30 Weeks Pregnant

Now, well into your third trimester, it’s natural to feel excited and a little nervous. That’s totally normal, especially considering this trimester can bring some uncomfortable symptoms and changes to your body.

This article will explain what you can expect and give you a few tips on how to stay healthy, sane, and as stress-free as can reasonably be expected in your 30th week.

Your baby is growing like an adorable little weed every day. You can imagine him fitting snugly into both hands; right now, he measures around 15.71 inches from head to rump and weighs just under 3 pounds. 1

• Skin: Your baby’s skin is maturing, too. Melanin production is ramping up to give him some color, though his final skin tone won’t fully develop until after birth.
• Hair: That fine, downy hair called lanugo is disappearing as your baby’s increased fat cells take over his temperature regulation. If you get an ultrasound, you might also see more hair growing on his head.
• Brain development: With billions of new neural pathways to play with, freshly minted brain cells are busy laying down the foundation for your baby’s memory formation, learning ability, motor skills, and much more. 2
• Eyes: Your baby can now open his eyes, with his pupils dilating and constricting against bright versus dim light.
• Touching and grasping: Your little one’s hands are getting curious. He’s exploring his surroundings and can now wrap those tiny fingers around his feet and umbilical cord.
• Red blood cell production: Red blood cell production is now under the jurisdiction of your baby’s bone marrow, an important step to prepare him for life outside the womb.

Keep doing kick counts

At this stage, you’ll want to continue monitoring your baby’s movements. The best way to do so is with kick counts.

Pick a time when your baby is particularly active, and count how many kicks, jabs, and other movements he makes. Similarly, if you notice your baby is less active than normal at any point during the day, pick a quiet spot to lay down on your side, eat a snack, and count his movements.

You should feel at least 10 kicks within 2 hours. If you don’t, call your doctor straight away.

But what about you? As you move further into your pregnancy, your body is changing to accommodate your growing baby and prepare for labor. Let’s switch gears and check out what you might notice this week:

• Belly button: If you had an “innie” belly button before, it’s not out of the question that your navel will soon become more extroverted. Don’t be surprised if it’s a bit touch-sensitive, too.
• Foot changes: If your ankles and feet are on the plump side, it’s not because your bones are growing. Blame your weight gain and the increased pressure on your veins. Don’t worry—your feet will likely return mostly (or even fully) back to their pre-pregnancy size after delivery.

Your weight at 30 weeks

At 30 weeks, your uterus has expanded significantly, changing your posture and center of gravity.

You might be surprised (and possibly overwhelmed) by how quickly you’re putting on weight now. Most moms-to-be gain about half a pound to a pound per week during their third trimester.

If this is your first baby, your total weight gain is likely somewhere between 18 to 25 pounds, give or take a few ounces based on your pre-pregnancy weight and body mass index (BMI). If you’re on baby number two (or more), you might tack on an extra 10-ish pounds at this stage. 3

Measuring your fundal height

Wondering how big your little bump really is? At your next prenatal visit, ask the nurse or midwife to measure from the top of your pubic bone (called your pubis) straight up to the fundus (the top part of your now very prominent belly button).

At 30 weeks, you should be around 11 to 12.6 inches (28–32 centimeters). 4

You might see a bunch of new pregnancy symptoms appear this week, as well as the return of some of your old friends (or enemies) from your first trimester:

• Discharge: A little pregnancy discharge is totally normal and just means your body’s doing its job.
• Fatigue: Feel like you could fall asleep mid-sneeze these days? That’s your body working overtime, so napping whenever and wherever is perfectly fine.
• Frequent urination: That growing belly is putting serious strain on your bladder, which means a more urgent need to empty the tank. Often.
• Heartburn: You know that one time you scarfed down that spicy burrito way too fast and then regretted it for the rest of the night? Expect similar indigestion issues as your hormones relax your muscles and force your stomach acid to flow back up.
• Bloating and gas: The extra pressure from your uterus can bring about another unwelcome symptom: excess gas and bloating.
• Shortness of breath: Your uterus pushing against your diaphragm can make you feel like you ran a marathon just crossing your living room.
• Mood swings: If you’ve got tissues in one hand and a baseball bat in the other, a combination of physical discomfort, stress, and hormonal shifts may account for the wave of emotions.
• Pregnancy insomnia: If you’re like many pregnant women, nothing seems to put your lights out quickly these days. Those frequent trips to the bathroom don’t help either.
• Weird dreams: Relatedly, hormonal shifts or anxiety may have your late-night adventures taking a turn for the bizarre.

