Week 28 of Pregnancy: An Aubergine, and the Week Itching Started for Me
Key takeaways
- By week 28, the baby is about 37.6cm long, roughly the size of an aubergine, and organs are maturing steadily.
- The third trimester officially begins this week, and sleep often becomes noticeably harder from here.
- Mild skin itching in pregnancy is common and usually harmless, but it's worth tracking rather than dismissing outright.
- If itching is persistent, worsening, or not clearly explained by dry skin, it's worth mentioning to your doctor rather than waiting it out.
- Trusting a change that feels 'probably nothing' enough to mention it is never a wrong call in pregnancy.
Week 27 closed out the second trimester on a genuinely happy note. Week 28 opened the third — and looking back, it also quietly opened a thread that would run through several more weeks of this pregnancy.
What’s actually happening in your body
The baby is now around 37.6cm long, roughly the size of an aubergine, with organs continuing to mature steadily. This is officially the start of the third trimester, and it’s common to start feeling more tired and uncomfortable from here on, according to NHS guidance on week 28 of pregnancy.
What I actually felt
Sleep wasn’t as smooth as it had been — I was having some difficulty getting comfortable and staying asleep, though it was still manageable overall. What I want to flag honestly, because it turned out to matter later, is that I also noticed itching on my belly and legs this week, and at the time we assumed it was temporary and didn’t think much of it. I applied a basic lotion, which seemed to help a bit, though not fully.
I’m including this level of detail deliberately, because at the time it genuinely felt minor — the kind of thing you’d expect from stretching skin in the third trimester. It’s worth knowing that not every itch is something to worry about, but it’s also worth not automatically dismissing one either, especially if it doesn’t fully settle with basic moisturising. I’ll come back to how this particular thread developed in the following weeks.
Nutrition focus this week
No changes from earlier weeks beyond whatever guidance you’re following if you’ve had a gestational diabetes diagnosis. Otherwise, keep up with your prenatal vitamin and the general guidance in our foods and drinks to limit or avoid during pregnancy.
What to discuss with your doctor or midwife
Mention any new itching at your next appointment, even if it feels minor or seems explainable by dry, stretching skin. Most of the time it is exactly that — but it’s a genuinely useful thing for your doctor to have on record in case it changes over the following weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Is itchy skin normal in the third trimester?
Mild itching from stretching skin is common and usually harmless. It’s worth mentioning to your doctor regardless, particularly if a basic moisturiser doesn’t fully settle it or it seems to be getting worse rather than better.
Why does sleep often get harder starting around week 28?
A combination of a growing bump, difficulty finding a comfortable position, and general third-trimester discomfort tends to make sleep less straightforward from this point onward.
Should I worry the first time I notice something odd like itching?
Not necessarily worry, but it’s worth noting and mentioning rather than fully dismissing. Most of the time it will be nothing serious — but tracking it means you and your doctor aren’t starting from scratch if it does turn out to matter.
What size is the baby at week 28?
About 37.6cm long, roughly the size of an aubergine.
References
- NHS — Your Pregnancy and Baby Guide, Week 28. nhs.uk
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