30 Weeks Pregnant

It’s a great feeling to reach this mark. Today you are 30 weeks pregnant and have only 10 more weeks before you can finally hold your little gift in your arms. Your baby has grown each week and today he/she is as big as a cabbage weighing approximately 1.3 kilograms and is almost 15 inches tall that is as much as the screen of your laptop that you are staring at right now. From here on, each baby will grow at an individual pace and the growth will slow down a bit.

How Your Baby is Growing This Week?

The body of your baby is formed and the face resembles that of a new born baby. The external features of the face are fully developed. The eyes open and close throughout the day and can see now. But even after birth, the baby will have a 20/400 vision (normal adult vision is 20/20) which means he/she can see only those objects that are few inches from the face. This means after birth, all that the baby can see for a while is your face, the nipple while feeding and faces of those who hold her. But this limited vision is temporary and will gradually increase in the coming months until your little explorer can behold the whole world!

The brain development is continuing and grooves on the surface of the brain continue to form to increase the surface area for newer connections.

The body is filling out with layers of white fat and your little one is getting plump by the day. Till the time he/she is born, there will be another kilo or two added to the current weight. The fingers have fingernails already and you will need to trim them shortly after your baby is born.

The movements are distinct and you can count them. If you notice the number of movements to be less, do not panic. Keep a count and if it is less than 10 then see your doctor immediately. At this stage, many babies are still changing their lie-transverse or longitudinal at this stage. They are floating in 1.5 pints of amniotic fluid and there is still some space left for movement. Gradually the space will reduce and the presentation will become fixed. In most cases it is longitudinal with head down.

Changes in Your Body at 30 Weeks Pregnant

As you enter the last lap of your pregnancy, the early pregnancy symptoms like fatigue and emotional ups are beginning to return making you restless and tired.

You may notice that you are getting breathless as the growing uterus pushes onto the diaphragm. The hormone relaxin causes loosening of the joints of the body which can cause a change in your gait. In the last weeks, you will find yourself waddling due to the extra weight and a shift in the center of gravity. Your shoe size will also increase by one or two numbers due to pedal oedema; this is likely to regress once your pregnancy comes to an end. In the last trimester of pregnancy, your weight gain will slow down to 1-2 kg per month. This is one of the major symptoms of pregnancy which worries most women!

As your due date approaches and the uterus and cervix prepare for labor, you will notice pains in the lower abdomen with a slight hardening of the uterus. These are false labor pains and are likely to go away with some rest. From early signs of pregnancy, you are now close to experiencing the early signs of a labor pain. However, if the pain increases in intensity and are associated with spotting while pregnant, then you could be heading for pre-term labor.

Week 30 Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms

It’s been 30 weeks since you took the am i pregnant quiz and the pregnancy symptoms have changed a lot since then. This week the symptoms are more or less like those of last week. By 36 weeks pregnant, you will be called as full term pregnant and can expect the baby to arrive anytime then.

Fatigue and tiredness
Emotional ups and downs
Acidity
Migraines
Waddling gait
Forgetfulness
Heartburn
Constipation
Pain in the ribs
Loss of appetite due to acidity
Anxiety about the baby
Back pain
Dry and itchy skin
Round ligament pains
Oedema of hands and feet
Breathlessness on exertion
Varicose veins and hemorrhoids
Braxton Hicks contractions (false labor pains)
Stretch marks
Breast engorgement
Yellowish discharge from the nipple
Increased pigmentation
Linea Nigra
Frequent urination
Mood changes
Recognizing a pattern in the baby’s movements

In the last trimester, the fatigue which was a 4 weeks pregnant symptoms are all set to return. Follow your body cues and take some rest. Avoid over-straining or working very long hours. Your pregnancy week by week medical visits are soon going to come to an end.

Diagnostic Tests and Ultrasound Results in Week 30 of Pregnancy

This week the ultrasound will show your baby actively moving his limbs and exhibiting well coordinated movements. You may even see him grabbing or playing around with the umbilical cord. The main things to be checked at the ultrasound this week are the placental and umbilical blood flow. The doctor may recommend a color Doppler test for you indicated anytime upto 35 weeks pregnant.

In case you have a previous medical history of cardiac diseases in the first child, then a fetal echocardiogram may be required and will be accordingly suggested by your treating doctor.

The other growth parameters like length of the baby and heart rate will be monitored.

Pregnancy Health Tips

Take a diet that is rich in calcium. Include milk, yogurt, cheese, soy milk etc as they are very essential for good fetal bony skeleton formation.
In case you are pregnant with twins, there are chances that you may deliver earlier than your due date. So it’s good to keep your hospital bag ready and have a birth plan in place.
Visit the hospital where you plan to deliver your child and take a look at the labor room. It will help you prepare yourself mentally and keep fears away as you will know what to expect.
Regular walking will help you to stay fit and active. Remaining active is very important in the last few weeks as it can help you to deliver normally.
At this stage, avoid any unnecessary travel and if you must then be careful of the jerky movements. Check with your doctor before planning a train or flight journey.
Use a moisturizer or coconut oil to soothe the itchy skin and avoid scratching as you may bruise yourself.
Keep the intake of tea and coffee minimum especially around bedtime as it can cause over-stimulation and further increase the already present insomnia.
Take all prenatal vitamins regularly.

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