Week 30 of Pregnancy

Key Takeaways at Week 30

• Braxton hicks; essentially, your uterus is rehearsing; you will see your belly tightening and then relaxing. It is more likely to occur after some physical activity. Attempt to relax or shift postures. If they persist and get closer together, contact your doctor to rule out premature labour

• Baby kicks and jabs seem a lot less adorable these days. Because they are in close confines with little space to move and flip, elbow jabs become sharper and more noticeable

• Do you feel a sudden need to organise everything? It's called nesting, and it's a natural impulse to prepare your house for this major life shift. Enjoy decorating the nursery and washing those itty-bitty onesies, but don't overwork yourself

• Your belly isn't only making it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position; it's also become a topic of discussion. Everywhere you go, someone makes a comment about your appearance. Try not to take such remarks seriously, but recognise which ones should be taken seriously—for example, if someone tells you you look great, trust them

• If you are in Week 30 of your pregnancy you are in the third trimester and in the seventh month

• 10 more weeks remaining in your pregnancy

Baby's Movement and Baby’s Development at Week 30

If you could see inside your tummy, you'd see a lovely foetus! By week 30, the baby gets a decent quantity of hair on their head and eyes that expand wide enough to identify what they see around them. Baby is also developing fingernails and practising gripping with their feet or umbilical cord.

The baby's skin appears smoother during this time due to an increase in fat storage below. Surprisingly, human foetuses store more fat than any other animal. All of that fat has an essential purpose: it helps to control the baby's body temperature, both now and after delivery. It also acts as a crucial energy storage, supporting the brain's tremendous needs, which consumes around 20% of all calories.

Now that the baby has acquired additional fat reserves, they are beginning to lose lanugo; the soft, downy hair that has covered the body for the last several weeks. Lanugo keeps a foetus warm and preserves their fragile developing skin with the aid of vernix (a waxy material that covers the body and is gradually vanishing). Lanugo also helps babies develop quickly by delivering signals to their brains when they move. As lanugo diminishes in the third trimester, the baby's development will decelerate (though it won't seem like it given your growing belly).

At 30 weeks of pregnancy, the baby's position is most likely head down. Your foetus is happily floating in around 1.4 litres of amniotic fluid. It may seem confined inside, but they still have space to float about. Your tummy will expand even more than your rib cage in the following weeks to accommodate the baby, but it will still get somewhat more congested as your due date approaches.

• Baby Weight: Around 1.3 Kg
• Baby Length: 17 inches long
• Baby Size: Comparable to lettuce.

Pregnancy Symptoms and Body Changes This Week

During week 30 of pregnancy, your body is gradually changing. As your baby develops, so will you, and you may feel specific pregnancy symptoms throughout this period.

• You're likely to be fatigued by now, thanks to spells of sleeplessness and a hungry youngster draining your energy reserves. Try to maintain good pregnancy sleep patterns
• Extra stretch marks are to be expected given the baby's rapid development. While there is no treatment, applying cocoa butter or moisturiser on them might relieve any pain
• You'll get used to being constipated, so keep drinking water and eating fibre
• Put your feet up. With all of the weight you're carrying, your swollen ankles need some relief
• The rare, surprise kick may catch you off guard; but it is all just a sign that the baby is thriving
• Braxton-Hicks contractions will persist. These irregular uterine muscular contractions, which may last up to two minutes, are sometimes referred to as false labour
• Pregnancy hormones and increased strain on your digestive system are likely to cause heartburn and bloating until you give birth. Identifying and avoiding triggers, as well as eating smaller, more frequent meals, may be beneficial

Body Changes This week

• Heavy? Your baby's development and weight increase are now getting faster, with 226 g added each week for the next seven weeks!
• You are back in the red zone for pregnancy symptoms. That second trimester was your honeymoon phase, but now it's back to business, with all kinds of aches and pains on the way as you enter the last ten weeks
• You may feel more tired, so make time for cat naps and relaxation

30-week Ultrasound

If your pregnancy is uncomplicated, you will most likely not undergo a 30-week ultrasound. But if you could see what the baby was doing, here's what you'd discover: Your foetus's skin is smoothing out, but their brain is becoming wrinklier to create room for all that vital brain tissue. At 30 weeks, your baby is strong enough to grab a finger! That is a talent they will undoubtedly employ after birth.

