Pregnancy Week 30

Your Baby

Within the next three days, your baby’s brain begins to take on a wrinkled appearance because of its rapid growth. The wrinkling of the surface of the brain is normal and necessary. The wrinkles are called convolutions. A convoluted brain contains more brain cells than a smooth, non-convoluted brain and is potentially more powerful.

Your baby will put on more than 1 pound (448 g) during this month. By the end of this week, baby’s crown-to-rump length will be about 11 inches (28 cm) - almost the size of a standard ruler.

Since the baby’s eyelids are now unfused, they can open wide and close. Much of the time, your baby’s eyes are open and the eyes are practicing 'looking' movements.

By now, most of the lanugo (fine hair) has disappeared from your baby’s body except for patches on the back and shoulders. However, the white (as yet unpigmented) hair on your baby’s head is well developed.

You

From now on, your prenatal visits with your doctor or midwife will take place every two weeks.

Traveling by air is generally not recommended from around this time in your pregnancy until after the birth.

You may experience some pain and tenderness in the rib area right below your breasts if the baby sits high in your uterus (pain can also be due to frequent kicking from baby!).

When you sleep, you may notice some discomfort due to indigestion or to the pressure of the baby and your uterus on your ribs and diaphragm.

You have probably noticed that the whitish vaginal discharge has gotten heavier. This is normal. Contact your doctor if the vaginal discharge is discolored or thick or is accompanied by symptoms of discomfort (pain, burning, itching), bleeding, or unusual odor.