Your week 29 guide

Kicks and stretches may feel stronger and more frequent. Muscle mass has increased considerably and the space has not, so each movement transmits more force to you. A kick under the ribs at this stage can genuinely take your breath away.

Developing bones are hardening and tooth enamel is forming beneath the gums. Enamel is the hard outer covering of teeth, developing long before you see a first tooth. The first milk teeth often emerge around six months after birth, with considerable variation between babies. Calcium remains important for your own bones and your baby's developing bones and teeth.

The head is growing to accommodate rapid brain development. Brain growth is at its fastest during the third trimester, which is one of the reasons every additional week before birth is valuable. The skull bones remain unfused and overlapping to allow both this growth and the passage through the birth canal.

Backache, swollen feet, frequent urination, itching, constipation and poor sleep are all common. Sleep in particular becomes difficult from a purely mechanical point of view, and pillows between the knees and under the bump usually help more than anything else. Broken sleep now is not something you can bank against later, so daytime rest is worth taking when you can.

The uterus feels increasingly crowded as your baby grows. Movements change character as a result, becoming more rolling and pressing rather than sharply kicking. That change in type is normal; a reduction in overall amount is not, and should be reported straight away.

Urinary symptoms can be hard to distinguish from ordinary pregnancy frequency, so pain and fever matter. Needing the toilet constantly is expected, but burning, urgency, blood, lower back pain or fever suggest infection. Urinary infections in pregnancy can trigger preterm labour if untreated, so they are worth checking rather than tolerating.

Attend antenatal education if it is part of your plan. Even a short course tends to reduce anxiety by making the process legible, and knowing the vocabulary helps you follow what is being said on the day. If classes are not available or affordable, ask your midwife what reliable resources she recommends.

Look realistically at childcare and support for after the birth. Some nurseries have waiting lists measured in months, and the honest question about the early weeks is who can bring food, hold the baby and run a load of washing. Arranging that in advance is worth more than any purchase. InshaAllah, agreeing on one practical offer of help can make those early days easier to plan.

Keep breast pads to hand if leaking colostrum is bothering you. It can happen unpredictably and is more noticeable on darker clothing, and disposable or washable pads both work. Leaking a lot or not at all tells you nothing about how feeding will go.

Continue calcium and vitamin D: Both continue to support your baby's developing bones and teeth. They have mattered throughout pregnancy and remain important through the third trimester.

Include calcium-rich foods regularly and follow the vitamin D guidance issued in your country. If you avoid dairy, choose fortified alternatives and check the labels for calcium and vitamin D, since organic versions in particular are often not fortified at all.