Week 30

A:

You are currently in Week 30 (29 weeks and 3 days)

Only 10 more weeks until your baby arrives. Until then you can expect some of the following things to occur.

Common 3rd Trimester Questions:
Terms To Know Insomnia Traveling Having a Doula Birth Choices	Cord Blood Banking Swelling Mucus Plug Kick Counts Leg Cramps	Signs of Labor Premature Labor Braxton Hicks Stages of Labor False Labor

What changes are occurring with your body?

You may begin noticing that you become tired easily during this last part of pregnancy. This may be especially true if you are having difficulty sleeping at night. Some women are able to experiment with different sleeping positions that make sleep a little easier. If you are suffering from insomnia and it is becoming increasingly worse, you may want to consult with your healthcare provider. During this later part of pregnancy you may also experience mood swings. Some of you may have experienced this in the earlier part of pregnancy as well.

Your body is producing a number of different hormones that can cause your joints to become looser. This may result in your feet actually getting larger. Some women report that their feet grow one shoe size during their pregnancy. This is normally a permanent change.*

How big is your baby?

Your baby has now grown to be 14 ¾ inches long and weighs about 3 pounds.*

What is happening with your baby?

As your baby continues to grow, he/she takes up a larger portion of your uterus. You may not feel that your body can handle your growing baby, but it will compensate by allowing your uterus to extend underneath your rib cage.

Your baby's eyes are becoming more mature, and now he/she can tell the difference between light and dark. Babies at 30 weeks can even follow a light source with their eyes. Once your baby is born, he/she will spend a great deal of time with their eyes closed. This is completely normal. Newborns only have the ability to focus on objects a few inches from their face. While "normal" adult vision is 20/20, a newborn's vision is 20/400.*

What should you plan for this week?

You have approximately 10 weeks left in your pregnancy. Now is the time to begin thinking about the different kinds of pain relief options that will be available to you when you deliver. Not only should you talk to your healthcare provider about the different options, but also research the different techniques so that you can make an informed decision. The following briefly describe some of the available options:

Natural childbirth- includes the Alexander Technique, the Bradley Method, Hypnosis, Lamaze, and Water Birth.
Local anesthesia- includes pudendal block, spinal block, and an epidural.
General anesthesia- not commonly used during labor and delivery due to a complete loss of sensation and consciousness.
Narcotics- commonly used in labor for women who are looking for a less invasive form of pain relief. The goal of narcotics is to reduce anxiety and help a woman cope with contractions.
Patterned Breathing- refers to the various types of breathing at specific rates and depths to allow the woman to become more calm and relaxed.
Relaxation Techniques for Labor- used in addition to any of the above interventions to incorporate all the senses.

Tips for making your pregnancy better:

Many women during this stage of pregnancy report an increasing number of backaches. This is very much related to weight gain and the baby's growth. If you are experiencing back pain, you may want to evaluate your posture. Proper posture can alleviate the back pain that you are experiencing. It may take some effort to change these habits, but it will be worth it if your back pain goes away.

Tips for mom's partner:

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Your partner has been able to feel the baby move for quite some time. By 30 weeks you should also be able to feel the baby move. Make some time for you and your partner to be together so that you can rest your hand on her stomach in order to feel the baby move. Sharing these moments together will not only help you with the bonding process between you and your baby, but it will also allow you to spend some special time with your partner.

Last Updated: 08/2006