Week 30 of Your Pregnancy
Baby’s Development
At this stage, a fetus will be approximately 15.7 inches long. Growth in terms of length will now begin to slow down as the need for weight takes precedence. Floating around in almost a half a liter of amniotic fluid, your baby is becoming a little cramped, so expect kicking and punching movement to increase for a few weeks.
The lungs and digestive tract are almost completely developed, increasing your baby’s chances of survival should he be born prematurely. At this stage, he is completely capable of breathing thanks to all the practice during the previous weeks. His eyes are developed enough to be able to see what is happening inside the uterus and he’s able to clearly differentiate dark and light. Once born however, he won’t be able to see much more than a few inches away from his face.
Your baby can recognize your voice! Other common noises such as your partner’s voice, barking dogs or meowing cats are also becoming familiar to him. When he’s born, he’ll respond to these noises and will also be able to know his mama from smell. Take advantage of this early stage of learning by talking to your belly as much as you can. Your partner can increase your baby’s recognition of his voice by reading to and talking to your bump as much as possible!
Your Body and Emotions
The elevated progesterone in your body is making you more tired than usual. Nature’s big joke in pregnancy is that this usually corresponds with the last trimester insomnia that plagues so many women. You need to make sleep a priority now and that means dealing with whatever is keeping you up at night as best you can.
Restless Legs–On top of the typical leg cramps brought on by pregnancy, up to 20% of women experience restless legs for the first time during the third trimester. Usually a genetic, neurological condition, Restless Legs Syndrome can start during pregnancy and then happily disappear once your baby is born. Difficult to describe, RLS is an itching, aching, crawling feeling in the arms and leg that is only relieved by movement. It can make it impossible to sleep and those who suffer extreme cases may even have problems sitting for long periods of time. Again, its root is a mystery. Hormone changes, circulatory stress, iron deficiency and a lack of folic acid have all been considered at one time to be the cause. Consider the following alternatives to help deal with this uncomfortable sensation:
- Yoga
- Squats/lunges before bed
- Massage
- Relaxation-tensing and relaxing muscles progressively
- Exercise during the day
Heartburn–Now that your uterus has compacted your stomach and pushed it much higher than normal, you may begin to experience extreme heartburn. Typically, it becomes worse at night when you lie in bed. The naturally occurring acids in the stomach make their way into your trachea due to their temporary closeness. It burns, it aches and it may even make your eyes water! The trick is to try not to lie down at bedtime. This means you may have to be creative and prop yourself up using a system of pillows. Some women even resort to sleeping in a chair for the last half of their pregnancy. Thankfully, some antacid pills are considered safe to use during pregnancy. Tell your obstetrician your concerns and he will recommend an effective medication that can help you to heal with this often-excruciating side effect.
Dad’s Tips
Now that the practicality of the pregnancy is becoming more prominent, you should take the time to purchase and install a car seat. The instructions for car seats are notoriously convoluted and you might want to take an afternoon to set it up. Take your time with this one and read the instructions (however cryptic), as the car seat is crucial for your baby’s safety.
When shopping for the right seat, it’s best to do some research online before hitting the stores. There are often recalls for these products as manufacturers continually realize that what they considered to be completely safe is actually flawed. Look for one with the least amount of difficulties and complaints that fits your budget. It’s worth it to spend a little more on car seats. Finding one that is not only secure and well made but will adjust with your little one as she grows is a wise investment, no matter what the price. |