What symptoms to watch out for

Most pregnancy aches and pains will pass with time and TLC at home, but some symptoms deserve an immediate chat (or, even better, an in-person meet-up) with your doctor.

Signs of preeclampsia

One pregnancy condition to be on the lookout for is preeclampsia. This condition can cause high blood pressure, as well as protein appearing in your urine. In rare cases, it can cause serious complications for both mother and baby. Watch out for these signs:

• Sudden and severe swelling on your face or in your hands and feet
• Vision changes (blurry vision or seeing flashes)
• Strong headaches or migraines

Having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve got preeclampsia. Still, it’s always better to get checked out by a professional to rule it out.

Signs of preterm labor

Going into labor before 37 weeks is considered “preterm.” Although it’s better for her to make it to full term, if your baby is born at 30 weeks, she’s got a much better chance of survival than in earlier weeks.

Look out for signs of preterm labor, including: 5

• Regular, painful contractions (every 10 minutes or less) that don’t fade no matter what you do, especially if they’re accompanied by spotting
• Your water breaking (the fluid is usually odorless and pale yellow or clear)
• Low, dull backache

If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your doctor or midwife straight away.

Signs of infections

Your body is more susceptible to infection when you’re pregnant, so be aware of the telltale signs, such as: 6

• Pregnancy discharge that’s dark yellow or green and foul-smelling
• Inflammation, itchiness, or irritation of your genital area

If you have these symptoms, it could mean you’ve got bacterial vaginosis, caused by an excess of bacteria in your vagina, or a sexually-transmitted disease such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. 7 See your doctor immediately if you notice these symptoms.

It’s only natural to feel tired of those uncomfortable symptoms at 30 weeks. With that in mind, here’s how you can alleviate them and ensure you and your little one keep progressing well.

Get some rest

Who knew carrying a tiny human day and night could be a strain? Make sure you’re getting enough time to put your feet up—in some cases, literally.

If your feet are puffy, elevate them whenever possible, wear comfy socks (or go barefoot), and try compression stockings for major relief on long car rides or when you have to stand or walk a lot.

Stay active

Rest and relaxation are important, but you should also try to stay moderately active. Gentle exercise, such as walking or yoga, can help with your aches and pains.

Before you start running marathons (hint: don’t), make sure you discuss any new exercise routines with your doctor.

Get comfy

Considering how much your body has changed, it can be difficult to get comfy. In bed, try putting a pregnancy pillow between your legs. Good posture and supportive shoes can also help with back and hip pain. You can manage pregnant belly button irritation with loose clothing and bandages.

Stay hydrated

Go heavy on the water—aim for 8–12 cups a day to keep your body from turning on you. 8

By staying adequately hydrated, you’ll be less likely to get constipated and suffer from headaches. That said, if you’re making frequent trips to the bathroom at night, it’s OK to drink less water before bed.

Watch what you eat

You’ll need to continue to eat a balanced pregnancy diet full of fruits and vegetables that are loaded with iron and calcium. Probiotics and fiber are also a must, and upping your fiber intake can help combat constipation.

If you’re suffering from heartburn, try eating smaller meals and avoiding trigger foods (spicy, fatty, or fried dishes, chocolate, and tomato sauce). Use antacids (hello, Tums) as needed.

Wash your hands

You’re not being a germaphobe. Since your immune system is slightly weaker when you’re pregnant, you need to stay as clean as possible.

