Week by week pregnancy guide: You and your baby at Week 31
Your baby's limbs are proportional to the rest of his body, so he resembles a newborn more now. As for you, mum, find out what condition you must watch out for to ensure a safe delivery.
How Big is Your Baby?
Your Baby's Development
In this week by week pregnancy guide, you'll learn that:
- Your baby’s arms, legs, and body are now in proportion with his head.
- His organs continue to develop, including the bladder, which will now be passing water. Think of it as practise for peeing later on.
- He also knows when it is light and dark now, but he still won't necessarily get into a sleeping or moving about regime.
- Baby is now busy making faces, hiccuping, swallowing, breathing, pedaling with his hands and feet along your uterine wall, and even sucking his thumb.
Pregnancy Symptoms
- You will experience frequent urination as your uterus puts more pressure on your bladder, which now has less room to store urine.
- You may get occasional headaches. If tension is twisting your head up in knots, spend a few minutes in a dark, quiet room.
- That growing belly can hurt as it curves to accommodate the load. Now is the time to incorporate some prenatal yoga into your exercise routine.
- Feel like you are getting more forgetful? This is a condition that’s a result of shrinking brain-cell volume in the third trimester. Of course, your brain cells go back to normal a few months after delivery.
Pregnancy Care
- Take it easy when you’re climbing into the shower or tub. Roll up any area rugs that could trip you up at home.
- Take a walk during the day or get some other form of low-key, circulation-boosting exercise.
Your Checklist
- Is your hospital bag packed? If not now’s a good time to get it ready, just in case. Here's our delivery bag checklist which you can download.
- Take a tour of the birthing centre or hospital where you are planning to deliver.
- If you notice sudden facial swelling, talk to your doctor. Along with changes in vision and headaches, swelling can be a sign of preeclampsia.
Your next week: 32 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 30 weeks pregnant
Do you have questions on this week by week pregnancy guide? What are your current concerns, mums? Leave us a comment below!