You must be experiencing difficulties in sleeping, let alone finding a comfortable sleeping position. But don’t worry, it’s perfectly understandable! You are now 30 weeks pregnant.
Just hold on for a bit longer because all those sleepless nights will be worth it once you finally hold your precious one for the first time!
Table of Contents
How Big Is My Baby?
This week, your baby is about 15.7 inches long and almost 48 ounces! The baby is continuing to put on weight as it grows about half a pound and half an inch each week. If you’re curious about how big your baby is, think of a pile of bananas. He or she is fully developed, but it will take a while until the little lungs become mature enough and for the brain to change appearance-wise.
My Baby’s Development
It’s not just your belly that’s growing at a quick pace—it’s also the baby. In your 30th week, you will feel absolute bliss seeing your baby through the ultrasound. You will see the surface of your baby’s brain begin to wrinkle (a sign that it’s holding more brain cells), as well as the fully formed hands and growing fingernails. If you’re lucky, you might catch your baby grabbing his or her foot!
The coming of the new brain and fat cells also mean that the white substance on the baby called the “vernix” and the furry coat or fine fur called the “lanugo” are starting to disappear. In addition, you’ll be glad to know that the baby’s lungs are developing nicely, and the bone marrow is making red blood cells.
What Is My Baby Doing?
At 30 weeks, your baby can now tell the difference between light and dark, though he or she would still spend a significant amount of time with eyes closed. Bravo! Once the baby makes it out, they will have a 20/400 vision, which means they can only focus on objects or people that are near their face. Stay close and give them warmth.
Belly Ultrasound
As you look into your ultrasound, you can’t help but feel emotional. By now, your baby has smoother skin, wrinklier brain, and cute fully formed hands and growing fingernails. Your baby will sure have a lot of fun kicking and punching as a sign of his growing strength. The movements may not be as light when you first experienced it, so be prepared to feel discomfort.
My Changing Body—Week 30
By this time, the whole pregnancy process just got a lot harder with you getting a more massive bump. It means that your belly also gets itchy as the skin stretches. Do not scratch it! You may want to relieve itchiness by asking your partner to massage moisturizer or a therapy oil over your bump each night before you go to bed.
You may also notice that it’s taking a long time for the food you eat to be digested by the body, which will most likely result in constipation. The go-slow in your intestines will also cause the buildup of gas. Lots of water will help and give you relief.
Common Symptoms
At week 30, you’d realize that it is getting a lot more difficult to relax. These are the symptoms you need to be aware of:
- General Discomfort - Every part of your body aches. These include your back, hips, and even your feet! Sleeping tends to be more challenging; you keep tossing and turning because you can’t find a comfortable position.
- Shortness of Breath - Your baby’s lungs are developing, but yours seem to feel crowded because the baby is high up near your rib cage. You better practice breathing techniques and take a deep breath now and then.
- Heartburn - Nobody likes to feel the burn, but this one you can’t avoid. Try to avoid triggering foods (greasy, heavy, spicy, or acidic) this week.
- Swollen Feet and Ankles - About 75 percent of pregnant women suffer from swollen feet and ankles (edema). Put your feet up and relax. Avoid long periods of sitting or standing.
How Is My Life Changing
At week 30, your weight gain should be about 18 to 25 pounds and 25 to 40 pounds if you’re pregnant with twins. You may feel a little bit insecure about how you look now that you have a big belly. It’s okay to be insecure but try not to stress yourself too much. Just watch the food you eat and still try to do light exercise daily to avoid too much weight gain.
Aside from feeling insecure, you might feel panicky already for your delivery. That’s normal especially that it’s only a few weeks before you’ll become a fully pledged mom. Share your thoughts and feelings with your partner. Remember that you are not alone in this journey.
Week 30 Mommy Checklist
You need to take care of yourself to take care of your baby. At week 30, you should keep in mind to :
- Eat more fibrous foods to help with constipation.
- Avoid salty, greasy, acidic, spicy, and heavy food.
- Drink lots of water to help with the bloating and gas.
- Sleep in a semi-seated position with pillows propped up against your back. It will help with the shortness of breath.
- Avoid strenuous activities and get as much rest as possible.
Tips For The Partners
This week will be extra challenging for your partner given the level of discomfort of week 30. Soothe her aches before sleeping by massaging her back and shoulders. Help her monitor her food and fluid intake. Try to be supportive and understanding even when she’s cranky because more often than not, she’s in pain.
A Sneak Peek To Your Week 31
At week 31, you would get more pressure on your bladder! The frequent urination may be tiring for you, so always empty it. As for your baby, he or she will develop the five senses.
