June 13, 2025 • 12 mins
EP 99:
You just hit 28 weeks pregnant—welcome to the third trimester! But there’s way more going on right now than most people talk about. In this episode, Stephanie Poole (your go-to birth bestie and certified doula + lactation expert) reveals what’s really happening at 28 weeks—from surprising symptoms to the real prep work that helps make birth and breastfeeding way easier.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why blurry vision, leaky boobs, and insomnia show up now
- What symptoms are not normal (and when to call your provider)
- The one third-trimester mindset shift that makes labor less scary
- How breastfeeding success actually starts now—before birth
- Stephanie’s top prep hack that barely anyone teaches!
Resources & Links:
💻 Ready to prep for birth and breastfeeding? Get the Bump to Bundle Blueprint
📱Subscribe on YouTube
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
Here to discover things likewhat to expect in childbirth,
(00:27):
how to prepare for your birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.
You are 28 weeks pregnant andwhile everyone is probably
(00:51):
telling you to rest while youcan or get ready for no sleep,
I'm about to share what no oneelse.
Is telling you, but theyabsolutely should.
Like the weird symptom thatmight hit this week that has
nothing to do with your belly orthe one mistake pregnant moms
make that messes up their firstdays of breastfeeding.
(01:14):
Yep.
It starts now And if you staywith me till the end, I'm giving
you the number one thirdtrimester prep hack that almost
guarantees smoother labor andway less panic when baby gets
here.
Sound good?
All right.
Let's talk about what's reallygoing on at 28 weeks and what to
(01:35):
actually do about it.
okay, so technically at 28weeks, you know already that you
are in the third trimester, buthere's what no one tells you,
that this is when everythingchanges.
Again, your uterus is now thesize of a basketball.
(01:55):
Your lungs, well, they'regetting squished and your
digestive system.
Let's just say it's officiallyon the struggle bus, but the
wildest part.
Well, many moms start noticingvision changes.
That's right.
Blurred vision.
Blurred vision, and dry eyes.
Actually, these things aretotally normal and tied to your
(02:21):
hormones.
Most moms never talk about it,but just know that you're not
imagining it.
There may be some changes withyour vision.
Now, with that being said, hereis a quick tip.
If your vision suddenly getsworse or you're starting to see
those floaters or flashinglights.
(02:41):
Then don't wait.
I want you to call yourprovider.
That could be a sign ofsomething more serious,
especially now that you're inthe third trimester.
So I always tell my clients toerror on a side of caution.
I would rather for you to.
Check in with your provider andit be absolutely nothing, then
(03:04):
for you to ignore something thatcould potentially be serious.
So if you're feeling a littleiffy or you notice any of those
symptoms with your blurredvision as far as the floaters or
the flashing lights, thendefinitely reach out to your
provider.
Coming up in just a bit, I'mgonna tell you the one thing
that you can do right now at 28weeks to make breastfeeding go
(03:26):
smoother later.
It's something that most momsskip and end up regretting, so
be sure to stick with me.
All right.
Now let's talk symptoms.
Some are expected and some arejust playing weird.
Let's start with what's normalat 28 weeks.
First up, Braxton Hicks.
(03:47):
You know, we've talked aboutthis a few times before, and
essentially it's just youruterus that is practicing but
not actually going into labor.
Think of it as a rehearsal forthe big day.
Okay, next up is shortness ofbreath.
And essentially what's happeningis your baby is pretty much
(04:08):
cramping your diaphragms style.
Everything is starting to reallyget cramped in there.
Space is definitely at a premiumand that causes shortness of
breath in the third trimester.
All right.
Let's talk about insomnia.
Welcome to the 2:00 AM scroll.
Mama.
(04:29):
Don't worry.
I've got some survival hackscoming, so just sit tight.
And finally, let's talk aboutleaky breast.
When it comes to colostrum,colostrum can actually start
right now while you're pregnant,and that's totally normal
actually.
It's a really good sign thatyour body is starting to prep
for breastfeeding, so thosesymptoms are all normal.
(04:55):
Okay, so now that we've gottenall of those symptoms out of the
way, let's talk about what's notnormal.
Swelling that doesn't go down,especially in your hands and
face is something to definitelyreach out to your provider
about.
Also, intense headaches, severeupper abdominal pain or vaginal
(05:16):
bleeding and leaking.
Fluid, if any of these pop up,always, always call your
provider.
Never try to wait it out.
You know your body better thananyone.
And again, I always encourage mymoms to err on the side of
caution and reach out to yourprovider sooner than later if
(05:38):
you have a concern aboutsomething.
All right.
