What does a baby look like at 31 weeks of pregnancy? What ailments might expectant mothers experience during the 31st week of pregnancy, and how can they be effectively prevented? Is preterm labor at 31 weeks of pregnancy a significant risk to the baby? If you're wondering what's happening in a pregnant woman's belly during this period and wondering how you can support an expectant mother during this special time, you'll find essential information in this post.
Woman starts 31st week of pregnancy: which month is it?
Such doubts often plague expectant fathers, as well as family and friends of pregnant women. The 31st week (30.1-31 weeks) is the 7th month of pregnancy, or the first month of the third trimester.
A full, full-term pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters, each of which is 3 months long. Together it gives us the number of 9 months.
Due to the fact that in each, also in the 31st week of pregnancy, great changes occur in a woman and a child, we also usually divide the course of pregnancy into weeks. A full pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, and preterm labor after the 37th week is not considered. So, in the 31st week of pregnancy, childbirth is fast approaching. It is worth continuing preparations to consciously welcome your baby to the world.
Preparation for childbirth in the 31st week of pregnancy
Many expectant mothers begin to experience the so-called "nest building syndrome" from the first months of pregnancy, but for most women, it appears in the third trimester. Scientists suspect it may be related to a drop in progesterone levels and an increase in oxytocin levels. Women become preoccupied with renovating, furnishing the baby's room, and buying essential accessories.
It is worth bearing in mind that the troublesome symptoms in the 31st week of pregnancy may intensify in the following weeks, so if the future parents have not had time to prepare a layette and prenatal education, it is good to start them now.
Talk extensively with your midwife, develop a birth plan, and practice proper breathing with the baby's father, which will be helpful during labor. While fathers-to-be aren't giving birth, they can offer their partner, who is in pain and anxious about labor, support and advice from literature or childbirth classes.
Ailments in the 31th week of pregnancy
During this time, pregnant women complain especially about:
- lower back pain;
- gastric problems such as heartburn, constipation and gas.
It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids, eat more often but smaller portions, and avoid fatty and spicy foods. A diet rich in fiber can also help women who developed ailments such as hemorrhoids, i.e. anal varicose veins, in the 31st week of pregnancy. It is worth informing your doctor about them, who will suggest appropriate ointments and suppositories to relieve pain during defecation.
If all your shoes have suddenly become too tight, it may be due to swollen feet and increased levels of relaxin in the body. This hormone promotes gentle relaxation in the joints, especially the pelvis of the expectant mother, gradually preparing her for childbirth. During the thirty-first week of pregnancy, and throughout the third trimester, relaxin affects the entire body, including the pregnant woman's feet, which are burdened by the extra weight. It's worth investing in at least one pair of looser, comfortable shoes, such as sneakers.
The baby of the 31st week of pregnancy: location and appearance
The baby in the belly isn't so small anymore. It measures approximately 39-44 cm, and its length depends on genetic factors, among other factors. The fetus is also rapidly gaining fat tissue, which causes it to feel increasingly cramped in the mother's uterus.
A baby's movements in the 31st week of pregnancy are often called "kicks" or "nudges" by expectant mothers because they become quite forceful. It's often already possible to feel whether the baby is moving an arm or a leg. The outline of a tiny foot or hand can sometimes be seen through the mother's abdomen. Due to limited space, a baby in the 31st week of pregnancy is curled up: its back is rounded, and its arms and legs are crossed. It sleeps most of the day, becoming most active when the mother eats or rests. Often, its individual temperament begins to emerge during this period : a calm thinker or a ubiquitous and active little person.
The baby can still turn in the mum's belly, both to the head and pelvic positions. Looking for information on this subject, future mums usually use the phrase: 31st week of pregnancy - position of the baby, meaning its POSITION (head, pelvic, oblique or transverse). Fetal positioning is a slightly different medical term for how the various parts of the baby's body are arranged in relation to each other, e.g. the head may be bent or bent in relation to the torso.
31st week of multiple pregnancy
At 31 weeks of twin pregnancy, the little ones fidget and interact with each other. They poke each other and shove in mom's belly. Women with multiple pregnancies may already hear from their doctor that in their case, in their 31st week of pregnancy, premature birth may happen now, but also in the near future.
It's worth staying positive. Premature babies at this stage of pregnancy have a nearly 100% chance of survival, but they still require intensive care in an incubator. It's a good idea to have a hospital bag ready, both for yourself and your babies, and to gather all the necessary documents, tests, and referrals in one place.
What should the baby's weight be at 31 weeks of pregnancy?
The baby is still growing and stretching its mother's uterus more and more with each passing day. Many fathers and mothers search the internet for information: 31 weeks of pregnancy, baby's weight, forums for parents, seeking support and advice from people who are in a similar stage of pregnancy. However, it's worth remembering that during this period, each baby develops at its own individual, genetically determined rhythm.
Of course, the baby's weight at the 31st week of pregnancy also depends on environmental factors, such as the diet of the future mother or its anatomical conditions. If the doctor in charge of the pregnancy, during the last examination, did not have any objection to the baby's weight, there is no reason to be concerned even if the weight differs from that of a pregnant friend from work or from an internet forum.
31st week of pregnancy, the child's weight is normalized in percentile grids
The doctor compares the baby's weight during pregnancy with appropriate norms contained in special percentile charts. At 31 weeks of pregnancy, the baby's weight should be around 1700 grams, but this varies greatly from person to person.
If you are concerned that your baby is developing too slowly or is too "lean" compared to its peers, share your concerns with your doctor in charge of your pregnancy. By making appropriate measurements during an ultrasound examination and based on her experience and percentile grids, she will certainly professionally answer any questions about the child's development.
Tests at the 31st week of pregnancy: ultrasound and other necessary diagnostics
In the third trimester of pregnancy, women visit their gynecologist on average every 3 weeks, unless a specialist recommends more frequent visits. Standard tests at 31 weeks of pregnancy include:
- Ultrasound;
- blood count;
- general urine examination;
- pregnancy weight measurement;
- and her blood pressure.
It's worth remembering that between weeks 28 and 32 of pregnancy, you should schedule an important examination, namely a third-trimester ultrasound. If the expectant mother hasn't had one yet, week 31 is the time to catch up. During a third-trimester ultrasound, the doctor assesses not only the fetus's development but also the condition of the placenta, amniotic fluid, and the cervix. The specialist also confirms the gestational age. This is especially important for women with irregular menstrual cycles, those suffering from PCOS, or those diagnosed with fetal growth restriction and/or placental insufficiency.
In the third trimester, it's also worth considering a paid 3D or 4D ultrasound. While this isn't mandatory, photos of your baby taken with these techniques at 31 weeks of pregnancy will make a wonderful keepsake in your family album.
Consultation :
Ph.D. n. med. prof. IMID Tadeusz Issat - Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the Institute of Mother and Child;
Maria Krowicka-Wasyl – resident physician during specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Mother and Child.
