30 weeks pregnant
Our guide to your 30th week of pregnancy
Your Baby
Your baby should be around 39-40cm long this week. This isn’t going to change too much now, but its weight will continue to increase. Right now it weighs in at around 1.3kg.
Your baby’s eyes will be drawn to light more and more as its eyesight improves. It can distinguish between light and dark areas inside your womb and if you shine a light onto your belly your baby could well move towards it. However, its eyesight is still primitive; your baby can only see around 20cm-30cm.
You
Feeling breathless? Your uterus presses against your diaphragm as it expands and leaves you feeling a little out of breath, as if you can’t quite get enough air into your lungs.
Your mood swings may be returning. As you move along through your third trimester hormonal changes, along with worry and nerves over the impending birth, will make you feel as if you’re back on an emotional rollercoaster. One in ten women actually suffer from depression. If you feel as though you could be suffering from pregnancy depression discuss it in more detail with your midwife.
Braxton Hicks Contractions
During the latter stages of pregnancy, you will quite likely experience contractions known as Braxton Hicks contractions. They feel like period pains or tightening around the lower abdomen. They are completely normal and not particularly painful, but they can be a little uncomfortable. Your uterus will feel hard to the touch as the muscles inside tighten and contract.
The contractions usually last for less than a minute but can happen several times throughout the day. There isn’t anything you can do to stop them and the cause behind them remains unknown. However, it’s thought that being dehydrated can increase the frequency and pain. Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated, but don’t let your bladder get too full, as this is thought to be another causal factor.
It’s important you know the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and the real thing. When you are actually going into labour you contractions will be regular, frequent and more prolonged. They will increase over time and will be significantly more painful. Braxton Hicks contractions on the other hand are generally pretty weak and don’t last very long. If you go for a walk or even just change positions the Braxton Hicks contractions will probably cease.
Previous (twenty nine weeks) | Next (thirty one weeks)