Your baby at 31st week of pregnancy

Your baby at 31 weeks

Your baby is the size of a coconut. Your baby is about 28.5 cm (11.2 inches) long from crown to rump (43.2 cm (17 inches) stretched out) and weighs about 1.5 kg (3.3 lb). Baby has been in a curled up position for a few weeks now. He or she will put on another 900 g (2 lb) this month and will be ready for a face-to-face meeting in just nine weeks.

Counting to 10

During 31st week of pregnancy, at roughly the same time each day (if possible, the time when your baby is most active), lie down and keep track of how long it takes to feel baby move. Ideally, this time should be less than an hour, but many women find it takes only a few minutes, depending on the time of day. If an hour passes without any movement, eat a light snack, lie back down and try again. If you still don't feel anything, call your healthcare provider. 

Go slow

If your baby is less active at this stage, it’s just because movements are less erratic and more organised. Also, there's not as much room in your uterus as there was a few weeks ago. 

Your pregnancy at 31 weeks

Losing your breath?

If you find yourself huffing and puffing, slow down and take a few deep breaths. Toward the end of your pregnancy (around week 37 or 38), you may get a break as your baby drops down into your pelvis, easing up on your diaphragm and lungs.

Choosing childcare

Whether you're considering a nanny, day care or a relative, start researching and interviewing prospective choices now. Even if you're not going to need full-time care, you'll probably want to gather a few babysitter recommendations for special occasions.

Premature labor or Braxton Hicks?

You've probably been on the lookout for premature labor symptoms since the middle of your second trimester. Now that you're in your third trimester, you’ll start experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. They are different from premature labor contractions and are no cause for alarm. The difference? If the contractions are irregular and go away when you change positions or walk around, you are probably experiencing Braxton Hicks.

Twin development at week 31

Your babies’ nervous systems are now well-developed. They can regulate their own body temperatures if they’re born at this stage. They may still need medical help, but they have a great chance of survival if they’re born at this stage.

31 weeks pregnant symptoms

- breathlessness
- frequent urination
- leaky breasts
- leg cramps and/or back pain
- hemorrhoids
- constipation

Did you know?

Thumb sucking already? If a hand gets near the face, baby can move his or her head back and forth in a “rooting reflex” to grasp the thumb into the mouth and begin sucking. This reflex will help baby to locate and latch onto the breast after birth.

31 Weeks Pregnant: What Every Expecting Mother Should Know

Want to know more about your upcoming week? Find out what to expect during 32nd week of pregnancy for you and your baby here.

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