Week 30

Your Body

Constipation is a common complaint of pregnancy. The pregnancy hormones that allow you to maintain your pregnancy also slow the digestive process considerably. Exercising regularly and eating foods high in fibre, such as vegetables and whole grains, are great ways to keep everything regular.

With all your extended family trying their best to help you prepare for your baby’s imminent arrival, you should perhaps take care when accepting any second hand gifts. If it is an older piece of furniture handed down from your mother or even a kindly aunt, be sure that it conforms to today’s safety regulations – which are a lot stricter than they were in yesteryear. It was a common mistake in days gone by to use lead based paints when painting cribs and every other piece of furniture in sight. If you would like to make use of this furniture, perhaps ask your partner to help you sand the paint off the item to reveal the wood beneath, and then choose a baby-safe paint with which to give it a facelift.

As a 30 week pregnant mum-to-be, you may start to notice ‘Braxton Hicks’ contractions, where your bump goes hard for a minute or two. If you suffer from leg cramps, try wearing support stockings and putting your feet up when you can. You might find that you can’t sleep because you’re uncomfortable, having funny dreams or you need the loo. Try to have a warm bath and milky drink before bed time and adjust your pillows to make yourself more comfortable.

Your Baby’s Development

Baby is very aware of the surroundings. We tend to think of the uterus as a dark place, but it can be light and dark depending on the mother’s environment. You may be able to distinguish sleep and wake cycles in your baby. Although it usually seems as if the baby wants to sleep while you are awake and vice versa at night.

The early lanugo is disappearing, the eyelids open and close, and the toenails are growing. The bone marrow is now responsible for red blood cell production.

Baby’s head gets larger to accommodate baby’s growing brain. Baby is able to follow a light source with their eyes and can tell if it is dark or light outside of the uterus. There is 1.5 pints of amniotic fluid present now. Toenails are in their final growth stage and the fine hair called lanugo is disappearing. The baby’s bone marrow is producing red blood cells. Baby has gained the ability to cry this week. Most women carrying quadruplets will have delivered by now.

Baby measures approximately 15.7 inches (39.9 cm) and weighs 1319 grams (3 pounds!).