Now, in just a minute, I'm gonnatell you the weird but genius
third trimester routine that Irecommend to every one of my
moms inside of my course, andI'm gonna explain why it's a
total game changer for laborprep.
Now, before I do, let's talkabout the one thing to do right
(06:02):
now to help you withbreastfeeding later.
So here's what I wish everypregnant mom knew.
Breastfeeding success actuallystarts right now during
pregnancy.
Yeah, not after birth.
Your brain and body are layingthe foundation right now.
(06:22):
Your milk making hormones likeprolactin and oxytocin are
already starting to shift, so ifyou wanna give yourself the best
chance at success, then here'swhat I want you to do At 28
weeks.
I want you to startbreastfeeding.
Visualization.
(06:43):
It only takes five minutes aday.
Now here, picture yourselffeeding your baby calmly and
confidently.
This isn't woo woo is not justsome pie in the sky type thing.
It's you actually training yourbrain for success, and you know
why it works.
(07:03):
Because it's evidence-based andresearch fact, so much so that
athletes do it.
The world renowned athletes thatwe all know, like Jordan and
LeBron James, Steph Curry,they've all been known to really
picture themselves winning thechampionship before it ever even
(07:24):
happens.
Now, if they do it, whyshouldn't you?
What you're doing is importanttoo.
Okay?
Now.
With that being said, I want youto get a basic understanding of
how milk supply really works.
And here's a spoiler alert.
It's not about having enoughmilk, it's about knowing what
(07:44):
normal really looks like.
Now if you are already inside ofBump Tob bundle blueprint, kudos
for you.
If not, this is a good time foryou to consider it because
inside I take you step by stepthrough birth and breastfeeding
prep so that you are not leftguessing.
(08:05):
All right, now.
Next, I'm dropping a littleknown red flag at 28 weeks that
often gets dismissed, but canseriously affect your labor.
So you don't wanna miss this.
Sit tight.
All right, so quickly, let'sjust have some real talk here.
Third trimester emotions are nojoke.
(08:29):
You might feel weepy, you mightfeel anxious or just over it.
And that's not weakness.
That's hormones and your nervoussystem gearing up for the big
event.
And speaking of that big event,birth prep starts now, not at 38
weeks when your OB suddenly saysso you got a birth plan.
(08:52):
here's what I tell every client.
First step, I want you to get amental rehearsal for labor.
Start creating that right nowwith just five minutes a day.
We just talked about what to doand why it's so important.
Mm.
Next I want you to startstretching and daily pelvic
tilts right now.
(09:14):
That's gonna help open up yourpelvic for labor and delivery.
It's gonna help in those realintense moments.
So start stretching and dailypelvic tilts.
Now.
Also, learn how to work withcontractions instead of fearing
them.
Now listen again, I break thisall down inside of my course,
(09:37):
but the point is you don't haveto go in blind.
Knowledge equals power and lesspain.
Okay, so I promised you mynumber one third trimester prep
pack that no one really talksabout, and we're almost there.
But first, let's talk about yourbaby.
(09:57):
At 28 weeks, your baby is abouttwo and a half pounds right now
and the size of an eggplant.
But here's the cool part.
Your baby can hear your voice,and I know I sound like a broken
record because if you heardprevious weeks, you know, I've
been pounding away at this.
But it is so important to justremember that engaging with them
(10:20):
now with early bonding.
Right playing music, reading ashort book out loud, that is
helping with their braindevelopment, and it creates a
bond that they'll remember evenafter birth.
In fact, it wires their nervoussystem and helps them to start
connecting right now.
So talk to your baby, sing toyour baby over and over and over
(10:45):
again.
This may or may not be the lasttime you hear it, so just keep
it in mind.
Okay, now here it is the numberone third trimester prep hack
that no one really tells you.
And that is drum roll please.
Start your morning with 10minutes of birth focused
(11:07):
breathing and body awareness.
Now, you may be asking why,because your breath is your
superpower in labor.
Doing it now helps you.
It helps you to get into yourbody.
It helps to calm your nervoussystem, and it helps to build
muscle memory for birth so thatwhen you need it.
(11:29):
It'll feel natural and it'll besomething that you're used to
doing and you'll move right intoit.
It'll be like a flow.
This is exactly the kind ofstuff that we work on inside of
Bump to Bundle Blueprint,because it's not just about
pushing, it's about preparingyour body and your mind before
you're in the thick of it.
(11:50):
It.
Woo.
28 weeks is no joke.
Right?
But now you know the real dealfrom your weird symptoms to
emotional shifts tobreastfeeding prep.
Because you deserve to feelcalm, confident.
And ready.
The link is below.
(12:10):
Go check it out and I'll see youinside.
