At week 31 of pregnancy, you might become a bit more forgetful, but that's normal. The good news, however, is that your baby’s arms, legs, and body will be in proportion with their head, and they will be growing rapidly. Learn more about your third trimester here.
31 Weeks Pregnant is How Many Months?
Congratulations! You're 31 weeks pregnant! You could be 7 months, or you could be 8 months along. Either way, you're well into the third trimester.
Week 31 of Pregnancy: Baby
As you've probably noticed, your belly is starting to stretch. It's not the same kind of stretching as your body does when you've eaten too much or pulled a muscle, though.
Pregnancy week 31 means your baby is getting bigger and bigger. Your baby is almost ready to make his or her way into the world.
The umbilical cord is still attached to your baby, and you'll be able to feel it pulsating as your baby moves around in there. The placenta is also growing rapidly and has a lot of work ahead of it—about half of your baby's blood supply will come from the placenta at this point.
At week 31 of pregnancy, your body is continuing its process of preparing for labour, but it's not quite time yet! The amniotic sac will continue getting thicker, which means more fluid surrounding your little one so they can float around in their little water world without bumping into anything too hard.
The growing fetus is busy absorbing nutrients from its mother's bloodstream, oxygen through her placenta, and even some toxins that would otherwise harm its delicate system! Most of these nutrients come through the umbilical cord, which connects the placenta to your baby's navel (belly button).
Baby’s Growth
At week 31 of pregnancy, your pumpkin is as big as a small pumpkin or a coconut! They now weigh 1.6 kg and measure 28 cm. Your baby is getting bigger and rounder. Their head is becoming more proportionate to their body, making them look more 'human.'
The last few weeks of your pregnancy have been a whirlwind of excitement, anticipation, and preparation. You’ve probably already started buying baby clothes and decorating the nursery.
Your baby is now more than 5 pounds and growing at an incredible rate of up to half an inch per week! That’s right—your baby will continue to grow rapidly over the next few weeks before it finally starts to slow down and enter the world.
At this point, you may also notice that some of your symptoms have begun to diminish. This is because your body is adjusting in preparation for birth. The hormone relaxin makes it easier for your pelvis to open up and make room for delivery.
Your uterus has also grown considerably since you were first pregnant, so it may feel like there isn’t much room left inside your abdomen anymore. However, don’t worry—your baby can still fit!
Image courtesy: Pixabay
Baby's Development
In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, you'll learn that:
- Your baby’s arms, legs, and body are now in proportion with their head, which they can turn from side to side.
- Their organs continue to develop, including the bladder, which will now be passing water. Think of it as practice for peeing later—a major development for week 31 of pregnancy.
- Your little one is also getting plumper, with needed fat accumulating underneath their skin.
- Their eyes can recognise light, so they know when it is bright and dark now, but they still won't necessarily get into a sleeping or moving-about routine.
- Baby is now busy making faces, hiccuping, swallowing, breathing, peddling with their hands and feet along your uterine wall, and even sucking their thumb.
Baby’s Hearing
At week 31 of your pregnancy, your baby's ear structures have developed enough to hear the noises around them.
Their hearing has developed and is now fully functional. They can hear the sound of your voice, and they're also able to hear the sound of other voices. The more you talk to your baby, the more he or she will learn about language and be able to interact with you later on in life.
Your baby's hearing will continue to develop over the next few months, so it is important to talk with your baby and play music for them. It's also a good time to start using sign language with your baby if you're planning on doing so.
Baby’s Teeth
By this point, your baby is starting to grow teeth. She has all the teeth she needs to chew food when she’s born, but they aren’t visible yet because they’re still under her gums.
Baby’s Movement
It's time to get excited!
You can expect to feel your baby move more frequently at the end of pregnancy. This is because your baby has grown bigger and stronger, which means it can move around more.
This is good because it means your baby is healthy and growing well. It may take a little while to notice these movements because they are so small. But as your baby grows, you can feel them more easily.
Week 31 of Pregnancy: Your Body
As you approach the end of your pregnancy, you and your baby are ready to make your big debut. Your body is doing everything it can to prepare for the big day, and we're here to help you stay informed on what's happening inside and out.
The placenta—the organ that provides nutrients to your growing baby—has also nearly doubled in size over the past 3 weeks.
Your uterus is now measuring around 5 inches above your belly button and is pushing against your diaphragm (stomach muscle), which has been pushed down by this growth spurt.
This can cause shoulder pain, backaches, and a tight chest. If you haven't already, it would be a good time to start taking prenatal vitamins with iron since they will be an extra boost during this rapid growth!
31 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms
- At week 31 of pregnancy, you will experience frequent urination as your uterus puts more pressure on your bladder, which now has less room to store urine.
- You may get occasional headaches. If tension is twisting your head up in knots, spend a few minutes in a dark, quiet room.
- That growing belly can hurt as it curves to accommodate the load. Now is the time to incorporate some prenatal yoga into your exercise routine.
- Feel like you are getting more forgetful? This is a condition that’s a result of shrinking brain-cell volume in the third trimester. Of course, your brain cells go back to normal a few months after delivery.
- You also get some practice for real labour when you notice a quick tightening of the uterine muscles. Learn how to differentiate Braxton Hicks from real contractions, so you don't get anxious.
- Your body is also getting ready to take care of your baby's needs so you may experience leaking breasts at week 31 of pregnancy. It's nothing to worry about. Use some breast pads to avoid milk-stained clothes.
Maternal Weight Gain
You've probably been wondering how much you should gain during pregnancy, and now you have an answer: your own body is the best judge of that. Your doctor will likely recommend that you gain between 25 and 35 pounds. That's a lot of weight! But don't worry—it's nothing you can't handle with a little planning and support from your partner.
As you continue gaining weight, keep in mind that it's perfectly normal for your belly to expand outward and downward as the baby grows. You might feel like your belly is getting too big, but don't be afraid of it—this means there's more room for the baby!
The good news is that most of this extra weight will come off after delivery. Some women lose more than half their pregnancy weight within six months postpartum.
Nutrition
At week 31 of pregnancy, you may feel more tired than ever, but you're also closer to the finish line. Your baby is almost here! If you're starting to feel your body change, it's important to be aware that this is normal and healthy during pregnancy.
This week, we'll talk about maternal nutrition: what nutrients are important for your baby and how you can get them in your diet.
You probably know that protein is an essential nutrient for your developing baby, but did you know it also helps build up your muscle mass? That's right—pregnancy is not just about creating a new life—it's also about creating a stronger one for yourself.
Image Source: iStock
Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist For Week 31 of Pregnancy
- Take it easy when you’re climbing into the shower or tub. Roll up any area rugs that could trip you up at home.
- Take a walk during the day or get some other form of low-key, circulation-boosting exercise.
- Is your hospital bag packed? If not, now’s a good time to get it ready, just in case. Here's our delivery bag checklist, which you can download.
- Take a tour of the birthing centre or hospital where you plan to deliver.
- If you notice sudden facial swelling, talk to your doctor. Along with changes in vision and headaches, swelling can signify preeclampsia.
Your next week: 32 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 30 weeks pregnant
Updates from Pheona Ilagan
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it's important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn't serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
