31 Weeks Pregnant
What’s happening this week? How is my baby developing?
You’re 31 weeks pregnant, and your baby is mostly busy putting on weight. Layers of fat are being deposited all over your baby’s body and his skin is getting less wrinkly. Most of the lanugo and cervix is shedding.
Your baby’s immune system is also getting ready for life outside the womb. As your baby grows, space in your womb is at a premium, so any movement your baby makes may be uncomfortable or even painful.
By 31 weeks pregnant, most babies are already in an head down position, ready for delivery. Don’t worry if your baby hasn’t turned yet, as there’s still time before you go into labour.
Your baby measures around 40 cm and weighs about 1.5 kg, and will probably put on 200g a week until he’s born.
How is my body changing?
At 31 weeks pregnant your uterus has stretched to about 13 cm above your belly button. You may notice from now on, that you waddle when walking. If you’ve been doing some exercise, it’s time to switch to something lighter during the final weeks.
Yoga is a popular choice. At 31 weeks pregnant, your expanding uterus has shifted all your internal organs upward, so you’re going to experience heartburn and indigestion. To avoid this, opt for smaller meals during the day.
You may also notice that your breasts are leaking a clear or slightly yellow liquid. This is colostrum, and will be your baby’s first drink.
It’s quite common to experience vision problems at this stage, but if you see flashing lights or double vision, contact your doctor immediately as it could be a sign or something serious, like preeclampsia. So far, your weight gain has been about 23-25 pounds.
Choosing your delivery method: natural or c-section?
At 31 weeks pregnant, you need to start reading about labour, pain relief, types of delivery, etc. The more informed you are, the better you feel.
When it comes to choosing your method of delivery, you have two options – natural or planned c-section.
Bear in mind that even if you prefer a natural birth, you may still go trough an emergency c-section if your baby is at risk. Talk to your doctor about pros and cons of both options.