And don't forget to like,subscribe and hit that bell so
that you don't miss next week'svideo on what to expect at 29
weeks.
And here's a spoiler alert.
There's a very uncomfortablesymptom coming your way.
I'm sorry.
Don't shoot the messenger.
(12:31):
I'm just.
Giving you the message.
Okay, mama, you've got this.
See you next week for week 29,pregnancy update.
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
Here to discover things likewhat to expect in childbirth,
(00:27):
how to prepare for your birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.
You are 28 weeks pregnant andwhile everyone is probably
(00:51):
telling you to rest while youcan or get ready for no sleep,
I'm about to share what no oneelse.
Is telling you, but theyabsolutely should.
Like the weird symptom thatmight hit this week that has
nothing to do with your belly orthe one mistake pregnant moms
make that messes up their firstdays of breastfeeding.
(01:14):
Yep.
It starts now And if you staywith me till the end, I'm giving
you the number one thirdtrimester prep hack that almost
guarantees smoother labor andway less panic when baby gets
here.
Sound good?
All right.
Let's talk about what's reallygoing on at 28 weeks and what to
(01:35):
actually do about it.
okay, so technically at 28weeks, you know already that you
are in the third trimester, buthere's what no one tells you,
that this is when everythingchanges.
Again, your uterus is now thesize of a basketball.
(01:55):
Your lungs, well, they'regetting squished and your
digestive system.
Let's just say it's officiallyon the struggle bus, but the
wildest part.
Well, many moms start noticingvision changes.
That's right.
Blurred vision.
Blurred vision, and dry eyes.
Actually, these things aretotally normal and tied to your
(02:21):
hormones.
Most moms never talk about it,but just know that you're not
imagining it.
There may be some changes withyour vision.
Now, with that being said, hereis a quick tip.
If your vision suddenly getsworse or you're starting to see
those floaters or flashinglights.
(02:41):
Then don't wait.
I want you to call yourprovider.
That could be a sign ofsomething more serious,
especially now that you're inthe third trimester.
So I always tell my clients toerror on a side of caution.
I would rather for you to.
Check in with your provider andit be absolutely nothing, then
(03:04):
for you to ignore something thatcould potentially be serious.
So if you're feeling a littleiffy or you notice any of those
symptoms with your blurredvision as far as the floaters or
the flashing lights, thendefinitely reach out to your
provider.
Coming up in just a bit, I'mgonna tell you the one thing
that you can do right now at 28weeks to make breastfeeding go
(03:26):
smoother later.
It's something that most momsskip and end up regretting, so
be sure to stick with me.
All right.
Now let's talk symptoms.
Some are expected and some arejust playing weird.
Let's start with what's normalat 28 weeks.
First up, Braxton Hicks.
(03:47):
You know, we've talked aboutthis a few times before, and
essentially it's just youruterus that is practicing but
not actually going into labor.
Think of it as a rehearsal forthe big day.
Okay, next up is shortness ofbreath.
And essentially what's happeningis your baby is pretty much
(04:08):
cramping your diaphragms style.
Everything is starting to reallyget cramped in there.
Space is definitely at a premiumand that causes shortness of
breath in the third trimester.
All right.
Let's talk about insomnia.
Welcome to the 2:00 AM scroll.
Mama.
(04:29):
Don't worry.
I've got some survival hackscoming, so just sit tight.
And finally, let's talk aboutleaky breast.
When it comes to colostrum,colostrum can actually start
right now while you're pregnant,and that's totally normal
actually.
It's a really good sign thatyour body is starting to prep
for breastfeeding, so thosesymptoms are all normal.
(04:55):
Okay, so now that we've gottenall of those symptoms out of the
way, let's talk about what's notnormal.
Swelling that doesn't go down,especially in your hands and
face is something to definitelyreach out to your provider
about.
Also, intense headaches, severeupper abdominal pain or vaginal
(05:16):
bleeding and leaking.
Fluid, if any of these pop up,always, always call your
provider.
Never try to wait it out.
You know your body better thananyone.
And again, I always encourage mymoms to err on the side of
caution and reach out to yourprovider sooner than later if
(05:38):
you have a concern aboutsomething.
All right.
Now, in just a minute, I'm gonnatell you the weird but genius
third trimester routine that Irecommend to every one of my
moms inside of my course, andI'm gonna explain why it's a
total game changer for laborprep.
Now, before I do, let's talkabout the one thing to do right
(06:02):
now to help you withbreastfeeding later.
So here's what I wish everypregnant mom knew.
Breastfeeding success actuallystarts right now during
pregnancy.
Yeah, not after birth.
