Pregnancy Guide: Week 31

Your baby’s brain is continuing to grow, produce brain cells, and create trillions of connections throughout his body. He’s logging more sleeping hours and continues to dream in REM sleep.

31 weeks pregnant is how many months?

You are six months and two weeks pregnant. You only have a while longer to go. You may start to research what it’s like to in those first few months of having a baby if not already. Questions that often come up are should I try to breastfeed or use formula? Can babies drink cold breastmilk? When can babies hold a bottle? What nappies do I choose? What can I do if the baby won’t stop screaming? It’s likely most things are going to be new, challenging, though rewarding.

Your Baby at 31 Weeks

Your baby is growing rapidly, which is likely wearing him out, so he’s clocking a lot of sleep hours now. You’ll start to notice patterns in his activity and rest periods. His five senses are maturing as well.

His brain is growing fast, making connections with nerve cells throughout his body. He can process a lot of information, like what comes from his five senses, and he can track light rather than sense it.

Although you can’t see it, your baby is breathing, making faces, swallowing, hiccuping, and pedalling. You may be able to feel these primitive walking movements as he practices. He may even be sucking his thumb so hard that when he comes out, you’ll notice a callus.

How big is a baby at 31 weeks?

Your baby is the size of asparagus now at 41.9 centimetres long and weighs 1751 grams.

Your Body at 31 Weeks

As your uterus encroaches on your diaphragm, it can be hard to take deep breaths, and you may feel like you can’t expand your lungs or your chest. You will be short of air, but your baby is as happy as can be getting all the oxygen he needs from the placenta.

You should keep enjoying sex for as long as you can right now. It may lull your baby to sleep, or he may become more active afterwards, but he has no idea what’s going on, and it’s not hurting him either. Enjoying each other’s company may be an acrobatic feat, but doing it after the baby comes maybe even harder.

Symptoms

Your bladder is getting smaller, thanks to your growing uterus, so you’ll be experiencing even more trips to the bathroom than ever before. Void your bladder completely by trying to go again after you think you’re empty.

Your protruding belly is pulling your back in, making it work harder. It’s probably painful by now, but prenatal yoga can help it stretch and relax. This change in posture can also cause additional clumsiness. Be careful in the shower or tub.

A reduction in the volume of brain cells has you forgetting things all day every day. Stress makes it worse, so instead of worrying about it, write things down and log them on your phone. Delegate what you can so you don’t have to remember as much.

All your symptoms compound into one big one—lack of sleep. Restless legs and cramps, frequent trips to the bathroom, heartburn, and anxiety can all contribute to trouble sleeping. If stress is a factor, talk to your friends and family during the day and find support through them.

Headaches are common in the third trimester because of your stress, exhaustion, and pain. Rest in the dark and quiet for a few minutes. Close your eyes and try to relax. You can also take acetaminophen if you need it.

Tips/Things to do

Crib bumpers are cute, but not very safe. While you’re shopping for cribs, skip the bumpers, extra pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals. They pose a suffocation risk to your child and can increase the chances of SIDS.

Start packing your hospital bag. Make a list of everything you might need and pack it all up. Don’t forget snacks, clothes for you, clothes for baby, slippers, toiletries, and your birth plan. Leave the car seat in the car until you’re ready to go home.

Your facial swelling could be more than just a normal pregnancy symptom. If you have facial swelling in conjunction with headaches or vision changes, it could mean preeclampsia. This disorder develops after week 20 and produces severe swelling, high blood pressure, and abnormal organ function.

Drinking enough water will help with overheating, bloating, cramping, headaches, and fatigue. It’s amazing how much better water can make you feel, so make sure you get plenty. It can add more moisture to your skin, too, alleviating itching and dryness.

Wear comfortable shoes to give your swollen feet and aching back some more support. If your shoes don’t fit because of the size of your feet, it’s time to get some new ones. It’s well worth the investment for the last, most uncomfortable months.

A good pair of shoes will cut down on your clumsiness by keeping you stable on your feet. You can also invest in some support hose or knee-highs that will cut down on feet and ankle swelling. They’re not attractive, but they’ll be so comfortable.

Your varicose veins are harmless, but they may not look or feel good, especially if you have hemorrhoids. Your blood vessels are completely relaxed and carrying more blood than ever, causing them to swell, just like everything else.

Exercise to improve circulation and reduce their appearance and take breaks from being on your feet all day. Those support hose will also come in handy for keeping blood from pooling, which can eliminate or prevent more varicose veins.

Simple stretching can alleviate many of your symptoms. If you carry tension in your shoulders and neck, double-check your posture and make sure you take a break to stretch throughout the day. Tilt your head to one side, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Hold it for a minute or two and then switch to the other side.

Posture at the computer can have a big impact on carpal tunnel, so take breaks to stretch your hands and wrists. While you’re at it, relax your mind and just spend a few minutes being quiet. Prenatal yoga is a great way to stretch and relax all parts of your body and keep you healthy during pregnancy.

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