Baby Development
The Week 31 edition:
Your baby is constantly growing. You could compare it to the size of an asparagus – an actively somersaulting asparagus, keeping you up at night. It has gained the ability to detect shapes and basic forms. With a chubbier and more voluminous body and turning its head constantly, your baby is about ~41.25 cm from head to toe and weighs ~1.5 kg.
Here is a comprehensive list of what your baby is up to this week:
- Your baby is in action. It is moving its body and turning its head actively.
- It is bulking up. Your baby is growing chubbier as fat gets stored beneath its skin.
- It is sensitive and responsive to sound.
- Besides sound, your baby can identify forms and shapes. It, however, is yet to develop a well-rounded vision to recognize colours.
- The baby’s brain is maturing rapidly.
- Its lungs and nervous system have been developing.
- Reflexes, like thumb sucking, are also developing.
- Last but not the least, your baby will be kicking a lot. Gear up to lose some sleep at night or make more bathroom trips.
Mother
Track your growth at Week 31:
You are – about 9, maybe 11 weeks, maybe 7 weeks from meeting your baby. How are you holding up? As your baby grows, your belly does too. The uterus fills most of your abdomen now. Your pregnancy weight gain rounds upto 21 – 27 pounds by the end of this week you know what is happening with your baby and your body, take deep breaths for you are in control of your pregnancy. Give yourself a pat on your back. You are doing good.
If you are a reader, continue reading up about labour and birth, positive birth stories. It will help deal with the anxiety you may be feeling. Do communicate with your loved ones and voice out your anxieties and concerns. You are not alone, you never have been. Buy a baby car seat for your ride home and start looking for a babysitter!
Here is the list of changes in your body this week:
- You may feel some contractions – at this stage they are random and painless. These are called the Braxton Hicks contractions.
- You may notice some swelling in your feet which come and go.
- Breathlessness is a frequent occurrence during this time.
- Your breasts may secrete some pre-milk or colostrum. It is your body gearing up for feeding your baby. Do pad up your bra if that is the case.
- You find yourself visiting the loo more often, this is very normal during this stage.
- Leg cramps may come into picture. If so, relax your feet and stretch them from time to time. Massaging the calf muscles, in gentle downward brushes, also helps.
