During this thirtieth week of pregnancy and third trimester, you may feel that your pregnancy is endless. You only have a couple of more months to go, but you may be longing for your due date to come sooner. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Most women begin experiencing these feelings as the due date approaches.
Symptoms and Body Changes at 30 Weeks
Pregnant women gain the most weight during weeks 20 – 30. As this thirtieth week comes and goes, you will continue to gain weight, but the most dramatic physical changes are pretty much over. You may be feeling uncomfortable as you gain weight and as pregnancy pains continue to plague your daily life. Continue practicing good posture to help you gain control over your lower back pains. Pregnancy hormones will loosen up your joints and the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease as your baby grows inside you. Continue to rest and take it easy as you travel through your last trimester. This will help with all pregnancy symptoms, pains, and hormonal imbalances.
Baby’s Development
Your baby would have quite a wrinkled appearance if you could see it. But as the fat tissue builds, the wrinkles in your baby’s skin will start to smooth out. Fine hair called lanugo still covers your baby’s body, and will remain there until birth. At about 17 inches and weighing around four pounds, your baby is practicing breathing on its own by repeatedly moving its diaphragm in preparation for life outside the womb. Because of this practicing, you may feel flutters within your uterus when your baby has the hiccups. The baby is also getting into his or her own sleeping and waking routine, and becoming more active while awake. Your baby has grown so much that it takes up almost the entire uterine cavity. As the brain continues to mature, it begins to train the eyes, muscles, and lungs to function on their own. The digestive tract is fully functional at this thirtieth week, as your baby continues to take nutrients from you and process them.
Pregnancy Week 30 Tips
As the due date approaches, make sure you are visiting your doctor for regular check-ups, ultrasounds, and blood tests. Continue eating a well balanced diet, and if you experience constipation, eat more foods that are high in fiber, and get plenty of rest. Continue going to Lamaze classes, or whichever type of class you have chosen. This will help keep you active when you are feeling lethargic, and can also help to raise your spirits. If you’re having trouble staying comfortable while resting, try using a body pillow or pregnancy pillow. Next is pregnancy at 31 weeks.
Photo credit: Justine Friedrich 30 weeks pregnant, ultrasound