Pregnancy Week 30

At 30 weeks pregnant, your baby’s brain is growing fast. The surface is forming more folds and grooves, creating extra space for developing brain cells and connections.

Your baby is also gaining weight steadily. By the end of this week, they may measure around 28cm from head to bottom - roughly the length of a standard ruler -  and weigh around 1.3kg, although individual growth varies.

The eyelids are now open, so your baby can open and close their eyes. They may make eye movements too, practising the coordination they will need after birth, although vision will continue developing after birth. 

Lanugo, the fine hair that covered much of your baby’s body, may be starting to reduce, although patches can remain on the back and shoulders. Hair on the head may be more developed now, though colour and thickness can still change after birth.

At 30 weeks pregnant, appointments may start becoming more frequent, depending on whether this is your first baby, your health, and your local maternity care plan. 

Rib discomfort can become more noticeable now, especially if your baby is sitting high or kicking upwards. You may feel tenderness under your breasts, pressure near your ribs, or discomfort when sitting, bending forward or lying in certain positions.

Indigestion and heartburn can also make sleep harder. Your growing uterus leaves less room for your stomach, and lying down after food can make reflux worse.

To reduce rib and indigestion discomfort:

You may also notice heavier white or milky vaginal discharge. This can be normal in pregnancy. Contact your midwife or GP if discharge becomes yellow, green, grey, thick, clumpy, frothy, unpleasant-smelling, blood-stained, or comes with itching, burning, soreness or pain when you wee. Contact your maternity unit promptly if it feels watery like leaking fluid. 

Week 30 can feel like your body has entered a more demanding phase. Your baby is growing quickly, movements can be strong, and ordinary things like sitting at a desk, getting comfortable in bed or eating a normal-sized dinner may need adjusting.

This is a good point to become less stoic and more strategic. If something is uncomfortable every day, change the setup. Different pillows, looser clothes, smaller meals, better chair support, earlier dinners or more breaks can make a real difference.

You may also feel more aware that birth is getting closer. That can bring excitement, impatience or a sudden urge to organise everything. Use that energy where it helps, but try not to turn the third trimester into one huge to-do list.

This week, focus on making the third trimester more manageable. Sleep, meals, travel and appointments may all need a little more planning now.

If rib pain or indigestion is disrupting sleep, change your evening routine before it becomes a nightly pattern. Eat earlier, keep portions smaller at night, avoid obvious triggers, and use pillows to support your bump, knees and upper body.

Useful checks this week:

Air travel is not automatically off-limits at 30 weeks, but it does need more planning. Many airlines ask for a doctor or midwife letter after 28 weeks confirming your due date and that there are no known complications. Insurance may have pregnancy limits, and long journeys can be uncomfortable, so plan breaks to move your legs, drink fluids and avoid sitting still for too long. If you have pregnancy complications, reduced movements, bleeding, high blood pressure, risk of early labour or any concern from your maternity team, get advice before travelling.