Are you pregnant with twins? So far, your twins have most likely grown at the same pace as other infants in pregnancy. However, between now and week 32, they may slow down a little.

Around week 30 of pregnancy with twins, your doctor may request a biophysical profile of your infants. This combines an ultrasound with a non-stress test (NST). Sensors will be placed on your tummy during the NST to detect and quantify your contractions as well as the babies' heart rate. The test is meant to see how a baby's heart rate changes while they move. If everything seems well on the NST and ultrasound, your doctor will rule out foetal distress and premature labour to ensure your babies are doing well.

Your Baby Bump at Week 30

At 30 weeks pregnant, many of the early symptoms are returning. You're probably feeling tired and cranky again, and you need to urinate all the time. This might be annoying (especially given the mood swings) but with just 10 weeks left, rest as much as possible and discover strategies to maintain your physical and mental wellness.

You may notice your belly become rigid and tight at times. Yes, at this stage, Braxton Hicks contractions are frequent. These are your body's preparations for the big event (labour). Braxton Hicks often occur after exercise or sex, or when you are exhausted or dehydrated. If you get them, sit down or lay on your side, relax, and drink some water. If the contractions do not cease, or if you have four or more in an hour, contact your doctor. It might be premature labour.

The total weight increase throughout 30 weeks of pregnancy should be about 8 to 11 kg. If you're expecting twins, you should anticipate gaining roughly a bit more than that each week in the second and third trimesters. Fundal height, which is the distance from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus, should range from 28 to 32 centimetres.

Tips and Exercise at Week 30

Being 30 weeks pregnant is a significant milestone for both you and your baby. Here's some additional professional advice on how to transition to this new stage while keeping you and your baby safe.

• This is the last trimester of your pregnancy, so comfort is key. Try to wear loose, comfortable clothes all the time
• Your feet are undoubtedly swollen and achy most of the time, and tight shoes will not alleviate the pain, so look for shoes with some give or that provide space for your feet to expand
• It may seem premature to have your hospital bag ready and at the door, and baby's room all set up, but believe us, it's better to be prepared too early than too late. Besides, getting things ready is sort of fun!
• If you don't understand what a mucus plug is, now is the time to learn. In summary, the mucus plug blocks the cervical opening and protects the newborn from microorganisms. You will lose your mucus plug as the baby's due date approaches. This shouldn't happen right away, but it's helpful to know it's coming
• Doing Kegels helps maintain your vaginal and perineal muscles in excellent health, which will be quite beneficial when it comes time to give birth. Kegels may also help you avoid wetting your pants, which, let's face it, is a genuine possibility these days

Checklist for Week 30

• Finalise your birth plan and hospital arrangements
• Practice a hospital run
• Make plans for any pets and siblings when labour starts
• Find out what screening tests your hospital usually provides babies
• Get comfortable shoes

Frequently Asked Questions on Week 30 of Pregnancy

1. How can I treat pregnancy headaches in the third trimester?
   Unfortunately, headaches are a typical third-trimester symptom. They are most likely caused by the baby's increasing weight, which may raise strain in your body and affect your posture, as well as other causes such as stress and a lack of sleep. Acetaminophen is usually regarded as safe to ingest while pregnant (Do not take it without a prescription from your doctor). To avoid headaches, try to manage stress, exercise a little each day, eat regular and frequent meals, drink enough fluids, and prioritise sleep. Keep in mind that headaches might indicate preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy, which generally appears after week 20. Inform your doctor if you experience severe headaches, particularly if you have visual difficulties, nausea, or abrupt swelling in your hands and feet.
2. How can I cope with belly button pain when pregnant?
   Is your belly button feeling especially sensitive and sore? It is most likely caused by your skin stretching and pressing against your clothes. To alleviate the pain, cover your belly button with a bandage or wear loose clothing. Please notify your doctor if you feel a hard lump around your belly button, which might indicate an umbilical hernia.