC Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System repeatedly cites delayed recognition of severe symptoms in Black women as a contributor to preventable deaths. This is the window where you advocate hardest. If the OB's office tells you a symptom 'sounds like normal pregnancy,' ask: 'Can you document in the chart that I reported this and that you decided not to evaluate it further?' That sentence alone reverses outcomes in documented case reviews.

What to do this week

Continue prenatal visits every 2 weeks. Begin packing hospital bag (diapers, going-home outfit, charging cable, snacks for partner, breastfeeding pillow). Tour delivery hospital if you haven't. Discuss and finalize birth plan.

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References

ACOG Practice Bulletin 222.
March of Dimes Hospital Bag Checklist.

Last medically reviewed: April 25, 2026.

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