31 Weeks Pregnant
How is Your Baby Growing at 31 Weeks?
Week 31 comes along with a growth spurt for your baby. Fat is building under the skin and your baby will be moving and wriggling around lots throughout the day and possibly through the night too.
The lungs are still developing and, as a result, your baby can’t yet breathe independently.
The eyes will have developed to the point where they can dilate in response to any light coming in through the wall of the uterus.
How Big is Your Baby at 31 Weeks?
At 31 weeks' gestation, your baby is 41.1 cm (about the size of a coconut) and weighs 1.5 kg.
What Happens at 31 Weeks?
The Braxton Hicks contractions will continue into week 31. They won’t be painful and they should last no more than 30 seconds at this stage. If the time between each contraction is less than 30 seconds, contact your midwife or doctor, as this could indicate early labour.
There may be some colostrum (your baby's first milk) leaking out of your nipples and you might feel tired and dizzy at this stage in your pregnancy.
Your midwife or GP will take your blood pressure at your next appointment to check for hypertension (high blood pressure), a key sign of pre-eclampsia.
What Symptoms Will You Have at 31 Weeks?
As you reach 31 weeks, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Backaches
- Fatigue
- Hot flushes
- Greasy, spotty skin
- Indigestion
- Leg cramps
- Nosebleeds
- Piles
- Sleeping problems
- Stretch marks
- Swollen gums
- Swollen hands and feet
- Thicker, shinier hair