Soap up those paws like it’s the end of the world every time you touch anything public, especially after bathroom visits and before eating.

With your baby that much closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, there are a few things you can add to your to-do list:

• Attend childbirth classes: Going to a childbirth class is a good way to save yourself some anxiety later, especially if this is your first baby and you’re still in the dark about labor and delivery techniques outside of what you’ve seen in TV and movies.
• Get a prenatal massage: Many expectant moms would agree that a massage from a licensed therapist is a good way to drop some of the pregnancy stress. Just remember to clear it first with your doctor.
• Decide if you want a doula: If you’ve ever considered enlisting some extra hands (and heart) during labor and delivery, it might not be a bad move to bring a doula into the mix. These people are trained to offer emotional support, physical comfort, and a steady presence when making hard choices. Postpartum doulas exist, too.
• Think about cord blood banking: Did you know you can store your baby’s stem-cell-rich umbilical cord blood for future medical use? You can keep it in the family or donate to a public bank where others in need could benefit one day.
• Get up-to-date with vaccinations: Double-check that you’re all caught up on your shots. A flu shot is good at any point in pregnancy, and if you haven’t already, look into the Tdap vaccine for whooping cough. Better safe than sorry. 9
• Talk about episiotomy: It may sound intense (because OB-GYN stuff often is), but having a chat with your provider now about their general philosophy on episiotomies can save you major post-birth “ouchies” later. Unless it’s medically necessary, most providers are pretty conservative these days about cutting unless it’s truly needed.
• Stockpile diapers: Diapers are the gift that keeps on giving (or receiving, depending on your perspective). Try and get as many as you can. Sign up for loyalty programs where you shop, and cash in those registry welcome boxes full of free diapers sent by family and friends after your baby shower.
• Prepare your baby’s space: Set up the nursery, change those sheets, and organize the closet. This little bit of exercise will be great for you (and eventually, for your kid).

You’ll need to keep in close contact with your doctor at this point to make sure you and your baby keep up the good work. Here’s what to be mindful of at 30 weeks:

• Birth plan discussion: Hash out the details of your ideal labor experience. Talk through pain management, acceptable interventions, who’ll be in the delivery room with you, and anything else that’s important to you.
• Preeclampsia: Your doctor will regularly monitor your blood pressure, as well as run some urine tests and weigh-ins to check your fluid retention. All of this is with the goal of detecting any signs of preeclampsia before the condition becomes a serious problem.
• Fetal wellbeing checks: Your ultrasound appointments will likely become more frequent now as well. Your baby’s heart rate and activity level are the main metrics your provider will be keeping an eye on to make sure all systems are go.

At 30 weeks, you’re closer to the main event—the day you give birth to your little one! While you might be a little nervous about this, your doctor will be on hand to offer you support.

Here’s what you can do to prepare for labor and delivery:

• Prep your hospital bag: Pack that bag now so you’ll be good to go when the contractions finally hit. Make sure you leave it somewhere visible so you can quickly grab it.
• Decide who’s driving you to the hospital: You’ll need to decide who will be taking you to the hospital when you go into labor. Make sure you pick someone you can call at a moment’s notice (and preferably someone who’s a good driver).
• Install the car seat: Install your infant car seat according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You can get help from a car seat technician in your area if you’re struggling.

How to know when labor has started

Believe it or not, it can actually be quite tricky to determine when labor has started. Here are the telltale signs that labor is either on its way or happening:

• Losing your mucus plug: If your mucus plug has officially dislodged, labor could be just around the corner.
• Contractions: True labor contractions are more regular than Braxton Hicks contractions (coming every 10 minutes or less). They’re also more intense, and become longer-lasting over time.
• Water breaking: Here’s one of the hallmark labor signs. The rupturing of your amniotic sac, or your “water breaking,” is a clear sign that your baby is on the way.

Breathe deep and appreciate how far you’ve come. You’re doing well to stay informed and take care of yourself in your third trimester.

These last few weeks will be over before you know it. Trust your instincts, and bug your doctor as much as you need. You’ve got this!