30 Weeks Pregnant
Hey there, pregnant moms and dads-to-be! How does it feel to be 75% through your pregnancy?! Today, I popped my kids in the car for a test run to the hospital. Figuring out how long it will take you to get to the hospital (with or without traffic) will help you plan and relieve some of your anxieties over going into labor. Keep in mind that when your contractions begin — or when your water breaks — you will first call your doctor. Depending on the frequency of your contractions, your doctor will advise you to stay home and keep monitoring your contractions, or to head to the hospital. More on that to come in this series. Now, let’s get down to business and learn all about your 30th week of pregnancy!
30 Weeks Pregnant: Recurring Symptoms
30 Weeks Pregnant: Common Symptoms
Fatigue during Pregnancy
She’s back, everyone! Fatigue, the agonizing symptom of the first trimester — my absolute nightmare (or daymare?) — has returned. Gone are the active days of the second trimester. Your third trimester marks a period of rapid growth for you and your baby, and that growth takes it toll, leading to tremendous physical fatigue. To help combat third trimester fatigue, try to get as much sleep as possible. Finding a good sleep position during your third trimester can prove to be almost impossible. Sample different positions and employ extra pillows under your feet so as to elevate your legs and relieve pressure.
Pregnancy Belly Support Pillow
Getting good sleep when you’re pregnant is not easy. Try a pregnancy belly support pillow. These pillows allow you to lie on your side with your belly comfortably supported. You can shift the pillow to either side to get into a comfortable position. Pregnancy belly support pillows are so comfortable that if you’re not careful, your older kids or partner might sneak away with your pillow, so be careful!
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Stages of Fetal Development: Baby Growth & Size at 30 Weeks
At week 30, your baby weighs 3 pounds and is 16 inches long, about the size of a cabbage. Woah! By week 30, you can expect your baby to gain half a pound of weight per week! For comparison, it took your baby 19 weeks to gain its first half pound. They grow up so fast, don’t they!
As more and more white fat begins to develop subcutaneously and your baby’s brain begins to take over the process of temperature regulation, your baby will say goodbye to the lanugo that has helped keep them warm all this time. However, some babies will be born with this peach-like fuzz. So don’t be alarmed if your baby is born a little hairy! In more hairy news, by week 30, your baby will have eyelashes, eyebrows, and maybe even a cute little tuft of hair on their head. How adorable!
In addition to its fat stores, your baby is gaining lots of muscle. If your baby were to be born this week, your baby would have the strength to grasp one of your fingers with their hand. Also at this point, your baby’s bone marrow will take over for the spleen in red blood production. Just like you, your baby will be working on increasing the amount of blood it will retain in its body.
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Fun Fact About Pregnancy Your baby has less than a 10% chance of being born exactly on their due date! 90% of babies, however, will be born in the two weeks surrounding the due date. |
Body Image Issues During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body undergoes tremendous change. Confronting these physical changes can prove daunting for any woman. If in the past you have struggled with your weight and healthy eating, managing a healthy diet and weight during pregnancy can be even more challenging. Eating disorders during pregnancy pose a danger to you and your baby’s health. If you find that you are in trouble in this regard, get help as soon as possible. Find a doctor and psychologist, talk this through, and make a plan. Check out the chart below for some more information. As someone who has struggled with eating issues in the past, I will say that having babies and breastfeeding got me to the other side and I now worry less about weight (and I eat in a more healthy way) than I did as a younger woman. So stay positive and stay strong! You are beautiful.
Your Pregnancy at 30 Weeks: Prenatal Appointments
Here are the prenatal tests that are available during this week:
Biophysical Profile
Contraction Stress Test
Fetal Acoustic Stimulation
Nonstress Test
Tdap Vaccination
Week by Week Pregnancy Food Guide
For information on the do’s and don’ts of food during pregnancy, refer to Week 4 and Week 5. And check back in each week for a healthy pregnancy recipe.
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Quick, Healthy Snack Tip Caramelized Onion White Bean Dip: In a large skillet on high heat, warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil before adding 3 thinly sliced onions. Cook until soft for 5-7 minutes. Lower heat and cook for 30-40 minutes. Add the carmelized onions, 15.5 ounces of rinsed and dried white beans, ¼ cup of olive oil, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of chopped thyme, and 2 cloves of garlic, chopped. Add small amounts of water or olive oil if the mixture is too thick. Serve with fruit, chips, or veggies! (itsavegworldafterall) Why White Beans? While there are many types of white beans, the ones you may be most familiar with are cannellini beans. These beans are rich in protein, fiber, folate, Vitamin B6, and magnesium. They also contain polyphenol antioxidants, which help prevent certain chronic illnesses, like cancer and heart disease. |
Peppermint Essential Oil Roll-On
Peppermint essential oil roll-ons provide a natural, easy way for pregnant moms to feel fresh, smell good, and take advantage of the natural properties of aromatherapy when on the move. Place one in your bag or pocket and you’re good to go.
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How Many Months Is 30 Weeks?
Doctors don’t measure your pregnancy based on months since months have a different number of days and weeks, meaning that the month during which your pregnancy began would influence the month of pregnancy you’re in. However, 30 weeks in months means that you are in your 7th month of pregnancy.
Week 30 Pregnancy Checklist
- Schedule your week 32 prenatal appointment
- Exercise and hydrate!
- Make sure to wear flats or sneakers and avoid heels
- Wear sunscreen when you go outside to avoid skin discoloration
- Conduct a test drive to the hospital to see how long the journey will be
- Stick to your Kegel exercise routine!
Resources
- What to Expect & What to Expect When You’re Expecting – 5th Edition (2016)
- The Bump
- Baby List
- Parents.com
- Healthline.com
- WebMD
- The Mama Natural Week to Week Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth (2017)
- Mayo Clinic’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy – Second Edition (2018)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Comments
hicloud
So much helpful information. Love the belly support pillow recommendations!
Melissa Lawrence
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.
Melissa Lawrence
Thank you so much, I loved my belly pillow and am still using it! xx
ashleymains@live.com
This is so great! Thank you for sharing!
Melissa Lawrence
Thank you so much for reading! Melissa x
antoinettem2
The pregnancy belly support pillow was a great help for my daughter.
catie
I’m at week 33, and I will say the skin discoloration is so real!! I have fair skin and freckles, and random splotches of melanin have popped up around my face and neck. Need to get on my kegel exercises- I’m so bad at remembering to do them!
AlexiaW
Really informative article .
Melissa Lawrence
Thank you so much, Alexia, and best of luck with your pregnancy!!!! Melissa x