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You are now in your thirty-first week and you’re almost completing your seventh month of pregnancy. It must be so exciting as you have roughly 9 weeks to go. Hang in there!!! Your baby is becoming smart and is starting to behave independently.
Your smart baby can now process information and detect signals from all five senses.
Your little one’s brain connections are developing rapidly. Connections between individual brain cells are being made so that all the functions of the baby are well coordinated
Your baby now tends to sleep more, taking a nap for extended periods, especially with rapid eye movement sleep. Do you want to stir her up? Consume something sweet or sugary.
Your smart baby can now process information and detect signals from all five senses.
Your little one’s brain connections are developing rapidly. Connections between individual brain cells are being made so that all the functions of the baby are well coordinated
Your baby is now a sleepy one, taking a nap for extended periods, especially rapid eye movement sleep. Do you want to stir her up? Consume something sweet or sugary.
This week, baby’s brain is getting more refined. Your 31 weeks baby-to-be is going through major brain and nerve improvement. Their eyes are also evolving, so they can now react to light the more. All five of your baby’s senses are now functioning properly.
Your baby now has a tough body. Most of the bones are getting hard. The neck is now much more defined and distinguished. Although the skull is soft and flexible, this will remain before birth to allow the baby’s head to pass through the birth canal more easily without pressing on, and damaging their brain.Â
Other essential parts like the liver, lungs and other organs of your baby are getting matured. As water can now pass through your baby’s bladder, it is practicing to urinate after birth.Â
By week thirty-one, the baby is weighing 1502 grams and about 16.18 inches in length – comparable to a coconut. They are getting closer to the birth length but still need to gain another 3 to 5 pounds before the birthday.
At this stage, Your baby bump is well pronounced, and your uterus is about four inches above your belly button. Usually, most babies are head-down by the time they reach 32 weeks. If your baby hasn’t turned yet, don’t be concerned. Some babies are willing to wait a bit longer. In fact, getting the whole 97 percent into position can take up to 37 weeks.
At 31 weeks pregnant, you have 9 more weeks to complete your pregnancy journey.
At 31 weeks pregnant, your uterus can now be felt about a few inches above your belly button. This means that your uterus compresses the internal organs, congesting your diaphragm and lungs and making it much harder for them to expand fully.
As a result, your body is depleted of oxygen and will remain so in preparation for birth until your baby drops near the end of the pregnancy. So while your shortness of breath may be distressing to you, your baby is comfortable because she is receiving enough oxygen from you, through the placenta.
The out-of-breath sensation may improve close to the end of your pregnancy when your baby settles into your pelvis in preparation for delivery. Try to maintain a good standing posture, eat in smaller amounts, and sleep on your left side, so your lungs have more space to breathe.
You might feel more clumsy than usual during this period due to factors like weight gain, changes in the centre of your gravity, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Even though clumsiness during pregnancy is usually manageable, exercising, wearing a maternity belt, and avoiding walking on wet and irregular surfaces can help prevent likely fatal incidents.
Another one is the pregnancy brain. Research has shown that pregnant women tend to lose some gray matter during this trimester, which could lead to temporary inability to think clearly. But a few months after delivery, you will feel like your quick-clever self again.Â
Every part of your body prepares for the newest addition to the family, including your breasts. As early as week 16, your breasts got bigger and started producing colostrum, a yellowish milky substance. It is the first food your baby will latch on when they meet the world. At week 31, your nipples will likely ooze out colostrum before your baby arrives or shortly after you deliver. To prevent your clothes from getting stained, consider getting some nursing pads.
Your body knows the baby will not be here forever. In anticipation of the big day, your uterus would start experiencing an occasional tightening. These tightenings are called Braxton Hicks contractions.
Your uterus is about 4 inches above your belly button at 31 weeks pregnant, pushing all the internal organs away from their normal positions. Therefore, crowding and making it difficult for your diaphragm and lungs to expand. Also, your uterus is pushing your bladder down on the lower end, making you feel the urge to urinate more frequently, and you may unconsciously drop some in your panty when you sneeze or laugh too hard.
Nutrients you get are shared between you and your baby. In an attempt to replenish nutrients, your body causes you to be constantly hungry.
Every part of your body prepares for the newest addition to the family, including your breasts. As early as week 16, your breasts got bigger and started producing colostrum, a yellowish milky substance. It is the first food your baby will latch on when they meet the world. At week 31, your nipples will likely ooze out colostrum before your baby arrives or shortly after you deliver. To prevent your clothes from getting stained, consider getting some nursing pads.
Your body knows the baby will not be here forever. In anticipation of the big day, your uterus would start experiencing an occasional tightening. These tightenings are called Braxton Hicks contractions.
Your uterus is about 4 inches above your belly button at 31 weeks pregnant, pushing all the internal organs away from their normal positions. Therefore, crowding and making it difficult for your diaphragm and lungs to expand. Also, your uterus is pushing your bladder down on the lower end, making you feel the urge to urinate more frequently, and you may unconsciously drop some in your panty when you sneeze or laugh too hard.
Nutrients you get are shared between you and your baby. In an attempt to replenish nutrients, your body causes you to be constantly hungry.
Now, there is no need to overfeed or eat for two. You’re in the 3rd trimester, and even though pregnancy hunger is on, you may need just an extra 200 calories per day. The aim is to satisfy yourself and consume the right amount of nutrients needed for your developing baby. Hence doesn’t require excessive food intake. Eat often and avoid large quantities, focus on protein, fibre, and healthy unsaturated fat. Eat slowly and avoid distractions while eating as you are more likely to overeat, drink enough water and prioritise sleep as much as possible.
During pregnancy, you should drink 8-12 glasses of water a day. Drinking enough water will help with the issue of constipation and bloating. It also keeps you hydrated and help you feel well during pregnancy.Â
It’s recommended that you do about 100-150 minutes of exercise a week while pregnant. You can start with a minimum of 10 minutes of daily exercise. All in, make sure to pay attention to your body and do what feels right for you.
You should adhere to all medications and vitamins prescribed for you by your health care provider. do not discontinue any medication before talking to your doctor. If you have horrible side effects, speak with your obstetrician about it.Â
Sudden headaches, blurred vision, and facial swelling:  These could be signs and symptoms of severe preeclampsia. This is a very serious pregnancy complication that can put both the pregnancy and the life of the mother at risk. Should you experience any of these, you should seek help from your doctor.
Longer Braxton Hicks contractions: If your Braxton Hicks contraction lasts longer than two minutes, or occurs more frequently, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Chronic Illnesses:Â Pregnancy can worsen chronic conditions. Conditions like hypertension and diabetes can cause a lot of harm to you and your baby. Take all prescribed medication and exercise regularly. Also, regularly checking for your blood pressure or blood sugar level is important.
© Mindsmaking 2024