Your brain and body are layingthe foundation right now.
(06:22):
Your milk making hormones likeprolactin and oxytocin are
already starting to shift, so ifyou wanna give yourself the best
chance at success, then here'swhat I want you to do At 28
weeks.
I want you to startbreastfeeding.
Visualization.
(06:43):
It only takes five minutes aday.
Now here, picture yourselffeeding your baby calmly and
confidently.
This isn't woo woo is not justsome pie in the sky type thing.
It's you actually training yourbrain for success, and you know
why it works.
(07:03):
Because it's evidence-based andresearch fact, so much so that
athletes do it.
The world renowned athletes thatwe all know, like Jordan and
LeBron James, Steph Curry,they've all been known to really
picture themselves winning thechampionship before it ever even
(07:24):
happens.
Now, if they do it, whyshouldn't you?
What you're doing is importanttoo.
Okay?
Now.
With that being said, I want youto get a basic understanding of
how milk supply really works.
And here's a spoiler alert.
It's not about having enoughmilk, it's about knowing what
(07:44):
normal really looks like.
Now if you are already inside ofBump Tob bundle blueprint, kudos
for you.
If not, this is a good time foryou to consider it because
inside I take you step by stepthrough birth and breastfeeding
prep so that you are not leftguessing.
(08:05):
All right, now.
Next, I'm dropping a littleknown red flag at 28 weeks that
often gets dismissed, but canseriously affect your labor.
So you don't wanna miss this.
Sit tight.
All right, so quickly, let'sjust have some real talk here.
Third trimester emotions are nojoke.
(08:29):
You might feel weepy, you mightfeel anxious or just over it.
And that's not weakness.
That's hormones and your nervoussystem gearing up for the big
event.
And speaking of that big event,birth prep starts now, not at 38
weeks when your OB suddenly saysso you got a birth plan.
(08:52):
here's what I tell every client.
First step, I want you to get amental rehearsal for labor.
Start creating that right nowwith just five minutes a day.
We just talked about what to doand why it's so important.
Mm.
Next I want you to startstretching and daily pelvic
tilts right now.
(09:14):
That's gonna help open up yourpelvic for labor and delivery.
It's gonna help in those realintense moments.
So start stretching and dailypelvic tilts.
Now.
Also, learn how to work withcontractions instead of fearing
them.
Now listen again, I break thisall down inside of my course,
(09:37):
but the point is you don't haveto go in blind.
Knowledge equals power and lesspain.
Okay, so I promised you mynumber one third trimester prep
pack that no one really talksabout, and we're almost there.
But first, let's talk about yourbaby.
(09:57):
At 28 weeks, your baby is abouttwo and a half pounds right now
and the size of an eggplant.
But here's the cool part.
Your baby can hear your voice,and I know I sound like a broken
record because if you heardprevious weeks, you know, I've
been pounding away at this.
But it is so important to justremember that engaging with them
(10:20):
now with early bonding.
Right playing music, reading ashort book out loud, that is
helping with their braindevelopment, and it creates a
bond that they'll remember evenafter birth.
In fact, it wires their nervoussystem and helps them to start
connecting right now.
So talk to your baby, sing toyour baby over and over and over
(10:45):
again.
This may or may not be the lasttime you hear it, so just keep
it in mind.
Okay, now here it is the numberone third trimester prep hack
that no one really tells you.
And that is drum roll please.
Start your morning with 10minutes of birth focused
(11:07):
breathing and body awareness.
Now, you may be asking why,because your breath is your
superpower in labor.
Doing it now helps you.
It helps you to get into yourbody.
It helps to calm your nervoussystem, and it helps to build
muscle memory for birth so thatwhen you need it.
(11:29):
It'll feel natural and it'll besomething that you're used to
doing and you'll move right intoit.
It'll be like a flow.
This is exactly the kind ofstuff that we work on inside of
Bump to Bundle Blueprint,because it's not just about
pushing, it's about preparingyour body and your mind before
you're in the thick of it.
(11:50):
It.
Woo.
28 weeks is no joke.
Right?
But now you know the real dealfrom your weird symptoms to
emotional shifts tobreastfeeding prep.
Because you deserve to feelcalm, confident.
And ready.
The link is below.
(12:10):
Go check it out and I'll see youinside.
And don't forget to like,subscribe and hit that bell so
that you don't miss next week'svideo on what to expect at 29
weeks.
And here's a spoiler alert.
There's a very uncomfortablesymptom coming your way.
I'm sorry.
Don't shoot the messenger.
(12:31):
I'm just.
Giving you the message.
Okay, mama, you've got this.
See you next week for week 29,pregnancy update.
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